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Tag: SLTM The Podcast

Movin’ and shakin’

Published September 30, 2011 by Stephen Carradini

The latest edition of SLTM the Podcast is sponsored by Independent Clauses. You don’t want to miss it, especially if you’re a fan of heavy music, 1800s poetry, or The Parson Red Heads.

Elizaveta initially comes off as Regina Spektor/Ingrid Michaelson follower, but there’s a sharp left hook in the chorus that has me very excited for the future. Don’t worry; you’ll know it. Hers is a career to watch closely. (As for the video? Well, it’s got serious wtf factor.)

Noisetrade’s Fall Sampler includes several artists that IC has featured among its 30-strong ranks: Brianna Gaither, Jenny and Tyler, Joe Pug, David Ramirez and Sleeping At Last, the last of which was covered so early on in Independent Clauses’ history that the review isn’t even on this version of the site. There are also several bands we highly recommend that haven’t been officially covered here at IC: The Middle East, Derek Webb + Sandra McCracken, Ivan & Alyosha, Josh Rouse and Josh Garrels. I’m guessing the other third is full of joy and wonder as well – I’ll be checking it out soon.

If you’re into the whole ’80s nostalgia thing that’s going around, you’re going to be all over Geoffrey O’Connor. His album Vanity is Forever is streaming in full over here. Seriously, it’s 1985 on that webpage.

Beirut’s The Rip Tide is still keeping me company, and now a visual aid has been supplied! Sunset Television made this bizarre yet somehow fitting clip for “Santa Fe,” and while I’m not really sure what’s happening, I enjoy it.

News! And some videos.

Published September 26, 2011 by Stephen Carradini

I just heard word that Independent Clauses is the official sponsor of this week’s edition of SLTM the Podcast! I am super-stoked about this, as Brad Bugos spins some great tunes and does a lot to promote good music out there in the world. In addition, The Duke of Norfolk will be getting a spin on the show, which drops Wednesday.

Broken Arm serves alt-country straight-up: It’s all Ryan Adams, Jayhawks, The Elected goodness up in here. (Side note: How do you know you’re in Portland? Your pedal steel player has dreads.) This in-studio of “The Cold” is the band’s first foray into the recorded world, but the band assures that more is on the way.

Once the unnecessarily long video intro finishes, “Orange Tree” by Paper Thick Walls is a charming acoustic-led tune in the vein of The Civil Wars, The Weepies and She and Him (although more Americana-tinged than each). The video is a bit goofy in contrast to the wide-eyed romanticism of the tune, but it’s fun.

 

Odds ‘n ‘ends

Published August 12, 2011 by Stephen Carradini

These guys said that pop music would eat itself, and they were right. But I’m not sure it’s the horrible thing they implied it would be. G-Eazy‘s “Runaround Sue” sees him rapping over Dion’s classic pop song – and it’s great.

The video, with near-perfect appropriations of ’50s dress, hair and make-up, is also worth mentioning as awesome.

Independent Clauses tends toward the quieter end of the spectrum these days, but SLTM (The Podcast) features great harder music, some courtesy of Phratry Records and Chuck Daley at Beartrap PR. I’ve covered a great deal of music from both sources, so I was excited to see someone else upping the good work. Hit up the podcast, which just released episode #116. Whoa.

My friend Jeff, who played with me on this album, was in a band called Best Left with one of the guys who is now half of the acoustic pop duo The Motha Folkin’ Soul. Jeff recommended/dragged me to their show at the local dive, and I went along almost entirely on the strength of the ridiculous name.

The band lives up to their eloquent name: the duo plays dirty ditties to make the members laugh, as wordplay, in-jokes (Kunek/Other Lives reference!) and goofy antics abounded in their short set. Their latest single is “Coffee Sex,” and if the song wasn’t so guile-free and catchy, I’d probably not listen to a song with that title. Instead, the songs are endearing and affecting in a “how is this so sweet?” sort of way. Awesome. Hit up their single here.

And that’s all I’ve got. Album reviews will return tomorrow, much to my own glee (and hopefully yours!).