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New name, new site, new features, same great music. 

New Multitudes

New Multitudes comes to us as an interpretation of the work of icon and musical legend Woody Guthrie. Jay Farrar (Son Volt), Will Johnson (Centro-matic), Anders Parker (Varnaline), and Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket) come together to present 23 sets of previously-unrecorded Guthrie lyrics. The album, though possibly billed as a tribute, feels like so much more. It seems, in this day and age, the sure embodiment of all the emotions Woody conveyed through his words. It is excellent, if only for its ability to capture these emotions. The men's voices blend beautifully, and the subtle layering added to many of the stripped down guitar ballads works tremendously well. Listen now!

Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames--"Hoping Machine"

Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames--"Talking Empty Bed Blues"

Wildlife - "Sea Dreamer" Music Video

Canadian rockers Wildlife, the guys behind the irresistible tune "Stand In The Water," have released their debut music video for "Sea Dreamer"! The hilarious clip shows the band in a series of conflicts with an evil rival gang! Check it out!

Wildlife-"Stand In The Water"

The Shins - "Bait and Switch"

The Shins have released another video from their upcoming album, Port of Morrow, due out March 20th. The video, for "Bait and Switch," shows the band rehearsing in a Portland log-cabin. Enjoy!

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"

Newport Folk Festival Lineup Announced

The Newport Folk Festival, around since 1959, has been one of the most consistent and groundbreaking music festivals of the 20th century. Well for 2012, they are continuing the tradition. The lineup features some of the best folk acts around and is truly amazing. The festival, running July 28-29 in Newport, RI, will feature performances by My Morning Jacket, Jackson Browne, Conor Oberst, Iron & Wine, Dawes, The Head and the Heart, City & Colour, The Tallest Man On Earth, Alabama Shakes, Blind Pilot, Of Monsters & Men, First Aid Kit, and many many more. Check out all the festival info here!

The Lumineers - "Stubborn Love"

Look Sessions has released yet another great video of The Lumineers performing acoustically. This time, they jam their way through "Stubborn Love," a track we haven't had the pleasure of hearing yet. As every peek of their upcoming album has done, this excellent track has gotten us even more excited. Enjoy!

James Egbert

I am a big fan of electronic music. But I often get tired of the countless number of producers that don't do anything new with the art. I tend to gravitate to towards the artists that expand the scope of the genre, artists like Pretty Lights, Big Gigantic, or Skrillex. That is why I took a liking to James Egbert. After first hearing his Blackhawk EP, I was shocked to find that the young producer had not garnered much attention yet. His four-song EP combines strong melodic components with heavy drops, and dubstep sounds that I have yet to hear anywhere else. The songs are available for free download below. Keep an eye on this guy. He's gonna be big. Enjoy!

Good Old War Behind The Scenes Video

Good Old War, the guys behind the recent single, "Can't Go Home," have given us an inside look into the studio as they prepare to release their album. The video below follows the group as they talk about the recording process for Come Back As Rain, and give us sneak peeks at a few of the new tracks. Enjoy!

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"