Christmas Post 2: The Woods

Hazy, folk inspired band Woods have offered up this cover of San Francisco pianist Vince Guaraldi’s festive tune, Christmas Time Is Here. The original comes from the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack and the band have captured its underplayed joy and quiet elation quite perfectly. Nostalgia never felt so good! Download The Woods – Christmas Time Is Here mp3 (from A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack) Continue reading Christmas Post 2: The Woods

Nice Free Sampler From Noisetrade

  Noisetrade are offering a very nice free sampler featuring the Best of The American Songwriter sessions. It has thirty tracks including such MM faves as Joe Pug, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Vetiver, Justin Townes Earle and The White Buffalo amongst many others. There are a couple of choice tracks from it below, but just visit their Facebook page here and click on the Like button … Continue reading Nice Free Sampler From Noisetrade

Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (2nd December)

Humour me this week.  Sunderland is my team. My home town, my home team and now the whole family’s team. It’s a bit like parenting a teenager (she said bitterly): you love them regardless, would never desert them, hurt anyone who ever criticised them, but they don’t half push you to the edge at times. Today, it looks like dreams really do come true. For … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (2nd December)

Christmas Post 1: Josh T Pearson’s O Holy Night

We admit it! Christmas is coming and we’re happy! The snowflakes are turned on and we’ll be posting a whole load of Christmas specials and other festive bits over the next month. First up is Josh T Pearson who has deservedly won many plaudits and accolades for his deeply personal and affecting album Last Of The Country Gentlemen, most recent of which was Rough Trade’s selection … Continue reading Christmas Post 1: Josh T Pearson’s O Holy Night

Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: November 2011

Despite the end of the year fast approaching, thankfully the quality of new music shows no signs of slowing. Here are the best of our November offerings, together with some tasty new tracks to round off the mix.Over thirty great songs – just right for the roaring fire and the cocoa! Download Siskiyou – Twigs And Stones mp3 (from Keep Away The Dead) Brilliantly judged … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: November 2011

Uncut Magazine’s Best Of The Year Free CD

Like all the big music magazines in the UK, Uncut is publishing their top 50 albums of the year in their current issue and thankfully unlike Q, they have managed to avoid the monumental foolishness of putting Florence & The Machine at Number 1. They are also giving away a pretty decent cover CD with tracks from some of their favourite 2011 albums including Josh … Continue reading Uncut Magazine’s Best Of The Year Free CD