Trying to prove something I don’t need to

Louisville native Chelsey Scott spent the past decade honing her craft in Nashville within an impressive community of songwriters.  I caught her opening for Sandra McCracken a few years ago while visiting friends in the city and was instantly drawn in by her voice.

Her debut The Little Boat EP (now available as a free download) is an auspicious quiet affair.  With this new set, Chelsey stretches out dynamically and takes a gigantic step forward in her songwriting.

Today marks the digital release of The Faithful via iTunes and various other online retail outlets.

:Barrett

The new me’s walkin’

Tyler James, acclaimed solo artist and keys man for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, debuted a batch of new songs written with Jessica Maros as new band Escondido for the very first time at his show with American Thrift last fall. Now the Nashville duo’s throwback country-meets-spaghetti Western debut record has arrived, and it includes the modern classic “Cold October.”

Watch a making-of video for the album here.

 

:Jeff

More than I am naturally

What happens when all you’ve ever known musically is suddenly gone? What happens when you have everything, but it feels a lot like more emptiness? Mandolin prodigy Chris Thile was in this place at age 26 when his world renowned, Allison Krauss-assisted band Nickel Creek called it quits.

What happened next is documented in the brand new film How to Grow a Band. It follows Thile as he launches a new project detractors called a “flight of fancy” but fans call the Punch Brothers. Watch the full trailer here.

“Rye Whiskey” – Punch Brothers
“Martha My Dear (Beatles cover)” – Punch Brothers

:Jeff

The medication made us sick

Esperanza Plantation recording artists Johnny Bertram & The Golden Bicycles announce the release of their second long-player Neon City on 24 April 2012.

‘Miracle’ (free download)
‘Wave’ (streaming)

‘Private Land’ (video) from debut album Days That Passed.

:Barrett

Some too much, and others not enough

Most said it would never happen (including Jeff Tweedy himself), but tomorrow sees the release of Mermaid Avenue Vol. 3 as part of a deluxe reissue of the entire sessions recorded by Billy Bragg and Wilco for the Woody Guthrie tribute records that put new music and melodies to long lost unpublished lyrics Guthrie’s daughter Nora discovered among her father’s belongings long after his death.

This is some of the best music Wilco has ever recorded and a remarkable testament to the visionary power of Guthrie as a voice for the downtrodden and the open-hearted everywhere.

“Another Man’s Done Gone” – Wilco
“California Stars” – Wilco
“Unwelcome Guest” – Billy Bragg & Wilco

:Jeff

The characters are real so don’t write me out

The Seattle Times recently featured a series of local musicians covering Damien Jurado songs curated by his wife Sarah Jurado.

“Last Rights” by Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate
“Cloudy Shoes” by Al James of Dolorean
“Beacon Hill” by Jon Russell of The Head and the Heart
“I am the Greatest of All Liars” by Pickwick 

:Barrett

I watched us grow and grow

Canadian musician Patrick Watson is set to release his new record Adventures In Your Own Backyard on 01 May in the US.

Stream album track Into Giants and watch Patrick Watson at WNYC performing tracks from 2009′s Wooden Arms LP.

:Barrett