Heading to work this morning in the big city, there was about the slightest rain overhead, but a sun in the sky. Couldn’t help but think of this song “Pennies From Heaven” by Frank Sinatra from his fantastic Songs For Swingin’ Lovers LP. Surprisingly, the record holds up today, it sounds fresh, the arrangements are alive, even if destined to be mentioned as a “Did I hear that on Mad Men?”. The joy in his voice is contagious, and I’ve included the fantastic “How About You” as well.
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Well-equipped for both rainy days and dreary nights, the slow burn of “I Am The Changer” by Cotton Jones sounds like Yo La Tengo and Lee Hazelwood got together and had a baby. Even if you don’t know those names, this song is a real beauty that drifts out of that lovely guitar melody. The drums and organ only further the rainy haze, but that guitar line is that murky peek of sunshine that helps you realize it’s only temporary. Also be sure to check out “Up A Tree (Went This Heart I Have)” which sounds like a song The Doors could have made if they were actually poetic.
Perhaps you’ve always loved the Western sounds of Enrico Morricone, film score extraordinaire. Or perhaps you’ve always loved that BIG Phil Spector Wall of Sound. For the most part, your two interests have been exclusive, until now, where The Lonely Wild said screw you to convention and decided to marry the two anyway. You and the rest of us are in luck as “Right Side of the Road” delivers in spades, it’s like Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros with a little more ambition, or if Cotton Jones hadn’t drowned in theirs.
I’ve been a fan of Josh Tillman since well… he was Josh Tillman. The beautiful “Steel on Steel” from Vacilando Territory Blues, his 2009 LP was what first caught my eye. However, Josh Tillman is a man of many hats as he’s been the drummer for Fleet Foxes and most recently, adorned the nom de plum Father John Misty and come out with his Sub Pop debut Fear Fun. It’s already gathered praise from indie greats like Blitzen Trapper and Dawes (whose bass player, Wylie Gelber was assistant producer on the album) and cuts through with sonic clarity that hasn’t felt so earnest in years. Tillman described the development of the album as “I got into my van with enough mushrooms to choke a horse and started driving down the coast with nowhere to go” yet the album itself doesn’t wander. “Nancy From Now On”, the second song on the album almost sounds like the bastard child of The Beach Boys, The BeeGees and Harry Nilsson but without either’s excess. A great song, and an equally great album. Plus, that album artwork is fantastic.
The Art of the Mixtape 