Hayden Karchmer & The Pistols

***New album was released on 
iTunes, Friday.***

Facebook

iTunes

.

Dead Man Winter

***Minnesota band with upcoming shows and a debut that 

was released in August.***

Please support this artist!!!

Website

iTunes

Facebook

.

Post #267: Fort York

***New album released in November.***

As this band just joined Facebook in November, I really feel that I have come across them at the ground floor.

On November 25th, two weeks after the Toronto band joined Facebook, they released their debut album, Feels Like Then.  This is where you will find "When She Was Dead".

Hopefully it won't be long before they add a tour section to their website.

Please support this artist!!!

Website
iTunes
Facebook
Soundcloud
.

Post #266: Weaver At The Loom

***Minneapolis artist currently doing a 

Kickstarter project.***

A few years ago, I had the opportunity of seeing Weaver at the Loom perform at the Fine Line in Downtown Minneapolis.

They were an opener, with a band playing between them and the 'headliner'.  Who was the headliner?  For the life of me I can't remember.

What I do remember about that night, was being really impressed by WATL, and spending some time talking to it's mastermind, Daniel Smith, and walking out with their 2007 album, I Was Searching and I Found.

A great album, but with only 5 songs, it left me wanting more.

Well 4 years later, in October of this year, they finally released a second album, Before Now, Was Then.

This is where you will find "We're Wild Animals (We Always Were)".

Like many unsigned and independent artists, Dan is finding alternate means of funding the costs associated with his passion.  Through Kickstarter, his fans are able to contribute any amount of $1, making the dream of a tour and new music a possibility.

After writing this, I'll be making my contribution.

After all, it is artists like Dan that fuel my passion for listening.

Please support this artist!!!

Website

iTunes

Facebook

Kickstarter
.

Post #265: Radiohead

***Two new songs from Radiohead.***

I have always admired Radiohead.  Obviously the musical talent is there, but I think it awesome that they do what they want.

Both with the distribution of their music...after leaving their record label EMI, Radiohead released their 7th studio album, In Rainbows, as a 'name your own price' digital download.

...and musically.  Each time they release new material, I never know what to expect.

Well this last week, as an early Christmas present, Radiohead released two new songs, that in my opinion encapsulate two ends of their musical spectrum.

Both songs are great, but I absolutely love "The Daily Mail".  It almost sounds like something that could have come off one of their earlier albums, which are my favorites.  Maybe 2001's Amnesiac.  This actually makes sense because apparently this is a song that the band had been kicking around for about 6 years.

With each passing album, Radiohead seems to move further and further away from mellower songs, creating songs that are full of energy, and at times songs that almost seem like an organized mess.  The second song of this release, "Staircase", falls into that category for me.

The release of these two songs coincides with the release of The King of Limbs - Live From the Basement, a video of them performing all 8 tracks from this year's album The King of Limbs, as well as these two songs.

Love them both, and can't wait to be surprised with what they release next.

Please support this artist!!!

Website
iTunes
Facebook
Wikipedia
.

Post #264: Kid Dakota

***Minneapolis artist playing at the Cedar Cultural 

Center this Friday.***

I have mentioned this before, but I am a huge fan of local artist John Hermanson.

You could say that I have an obsession with his main project Storyhill.  If you aren't familiar with Storyhill, you can check out my post of them HERE.

It is through that obsession that I became aware of Darren Jackson.

During the last 10 years, John has been involved in various side projects with other local musicians.  Two of which are The Hopefuls and Alva Star, which included Darren Jackson.  (If you didn't catch it, I included Alva Star on the mix I posted a couple weeks ago HERE).

Kid Dakota would be Darren's solo project.

He chose Kid Dakota for two reasons:  as a parody of Kid Rock's name and as an homage to his home state of South Dakota.

He would move to Minneapolis and release his first EP, So Pretty, in 2000.  This caught the attention of Alan Sparhawk, founder of the band Low, posted HERE, whom would re-release the album in 2002.

Since then, Kid Dakota has released three additional albums, including Listen To the Crows As They Take Flight, which came out in 2011.  That is where you will find "Phantom Pain".

I thought I would also post "10,000 Lakes" from his 2nd album, 2004's The West Is the Future, since that was my first Kid Dakota experience.

If you like this, I also recommend you check out "Pine Ridge" and "Winterkill" from the same album.

Please support this artist!!!

Website

iTunes

Facebook
Wikipedia
.

Post #263: Lake Forest

***Solo project from The Wilderness of Manitoba's vocalist.  

New album coming in February.***

(Post #6 of 7 for 'Family Tree' week.  What is the 'Family Tree'?  Click HERE to find out.)

After my previous post of The Wilderness of Manitoba, I started looking into what side projects, if any, their members were a part of.

I came across Lake Forest, a solo 'folk' project of lead vocalist Will Whitwham.

The album came to fruition when last Winter, Will began writing a song a day during his down time.  The end result will be the 11 tracks on his first solo album, Silver Skies, scheduled to be released February 14th.

Lake Forest - Autumn Skies by killbeat music

Allegedly the inspiration for the album came from a family cottage that he was having recurring dreams of.

"Autumn Skies" will be the second track on the new album and can be downloaded through the link to Soundcloud.

LAKE FOREST - Silver Stars from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

The first thing I came across was actually this video of the title track, "Silver Stars".  So good!

