Bowerbirds - The Clearing

Is it too early in the year to nominate an album for my Best of the Year list? Bowerbirds certainly don't think so. With their previous albums, Upper Air and Hymns for a Dark Horse, I was made a fan and it was clear that the group had a huge amount of potential. The Clearing, however, realizes every last bit of that potential. The folk group from North Carolina skyrockets past their previous efforts, and, I think, makes the best album they possibly could have. 

From the first track, I knew things were different. The melodies of "Tuck The Darkness In" have been wandering around my head for weeks and the beautiful instrumentation reveals further subtleties with every listen. The song builds and builds, showing that when the group gets loud, their whole effect is more powerful. The second single, "In The Yard," surprises yet again, with soaring fuzzy guitar lines and yet another catchy melody. 

I could go on and on like this about every single track, but this piece of folk genius is best experienced firsthand. Not a single track stood out as being weak, although "Walk The Furrows" and "Now We Hurry On" were additional highlights. 

With The Clearing, Bowerbirds expand their sound, from almost exclusively slow acoustic ballads, to fuller arrangements with distorted guitars, more present drums, and strings. The vocals are stronger, less hushed, and more powerful. This album is everything Bowerbirds should be. 

Enjoy the video below of the Philip Moore and Beth Tacular discussing the making of the album. 

Bowerbirds-"Tuck The Darkness In"

Bowerbirds-"Walk The Furrows"

Plants and Animals - The End Of That

Canadian rockers Plants and Animals are back with their third full length, The End Of That. With this effort, the group solidly continues along their modern, classic rock path, not straying too far away from their roots. The first track, "Before," showcases the group's soft side, while hard-hitters like "Why & Why" and "Control Me," show the fellows loosening up a bit. The lead single, "Lightshow," is clearly the standout track, bringing all the trio's sounds together. The rest of the album, especially "2010," a seemingly very forced song about the end of the year, stumbles. Propelled by the strong single, the album is worth a listen, but "Lightshow," and the great music video for it, provide the listener with the best four minutes of the disc. Unfortunately, this does not seem like a step forward for the group, yet it is unlikely to drive any fans away. The End Of That isn't actually the end of anything. It is simply a sidestep. 

Plants and Animals-"Why & Why"

Stream Andrew Bird's New Album

Andrew Bird will be releasing his upcoming album, Break It Yourself, on March 6th! Before you buy, however, the kind man has allowed NPR to stream his album in its entirety! Check it out and enjoy!

Stream Break It Yourself here!

Stream Delta Spirit's New Album

San Diego-based Delta Spirit, wil be releasing their self-titled third album on March 13th. After hearing only the first single, "California," we were already excited. The band gave us even more reason to pine for the release when they said "We found the sound that we've been looking for, that we've been growing into, and as soon as we hit on it, we ran with it. That’s why it's a self-titled record, so we could connect our identity with the album, because this album is what we think Delta Spirit is. People make records for their time, and we wanted to make one for our time."

Stream the album in its entirety here!

Dub Fx

Dub Fx is not your average street performer. The Australian beatboxer/singer does not perform with any instruments, instead making his entire songs with only his voice. By running his voice through an effects pedal and a looping station, he is able to make beautiful hip-hop/reggae tracks that are much fuller than one would imagine.

A few years ago, after I saw a YouTube video (below) of Dub Fx performing one of his tracks, "Made," on the street, I became captivated by this extremely driven, and now hugely popular busker. The other day, I stumbled upon another video (below) that gave a very informative introduction to the mysterious artist. His socially concerned tracks on his debut album, Everythinks A Ripple, blend heavy bass with reggae beats and introspective raps, all done with his voice of course. Check him out!

