James Wallace and The Naked Light – I Smile All Day I Smile All Night

Posted Fri September 28, 2012

James Wallace & The Naked Light
I Smile All Day I Smile All Night
Digital Download

This record was released back in 2009 but just recently caught my eye as being available digitally. I’ve never set a hard-and-fast rule for this site to only expose new music so I was happy to run across something of this high quality that was fresh to me. The bands more recent effort, More Strange News From Another Star, is one of my favorites and I’m loving hearing its precursor. Obviously, there are loads of similarities and obvious paths of growth from one record to the next but there enjoyable differences as well. The cinematic segue tracks are a nice treat and the epic 11 minute build of “Saved at the Bottom” was a nice surprise as well. All and all, a happy discovery. Now I just need to find out what else I missed from that year.

Little Bandit – Little Bandit

Posted Thu September 27, 2012

Little Bandit
Little Bandit
Digital Download



First off, please note that I took some creative liberties with the cover art above because I am stickler for square formats and just had to recreate the original so my iTunes library would be consistent. Yes, I can be that grossly nerdy.

With that out of that way, please enjoy the sounds of Little Bandit – chock-full of influences from traditional country, Fleetwood Mac, 80’s power ballads, barroom tears-in-the-beer and general drunken shenanigans. Singer Alex Caress carries these tunes with such a great heartbreaking sincerity that you tend to lose sight of how great the musicianship behind him is as well. All and all, top notch A+ quality work here.

Forget Cassettes – O Cursa I – III

Posted Wed September 26, 2012

According to their new website (and postings I’ve seen on Facebook), Forget Cassettes will return from their slumber starting this October. The plan is to release three EP’s digitally in October, November and December.. with a compiled + additional content physical vinyl released in January. It’s been far too long since the release of Salt and I’m quite excited to hear what’s in store.

Financier – Port of St. Albans

Posted Tue September 25, 2012

Financier
Port of St. Albans
Free Download

Financier know a thing or two about good timing. Tonight, Tuesday Sept. 25th, they play at The High Watt and they’d love for you to come. So, a week ago they released their latest 7″ online – Port of St. Albans is only two tracks but they pack a whole lot of punch – including shoegaze, post-rock, big guitars, blended electronic beats, affected vocals and more. All that and it still manages to be a highly enjoyable listen.