Bowerbirds: Crooked Lust

North Carolina is home from the lovely Bowerbirds; the foothills of the Appalachians. This plays out musically, adding in an element that originates high on a hill and echoes down to us flatlanders. This song, along with most of the rest of theirs, have a folk element that is absolutely breath-taking!

I like One Tree Hill, guys, okay?!

"My conscience is an avalanche; majestic, bewildering, and wholly careless." 

We Were Promised Jetpacks: Act on Impulse

We Were Promised Jetpacks exudes awesome, via strings, keys and drumbeats. Though a little different from their normal repertoire, Act on Impulse delivers this awesome--ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTLAND. Edinburgh, to be exact. 

Hammock: (Tonight) We Burn Like Stars That Never Die

Hammock is a post-rock/ambient project involving Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson who, unlike their post-rock cousins, utilize a sound that is more dream-like that leaves your ears happy. Their sound is densely-textured, and is driven by shimmering guitar-licks, due to the use of delay. Byrd describes it as "There are times when the need to create a thing begins to interrupt your life. And if you don't give in to it, everything else starts to suffer." I'm rather glad that he gave in.

Scott Matthews: Eyes Wider Than Before

Scott Matthews started off with an ambivalent relationship with music, but obviously reversed that situation. Maybe it is Britain's magic, or maybe it's just situational, but he obviously pulled out of it and has mastered the art of mellow and chill and embodied it in song form, with "Eyes Wider Than Before."

Sufjan Stevens: Casimir Pulaski Day

Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter, born in Detroit, Michigan. Drawing freely from the Bible and other sources of traditional beliefs, he incorporates them into his work. This allows for a cult following, as well as a die-hard opposition. He utilizes interesting sounds, and various time signatures, which was one of the hardest things things for me to do as a musician. The song is a gorgeous rendition of a terrible subject, which you hardly even notice: the death of a friend on a holiday.

In case you guys were wondering what Casimir Pulaski Day is, it's a holiday in Illinois, apparently. This holiday commemorates an American Revolutionary War hero who aided American cavalry. This holiday is celebrated in areas where there is a large Polish-American population, such as in Chicago.

"And he takes and he takes and he takes."

Dream Panther: Chutes and the Ladder

Dream Panther is an American duo who is are rooted in California, the American Midwest and Greek heritages. These cultures blend into the most hypnotic and innovative set, transforming moments into beats, air into water and letting you swim in the moment. Breathe (drink) deeply!

Keep Shelly In Athens: Recollection

Keep Shelly in Athens is a Greek duo. Combining electronic melody with some low beats and sprinkling on a bit of high lyrics, you come up with Recollection. Their first (and so far, only) album sold out, quickly.

Other Lives: For 12

Other Lives is an American indie-rock band hailing from Oklahoma. All five of the current members of Other Lives were part of the original band, Kunek, which was a genre-fusion. The fusion consisted of (at least) indie, ambient, post-rock and folk. The band continues to go forward with that same fusion, which is overall pleasant. 

Gem Club: Twins

Gem Club is an American (Boston, Mass.) project involving a musician, a cellist and a vocalist that is nothing short of  haunting and soul-touching. The band has been featured on several shows, including ABC's Reven8e because of their beauty. 

Macnaught: Jaws

Macnaught is still relatively unknown, but is really nice, with a nice guitar rhythm behind a chill, clean voice.

The Weepies: World Spins Madly On

The Weepies are a folk band made famous by their plug on Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Scrubs, and the like. Operating out of California, the couple love what they do, and you hear it transferring into the realm of their music. Their first album, Say I am You was the best-selling folk record in 8 countries!

"When it all seems out of place, the world spins madly on."

London Grammar: Hey Now

London Grammar's vocalist Hannah Reid has a sultry set of pipes, and combined with a minimalist background...you've got serious magic! Check out the up-and-coming group, with their hit debut fresh out of the box!

Honeybear: Bottom Over Top

Alter ego of Canadian, Aaron Meyer, Honeybear is a conglomerate consisting of his progression from traditional folk music to incorporating more ambient and pop influences into that. Bottom Over Top opens with a combination of (figuratively) fire crackling and water dripping as one combined sound, and that idea of naturalized harmony is carried throughout as he lonesomely croons about treacherous women and feelings of oppression but always finding balance between light and dark.

Jose Gonzalez (cover of The Knife): Heartbeats

Great cover.

Motopony: Wait For Me

Motopony has an awesome sound centered around Daniel Blue's original voice, and his matching E-string guitar. 

William Fitzsimmons: Passion Play

Passion Play speaks for itself, but I'll blurb the author. William is a singer-songwriter working out of Illinois, with deep roots in James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Dylan, and Joni Mitchell, as evidenced in his laid-back styling and acoustic background.

Calexico and Iron & Wine (cover of the Rolling Stones): Wild Horses

Calexico has the best version of this song. On vinyl. Oh. My. Gosh. (Iron & Wine is here, too.)

Laura Marling: Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)

Laura Marling, at least for me, is associated with good memories of getting better, of healing and of rehabilitation. Those feelings come back anytime I hear Laura's voice. I like to think she channels England's magic through her fingers and her voice. 

Baths: Aminals

Aminals is a fun song with a lot of different elements comprising the song!

Damien Rice: Cannonball

O is by and large the best album I've heard, and the decision of which song was again a struggle. All of them are something else, and should be listened to! Check out the whole album if you've got the time.