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Essential Guitar Records – Bandcamp Shopping List for Winter 2022
You know I’m a slut for acoustic finger-style (or flat-pick, or electric, really any kind of soft->shred->soli guitar playing). I asked – many Twitter friends delivered. Here are a bunch of newer guitar (ok, I also added a few non-guitar, but, stringed-instrumental) albums (most recently released or about-to-be-released) that are just… music to my ears. Ernie Francestine – The Quiet ShiftSome of the prettiest playing I’ve heard in a while. Distinct & delicate. Keep your eye out for new stuff from Ernie to be released on War Hen Records sometime this year. The Quiet Shift by Ernie Francestine Duncan Park…
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Aspirational Arias : Experimental & Ambient Music to Breathe To
There was a recent article slamming many ambient albums I love and it seems so strange because that’s the beauty of the genre- it’s abstract, thwarts tradition, and what’s incredibly boring to one person could be extremely soothing to another, and vice versa. It’s like, criticizing dreams?? Weird. I already know I’m going to get some backlash for this article so prefacing now with a disclaimer that I am not any sort of scholar of ambient music and as someone who just barely started listening to it, I understand that there is depth and nuances I cannot yet grasp. I…
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Bandcamp Friday Shopping List – March Edition
SO many great records are being released today. I’ve noticed an interesting trend lately – lots of new releases coming my way with album art featuring doorways. Guess we all have, you know, leaving on the brain. My urge for going is stronger than ever in some ways. One year into the pandemic and some of us are settling into the groove, many more are suffering, and everyone is just trying to survive. There’s a beam of light streaming through the crack in the doorway though – despite a frustrating rollout, lots of folks we love are at least halfway…
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Bandcamp Friday Shopping List : Valentine’s Day Edition
Happy Bandcamp Friday! This is technically the winter edition, but in order to chase away the post-blizzard blues I’m going to make it all about love – whether it’s music about traditional love, music I love, or music exploing self-love and self-discovery. Some of it’s new, but I’m also picking things I’ve bought over the last few Bandcamp Fridays that make me feel. This music is all good for the heart. Bandcamp allows listeners and music lovers to directly support artists by waiving their (already relatively small) fee every first Friday of the month. All sales directly benefit the artists,…
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Bandcamp Friday Shopping List : Brain Soothers Edition
I don’t know about you but this has been a hell of a week, my every muscle is so tense you could poke me and I’d snap in two. I’ve really needed some quieter, mellow sounds of beauty to put on to quiet my racing thoughts and I’m sure you do too. Here’s what’s been helping. The Howard Hughes Suite – Stereochrome The elusive lonesome folk known as tHHs is one of my favorite ambient pedal steel players. This album is less Hearts of and more Space, layering atmosphere with psychedelia and showcasing the mysterious, shadowy cowboy’s intricate skill. Stereochrome.…
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Bandcamp Friday : Autumn Shopping List
It’s September, so basically fall. This list includes a lot of pre-orders, which I suppose is sort of a way of storing away sustenance for worse weather. And luckily, there’s a lot coming that’ll keep you warm and maybe less sad about shorter days and no longer being able to drink in the bike lane. I love ordering a record hella in advance, totally forgetting about it, ordering it again, and being completely surprised when a few copies arrive in the mail. Or maybe you’re more organized and don’t do that. Pre-ordering albums gives you something to look forward to…
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Bandcamp Friday : Spring Shopping List
Bandcamp is doing it again! This Friday, May 1st, and every first Friday through July, the streaming and purchasing platform is once again waiving their revenue share. Many artists are releasing special live albums, compilations, EPs, singles, etc. to further tempt you to buy. Several record labels are also waiving their share, so 100% of sales will go directly to the artist. You can view a comprehensive list from Bandcamp here of who’s who. Lots of second waves of stimulus checks will be hitting on April 30th (allegedly, we’ll see!) and it’s time to stimulate each other, baby. More importantly,…
