The Black Angels
KEXP - Seattle
February 10th, 2006

Download:
MP3: The Black Angels - Bloodhounds On My Trail [KEXP- 2/10/06]
MP3: The Black Angels - The Sniper at the Gates of Heaven [KEXP- 2/10/06]
MP3: The Black Angels - Black Grease [KEXP- 2/10/06]
MP3: The Black Angels - Manipulation [KEXP- 2/10/06]
MP3: The Black Angels - Doves [KEXP- 2/10/06]
MP3: The Black Angels - Deer-Ree-Shee [KEXP- 2/10/06]
MP3: The Black Angels - Konnettes [KEXP- 2/10/06]

Download:
The Black Angels - Passover (iTunes)
The Black Angels - Directions to See a Ghost (iTunes)

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Tulsa’s 2007 EP “I Was Submerged” put singer-songwriter Carter Tanton on the map. He received high praise from Spin, Pitchfork and Rolling Stone Magazine. Tanton was not an overnight success story; he began writing and recording songs at an early age and even spent time honing his performing skills in the subways of New York. What Tanton will not admit is that he’s a truly gifted artist; he’s a skilled songwriter with a stunning and engaging voice.

R&G: What kind of music did you listen to growing up in Baltimore?

Carter: There wasn’t really any good radio stations in Baltimore. I learned about music first-hand from a few people who kind of served as mentors, just cool older people who wanted to show me some great music. One of those guys, whose name is Andy Bopp, put out a lot of records under the pen name Myracle Brah. Andy showed me a lot of cool stuff, like Big Star. I was listening to Big Star when I was like 14, just appreciating that on a whole wide range of levels, from the way the record sounded to the song writing.

R&G: You began writing songs when you were 14?

Carter: Yeah. I started writing songs at a pretty early age. I don’t consider them strong songs, but I always was writing songs. I put out three or four records by the time I was 22.

R&G: You used to play songs in the subways in New York. What inspired you to do this and what year was that?

Carter: That was around 2004. The first time I did it I just played a show at CB’s Gallery. It was the acoustic spot right next to CBGB’s. I hadn’t really told any friends about it and I hadn’t tried to get people out to the show, so nobody came and it kind of bummed me out. I felt like I’d wasted my time and the sound guy’s time. I’d always wanted to try performing on the subway, so on my way home from that show I had my guitar on me, so I got over that fear at that moment and just started playing right there. I did that for the next five or six months. It taught me a lot and that’s when I first started liking the sound of reverb on my voice, too, because it sounds really good down there in the subways.

R&G: You primarily played cover songs in the subways, correct?

Carter: I started playing covers in the subways because I was a little shy about singing my own lyrics and my own songs, even though I’d been writing them for almost ten years. Just not knowing who I was singing to and not knowing if they really wanted to hear me sing, I didn’t want to be throwing my own songs out there. Just a little too personal. I learned a lot of covers so I didn’t have to worry about my own material being made fun of or ignored or whatever.

R&G: Did you accept money?

Carter: I did. That was another reason why I played.

R&G: You talked about liking the sound of reverb on your voice in the subway. I’ve read that Jim James and Ben Bridwell used reverb in the beginning because they were insecure with their voices. Can you relate to that?

Carter: I’m not insecure about my voice; I like how it sounds in a small room with no reverb. I just think it sounds better. The way I like to sing is to have a lot of breath at the beginning of a note but I don’t really like holding on to a note. Reverb kind of does that for me, so I can shout the first split second of a note and then the reverb does the rest of the work. I don’t want the reverb to mask my voice so much as I just want to enhance it.

R&G: You have a unique voice. When did you realize you had a special voice and talent?

Carter: I don’t think I have a special voice or talent. I feel confident, but I don’t think I’m more talented or special than anyone else. I really like singing, and I think that’s what it comes down to. You can probably hear that in my voice, that there’s some cathartic thing going on when I’m singing that maybe people can relate to or be inspired by.

R&G: You’ve gone through some changes with the band. What can we expect on the next album?

