It used to be easy to imagine singer/ songwriter Ryan Lawson as a Charlie Brown type: sweet and sincere, but always a little melancholy with life dumping on him at the worst moments. Naturally, that fed into his music, but as things have turned around, he’s smiling a whole lot more. “A lot of people […]
folk
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Small Sur — Tones
Small Sur sounds nothing like any of these bands. Literally, nothing. They’ll probably never achieve the same level of notoriety, which is very sad. They’ve recorded the most beautiful, lovely slowcore folk music these ears have ever heard, but unfortunately, that particular sub-genre isn’t in high demand among audiences much larger than what could fill […]
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Jackie-O Motherf***er — Earth Sound System
They’re kindred spirits to Waka Flocka Flame in that sense. And that sense only. But enough teasing about Jackie-O’s name. Let’s tease them for recording a patience-trying album. “Earth Sound System” contains a pair of tracks — one exactly seven minutes and eight seconds in length, and one sitting right at nine and a half […]
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Soundcheck: The Okee Dokee Brothers
“There’s a participatory culture in all of our performances,” Mailander said. “We like to break down the barriers between the performer and audience. It turns what’s normally a passive experience for the listener — like watching TV — into a more active one.” He and Lansing, better known as kid-friendly folk duo The Okee Dokee […]
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Paul revered
Folk musician Ellis Paul has faced a lot of audiences over his two-decade career. His new foray into children’s music has him facing the toughest one yet. “It’s like painting with primary colors: no subtle shades,” he said. “You’ve got to get their attention quicker, use exciting language. It’s a lot more demanding. I really […]
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Matt the Electrician — Accidental Thief
His entirely unironic songwriting would fit in neatly next to The Avett Brothers on a tour bill or a playlist. Artifice isn’t in his bag of tricks, which means that “Accidental Thief ” positively bursts with immediate hooks. Opener “All I Know” is a jaunty, charming tune that sways and skips along easily. It borders […]
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Nik Freitas — Saturday Night Underwater
He helped raise the pop song to an art form, lifting it from the youth into the realm of serious consideration. But most mature musicians today stray toward the maudlin tones of adult alternative or the “raw” qualities of Americana/folk. There’s not too many guys making solid pop for adults, but Nik Freitas is one […]
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Paleo — Fruit of the Spirit
“Pharoah” is a morose wanderer that would be right at home on Sufjan Stevens’ “Michigan,” while the upbeat “Over the Hill and Back Again” sounds like something that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah could churn out. The fact that these tunes are back-to-back on his album is telling — to call it “eclectic” would be […]
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Laura Stevenson and the Cans — Sit Resist
Laura Stevenson and the Cans’ “Sit Resist” does that, too, but on steroids. Genres that are beautifully integrated here include (but are not limited to) folk, pop, rock, indie rock, indie pop, ’50s girl pop, Motown, gospel and waltz. And somehow, she ties it all together into an incredibly coherent album. Wow. The unifying thread […]
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Brandi Carlile — Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony
When she decides to really go for it at the high point of a tune, her voice can very nearly knock people over. Pair that with melodies that people want to hear over and over (as in “The Story,” which you probably heard on this commercial or in “Grey’s Anatomy”), and you’ve got songs that, […]