Written by Fense
As I’m listening to Eleanor Murray, I’m thinking an interesting thought. Could this be the sister of Devendra Banhart? Her voice quavers as she sings, much like his does so often. Her music is folk (though it lacks much of the World meets 70s Folk-Rock). It is also amazingly catchy for a genre often stale and… err… flaccid. Read More »Eleanor Murray: For Cedar [Album Review]
Written by Fense
The Smittens (MySpace) fit the darker side of indie pop, a side not often heard but easily welcome. Their chord progressions are filled with minors and, while ultimately upbeat, the songs are not nearly as cheerful. This rings as true on “The Interstate” as it does on “Half My Heart Beats”, a song that is undoubtedly more upbeat and cheerful, but one that also includes several of the aforementioned darker elements. Read More »The Smittens: The Coolest Thing About Love [Album Review]
Written by Ron Trembath
As a grand scheme of change and hope is brought upon us today, and an intense feeling of revolution is impossible to resist. Our country’s 44th president has taken office, and we will be forever changed in the most positive of ways. And one songstress who really deserves to celebrate, is the Brooklyn based folk queen Maddy Wyatt (MySpace). When President Obama announced his candidacy in 2006, Wyatt wrote, in the same year, “Man For Me (Ode to Barack)”, and her endless support and motivation obviously proved most rewarding. Read More »Maddy Wyatt [Feature Band]
Written by Fense
Today may be the inauguration, but the “magic” doesn’t start until January 28. That’s when The Sound Of Arrows (MySpace) will debut and release their new record, Magic, on Labrador Records. Below is a little video preview of the album, in true retro-Disney-ish style. For the full track, you can click the little stream “Play” button, or download it by right clicking the linkable text. Read More »The Sound Of Arrows: Magic [Video]
Written by Fense
I cannot get “New Hampshire” by Wild Light out of my head. Now, this isn’t one of those pestering annoyances that has you doing everything in your power to replace it with something else. No, this is a good thing; the song is catchy and filled with emotive pop that’s easy to get into and dig wholeheartedly. Read More »Wild Light [Feature Band]
Written by Joshua Britton
Sound the mighty, holy trumpets for Teru’ah as they return with Mad Kids in the Holy City, their follow-up to 2006’s Calvin Names the Mountain. Teru’ah is Mike Cades, residing in Brooklyn, and John Killeen, who lives in Asheville. Finally firmly planted in their respective cities, the stability has provided the duo with a clearer vision for this album and, therefore, finely-executed tracks again reminiscent of 70’s soft rock, early 80’s punk and the 90’s alternative scene the two grasped a hold of in order to survive through the decade. Their first effort out, while produced together in Maryland, was a collection of songs mainly performed entirely by each of them alone, save for some overdubs and a few live takes. This LP, however, found the two writing alone but collaborating on every song via mail or visits, and inviting many more people to contribute drums.
Read More »Teru’ah: Mad Kids In The Holy City [Album Review] 
I met a shorter-haired James Sasser (second from the right) at a friend’s party in Portland a few years back. After imbibing a bit, a group of us went to a small rock-a-billy bar and watched him play. I picked up a copy of his album, Southside of Sorrow, that evening. It was an excellent mix of folk and country. Now Sasser fronts a new group – one not named after him. That group is Lostine. Read More »Lostine [Feature]
Written by Fense
Check out this lovely little video by Sweden’s Sweet Sweet Concorde. It features stuffed bears and paper cutouts of trees. The group comes to us via a FensePost favorite, Series II Records, and their recent release is called Life In The Canopy. Read More »Sweet Sweet Concorde: The Picnic [Video Review]
Contrary to what many much older than myself would believe, the best instrumental music is typically reserved not for the classical genre. It’s a mash of classical with… something else – be it electronic, folk, or whatever. Sure, there are some more contemporary exceptions, like Kaada and the epic Johnny Greenwood (I’m thinking his score for There Will Be Blood here). But the mashup allows for something a bit more unique, typically. Read More »Le Mépris: Le Mépris [Album Review]
Oh god, what have I done? Why have I done it? Actually, why haven’t I done it? I, of course,… Read More »Handsome Furs [Feature Band]
