We are looking forward with much anticipation to the new album from Justin Townes Earle. His fourth release, Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now will be released this spring via Bloodshot Records. It comes ahead of a run of UK June dates in Bristol, Manchester and at London’s KOKO. The album was recorded completely live with no overdubs over a 4-day … Continue reading MM Shorts 145: Justin Townes Earle’s New Album
It is funny how things turn out sometimes. Four months ago, Austin Texas duo Twilight Hotel were turning up in various MM End-of-Year-Best-Of Lists following the release of their superb album When The Wolves Go Blind. On Saturday they turned up at the fag-end of their UK tour just a few miles from chez Mackerel playing a free show at the rather lovely, and certainly … Continue reading Twilight Hotel – Live Review
Orpheum Bell have become our favourite ‘Country & Eastern’ artists! They deftly and elegantly mix classic Americana with gypsy rhythms plucked from travelling carnivals and vaudeville sideshows to create something that is in equal parts melancholic, seductive and sometimes a little bit dangerous. We’ve already posted two tracks from their latest album The Old Sisters’ Home and here is a third, the ukelele led Whatever Shines So … Continue reading Another From Orpheum Bell
This month’s Mojo magazine cover CD is a re-imagining of the Beach Boys classic Pet Sounds. A tribute to their seminal 1966 album, it features The Flaming Lips, Neil Cowley Trio, Saint Etienne, Jodie Marie, Gaz Coombes, Tim Burgess, Jeffrey Lewis with Wooden Wand, Here We Go Magic and more. Two of our favourites below – you can buy Mojo at any decent newsagents or … Continue reading Mojo Magazine’s Pet Sounds Revisited
RIP Levon Helm. A true bonafide musical genius and a genuine legend. Download Levon Helm – White Dove mp3 (from Electric Dirt) Download The Band – Whispering Pines mp3 (from The Band) Continue reading Levon Helm 1940-2012
We’ve posted a couple of times about melancholic, wise-before-his-years, south London singer-songwriter Ned Younger, aka Monument Valley. His latest single is the darkly tender Your Cover Blown, which is starkly informed by the death of one of his closest friends and sees a release on May 21st via community label Everybody’s Stalking. It is sure to bring more praise and critical acclaim his way. Watch the perfectly … Continue reading Monument Valley’s New Single
We first mentioned the scuzzy country rock and bar-room boogie of Aussies Black Creek back in November when we posted a track from their album Ragged Shark. They are back with a new digital single titled Not For The Faint Of Heart backed with Gone Is The Darkness and it is another muscular example of their ragged, raw take on Americana, a sound they describe as … Continue reading New From Black Creek
In the 1980s Crass, and their whole anarchist commune collective, was a huge influence on my safe, rural, middle-class upbringing and made me aware of political issues and wider moral injustices that I may otherwise never have been. For that reason alone I will always have a fondness for them and the many bands like Zounds, Conflict, The Mob and others that appeared on their … Continue reading Win Win Cover Crass
The Lumineers have been generating a lot of buzz recently following the release of their self-titled debut album earlier this month. As a celebration of the release they are making a four track EP, Tracks From The Attic, available for free from Noisetrade. Their sound is a mix of barnstorming Americana, stomp-and-clap rock and front-porch folk and the EP offers an early glimpse into the … Continue reading Free EP From The Lumineers
Coke Weed were one of our favourite discoveries of last year and their new album Nice Dreams has been seducing us further and further with each play – each track like tendrils of fog swirling round your head, elusive and smoky, but gradually revealing their irresistible delights. They have made a video for new single, Jimmy which they are also giving away as a free … Continue reading More From Coke Weed
The Mad Mackerel 