The River’s Edge – You Can Change
This is a rousing folk-rock tune with a spiritual glow, a song that in the words of the band speaks of “a tongue-in-cheek story of personal development and taking control of your mind to escape the constant stresses of everyday life”. They are a five piece from the banks of the Shenandoah river in the US and on this evidence, they could give us all a shot of va-va-voom with their feel good vibes and positive outlook. It’s not good to be complaining all the time you know and if you are inclined to do so don’t forget, you can change…
Natalie Merchant – Tower Of Babel
This is from her new album ‘Keep Your Courage,’ out now on Nonesuch Records and a sparkling return from the former 10,000 Maniacs singer it is too. Instantly locking the listener into a southern soul style groove, what I love about this video clip is how it reminds us what a captivating front woman Natalie always was and remains. It is nothing more than her performing the vocal alone to camera but somehow, you cannot look away, this is wonderful…
Terry – Centuries
‘Centuries’ is taken from Terry’s new album ‘Call Me Terry’, out June 14th on Upset The Rhythm and Anti Fade Records. These abrasively melodic post-punkers from Melbourne, Australia are Amy Hill, Al Montfort, Xanthe Waite & Zephyr Pavey who formed in Mexico City in 2015 after seeing Trotsky’s deathbed. After four albums and four 7″s Terry has kept busy with writing and recording this new album and alternating side projects, including Constant Mongrel, The UV Race, Primo!, Sleeper & Snake, Chateau and Rocky…
Fruit Bats – Sick Of This Feeling
The Fruit Bats new album ‘A River Running to Your Heart’ is out now on Merge Records and main man Eric Johnson is putting not just his lush songwriting ability on show in this clip but also a creditable acting talent. For the first time in the bands twenty-plus year life, Eric has self produced the new record and it is a continuation of the heartening upward trajectory they have found themselves on in recent years, making music that is increasingly rich and realised to its fullest sonic potential…
Anna St. Louis – Phone
Anna’s debut LP in 2018 was a far more grainy affair, wearing her country and folk influences on her sleeve and benefiting from her close proximity to and collaborative help from Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee. From the new album ‘In The Air’ out June 9th on Woodsist, this has much more of a glossy sheen to the production but the core elements of her kneading voice and gently hovering melodies remain intact, making for a promising release to come…
GoGo Penguin – Everything Is Going To Be OK
This is a classic looking, uncluttered performance video of the title track from the new GoGo Penguin album ‘Everything Is Going to Be OK.’ When you have musicians as talented as those in this band, you do not need any more than to just sit back and listen/watch them do their thing. This makes me hungry to hear the new album, which is the response I am hoping to inspire with all the artists and songs I give a heads up to in these pages, go go for it readers…
Fruit Tree Records 