Unfortunately, this project is so new that I can't find a webpage, or any other page other than Soundcloud.

Regardless, another successful find on my 'Family Tree' journey.

And another album, I can't wait to add to my collection.

Please support this artist!!!

Soundcloud
.

Post #262: The Wilderness of Manitoba

***Just released remakes of 3 Christmas carols.  

Debut album was released in May.***

(Post #5 of 7 for 'Family Tree' week.  What is the 'Family Tree'?  Click HERE to find out.)

For today's post, I followed a link Stornoway had on their site, taking me to a write up on another blog.

The link took me to We Write Lists, based out of London, which is where I found a separate piece they had done in September on The Wilderness of Manitoba.

From Toronto, Canada, they released their debut album in May of this year, entitled When You Left the Fire.  This is where you will find "November".

Using primarily a banjo, cello, mandolin and guitar, they describe themselves as 'chamber folk', which I think is a perfect description.

Before writing this post, and after I had listened to some snippets of the songs, I couldn't wait.  I have already purchased and downloaded the album.  I love it!!

They have also just released remakes of three traditional Christmas Carols.  "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", "We Three Kings", and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing".

Check out this link HERE, to hear all three.

Each of their three versions are absolutely beautiful (especially the a cappella of "We Three Kings").

And the exact same thing can be said for their debut.

Please support this artist!!!

Website

iTunes

Facebook
.

Post #261: Stornoway

***Currently working on second album, scheduled 

to be released in mid 2012.***

(Post #4 of 7 for 'Family Tree' week.  What is the 'Family Tree'?  Click HERE to find out.)

For today's post, I decided to explore the website of Nallo, whom I posted yesterday.

On their site, they have a link to The Mad Mackerel, a blog based out of England, that had done a write up on them.

The Mad Mackerel is working on their 'Best of 2011" lists, but at the top of the page, they have links to their 2008, 2009 and 2010 lists.  I decided to check out the results for 2010.

One of the blog's contributors had "Zorbing" by Stornoway as their #1 song of the year.

Listening to a handful of their songs, it is almost like The Decemberists (posted HERE and HERE) and Beirut (posted HERE) had a baby.

These songs, including "Zorbing", can be found on their 2010 debut album, Beachcomber's Windowsill.

I also recommend that you check out "Boats and Trains", as well as the 4 song EP named after 4AD, their independent British record label.

Please support this artist!!!

Website

iTunes

Wikipedia
Record label 4AD

Post #260: Nallo

***Minneapolis band with two new singles and a show 

this Thursday at Amsterdam Bar.***

(Post #3 of 7 for 'Family Tree' week.  What is the 'Family Tree'?  Click HERE to find out.)

Continuing with the 'Family Tree', the first thing I looked at after Matt Latterell's post was at the artists scheduled to play with him this Thursday at the Amsterdam Bar.





That is how I found, Minneapolis band, Nallo.

After listening to "Grownup", I knew I was 3 for 3 so far this week.

Both "Grownup" and "Wine" can be found on their Bandcamp site under the album title Tiny Little Kings.

What is interesting is that Tiny Little Kings isn't necessarily a finished project.  I don't even know if I would call it an album.  On their site, they mention that they created Tiny Little Kings as a place to put their b-sides and demos that "won't end up on the final full-length release."

So far "Grownup" and "Wine" are the only two that have been posted, but it sounds like more are on the way.

With as much as I like these b-sides, I'm excited to hear the finished album.

Please support this artist!!!

Website
Facebook
Bandcamp
.

Post #259: Matt Latterell

***Minneapolis musician, with a new album, and a show this 
Thursday at Amsterdam Bar.***

(Post #2 of 7 for 'Family Tree' week.  What is the 'Family Tree'?  Click HERE to find out.)

As I laid out yesterday, this week I will be doing 6 posts in a row using my 'Family Tree' approach.

What prompted this was that it was the method I was using when I came across Brad Senne, whom I posted HERE 2 days ago.

I decided to start with Brad's 'Likes' on Facebook.

The first thing I noticed is that we shared a common interest in many of the same artists.  Always a good sign that I would be able to find something good...and possibly great.

The second thing I noticed, him being a Minnesotan himself, is that many of his 'Likes' were of musicians local to Minnesota.

Well, I found something local and something great in Matt Latterell.

Based out of Northeast Minneapolis, Matt began writing music at the age of 14 in Foley, Minnesota.

After releasing a few albums with his band Hokey, he started his solo career with a few EPs and a full length album called Charades, which was released in 2010.

At the beginning of 2011, he decided to do something different, by releasing a single a month.  However, after being laid off in May, he decided to change his focus and start working on an album.

This change in focus would lead to the release of Life On Land in October of this year, which is where you will find "Momentum".

Matt Latterell - The Kids Are All Adults (Single Version) by mattlatterell

Life on Land can be purchased on iTunes, where as his debut full length, Charades, can be found on his Bandcamp page.

SoundCloud is where you will find the singles he released, including "The Kids Are All Adults", which was the first of his singles project.

Of course, being a local artist means a great opportunity for all of us to check him out.  I have added him to the concert calendar for his December 22nd show at Amsterdam Bar in Minneapolis.  Click HERE for the details.

Buy the album!!  And as always....

Please support this artist!!!

Website

iTunes

Facebook

Bandcamp
SoundCloud
.