[Weekend Video] Island by Wyatt Overman (Live Basement)

This album was recorded over the span of two winters. In basements & bedrooms.

Go fifty miles from the nearest city and step outdoors. Whether the terrain is mountainous, a desert wasteland, covered in trees, or sprawling with flat country, the effect remains the same. A breath of fresh air, a step away from civilization and all of a sudden we're confronted with our clearest thoughts and greatest demons. With certain songs and certain albums, I can recreate this feeling just by pressing play. Two Winters, by Wyatt Overman is one of those albums.

As much as I've tried to find the right words to pair with Two Winters, words that could convey even the slightest brilliance the album brings to listeners, I've given up beyond what I've written above.

In a dark basement, fitting to the album's tagline, Overman performs Island with a raw passion and beauty that I didn't think could be more memorizing than the original song. With cuts to picturesque scenes of nature, juxtaposed with the dimly lit basement cave, the video presents this trapped-in-the-open feeling that pairs perfectly with Island's lyrics.

Stream Two Winters on Overman's bandcamp page.

 

[Local] The First Few by The Ripples

My alma-mater, The University of Washington, was attended by a slough of musically talented individuals who would later be part of Seattle's greatest bands (Sound Garden, The Long Winters, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Hey Marseilles, PUSA to name a few). With other universities in the general Seattle area, such as The Evergreen State College, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University and The University of Puget Sound, the Seattle-Tacoma area of Washington State is not short on a creative music scene. Because I moved to DC after college, I often forget about the universities in the district. Georgetown, George Washington, and American, among others, also cultivate musical talent and bring a young livelihood to this city.

Although I wouldn't pigeon-hole them as a "college band", The Ripples, a new folk-rock band, is mainly composed of current students at Georgetown University. To say I'm impressed with their debut album, The First Few, would be an understatement.

The album opens up with Dorothy, a track that immediately tells the listeners which direction this album is heading in, "Midnight, comes around, the day you turn 19. Bags packed, you're ready, cab’s revving in the street." There's a coming to age theme yet the music accompanying the lyrics sounds more mature, in a good way. The energy of 1960's rock and the use of much harmonica will be a common thread as the album progresses.

Woke Up In Mexico, bringing in a more airy sound, turns the whisky from Dorothy into tequila. What I find fascinating is the liquors referenced in both songs actually describe the overall feeling put forth. Listeners will also find fantastic songwriting with clever metaphors to be another foundational aspect of The First Few.

The track I can't stop listening to is Portrait, which is an even-keel, balanced-sounding song throughout. Here, I like to hone in on the lyrics which reminisce on old times with family and friends using painting metaphors - brushes, strokes, and the richest of colors. This isn't the last time we get an art metaphor in this album, an upbeat track, Picasso makes use of the Spanish artist. I'd like to see more art and art history references in folk music - it's a nice change of pace.

Frankie's Song is impeccably composed, with a take on smooth jazz, that surprisingly sounds from California than anywhere else. This is a good example of the interesting characterization The Ripples feature in their tracks. Frankie sounds equal parts frustrating and endearing, but listeners get a good feel for the type of person she is at the core.

Listen to The First Few on bandcamp, soundcloud or spotify. Support Georgetown's newspaper and radio station by checking out their write ups on the album at The Hoya and the WGTB blog. You can catch The Ripples, with a few other local acts, at Rock and Roll Hotel tonight (tickets here).

A Marriage In The Dark by Night Beds

I can't help but to follow Bree Ryback of Capitol Romance on her blog and on Twitter. As an alternative wedding coordinator for DC area couples, she posts the most adorable weddings, ideas and engagement sessions! While I am no where near to being engaged or married, it's always a little bit of sunshine reading about local area couples in love who made it to the end of the aisle but to the beginning of a life together.

One of my favorite parts of Capitol Romance is Bree's series: Wedding Music That Doesn't Suck. Let's face it, I have a spotify playlist that is constantly updated, titled: "secret wedding playlist". Oh yes. I am already curating that perfect list of songs that will carry me through one of the biggest days of my life. While some girls have their wedding pinterest boards, I have this and I'm not even (that) ashamed.