Dub Fx-"The Rain Is Gone"

Recent Recommended Releases - 2-21-2012

Damien Jurado - Maraqopa
Damien Jurado-"Working Titles"

James Vincent McMorrow - We Don't Eat EP

James Vincent McMorrow-"We Don't Eat"

Sleigh Bells - Reign Of Terror

Julia Stone - Let's Forget All The Things That We Say - EP

Hey Marseilles

Hey Marseilles, a seven-piece group from Seattle, WA, blends folk music with orchestral and French influences to produce something soothing and beautiful. With a sound that brings to mind wide open spaces and long journeys, the self-proclaimed "folkestral" group has struck gold with their debut 2010 album, To Travels & Trunks. The acoustic "Someone to Love" brings to mind Death Cab For Cutie, while the title track evokes more comparisons to Of Monsters & Men, or a French-tinged The Head and the Heart. Not a single track is weak, and the first and last tracks act as perfect bookends to the journey that is To Travels & Trunks. Check out a great Look Session of the group performing their new single, "Elegy" below. Also below are their tour dates for SXSW and Sasquatch! Check them out!

Hey Marseilles-"To Travels & Trunks"

Hey Marseilles-"Someone To Love"

Hey Marseilles-"Cigarettes"

Edward Sharpe Announces New Album

Edward Sharpe & The Magentic Zeros have announced that they will be releasing their long-awaited sophomore album on May 29th. The follow-up to their acclaimed 2009 debut, Up From Below, was recorded all around the country. We're excited to see what they come up with and will keep you updated on the album news. The release will be preceded by a short March tour. Check out the dates below!

Take Care - Somewhere Safe

         After carefully honing their sound, and launching an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign to fund recording, Take Care has finally released their debut album, Somewhere Safe. The Boston-based group, led by brothers Kyle and Dan Joseph, has crafted an album that has kept me coming back and listening again and again. On the album, the brothers find a sound that, while combining many familiar elements, succeeds in forging new ground. Jazzy interludes lead into catchy pop hooks and soaring synths with superb percussion throughout.
         While overall a fairly poppy set of songs, each track reminds you not to jump to conclusions too quickly, and keeps you guessing the whole time. A song that reminded me of a happier version of The Strokes, was followed by a track with Bon Iver-like vocal harmonies. The group displays a wide variety of styles, each one better than the last. This album falls perfectly between its influences and something brand new. It ends up showing obvious influence from a broad selection of sounds while maintaining strong originality. It is not very often that a group comes along with a sound that you can truly call new. Take Care is one of those groups. Take a listen and enjoy!

Buy Somewhere Safe on iTunes

Take Care-"Lockjaw"

Take Care-"Orphan"

Yellow Ostrich Announce New Album

Alex Schaaf and crew have announced that they will soon be releasing the follow-up to their fantastic debut album, The Mistress. The upcoming record, Strange Land, will be released on March 6th! One of the tracks on the album will be "Marathon Runner," an excellent tune that they recorded for their latest Daytrotter Session. This is one of our favorite Yellow Ostrich tracks yet, and we could not be more excited to hear more.

Yellow Ostrich-"Marathon Runner"

Boy & Bear

After making quite a few waves in their native Australia, Boy & Bear are starting to make their way to the States through the airwaves. The folky group from Sydney are easily comparable to Mumford & Sons, but have a sound that sets them apart and draws additional comparisons to City & Colour, as well as former tourmates Angus & Julia Stone. Their debut full length, Moonfire, was released in August, and I have yet to find anything wrong with it. Led by the powerful and catchy single "Feeding Line," the album has been on repeat in my stereo for weeks, and is one of the strongest debut albums of the year. They recently won the ARIA Album of the Year award in Australia, and I am confident they will find fans all over the globe.

Boy & Bear-"Lordy May"

Boy & Bear-"Feeding Line"

Ben's Favorite Albums of 2011

What follows are the ten albums that most deeply affected me this year. 2011 was a brilliant year for music, and narrowing this list to ten was a challenge. The records that made it are ones that moved me, that I listened to on repeat for what felt like months, that really forced me to feel. I'm no professional critic, I can hardly claim that these are the "best of the year." But for me personally, these albums represent everything I love about great music. Here are my favorites, in no particular order.

