The Muse is the title of the free sampler from American Songwriter and the February mix is a stormer featuring amongst others Sharon Van Etten, Lambchop, Hacienda, Ani DiFranco and The Wrinkle Neck Mules. Here are a couple of our own favourites from it, the wonderful Dr. Dog with an up-tempo taste of new album Be The Void in the shape of the brilliant That Old … Continue reading Free February Sampler From American Songwriter
Off-kilter, ramshackle punk rockers Estrogen Highs will release new album Irrelevant Future on April 10th via Trouble In Mind. The first track to see the light of day is the unashamedly catchy I Wanna Be Tall, an economic, no-frills slice of melodic pop-punk that will stick in your head like the best kind of proverbial ear worm.. Download it below. a Continue reading MM Shorts 90: Estrogen Highs
Here are three cracking reasons to turn the volume all the way up to 11 on your stereo and blast these into your neighbourhood. First up is The Men with the title track to their forthcoming album Open Your Heart – this has more than an echo of the Buzzcocks classic Ever Fallen In Love as they submerge an almost-pop riff beneath dissonant, strident guitar hooks … Continue reading Turn The Volume Up To 11…
Submerged in snot and snow, I have emerged this chilly Sunday evening just to pop my head above the parapet and write a paltry Sunday offering (sorry MM, late again!) It did also mean that I was absent from the Mackerel bobsleigh this lunchtime and only put in a below par and croaky performance at Gooner Ian’s birthday yesterday. (Don’t we all love to be … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday…on Sunday (5th February)
Jenny Gillespie’s new EP Belita, the first release on her own Narooma Records, is an intoxicating blend of folk, indie pop and post-rock. Released on April 10 it features Sam Amidon and Jim White (of PJ Harvey and Cat Power). Download Jenny Gillespie – Creature Of Our Make mp3 (from Belita EP) Continue reading MM Shorts 89: Jenny Gillespie
Salt is the new album from Hoots & Hellmouth and will see a release in April. Taster single Why Would You Not Want To Go There? has a slow-burn intensity that builds in tandem with some expertly judged flourishes of piano and electric guitar. The band have drawn favourable comparisons with the Avett Brothers and Delta Spirit and you can add Dr. Dog and Blitzen Trapper to the … Continue reading Hoots & Hellmouth New Single & Album
It’s Only You, Isn’t It? is the latest single to be taken from Lissy Trullie’s self-titled debut album. It is a slick, swaggering, brash, in-your-face slice of new-wave inspired power pop that is propelled by urgent percussion and her trademark vocals that call to mind Chrissie Hynde in her pomp. The album is out on March 6th via Downtown Records. http://soundcloud.com/downtownmusic/lissy-trullie-its-only-you a Continue reading New From Lissy Trullie
The James Low Western Front may come from the lush climes of Portland, Oregon, but theirs is a sound that was born in towns like Nashville, Tennessee and Bakersfield, California. It shuffles, grooves, and sweats with the best of them, begging to be played through the in-dash stereo of a pickup truck. The eight-song collection on forthcoming release Whiskey Farmer focuses on the plight of … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends The James Low Western Front
Ben Kweller makes a welcome return to turntables and iPods with the release of his new album Go Fly A Kite (out Feb 7th). It is the follow up to his excellent 2009 offering Changing Horses. It has been a while coming, but the rather more rocking taster track Mean to Me suggests something of a different direction and that the wait will be well worth … Continue reading MM Shorts 88: Ben Kweller’s New Album
We’ve taken our sweet time to get round to listening to this EP by Bel Air. Titled Fall (see, told you) this is the third instalment in their ‘Seasons’ EP project. It is four tracks of indie rock shot through with a dose of dusty Americana. Try the energetic guitar work on the rather epic Bigfoot Camaro. Download Bel Air – Bigfoot Camaro mp3 (from … Continue reading MM Shorts 87: Bel Air