Bree already has a few of my favorite contenders covered: Ends of the Earth by Lord Huron, 5 Years Time by Noah and the Whale, Thunder Clatter by Wild Cub, San Francisco by the Mowgli's, It's Nice to Be Alive by Ball Park Music, and so many more. She, obviously, has an amazing taste in music and I'm sold. While I'm in this sappy mood (currently, a few glasses of wine in at Busboys & Poets), I want to share the newest addition to my "secret wedding playlist".

A Marriage In The Dark by Night Beds is a track off of Night Beds EP, a harder to find release from Winston Yellen, who posted the link to download the EP on his Twitter a few weeks ago. I must say, the six tracks on this EP are some of my favorite work from Yellen and from the folk genre in general.

After a scratchy, old-fashioned, dramatic opening, A Marriage In The Dark is a stunningly beautiful song that stands just as grand without music, as a poem or a reading. With alternating rhyming schemes that switch up as the song progresses, this song will not escape my thoughts and wistful daydreams.

In your wedding gown
Is how he sees you now
A life to be found
In your wedding gown

Keep your picture in my shoe
Stomp my feet just to feel you
Come look at what we've found
Our hearts lying on the ground

Come on lets get married
We are more than ready
Come on lets get married
Tell me when you're ready 

What I find most fascinating about this song is how Yellen was able to evoke such honest, good-natured, loving emotions among "basements, a lot of alcohol, a lot of irreverent tuning but not that much need for talk" during the earlier stages of Night Beds. Catharsis the song may be, but I can't help but believe (hope) the story he is singing has a happy ending for him.

 

Chapters by Marshall Lewis

I'm no stranger to loving contemplative songs surrounding the issues of maturing, moving on, growing up or the passage of time. Before anyone casts judgement my way, I'm in my early twenties and music is my biggest but least obnoxious quarter-life crisis outlet. Instead of pouring my thoughts out in controversial or annoying Thought Catalog type lists, I have playlist after playlist of reflective but almost sulking tracks that feel right in this period of my life. 

Chapters by Marshall Lewis is a song I have been waiting months to have in my rotation of reflection-provoking music. Back in the early days of District of Folk, I wrote about Marshall Lewis' song, Step Into My Life (Restless) because I was so dearly impressed. At the time, he was just eighteen but already drawing rightful comparisons to Dallas Green of City and Colour. With Justin Vernon and Sufjan Stevens as other inspirations, he's setting a high bar for himself to live up to. Yet, somehow, that bar seems attainable the more I hear. 

Don't get me wrong, I will always love the early work from Marshall Lewis. However, I can't help but be excited for the direction his music is moving towards. Chapters has a beautifully polished sound and wisdom that puts him on a level playing-field with the big names in the genre. The brooding lyrics paired with the emotive vocal chords and soft guitar may fit the cookie-cutter mold of radio-bound folk, but beneath the surface Chapters offers so much more. 

I've been rooting for Marshall Lewis for seven months now and I will continue to do so. He strikes me as wise beyond his years and gives off good-natured vibes that will appeal to a broad spectrum of fans. Chapters only affirms these thoughts.

Listen to Chapters on Soundcloud or Spotify. I truly think this is a folk gem that everyone could appreciate. If low-fi electronica is more of your thing, the remix by Ianborg & Bronze Whale is also worth a listen. 

Coffee by Sylvan Esso

We've made it to Friday afternoon. This week was only a little bit hectic. The DC area experienced the closest thing to a real snowstorm in years. With slushy streets and frozen temperatures well in the single-digits, the Polar Vortex 2.0. came, saw and conquered. I went stir-crazy working from home two days in a row and came back to the office to deliver an hour long presentation (my first!). Last night was a late night with friends. It's 1:45PM on Friday and I can finally breathe this week.

While I'm tempted to walk over to Starbucks for a 2PM coffee fix, I'm holding steady for now and playing Sylvan Esso on repeat.

Where have we heard Sylvan Esso before? In September the due opened for Volcano Choir where I was immediately enamored and vowed to catch them again if they ever headlined. With lush vocals and catchy dance beats, Hey Mami and Play It Right were streamed to the point of wear. Sadly, up until now, these two songs and their concert sets were about the only material coming forth. I bought tickets to see them at DC9 on Tuesday -- where/when else would I hear more of their music?

Today is a great day, as a new track, Coffee, was released yesterday. Coffee is more mellow than Hey Mami or Play It Right but that's not a bad thing. In fact, I'm relieved that the band can execute perfect dance anthems and more quiet pop. I can't help but to notice and love the percussion here - especially how much the xylophone stands out.

