This Mornin' I Am Born AgainListen. Get Re-Born

If you would’ve asked me two years ago if i liked music from females, my short answer would have been no. And then i would have gone into a “but, i kinda like….” consisting of a few songs here and there. i don’t know who to credit with opening my eyes to the beauty of female crooners (most likely Kasey Chambers…), but sometime over the last couple years i’ve come to enjoy more and more music from women. It’s gotten to the point now where the gender of the artist doesn’t matter one bit – as long as the music is good. And the simple reason that my library consists mostly of guys is that female artists are a serious minority in the type of music i tend to like. But those that are here…. are real good.

Gillian Welch and Patty Griffin have done more for contemporary folk music than most men have. They prove that women can help drive an entire scene – and not just supply some sweet vocals. Kasey Chambers has shown that success doesn’t mean you have to forgo your musical values (at least not Down Under). And then there’s the power of many with folk groups like The Be Good Tanyas, The Wailin’ Jennys, and The Waifs. Feist, Cat Power, and Birdie Busch are bringing more of an indie edge into the female folk scene. Groups like The Greencards, The Gougers, and The Everybodyfields split time between male and female voices only to bring in more variety and sweet accompaniment. Samantha Crain, Sharon Van Etten, and Allison Francis are part of a slew of new young women that will keep the scene moving in the right direction.

I still have a few reservations, though. i tend not to discriminate upon the basis of gender once i hear a song, but the chances of me downloading or sampling a song from someone i haven’t heard drops slightly in the case of females. i can’t tell you why…. maybe it’s that those women that i do listen to have a certain reputation that precedes them – so i know what i’m getting myself into. That’s why it’s taken me a while to get into these next two artists.

i could make a loooong post out of this, but i wanna get to the music. The two female artists i’m highlighting today have no shortage of good praise around the blogosphere, nor are they the newest acts around, but like i said – it takes an extra push to get me to try out new women – uh, musically. A trick that helps is this situation - as well as in life in general - is to judge someone by the company they keep.

Jenny Lewis, aside from being the former front-woman of the indie-pop group Rilo Kiley, has toured some with Ryan Adams & The Cardinals. After much success with her band as well as contributing vocals on various indie acts such as The Postal Service, Jenny was urged by Conor Oberst to make an album for his newly formed label Team Love. She enlisted the help of The Watson Twins to record Rabbit Fur Coat in 2005. In ‘07 Rilo Kiley recorded their last and most acclaimed record Under The Blacklight. Just last month, Jenny released her first completely solo album, Acid Tongue, and it’s her best work yet. On top of pop-rhythms and jazzy pianos sits Jenny’s sultry vocals that could fit right in with the likes of Loretta Lynn and Emmylou Harris.

Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins – Rise Up With Fists
buy Rabbit Fur Coat (2005)
Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
buy Acid Tongue (2008)
Jenny Lewis – The Next Messiah
buy Acid Tongue (2008)

If Jenny looks familiar in another way, she started her career as an actress – at the age of 10. Most notably, she starred in Troop Beverly Hills – a film i’m only aware of thanks to my older sister.

The newest artist to be added to the growing list of Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) side projects is Ohio folkster Jessica Lea Mayfield. This 18-year old has played shows with The Avett Brothers, The Black Keys, and likewise young newcomer Samantha Crain. Her debut album With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt is a bluesy folk disc filled with foreboding lyrics the likes of Neko Case. The songs send a chill through you that is somehow comforting – and very reminiscent of the slower songs that The Black Keys have put out.

Jessica Lea Mayfield – Kiss Me Again
buy With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt (2008)
Jessica Lea Mayfield – We’ve Never Lied
buy With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt (2008)

Wow. i don’t think i’ve ever been more excited about the direction that music is moving than i have been over the last couple weeks. With the end of the year nearing, i’ve been goin’ through the albums i’ve picked up in ‘08 (somewhere around 30), and deciding where they might fit into a best of the year list. i can tell you right now, i’m gonna have a hell of time finalizing that list. Lately, my yearning for new music has led me to lose my former obsession with owning an actual hard copy of the albums, so i’ve been keeping my digital music accounts filled with money to dish out in favor of instant-gratification. eMusic, PayPlay.fm, and most recently Amie Street are the sites i’ve found with the best deals for finding new music – and between the three, you can find nearly anyone you’re looking for.

i picked up Old Crow Medicine Show’s new one at Amie Street for only 5 bucks the other day and as a bonus, was able to download the tracks a day before the actual album release. The discount price was only available as a pre-order, but the album is a mere $8.98 now. Amie Street prices their music on a demand basis – that is, each time an album is downloaded, the price goes up – albums cap out at $8.98. The beauty of this system is that if you’re quick to jump on an album shortly after it’s added, you can get for nearly nothing. i’m talkin’ like 18 cents a song… but don’t tell anybody.

