Jensen Sportag are likely no strangers to rejection. With their latest EP’s they focused on a different girl that somehow bestowed them with unrequited love and desire. They’re known for their dance-y ways but, deep down, they’ve more got the mindset of a longing R&B crooner. So, when asked by Au Revoir Simone to remix a few tracks for an upcoming single I’m sure their hearts soared with anticipation of pleasing the three lovely ladies with their take on the original compositions. But, alas, upon submission of their grand works the songs were rejected and left to remain unrequited forever.*

Until now! Thanks to the power of the Internets, you can now partake in these rejected mixes and decide for yourself if the decision was appropriate or not.

• → Au Revoir Simone – All or Nothing (Jensen Sportag’s Cotton Club Mix)
• → Au Revoir Simone – Another Likely Story (Jensen Sportag Ice Pulse Mix)
• → Zip of Both Mixes

* total speculation

As with my previous excitement about local bands embracing digital downloads I’ve got another batch of music that’s just made it ways into the 1’s and 0’s for ease of enjoyment:

• Kat Brock – C – a three song EP between Kat Brock and Simon Lynn. It’s a sullen piece of work but quite enjoyable for winter time environments. I hear Theory 8 might have something to do with the official release on Jan. 26th but, for now, it’s free for the price of an email.
• Umbrella Tree – Acoustic at the Prizefighter Compound – this one is free if you’re willing to give out five email addresses of your pals. If not, then be prepared to pony up the minimum price of $1.. but surely you can spare more than that for one of Nashville’s finest off kilter groups doing something a little different.
• Daniel Pujol – Ringo, Where Are Thou? – originally released as a cassette this is now available digitally for a low price of $4. You can also snag digital versions of the vinyl from Heavy Cream and Natural Child.

While I personally have no interest in seeing the physical format go entirely extinct I really appreciate that bands are embracing the digital distribution. Be prepared to see more of this series.

Cortney Tidwell is a true Nashville treasure, but as it always seems to go, the rest of the world is catching up to her faster than her own hometown. Her stunning voice and genre-defying style have garnered glowing reviews in Europe, but she remains the Queen of the Underground here in Music City. We predict that will change soon. Her latest record, Boys, finally gets a US release this month courtesy of Removador Records, and she makes a rare live appearance at the Exit/In on February 5th.

WOTT: What’s the story, Cortney? How’d you get into this whole music thing, and how did you end up where you are now?

Well, music has always been at the heart of my family. My mother and grandfather were both country singers, and my father and his father started a record label. I was immersed from the beginning. Grew up in studios and although I started to move away from it, I got back into it after some heartbreak.

(more…)