Hard Times

Just downloaded the free song of the week from Starbucks... Gillian Welch's single "Hard Times" from her new album The Harrow & The Harvest. She's been silent for eight years, but was clearly not wasting away!

This looks to be a very promising record. Even the album artwork is compelling! Sometimes when artists try to reinvent themselves they flounder and churn out garbage. This album does not fit that profile!

Introspective, patient and rootsy. This album adheres to her traditional roots, but fits right into the modern Americana movement. Did I mention she has a great voice? Good stuff!

Blind Pilot

The Portland band Blind Pilot put out their lone record in 2008. I heard a few songs then and was fortunate to see them live when opened for The Decemberists along with Andrew Bird the following year.

I enjoyed their music but wasn't in a hurry to buy the record. That said, I acquired it last month and can easily play it from start to finish. It has the pop sensibilities of a Top 40 record, but all the musical and lyrical nuances of the current Indie Rock darlings the likes of which underground rockers in their mid-30s search for constantly.

I think the technology age has saturated every market that exists, which for the music industry means that good bands get lost easily. Long gone are the days when a band had to slog along the highways and byways of this vast country printing their own shirts and records as well as promoting themselves hoping to catch the eye of SST, I.R.S., 4AD, Sub-Pop or Twin-Tone Records.

Long story short, these guys slipped through the cracks. For folks out there who like Bon Iver, Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Midlake, Damien Jurado, M. Ward, etc... check this record out. There are plenty of good songs, but "One Red Thread" will stick in your head all day!