Carter: Well, it’s going to be just me recording the record. I’m going to go out to Chicago and work with Brian Deck. That’s going to just totally turn everything on its head. I’m going to probably be playing all the instruments. It’s hard to say right now. I don’t think the guitars are going to be as loud and distorted. They’re going to be softer and probably spacier.

R&G: Brian produced the recent Califone and Iron and Wine records. That sounds like a perfect fit for you.

Carter: Yeah, everybody kind of felt that way, too. My label brought him to my attention, and that was my initial reaction, too. I listened to the Califone record and I was in love with what I assume he did for their sound.

R&G: Have you and Brian discussed any ideas for your upcoming recording sessions?

Carter: No, there’s been no pre-production to speak of yet. We just met when I was on tour in Chicago. But we haven’t really talked about much music, although I was talking to him about how I was indecisive about whether to bring the band out or come out on my own. All he could say was that that’s a decision I had to make, so he didn’t really sway me one way or another. He just said, “You gotta make up your mind.”

R&G: Why did you choose to record solo and not with the band?

Carter: I think for the purpose of this record, I’ve been working on it ever since “I Was Submerged” was finished, which was almost two years ago. So the band’s gone through so many changes at this point that the only thing that feels steady is my involvement in the band. What settles my mind the most is my going into the studio on my own and trying to make it happen that way.

Download:
MP3: Tulsa - Rafter
MP3: Tulsa - Rafter [Daytrotter Sessions]
MP3: Carter Tanton - Red Balloons [Live @ KEXP]
MP3: Carter Tanton - Elvis Girl

Download:
Tulsa - I Was Submerged (iTunes)
Carter Tanton - Birds & Rain (iTunes)

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Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
March 24, 2007
Live Oak, FL

Download:
MP3: The Avett Brothers with Donna The Buffalo - Swept Me Away [Live]
MP3: The Avett Brothers with Donna The Buffalo - Down By The Riverside [Live]
MP3: The Avett Brothers with Donna The Buffalo - Go To Sleep [Live]

Download:
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism (iTunes)

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I wish Lil’ Wayne, 50 Cent and Kanye West learned something from their hip-hop forefathers. Siah & Yeshua DapoED were Brooklyn-based indy-hip hop legends. In 1996 they dropped their debut vinyl-only EP “The Visualz”. Recently Traffic Entertainment issued “The Visualz” on CD for the first time. It’s definitely worth checking out.

For fans of Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jurassic 5 and Little Brother.

Download:
MP3: Siah & Yeshua dapoED - The Cure For Stagnation

Download:
Siah And Yeshua dapoEd (iTunes)

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Community Gun frontman Cove Aaronoff cannot escape comparisons to the legendary singer Tom Waits. While it’s a valid compliment he has plenty more to offer than smokey barroom ballads. In addition to the Waits references, his murky, gravely voice reminds me of the late Mark Sandman of Morphine.

Aaronoff is joined in the band by Ted March (Drums), Sam Wolk (bass) and Josh Bass (guitar). The blues/rock foursome put out an eclectic six song EP last spring (free download). The band is currently working on a new album due out later this year. I expect big things from these guys.

Download:
MP3: Community Gun — Think of Me
MP3: Community Gun - Before She Goes
MP3: Community Gun - Wasted
MP3: Community Gun - Midnight Moses and Elaine
MP3: Morphine - In Spite Of Me

Rollo & Grady 5 Artists To Watch In 2009 (Click Here)

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Download:
MP3: The White Stripes - Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground
MP3: The White Stripes - Ball And Biscuit
MP3: The White Stripes - St. James Infirmary Blues
MP3: The White Stripes - I Think I Smell A Rat/Little Room/The Union Forever
MP3: The White Stripes - Rated X

Download:
The White Stripes - White Blood Cells (iTunes)

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Great recording considering the venue. You’ve gotta love “Express Yourself”, “Cold Sweat” and “Move On Up”.

“What Are You Doing New Years Eve?”