“if the thing that drives you onward is your heart, you must not let that engine die”

After my first purchase, i still had some money in my account so i went a-browsin’. One of the featured albums on the site was a brand new one from Lexington, KY band These United States. i came across a couple of the band’s tunes from their previous release, A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden, earlier this year and posted one here. Both songs were very interesting, musically, but i didn’t really think the band fit my preferred style quite right. Regardless, i began previewing the songs on their new one, Crimes. Before the 2nd track preview had ended, the album was in my library – and for only 5 bucks. By now i’ve had time to hear the whole thing a couple times through…. and it’s flawless. Not one song on the disc can be considered skippable or superfluous.

The greatest appeal of Crimes is that the album is pure fun. Jangly power-pop with country/folk undertones – especially lyrically. Well-formed verses, often historically tinted, that lead into huge sing-along choruses. The album begins with a groovy, acoustic-led tune mentioning Cain & Abel and Dionysus and their respective vices. The next two tracks – full-on, energetic rockers – don’t even allow you to completely realize the beauty of what you just heard. Sometime during Pleasure & Pain & Pride & Me you become aware that you’re in the midst of a great album. Perfectly mixed tempos scatter throughout the rest of the disc – from soulful ballads to near honky-tonk anthems. Will Sheff-like driving melodies are accented with barroom pianos, shakers, tambourines, and even a banjo. Jesse Elliot, the voice of These United States, leads you through this journey of Crimes – “the Good kinds, the Bad kinds, the Meaningless, the Historic.”

These United States – West Won
These United States – Heaven Can Wait

Go to Amie Street to buy this album ($5)
These United States: MySpace/Website

Haven’t picked up anything new recently. Okkervil River’s new one came out today, but i never left my house, so…. for now enjoy a few splendid, new Daytrotter sessions.

Looks like it’ll be a regular ol’ shin-dig down in ‘Nawlins.


Justin Townes Earle

Listen.

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Possibly one the most underrated artists anywhere near the folk scene today, Gillian Welch (always with help from David Rawlings) can take you back to depression-era times with the first note she hits. The overwhelming spiritual quality of her music helps to offset her tragic lyrics.

Most of the music that’s recently been added to my library has actually been older stuff (thanks to the folks at Cover Lay Down, Setting The Woods On Fire, and Ceci N’est Pas un Blog) – Buddy Holly, The Beatles, Creedence, Emmylou……..

i have, however, picked up a couple new discs – some in the mail and some digitally.

Here’s some of the best new additions:

mp3: The Dedringers – Sideman Blues
pick up Sweetheart of the Neighborhood FREE!!
The lead-off and stand-out track from The Dedringers first full-length disc.
“i used to have a job as a sideman/playin‘ with a blues band/down on the coast/
i played Mr. Cale/rockin‘ the blues scale/bendin‘ out the notes”
more Dedringers here.

mp3: Reckless Kelly – God Forsaken Town
buy Bulletproof (2008)
Known for their in-your-face, roots-rock, Reckless Kelly has long since set the standard for bands that fall somewhere between Rock and Country. Somehow, though, i end up diggin‘ the more mid-tempo, lyrically driven songs Willie Braun and band deliver so effortlessly. This one is from the band’s latest (7th) release.

mp3: Ben Sollee – How To See The Sun Rise
buy Learning to Bend (2008)
By now, everyone has heard Ben’s cover of Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come. The other songs from this acoustic cello specialist’s debut album are just as moving. Ben got his start in The Sparrow Quartet – Abigail Washburn’s band.

mp3: Fleet Foxes – He Doesn’t Know Why
buy Fleet Foxes (2008)
Sub Pop has once again turned out an amazing band. Along the lines of Band of Horses, The Shins, and Iron & Wine, the cosmic vocals from Fleet Foxes will take you to another world.

mp3: Mason Jennings – Fighter Girl
buy In The Ever (2008)
The dry deliver and literal songwriting of Mason Jennings is actually his appeal.