2012 – The Art of the Mixtape

Delta Spirit have come a long way since the release of their debut Ode To Sunshine, a nostalgic, golden and sunny album that featured an old photograph of one member’s uncle as the cover. Befitting their name, the band’s sound has evolved and this atmospheric number “Into the Darkness”, the ninth song off of their latest album Delta Spirit, is exceptionally produced with a great rhythmic groove and one of my favorite songs of 2012 thus far. Check it out.

Into The Darkness- Delta Spirit

Delta Spirit was released on March 13th, 2012 on Rounder Records. You can find the vinyl version on Insound and the digital release on iTunes.

It’s a good time to be a folk music fan. Ever since Fleet Foxes, and then British imports Mumford & Sons set the world on fire with catchy and organic folk anthems the music world has exploded. I’ve posted before about Boy & Bear but 2012 seems to be the year for The Lumineers, a Denver by way of New York based band that has been fueled by turmoil, a band member’s brother’s drug overdose, an expensive and unfruitful stint in New York city that left them headed to greener pastures. Lucky for us, they’ve managed to turn their pain into passion and a gift for songwriting. Check out “Big Parade” the eighth song off of their self-titled debut.

Big Parade-The Lumineers

The Lumineers was released April 3rd, 2012 on Dualtone Records. To preorder the vinyl, check out Insound. To buy the digital version, head on over to iTunes .

Blitzen Trapper might as well start adding “the hardest working band in showbusiness” to their name. After releasing the fantastic American Goldwing last year and co-headlining a tour with Dawes, just about playing ever SXSW show humanly possible and getting prepped to go on another tour this year, Blitzen Trapper released a 7-inch for Record Store Day 2012 featuring a classic take on “Hey Joe” and “Skirts on Fire” an unreleased song from the American Goldwing sessions. Here, “Skirts on Fire” sounds like a lost cut off of Grateful Dead’s Workingman’s Dead, a catchy countrified number that deserves to be heard by everyone. So do yourself a favor and pick up the exclusive yellow vinyl (there are only 1800 in circulation) and happy Record Store Day!

Skirts on Fire- Blitzen Trapper

“Lost in the Light” is the gorgeous slow-burn album opener off of Bahamas Barchords which belies the complexity that presents itself in the album. Here though, a golden smolder of a guitar line guides the melody along before it becomes transformed by a pitch perfect choral vocal and rumbling piano lines. But mark my words, you’ll be sold before he even says his first word.

As a bonus, I’m also including “Caught Me Thinking”, the song that follows on the album. I’ll be damned if i will hear another better guitar song this year. This song has hips. Download both below.

Lost In The Light- Bahamas

Caught Me Thinking- Bahamas

Barchords, the sophomore effort of Bahamas, was released February 7th, 2012 on Brushfire Records.

Buy The Full Album Here