"Get up, get down" is repetitive. It's almost as if the entire song is composed of just that line. Coffee, as a substance, does bring us up until we reach the epitome of a mid-day high and subsequently crash hard. Coffee, as the song, is gentle. The more I listen, the better I feel but it's a very gradual climb.

Listen to Coffee on bandcamp. If you're in the DC area, I highly reccomend attending their show at DC9 on Tuesday, with local artist, PLOY. Come say hi. It's going to be a great time.

Salt by ear to the ground/ Salt by Wyatt Overman

Between being raised in a non-religious family and my tendency to be oblivious to idioms, I didn't know what the phrase the "salt of the earth" meant until a few months ago. The "salt of the earth" are those humble, unpretentious, just good people who are appreciated, loved and respected by all. This makes sense, as salt has been used metaphorically to represent loyalty, value and purification in the Bible and was a coveted mineral in ancient times.

The genre of folk is no stranger to religious undertones and harsh self-awareness. When the two are combined, dramatic symbols, such as salt, convey the woes of judgement, regret and disappointment.

Representing yet another idiom, ear to the ground is a project by Frank Hurkmans, based out of Utrecht in the Netherlands. While the music is a little rough around the edges, there's a lot of emotion and genre-blending wrapped up in the six-track self-titled EP. Salt, makes direct use of the "salt of the earth" idiom: "the salt of the earth I never was". This is in response to a judgement day, a once-promised future and the inevitable new start that comes with disappointing the ones cherished, "when August ends, I'll start all over again".

On the other hand, there's Wyatt Overman, who released this album, Two Winters, that I can't get enough of. This is an album so delicate, so fragile, so brilliant that I keep trying to write words to describe my feelings and constantly feel like I'm falling short. His Salt is much more indirect but conveys the theme of judgement and "salt of the earth" just as well as ear to the ground did. Here, there is a different take. Overman challenges his cherished one, "darling please, please listen to yourself. Who they hell have you become?" He mocks when he doesn't quite believe the words she has spread that they "are the salt, in/and the undertow", when in reality, their unit is falling to pieces.

You can listen to ear to the ground and Wyatt Overman over on their respective bandcamp pages. Listen to both takes on this classic idiom and think about those you consider to be the "salt of the earth". Or, live up to the expectations set forth and survive the judgement that will follow.

Only Time Will Tell (Demo) by Neal Martin Amundson

I have a soft spot for demos. In a way, a musician is trusting listeners with their vulnerabilities. These are honest words, the visions of a single song-writer or the few members of a band, and a raw sound that truly captures an artist's abilities. Sadly, while demos can be the bridge between recording songs in a bedroom and the possibility of mainstream success, it can be difficult to track them down. Nowadays, with sites such as bandcamp, soundcloud and the easy ability to upload songs for the world to hear, so many talented individuals are coming forth. There are the songs and albums recorded in basements, in living rooms, with family, with friends... Songs and albums that are so homegrown and so outstanding. These songs and these albums are the reason why I blog.

The current demo stuck in my head is this track, Only Time Will Tell by Neal Martin Amundson. To be honest, this is another Reddit find. Much like how Matthew Fowler posted Beginning once upon a time, "CrispyNeal" wanted r/indiefolk to take a chance on his music. I went for it.

Only Time Will Tell appears to be a coming of age/ moving on story that is stark and realistic. I'm not sure what Amundson's background is, but these are insights one usually only has after moving away from home, betting on yourself, and following your dreams. The song starts out steady but with no hook. Usually, I know I'll love a song after a few seconds. I almost gave up until the chorus changed everything,"but only time will tell, if I'm across the state line and living well. Well, they say that's what passion's for, stepping out and seeing more. So, kick me passionately out the door." These wise words are consistently stuck in my head as of late.

Listen to Only Time Will Tell on soundcloud and marvel at how great the music climate is these days.

Mix: The World Takes (Winter 2014)

(jumping on the seasonal playlist bandwagon)

Winter is here. I'm shivering with every step away from my apartment building door and huddling indoors as much as I can. There's no sign of summer anywhere, even if we were blessed with those two seventy degree days last week. I'm ready for the hibernation. Give me cuddling and netflix over heading out to the bars any night now. 

