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Nick Mitchell Maiato – Pino Carrasco : Album Review
Nick Mitchell Maiato lives in Valencia, Spain. The other members of One Eleven Heavy live elsewhere. According to bandmate James Toth, the average band member commute is about 2500 miles, which…eh, if you vigorously bike for ten days straight, isn’t too bad, really. If only those borders were open! If only a global pandemic… Anyway. Nick wrote many of the songs for his debut solo record Pino Carrasco for what would…
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Jennifer Castle – Monarch Season : Listen
Jennifer Castle’s Monarch Season is unbelievably otherworldly-sounding. Suffused with home-grown, delicate playing and Castle’s breathtaking, breathy, fae-like vocals, the album contemplates her notion of song as “the balm of love and prayers unrequited.” Monarch Season by Jennifer Castle Of the title track from the album, Jennifer says: I remember writing Monarch Season last year this time. The monarchs were out in the sky, on the trees and in the meadows.…
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Black River Sides
This review is part of a series in which I review Neal’s solo records one by one chronologically, and chat with various friends and bandmates who were part of the making of each record. Last November, the entirety of Neal Casal’s solo discography became available on Spotify, and the difficult-to-find Black River Sides was at last available to the masses. This intimate-sounding live duet album was made with Neal’s good…
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Dan Horne – Blackjack : Listen
We’re just days away from the release of Dan Horne’s debut solo EP, The Motorcycle Song EP. The record’s four tracks all show a side of this talented dude’s many musical proclivities. Here’s the second single from the album, “Blackjack,” a swinging instrumental jammer that recalls a rural version of Stereolab hanging with Todd Rundgren, perched atop a mountain, plucking a banjo and exploring the sky, set aloft on the wings of a…
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Basement Dreams
This review is part of a series in which I review Neal’s solo records one by one chronologically, and chat with various friends and bandmates who were part of the making of each record. A collection of recordings made between 1996-1998 at Neal’s home studio in New Jersey, 1998’s Glitterhouse release Basement Dreams was named Americana Album of the Year by Mojo Magazine. As always, paired with Ginty’s glittering keys…
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Herman Dune – Say You Love Me Too : Listen
The Swedish-born artist has released the first single from his record Notes from Vinegar Hill. Herman Dune’s lyrics and delivery are heavily reminiscent of David Berman, to whom the record is dedicated. Caitlin Rose’s backing vocals along with pedal steel cement the Americana breeze that wafts through the album. Dune is certainly a character, in every sense, adopting various pseudonyms to release music under over the last 20 years (Dune…
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Gunn-Truscinski Duo – For Eddie Hazel : Listen
Long time collaborators Steve Gunn and John Truscinski are releasing their glorious sonic masterpiece, Soundkeeper, on Friday, October 9th. Following the first single, “Valley Spiral,” here’s a taste of what’s to come. On this single, Gunn says: For the Duo, our collaboration over the years has been inspired by extensive discussion of albums and musicians we love and admire. The tone and feel of Eddie Hazel’s guitar playing has always…
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Steven King – Drenched on a Bench : Playlist
Steven King just released a B-side from his 2019 album, Steven King on Ice on Broom Closet Records. “Satellite” is a compliment to the folky middle American lyric-driven garage-y album, evoking nostalgia and a youthful sense of wonder. Steven made this playlist for Petal Motel and said this: I haven’t been able to have much company over lately, so this playlist is the closest we can get to sharing a…
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Mojohand – Losing Hand
New Jersey cosmic Americana psych rockers Mojohand release their single, “Losing Hand” today. The tune features Dan Horne on pedal steel and is one of Mojohand’s best releases to date. They may be east coasters, but the heart of their sound is in the west. You can buy the single on Bandcamp today – check out past releases, too! These guys can really rock. And if you’re in the tri-state…