Dawes - Nothing is Wrong
"Million Dollar Bill"--Dawes

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing
"Stamp"--The Rural Alberta Advantage

Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune
"Oh Fortune"--Dan Mangan

Wilco - The Whole Love
"Born Alone"--Wilco

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
"Calamity Song"--The Decemberists

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
"Battery Kinzie"--Fleet Foxes

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
"Ashes & Fire"--Ryan Adams

Bon Iver - Bon Iver
"Towers"--Bon Iver

The Black Keys - El Camino
"Gold on the Ceiling"--The Black Keys

Joe Henry - Reverie
"Odetta"--Joe Henry

Notable Exceptions:

Yellow Ostrich - The Mistress

"Mary"--Yellow Ostrich

The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart

"Down in the Valley"--The Head and the Heart

(Both of these albums were released in 2010, then re-released in 2011, to greater commercial success.)

Our Favorites of 2011: Albums - Jonah's List

Considering that The Galley is made of two people, we have had some quite lengthy discussions about our favorite albums of the year. We have decided to share with you two lists: Each of our top ten albums of the year. This way, you can learn about our individual tastes and find out about even more great albums. Here are the albums that I (Jonah) enjoyed most in 2011:

10. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Bon Iver's debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, provided a beautiful, sparse snapshot of a lonely Wisconsin winter. With his followup record, Justin Vernon took some risks, and they all paid off. Ditching the acoustic guitars for synths, Vernon made a completely different album, with a fuller, less raw sound, while maintaining the paralyzing beauty of For Emma. If his first record was winter, Bon Iver is spring.
Bon Iver-"Holocene"




9. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

I wouldn't say I believe in miracles, but the completely random meeting of Joy Williams and John Paul White at a songwriter's conference is about as close as you can get. Their voices, extremely different, yet both flawless, combine to form something much greater than the sum of its parts. The duo, one of the best live acts of the year, has an unmatched chemistry. The songwriting here is great, but what jumps out is the sheer beauty of two incredible voices interacting, entwining. It's mesmerizing. 

The Civil Wars-"I've Got This Friend"

8. Bright Eyes - The People's Key

Conor Oberst has made many great albums. But with The People's Key, he took the folk, Americana sound that has defined the band, and turned it up a few notches, making a heavier rock record than ever before. In 2009, he was quoted saying that he soon wanted to "retire" the Bright Eyes name and "clean it up, lock the door, say goodbye". I sure hope he doesn't, but if this was his swan song, it was a perfect way to go out.
Bright Eyes-"Jejune Stars"



7. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

M83 frontman Anthony Gonzalez has made an epic. This double album provides 22 tracks of the best synth-heavy electropop out there. After not opening his mouth much on his first five albums, Gonzalez finally sings on almost every track, and his voice sets the album apart from his previous efforts. He has always been great at creating moods with his music that take you in and don't let you out. With Hurry Up, the music keeps you for twice as long and immerses you in an 80's album that is far too full and lush to have actually been made in the 80's.
M83-"Midnight City"
6. The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade

The Belle Brigade are as new as any album on this list, yet do not sound or perform like it. Brother and sister Ethan and Barbara Gruska form the heart of the group, trading vocal duties and riffs throughout the disc. One of the best debut albums in a while, The Belle Brigade combines country twang, infectious melodies, and soaring harmonies to create a folk-rock masterpiece. They are a band to watch in 2012. They are going places.
The Belle Brigade-"Losers"

5. The Black Keys - El Camino

Brothers, the 2010 album by the blues-rock duo, skyrocketed The Black Keys into the spotlight, labeling them one of the top rock bands of the year. With El Camino, they secure their spot for quite a while. Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach take the grooves of Brothers and turn it up a notch, making a louder, faster, more exciting album. The record is filled with grooves that will stay in your head and keep your body moving all day.
The Black Keys-"Gold On The Ceiling"


4. Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

I began this year unaware of Dan Mangan, a Canadian folk crooner based in Vancouver. Luckily, with my introduction to his music, also came a brand new album, and his best one yet. Oh Fortune takes the prettiness of his previous effort, Nice, Nice, Very Nice, and roughs it up a little bit. With a beautifully gruff voice not unlike Glen Hansard, Mangan has hit his stride with this surprise masterpiece.
Dan Mangan-"Starts With Them, Ends With Us"


3. Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math

Andy Hull and crew have now released three very solid rock albums. What stands out about their latest, best, and most cohesive work, is its lack of weak links. Every track is an emotional, powerful piece, chronicling a man's process of questioning every aspect of his life. This album takes the band's sound to exactly where it has always been heading. This is Manchester Orchestra at its finest.

Manchester Orchestra-"Simple Math"


2. The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

The Decemberists have been known to be considered "challenging". Their previous albums have included folk epics upward of ten minutes that, while being great songs, have provided a reason for the band not to top the charts. With The King Is Dead, the group has slightly altered the formula. They keep the clever lyrics, beautiful instrumentation, and  catchy melodies, while providing a new level of accessibility that has only expanded their audience.
The Decemberists-"June Hymn"


1. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

To be honest, I was not as overjoyed with Fleet Foxes' first record as most people. It was beautiful, yes, but it simply did not strike me as an album that kept my attention, or even deserved a huge amount of it. That all changed with Helplessness Blues. Fleet Foxes have made a masterpiece here. It is an album that is brilliant now, and could have been just as astute forty years ago, the kind of album that makes you want to walk away from your computer, run into the woods, and never look back.
Fleet Foxes-"Helplessness Blues"


Honorable Mentions:

City and Colour - Little Hell
Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing
The Dodos - No Color
Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest
Grieves - Together/Apart
James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning

The Shins Announce New Album

The Shins have announced that their next album, the follow up to 2007's Wincing The Night Away, will be released in March. The record will be called Port Of Morrow. We're awfully excited!

Stream Jónsi's "We Bought A Zoo" Sountrack

The soundtrack to the upcoming Cameron Crowe film, "We Bought A Zoo," composed by Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi, is now available to stream online in its entirety!

Stream the Soundtrack here!

Recent Recommended Releases - 12-8-2011

The Black Keys - El Camino
Buy on iTunes
The Black Keys-"Gold On The Ceiling"

The Roots - Undun
Buy on iTunes
The Roots-"Make My"

New Jónsi Song Streaming

A few weeks ago, we heard "Gathering Stories," the first track off the upcoming Jónsi-composed soundtrack for the Cameron Crowe film "We Bought A Zoo". Now, there is another new track, titled "Ævin Endar,"streaming on Jónsi's website. His beautiful, atmospheric pop sound like it will fit perfectly with the film. Enjoy!

Stream "Ævin Endar"

Bowerbirds Announce New Album

North Carolina-based group Bowerbirds have announced that they will be releasing their next album, titled The Clearing, on March 6th! Having been made a fan by their last album, Upper Air, I am extremely excited to hear what is next for them. Check out the great first song off the upcoming album below.

Bowerbirds-"Tuck The Darkness In"

Bon Iver Deluxe Videos

Today, Bon Iver has released the deluxe version of his wonderful self-titled album, out earlier this year. The deluxe edition features video accompaniments to each song! You can view each video on Bon Iver's YouTube channel. Watch the video for "Perth" below.

Buy the deluxe version of Bon Iver on iTunes

Josh Garrels

Portland-based singer/songwriter Josh Garrels has grown on me recently with the release of his new album, Love & War & The Sea In Between, available on his bandcamp for free! The album explores a wide variety of genres. While Garrels does not succeed in pulling off everything, making the album a bit too far-reaching, some of the songs are gems, especially the lead track, "White Owl". He has a very unique voice with a huge range, and uses courageously large and complex arrangements. Stream his album below and enjoy a video of him performing "Words Remain" with a huge orchestra!