This season will pass quickly. There's my looming trip to Colombia on the horizon and pushing through the last few weeks of an out-of-town work project. With any luck, Spring will be here upon our arrival back from abroad. I'm not saying I want Winter to come and go, but it's by far my least favorite season. 

This mix flows well. I'm no longer pretending that songs fit together on a mix - these ones do. The artists represented here are both new and old loves. The cover art I whipped up is from a photo I took on the Amtrak up to Boston. I found the Lower Trenton Bridge to be intriguing and beautiful in its own way. 

1. City By The Sea - Fort Frances
2. Step Out - Jose Gonzalez 
3. If This Is Your Love - Andrew Austin
4. Feel For Me - Foy Vance
5. Will It Grow - Jakob Dylan
6. She Wants to Know - Half Moon Run
7. Cuckoo Song - A Silent Film
8. Holding On For Life - Broken Bells
9. Bad Kingdom - Moderat
10. Drop the Game - Flume, Chet Faker
11. You As You Were - Shearwater
12. Two Winters - Wyatt Overman
13. The Line - The Eastern Sea
14. Mask - Folly and the Hunter
15. Taft - Donovan Woods
16. Setting Our Tables - The Last Bison

Spotify 

Shadow of A Man by Neulore

In an era of acts such as Lord Huron, Wake Owl, Field Division, and even Local Natives, bands that blend folk with thunderously big harmonies, picturesque soul searching lyrics and a touch of dream pop are making the genre more accessible to everyone. I have this theory that, at least for a while, we've seen the last of new "Mumford" bands getting radio play. The move towards a more alternative or pop sound is sure to win out over campy, mandolin-laced tracks, in my opinion. 

Shadow of a Man by Neulore would be another move in that direction, speaking to the part of our instincts that aspire to go home after a period of wanderlust. While the band is composed of two guys (+ friends) from Nashville, I find the sound teetering between the forests of the Pacific Northwest and the deserts of the Southwest. However, according to their bio, the duo is focusing on bringing "heartfelt songs to the masses", the pursuit of wisdom, community and telling stories to their listens. Those sentiments are Southern.

In 2010, the two released Apples & Eve, and appeared to remain quiet for a period of time. Shadow of a Man was released in March this year, though tonight is the first time I've heard the track. What I find even more shocking is how this track appeared in an episode of Grey's Anatomy and it still completely slipped under my radar. With a record deal, TV placements, and new merchandise in 2013, 2014 is surely the year Neulore will strike even bigger. I can't wait for a full album release.

Listen to Shadow of a Man and give yourself hope that mainstream folk will proceed in this direction. The track is available to listen to and buy on bandcamp and soundcloud.

In Now And Then by Cataldo

CATALDO – LP4 COMING 2014 from Tyler Kalberg on Vimeo.

Eric Anderson, the multi-instrumentalist and lyricist behind Cataldo, knows how to craft albums with insanely brilliant songs about the trials and tribulations of life and love. Prison Boxing, released in 2011, features nine tracks with notions of hopeless romanticism, clever metaphors, and vivid imagery that has listeners both aspiring to find magic and staying realistic. I had this album on repeat for most of the year.

It was announced a few months ago that we'd see another album from Cataldo, Gilded Oldies, in the new year. I'm already anticipating this album to be one of my favorites of 2014. Unfortunately, March 4 is still two months away.

To hold us over, MAGNET Magazine premiered a track off of the album. In Now And Then stays true to Cataldo's distinct style and sound, yet also feels more mature. There's the opening piano and drum bit with a lush rhythm that has me tapping and nodding along. The trumpets are a treat that build up to the best instrumental portions presented in these three minutes. Lyrically, there's not as much to offer but I don't feel as if I'm missing out. "I'll be in now and then" continues with Anderson's apparent tradition of vague lyrics that are likely attributable to failed relationships. These emotions aren't trivial ones. "I'll be in now and then" could represent that sinking feeling in my stomach as I wander the streets of my neighborhood, anticipating the dreaded moment where I'll see an ex-boyfriend. Replace "Rebecca, Rebecca, Rebecca" with the name of any ex-boyfriend or girlfriend and this song just became easy to relate to.

Listen to In Now And Then over on MAGNET Magazine's online site. Join me as I count down the days until Gilded Oldies is released.