Despite the most subtle of changes, making each release quite homogeneous in nature, Sam Beam’s Iron And Wine never quite stales. Beam continuously maintains a level of skill that is, at least in the simplistic folk realm where he resides, fairly unparalleled. And so it is on his latest endeavor, a double LP titled Around The Well.

The Argyle Wishlist may have put it best themselves: their music spans from soft folk pop to fuzzed out electrobeat compositions. These styles, and the lovable indie pop and twee that make up the space between, can be heard on Day Trips, the group’s recent 3″ release.

Think of your favorite “heart felt” movie and remember the music in contained. Whether is is a “running for a reason” scene, or a “someone thinks about the past” scene, The Flying Change will probably remind you of said film. Sam Jacobs’ wonderful moniker is an asthmatic friendly thrill ride in his album Pain Is A Reliable Signal.

In all honesty, I kind of miss Page France. But Michael Nau’s latest project, Cotton Jones is a more than viable replacement. Filled with a baroque-ish style pop, and dipped in a light coat of psychedelia, Cotton Jones boasts harmony male/female vocals quite unlike Nau’s earlier concoction.

Andrew Fenstermaker, FensePost proprietor extraordinaire, has transcended into the glorious world of home ownership. He will now know the joy of backyard BBQs, pulling weeds, and vain attempts at cleaning larger interior square footage (which also means more room for his expanse of records, seen above).

Playing power pop in the vein of Apples in Stereo, or perhaps more so of Teenage Fanclub, I Was A King hits the road later this month in support of their self-titled sophomore release. The Norwegian group will hit the states late this month, kicking the shows off in Chicago and winding across the east coast and circling the states before winding things up here in Seattle.

Grynch is easily the most prolific MC in the Northwest. But, he may also be one of the most underappreciated wordsmiths in the game of Hip Hop. With an exaggerated and mystic flow, it really doesn’t matter if this man makes it to “the top”. With three albums as well as two hot mix tapes under his belt, Grynch has proven that he has the poetic skills to be on the level of Lupe, Slug, or whoever wants to test him.

An old memory: I recall grabbing coffee at Stewarts in Bellingham one summer long ago while visiting a friend. There on a rack tucked into a corner was a face I recognized. It was Kasey Anderson; the release was Harold St. Blues and I soon had “Boulevard” on repeat. Since then Anderson has released Dead Roses (2004) and The Reckoning (2007).

Awkwardness and surrealism have never worked better together than on the video for Hearts of Palm UK‘s single “I Flow”. This female trio performs their synth-heavy track over various mystical images via several green-screen transformations. The beautiful hilarity of these ladies acting so silly manages to uplift the single to an even more wonderfully appealing arrangement of catchy flows. For once, a video actually does sell the song.

Tafra‘s “Oh Daniel” follows a Suburban Kids With Biblical Names influence. The track could as easily have been found on one of the duo’s Labrador Records releases as on Tafra’s Why Even Bother. This is, of course, no surprise. And you’ll soon learn why…