Winner and a small update

Sorry everyone, I got my Tuesday's mixed up. I thought today was the day I was supposed to announce the winner, but I was informed otherwise earlier today...sorry for the lateness.

Anyways, the winner is....

Justin Whaley!

I've also tacked on another CD (Essential Miles Davis).

I have another contest coming at the end of the week with some kick-ass features from Saturna and The Cat Empire. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to do any write ups yet or upload/rip any songs...sorry folks. I'm 1 of 2 managers at work, and the other manager's wife just went into labor 10 weeks early, needless to say I'm covering every shift until she's out of the hospital (though all seems to be going well so far). It looks like I'll see some daylight outside of work on Saturday, but until then - farewell!

The dangers of studio time...

Not much can get me more excited than new music from Ryan Adams. Yes, yes - he probably records and releases more than is good for him, but it still always gets me excited to know I'll get to hear some thing new.

Ryan posted 36 new "songs" on his website last week, which probably got me more excited than it should have. From my experience recording in a studio, I understand where these tracks came from. Sometimes you just get frustrated with the songs you're actually trying to record, and songs like these result.

The first 20 some odd songs are all old school, punk Ryan Adams (The Finger, anyone?). The last chunk seem to be just random country doodlings with rooster noises, claps and lyrics about drinking too much. All pretty silly, but hey - my band ended up recording an album about my roomate and his potential encounters with homosexual robots when recording once, so I can relate.

Here's a few tracks:

[mp3] Unicorns for Sale
[mp3] Lord, I Drink Too Much

You can download the whole package here (courtesy of some fine people over at RAO). It also includes the other songs that have streamed off his website (Dot com muthafucka), so enjoy and laugh. We'll all have some real Ryan Adams soon...

Visit Ryan's (kick ass) website here.

Now, for something *highly* recommended...

You know when you find a new band that you simply want to scream about to anyone with ears???? Libbie fits that bill, take a listen.

First off, you should shake off any of the normal stereotypes that come to mind when seeing a picture of a girl with a guitar. This isn't Avril and this certainly isn't Michelle Branch. The person in the photo above is named Libbie Linton and quite simply put - she's amazing.

I've known Libbie for a few years now and I'm very excited for you all to hear her. She's been writing and playing songs for a while now, though until recently it was more or less just for herself. The tracks below are from Libbie's Shackleton EP, her debut effort. The songs have a distinct "indie-folk" feel, the comparisons that come to my mind would be The Decemberists or Iron & Wine.

I just recommend a listen for yourself. Trust me - you won't regret it.

[mp3] What's Left
[mp3] Shakleton, I'm Solid

Visit Libbie's official website.

Make sure you enter the CD Giveaway contest! Click here to enter.

Big Tuesday

It was quite a fine Tuesday today for us music lovers.

Today saw the major label debut of The Decemberists for the indie-loving world and highly-anticipated sophomore outings from Jet and The Killers. Oh, and that Beck guy put out a new album too.

I've had the chance to sit down and listen to The Crane Wife (Decemberists) and Shine On (Jet) so far. I don't really have an interest in The Killer's new album...sorry kids, I just don't think their guarantees of it being the "greatest album ever" will meet my expectations, especially since I never got into them in the first place. I guess it's my inner "indie snob" coming through...

Beck is coming soon, I've heard good things but we'll have to wait until I digest the first two. Anyways, here's a few of my favorites from the previously mentioned albums:

Jet - Shine On

[mp3] Hey Kids
[mp3] Stand Up

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

[mp3] The Crane Wife 3
[mp3] Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)