Download:
MP3: My Morning Jacket - Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield)
MP3: My Morning Jacket - You’re All I Need (Marvin Gaye)*
MP3: My Morning Jacket - Express Yourself (Charles Wright)
MP3: My Morning Jacket - The Wanderer (Dion)
MP3: My Morning Jacket - Celebration (Kool & The Gang)**
MP3: My Morning Jacket - Get Down On It (Kool & The Gang)
MP3: My Morning Jacket - Islands in the Stream (Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers)*
MP3: My Morning Jacket - Bring It on Home to Me (Sam Cooke)
MP3: My Morning Jacket - Cold Sweat (James Brown)

*with Nicole Atkins
**Midnight

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Download:
MP3: Yasuko Agawa - L.A. Night
MP3: Hebrew Rogers - Can’t Buy Soul
MP3: Wendell Harrison - Farewell To The Welfare Pt. 1

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2008 turned out to be a good year in music, but it left me wanting more. I fully expect that 2009 will be strong. I’m extremely excited for the new Band Of Horses, Avett Brothers, Gorillaz, Dan Auerbach and Silversun Pickups albums.

Thoughts?

January 20th
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast Skin Is, My [KCRW - 4/6/05]
Bon Iver - Blood Bank [EP]

February 10th
Dan Auerbach - Keep it Hid Trouble Weighs A Ton

February 17th
Alela Diane - To Be Still
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Outfit (Live)

March 16th
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - Beware Señor (Bob Dylan)

Silversun Pickups

The Rest of ‘09
Arctic Monkeys Teddy Picker
Avett Brothers
Band Of Horses Older (Live)
Blur Tender
Dr. Dre
Gillian Welch
Gorillaz Rock The House
Hush Arbors
M. Ward
MF Doom & Ghostface Killah
Ryan Adams (?)
Silversun Pickups Well Thought Out Twinkles
The Soft Pack
The Strokes (?)
Tulsa
Wilco Who Were You Thinking Of? (Live)

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“The New Geto Boys, yo we can’t be stopped”

Phonte Coleman and Thomas “Big Pooh” Jones are the Durham, North Carolina hip-hop duo Little Brother. Phonte explains the origins of the band’s name: “Tribe, De La, P.E….were like our big brothers in the game so now we are the little brothers of that movement…carrying on the tradition of good music.” No Bling, all substance.

‘The Getaway’ features guest vocals from Mos Def and Big Daddy Kane (“We can take it from NY to NC”).

Download:
MP3: Little Brother - The Getaway
MP3: Mos Def - Boogiedown (Beatnuts Remix)
MP3: Big Daddy Kane - Warm It Up, Kane

Download:
Little Brother - Getback (iTunes)
Mos Def - Black On Both Sides (iTunes)
Big Daddy Kane - Old School Rap (iTunes)

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The first time I heard about the Servant was through their single “Cells” being used in the Sin City trailer. The song reminded me of an updated version of Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”. I dug a little deeper into their catalogue and found several quality tracks. The band’s lead-singer Dan Black sounded like Thom Yorke/Liam Gallagher backed by Stereo MCs beats. Unfortunately the band broke up on November 26, 2007 “to move on to pastures new”. The good news is Dan signed with A&M/Polydor and plans to release his debut album ‘Pure Groove’ early this year.

The BBC recently voted Black one of the fifteen best rising music stars of 2009. He also does an interesting cover of Notorious B.I.G.’s song “Hypnotize”. You can hear the track (HYPNTZ) on his Myspace page.

Download:
MP3: The Servant - I Wish I Could Stop Wishing for Things
MP3: The Servant - The Apes And The Chimpanzees
MP3: The Servant - Cells (Instrumental)
MP3: Dan Black - Yours [Demo]
MP3: Stereo Mcs - Connected

Download:
The Servant - How to Destroy a Relationship (iTunes)
Stereo MC's - Connected (iTunes)

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Happy New Year.

Download:
MP3: Iron and Wine - Beneath the Balcony
MP3: Andrew Bird - Imitosis
MP3: Zero 7 - Crosses (Ft. Jose Gonzalez)
MP3: Grouper - Invisible
MP3: Thievery Corporation - Beautiful Drug
MP3: Band of Horses - Window Blues
MP3: Pete Doherty - Albion (Acoustic)

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