The marvellous Caitlin Rose (who played one of our favourite sets last time we were at SXSW) has shared a demo of a song called Been Thinkin Bout You All The Time via Soundcloud. It was written with Willie Breeding, from a chorus he had been carrying around for a while, and is just as fine a slice of sweet, melancholy country as you’re likely to … Continue reading Caitlin Rose – Been Thinkin Bout You All The Time
Just before Christmas we received an e-mail from Lord Buffalo with details of a new four track cassette EP called Castle Tapes. They explained it was a limited release to get a few songs out into the world before heading back into the studio to record a full length album. Amongst them is this folked-out, and truly excellent cover of the Roky Erickson classic Two … Continue reading New EP From Lord Buffalo
Folk troubadour Elijah Ocean (who popped up in our end of year best of lists) has just shared this sweet version of Townes Van Zandt’s 1972 classic If I Needed You. Have a listen. . Continue reading Elijah Ocean Covers Townes Van Zandt
Great Spirit’s debut EP, Front Porch to Frontier (out January 13th), draws from a wide range of nostalgic influences. From field recordings to spirit animals, The Grateful Dead to the Lone Ranger – the EP pays homage to the greater mystery that encompasses it all. Have a listen to an excellent track from it, the easy-going, rolling Americana of Road Less Traveled. . Continue reading MM Shorts 645: Great Spirit
Milton Star write and record their unique blend of indie and dark country in a converted church in darkest Fife. Each of their tracks is drenched in atmosphere – think Velvet Underground meets vintage Glen Campbell via Rick Rubin collaborating on the next David Lynch movie or soundtracking the latest HBO crime drama… With shades of Soulsavers and Mark Lanegan evident, Milton Star’s debut single Salvation … Continue reading MM Shorts 643: Milton Star
As we gallop towards the end of the year it is natural to start looking forward to 2015 and anticipating the new releases that will be coming our way. However, it is an inevitable certainty that, during 2014 we have missed out on a huge number of records that deserved a mention and sharing…so rather than look forward, we’ve looked back and picked out a … Continue reading Some We Missed (Round Up Time Again)
With his upcoming full-length record Windfall, to be released on the 10th March, Joe Pug has shared the debut single from the album. If Still It Can’t Be Found, which features Pat Sansone from Wilco on mellotron, is a yearning, sweetly strummed ballad that perhaps captures some of the hard times and question marks over his future as he struggled with writers block and, as he says, “fell out … Continue reading New Track From Joe Pug
And so we bring our round up of favourite songs, albums, covers, and guilty pleasures to a close with the final “best of” post, Mad Mackerel’s own top twenty. 20 Kye Alfred Hillig – My Young Love Was As Blind As Ray Charles And Half As Cold As Heat . 19 Parquet Courts – Black And White . 18 Jamie T – The Prophet . 17 … Continue reading Best of the Year: Mad Mackerel’s Top Twenty
Our penultimate offering comes in the shape of Mrs Mackerel’s favourite songs of 2014… …I think, being a fish of some advancing years now, I know what I like – but at least that ranges quite widely (she says, defiantly). As usual, though, I’m late to deadline, so without further pontification or procrastination, here are my favourite songs of 2014. 20. War On Drugs – … Continue reading Best of the Year: Mrs Mackerel’s Top Twenty
20) Natural Child – Dancin’ With Wolves . 19) Hamilton Leithauser – 11 O’Clock Friday Night . 18) Faces On Film – Percy . 17) Early Winters – A Thing For You . 16) Sleaford Mods – Routine Dean . 15) Eels – Mistakes of My Youth . 14) Chimes – Total Sunflower . 13) Dust From A 1000 Yrs – Smoke Em Up . … Continue reading Best Of The Year – Chris T Popper’s Top Twenty
The Mad Mackerel 