Here is the best of our November posts, a perfect mix tape to kick off the festive seasons and a nice reminder before we all get immersed in all those end-of-year top tens/twenties/fifties etc. And as always a couple of new ones too. Twenty five great tracks. Enjoy. Download Outer Minds – Until You’re Dead mp3 Pristine nugget of 60s inspired garage rock, twangy rough-cut … Continue reading MM’s Best of the Month: November
Fistful of Mercy is comprised of Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur and Dhani Harrison (George’s son) – a supergroup of sorts I guess. The band’s debut album, As I Call You Down, was released last month via Hot Records. We’ve got a taster for you below, Father’s Son. To be honest we weren’t expecting a great deal and we were pleasantly surprised and it was a … Continue reading Introducing…Fistful of Mercy
A short while ago we posted about folky Brooklyn troubadour Leland Sundries and his debut EP The Apothecary. Here is a video for one of the tracks, Elegy, that was filmed at the Staten Island tugboat graveyard, in a canoe among the rusted, half-sunken boats. Visit his MySpace here. Download Leland Sundries – Elegy mp3 (from The Apothecary EP) Continue reading New video from Leland Sundries
Here again is a short round-up of some of the better new releases we’ve come across recently. Once again, they all deserve more in the way of a narrative, but time can be a hard taskmaster on occasion. First up is the rather strangely named EP’s Trailer Park and their strangely compelling folk song tribute to Mario Vargas Llosa – this year’s Nobel Laureate in … Continue reading New Releases Round Up
Englishman is the musical project of Lexington, KY native Andrew English. Englishman’s self-titled debut full-length was cut to tape in the converted barn he helped to build on a rural Ohio farm, it is at once familiar and haunted. The ten snowy days of recording were broken up by family style meals of summer vegetables and winter toddies and the result is a record that … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Englishman
We posted recently here about the new Giant Sand album. It is a cracker – 25 years on and Howe Gelb can still mix it with the best and come out on top. It was released yesterday in the US and should be available from all half decent retailers on and offline. To celebrate here is a second track from the album. This one, Ride the Rail … Continue reading New Giant Sand Album Released
We posted about the gentle folk sounds of White Pines a while back, early on in the days of Mad Mackerel. White Pines is the project of songwriter Joseph Scott and we were pleased to get hold of a copy of his new album titled The Falls. We’ve listened a few times and it is ten songs that seem inextricably linked to his experience as they guide us … Continue reading New Album from White Pines
We missed the debut EP by White Buffalo, which came out two or three years ago, and now he is preparing his latest release, another EP called Prepare for Black and Blue. It is one of those searingly honest, and occasionally uncomfortable, listens. One of those listens where all you can do is shake your head and wonder at the lives some people get to lead … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…White Buffalo
As well as the nice videos that have been coming our way, there have been some decent cover versions too. Always a dangerous occupation we think, especially if you murder the song (looking at you Paul Young), but here are four worth some ear time that have been floating around… Add It Up is a stonewall classic, one of those songs that gets those of … Continue reading Cover Me…MM’s Going In
We posted about Gwyneth & Monko a little while ago and their excellent debut EP Good Old Horse. However, it is probably true to say that their new record, the self-titled Gwyneth & Monko will more accurately reflect what the duo sounds like live, which is somewhere between folky acoustic and indie rock. Back in July, Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko spent time honing new songs in a … Continue reading New from Gwyneth & Monko
The Mad Mackerel 