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Cameron Knowler & Eli Winter – Strawberry Milk : Listen
What’s better than one acoustic guitarist? Two acoustic guitarists, interweaving and interloping, playing complementarily and conversationally, balancing classic folk guitar elements with modern experimentalism. Also, a fantastic rendition of Michael Chapman’s “Caddo Lake.” Longtime friends Cameron Knowler and Eli Winter offer all this and more on Anticipation, their upcoming record of duets, recorded on the tail of a long jaunt through the deserts and hills of Texas before landing in…
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Kishi Bashi – Early Morning Breeze : Listen
The extraordinarily talented Kishi Bashi has shared a tribute to Dolly Parton via Joyful Noise Recordings on the morning of her birthday from the album Coat of Many Colors, which is also having a birthday this year – 50 years, in fact. The cover introduces a subtly transformed sonic palette, including a short violin solo from the string extraordinaire. “I’ve always loved Dolly Parton,” he explains. “I think an artist’s…
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Sunstack Jones – Last Room at the Petal Motel : Playlist
Golden Repair by Sunstack Jones Liverpool’s Sunstack Jones released an amazing record on Mai 68 Records in 2020 called Golden Repair that I missed when I compiled my Albums of the Year. Had I listened to it in time, it would have surely topped the list. Upon hearing the opening notes of “Where You Gonna Go,” I was already floored. By the end of “Nowhere Near an Ocean”, I was…
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Yasmin Williams – Urban Driftwood : Listen
Northern Virginia guitarist Yasmin Williams just released the eponymous single from her upcoming album, Urban Driftwood, out on January 29th via Spinster Sounds. As a lover of acoustic guitar, Yasmin’s style thrills me – it’s far from the usual ambient fare that I often play in the background while I work, her combination of fingerstyle and lap-tapping is dreamy and highly engaging. Watching her play is absolutely enthralling – truly…
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Desert Skies: Modern California Country-Rock Essentials
Originally posted on Riffs & Rhymes on 1.13.21. Thanks for asking me to talk about all of my favorite records, Roberto; and teaching me about some new ones! Last month, Beachwood Sparks officially reissued their self-titled debut album in light of its 20th anniversary. The reissue, out via Brent Rademaker’s L.A. imprint Curation Records, includes an exquisitely packaged vinyl remaster, new merch, and a Beachwood Deluxe CD comprised of alternate versions of classic songs and…
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Fruit Bats – Holy Rose
One of our very favorite artists Eric D. Johnson, aka Fruit Bats, just announced a new record, The Pet Parade, that’ll be released on March 5th via Merge Records. Eric says, “It’s a floaty record with lots of hypnotic cry-alongs, but there are also some bona fide jams in there for swaying to.” Have a listen to the incandescent first single, “Holy Rose” below. “Holy Rose” is possibly the most…
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Adeline Hotel – “Photographic Memory” and “I Have Found It”
Adeline Hotel makes me feel the way I felt when I “discovered” Yo La Tengo in junior high – such a warm fuzzy feeling, quiet but so big, delicate and unassuming. When Dan Knishkowy told me he was releasing an acoustic, instrumental companion piece to last year’s Solid Love, I squealed out loud. Solid Love quickly shot to the top of my favorites of the year list, with its warmth…
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A La Sombra De Un Árbol : A Mix Curated by Buck Curran
I love acoustic guitar more than almost anything, especially gorgeous, intricate, finger-style work. So when Buck Curran introduced himself, I was immediately enamored with his playing – thoughtful and deliberate, intensely intimate, moody and sensual. In 2020 he put out No Love is Sorrow, his third solo release after many years as half of psych-folk duo Arborea. It’s a lovely, meditative album with an organic feel, with instrumentals interwoven with…
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Bobby Lee – Origin Myths EP
British primitive cosmic rocker Bobby Lee has announced a forthcoming EP, out March 5th on Natural Histories. Among a plethora of incredible British cosmic cowfolk musicians, Bobby stands out with his shimmering guitar tones, standing at that interstellar crossroads between Americana, American primitive, psychedelic and shoegaze. Hot on the heels of his excellent 2020 release, Shakedown in Slabtown, the songs on Origin Myths songs positively vibrate, lifting the listener to…
