Covers Up!

For some reason everywhere we’ve turned recently has brought us into contact with cover songs, so we figured we ought to do our duty and collect the best of them together in one convenient place just for you. So here you’ll find Deer Tick’s surprisingly faithful cover of an Eddie Cochran classic, Okkervil River taking on the White Stripes, Bat For Lashes doing The Eurythmics, Middle Brothers Daytrotter version … Continue reading Covers Up!

Mad Mackerel Recommends…The Warped 45s

We’re a little behind with this one – The Warped 45s new album Matador Sunset came out at the end of last month. Taster track Grampa Carl is a wonderful tale of prohibition, the story unfolding on the back of a foot stomping riff and a climactic cacophony of electric guitars – wonderful stuff. Like us, you can track the album down at Maple Music … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…The Warped 45s

Brian Keenan: Debut Solo Album

In August, Brian Keenan (of cosmic Americana outfit Proud Simon) releases his debut solo album Today This Year. Brian Keenan writes songs that connect the two places he’s known best, his upbringing in upstate NY, and his current residence in Brooklyn. The high lonesome country sound grounds the sonic landscape, while the live-fast die-young energy pushes the tempos and sparkles on the surface. The words … Continue reading Brian Keenan: Debut Solo Album

Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (10th June)

Well hello fishy friends (or the Swiss outpost), after a short sabbatical from Fridays, wiped out by long distance gigs, early mornings, rooming with my daughter, persistent bad dreams, family visits – I could go on, but your eyes may have shut by then… So here I am, swimming back up stream a little tentatively. I hear the sound of drums in the foothills of … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (10th June)

Mad Mackerel Recommends…She’s Hit

Got this from the ever reliable My Old Kentucky Blog, sat on it for a few days, played it, got steamrollered by the guitars and drums, played it again. Yep it was as good as we thought. So, if you don’t have it yet and like the idea of The Stooges jamming with Jeff The Brotherhood, fronted by the bastard offspring of Ian Curtis and Shane … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…She’s Hit

New from Stephen Malkmus

Mirror Traffic is the forthcoming album from Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks. We’re enjoying the taster track’s refrain about Senators and blow jobs and it is all delivered in the classic, slighty messy, indie rock style that Malkmus is a past master of – dare we mention Pavement here…I think so. The album is released via Matador in the USA and over here, through Domino. … Continue reading New from Stephen Malkmus

New Album from Vetiver

Next week Vetiver release their fifth album, The Errant Charm, on Sub Pop Records. We first became aware of them after hearing a copy of Thing Of The Past, their album of twelve beautifully done cover songs. Since then we’ve gobbled up everything by them that has come our way and 2009’s Tight Knit album was a particular favourite of that year. Straddling gentle sunshine … Continue reading New Album from Vetiver

New Album from the Buffalo Killers

Buffalo Killers are an American rock band comprising brothers Zachary and Andrew Gabbard with Joseph Sebaali. Quickly signed to Alive Records after sending a burnt CD with just their telephone number and name on it, their self-titled debut album was released in October of 2006 followed by Let It Ride, produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. Most recently, the Buffalo Killers collaborated with Kelley Deal … Continue reading New Album from the Buffalo Killers

Insound Free Digital Mix: June

It’s that time again. The Insound monthly free digital mix is one of our favourites and we almost always discover a new gem or two within the fifteen or so songs they put out. As usual it is there for a week only so click here to get the whole thing or check out a couple of our favorites from this month, another track from … Continue reading Insound Free Digital Mix: June

Introducing…I Break Horses

On my regular pilgrimage back from the south east coast yesterday I was quite taken with this track, Hearts, from I Break Horses that was played by Marc Riley on 6 Music last night. The band are a recent signing to Bella Union and are a Swedish husband and wife duo, and while the shoegaze influences (MBV, Ride, J&MC et al) are clear, the gorgeous … Continue reading Introducing…I Break Horses