Finally, Seattle can give us more than rain! Since discovering Hey Marseilles, the seven member folk/pop band has been on heavy rotation on my iPod. Having seven band members proves to be a strength for these guys as it brings an eclectic range of instrumentation and styles to each track.
Strong vocals from lead singer Matt Bishop is a solid base for the band and is only accentuated by his six other band mates. The accordion in “To Travels & Trunks” makes me feel like I’m at a French cafe enjoying good eats and good tunes. Clapping also becomes a cool backup instrument on “Rio”.
Matt, Nick, Philip, Patrick, Sam, Jacob and Colin have recently started branching out from the Seattle music circuit and just finished a run at the SXSW music festival in Austin, TX. There is no doubt that Hey Marseilles will catch the attention of many and grow a solid following.
Song Standouts
- To Travels & Trunks
- Rio
- Hold the Morning
Nashville singer-songwriter Tyler James got to Music City by way of the midwest, and boy does he fit right in. James really blew the doors off with his debut LP, It Took the Fire. This album is soulful and takes you on an emotional roller coaster from start to finish with a great mix of vocals, piano and horns.
It Took The Fire is an album of well thought out lyrical pieces that gives us a story with each track. It’s hard not to feel good just after listening to the first track, “All I Got”.
James sings, “you don’t need a soapbox to be heard”…he will definitely be heard. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for this one!
Song Standouts
-Soapbox Shakedown
-Sweet Relief
-Stay Humble
Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons come from Appleton, Wisconsin. Raised a preacher’s son, sheltered from mainstream pop music, Chisel’s smooth sound is a natural combination of midwest folk and soulful storytelling. The music’s intimate nature never waivers from the collection of dark, comfortable instruments, such as the oboe, bass violin, and piano.
Their latest album, “Death Won’t Send A letter”, was released on iTunes September 8th, 2009 by Black Seal/RCA/Sony Music. The official release will be on September 29th, 2009. The latest album includes support from a musical supergroup. Members of the The Raconteurs, Band of Horses, Beck, My Morning Jacket and many others came in to help create a solid album.
Song Standouts
- Born Again
- Angel of Mine
- On My Side
Stripped down, raw, and beautiful, Slow Club exemplifies the essence of Indie music in its purest form. The duo consists of Charles Watson (vocals, guitar) and Rebecca Taylor (vocals, percussion). Their folk, alternative fashion has been matched up to other groups with a similar arrangement as the White Stripes, but I don’t consider this a sound comparison. The mixed vocal work of both male and female give their music more depth and potential then most other groups Their use of a variety of unusual objects such as glass bottles and furniture keep their sound full of fresh details filling the back tracks. The vocals are usually fun and accentuated by the songs quirky lyrics.
American folk band Vetiver, led by songwriter Andy Cabic, refuses to limit themselves in musical style. With a distinct West Coast rock sound, this band has been making substantial music since 2004. Although not pushing out radio hits you’d hear on popular stations, their music is something to be revered. A sense of timelessness and an air of ambiguity are conveyed by the despondent tones and complement of warm strings. Standing in the shadows of Nick Drake and Neil Young, this band does not disappoint.
I’d like to believe that most listeners would have a diverse preference of where and when this music would soundtrack a moment. For me, this is summer sun music. The style promotes careless endeavors and worriless times.
