Mountain Man – Sun Dog [2010]

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A limited “mossy green” marbled vinyl release on Underwater Peoples, housing Mountain Man’s first EP. The all-girl acappella group recently released their full-length debut (Made To Harbour) on Bella Union but this five-song collection on the brilliant Underwater Peoples imprint (who previously released material from the likes of Real Estate, Julian Lynch, Ducktails and Alex Bleeker & The Freaks) features alternative recordings, and boasts warmed-up, generally less reverb-saturated productions.

Annie Keating – Water Tower View [2010]

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The VILLAGE VOICE calls Keating “…A cross between Willie Nelson and John Prine and you don’t get any better than that.” Passionate songs — tough and tender. No frills or posturing — her sultry voice cut straight to the heart. PERFORMING SONGWRITER raves…”…A rocker in the best possible sense of the word…enough twang to be called country, lyrics that tell a folksinger’s story, but throw in her road-wizened voice and wailing electric guitar and what you’ve got s rock. As in rock solid.”

Lea – Can I Come By [2010]

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Lea is a Dutch singer/songwriter coming from the city of Nijmegen. Her album “Can I Come By” is out now.
I quite moody atmosphere is over this music. It is all quite calm as well and it takes a while to get into it. Not the most easy to catch material. What to think of Lea’s vocal capabilities, is to question. Because even though she has pleasant voice to listen to you can’t undermine there are plenty of voices like this. It’s just how many of those you can take. When it instrumentally goes up a bit like in “White Walls and Hospital Halls” for example, there is some more to hold on to. Though never seem to give full power on the album and choose to keep it modest and small. Close to herself, but with the emotions that the lyrics of her want to bring a bit more fire in it all would have spiced it up, make it more exciting to listen too.
Nevertheless “Can I Come By” is a pleasant album, not one to throw away at all, but there could have been so much more out of her than we got to see right now.

The Due Diligence – I Will Wreck Your Life [2010]

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Hi! My name is Isaac Gillespie and my one occupation for the last year has been birthing a ten song breakup album called “I Will Wreck Your Life”. I’ve enjoyed the help of all my very favorite musicians, representing some of the best bands in New York: the Shivers, the Relatives, Big Tree, Body Language & more! Collectively, we are the Due Diligence. And we’ve been busily recording and mixing and re-recording and overdubbing.

J Tex – Misery, 12 Songs 12 Favourites [2010]

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These twelve songs were recorded in three days. I asked my best and oldest buddy, Frank Borg, bass/banjo player and singer-songwriter, to cross the sea that third and final day and join in on this album. Andi Almqvist, a Swedish singer-songwriter from Malmö and also a dear friend, came by, making the song “Union Army” sparkle with his voice and musical talent. To make the day just perfect, Svante Sjöblom joined the party and was thrown in on “One of these days”. All in all, this album was made in the true family & good friends way. I hope you will enjoy this album. And that not only this album, but all music you may listen to, will shine on you and make every day a better day.

Wishpenny – Bound To [2010]

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Reviews of 2010 Album “bound to”
“With the sound from Regina’s steamy voice and the skilled guitar play from Brian, ‘Bound To’ will swallow your ears. Wishpenny has made great record, which is genuine, natural and rough! (Alt Country Forum)

“The Nashville based duo are offering up ten tracks of no frills, superior quality, country tinged folk rock, Brian handling the arrangements, engineering, production, mixing and mastering as well as playing electric and acoustic guitar, bass and drums, Regina providing the lyrics, vocals, photography, design and acoustic guitar.” (Beat Surrender)

We think it is highly unlikely that you could write a better review than these . . . but you could try in the comment space below 😉

Buster Blue – When The Silver’s Gone [2010]

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“If Buster Blue were an act (a sporadic one) they would be a beer bottle being smashed on someone’s head. But not in a drunken Offspring concert way. More in the way of being so convinced by good powerful folk-rock that you had to express to your neighbor how good you felt. I’m sure they would understand. There are a couple things about Buster Blue: One, they’re damn amazing. They combine everything from chains to accordions to create a folksy-rock-thrash sound that Reno has never heard before. Two, they are an experience to see live. Whether it’s lead singer Bryan Jones leaping off the stage and shouting into the megaphone during “Ain’t No Heaven on the County Road” or the entire band belting out teeth-clenching screams in “Damascus”—this band is a toe-tapping, hip-movin’ good time.” -RENO NOISE article by Jessica Pacheco

Daniel Lefkowitz – Daniel Lefkowitz [2010]

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Daniel Lefkowitz wanders the ages, weaving between the worlds of old time songbirds, the mythic architects of blues, and rebel rousing ink slingers. Bestowing humble nods and thankful gestures, he arrives at the here and now with an intrinsically authentic and modern presence.
Rooted in the American folk tradition, Lefkowitz brings to his songwriting a form stripped bare and beautiful. His melodies flood the musical body with bold blood, delivering potent words with the sound of an uncensored heart. His is a spirited offering that undulates with the intangible struggles of our current experience, as well as a subtle romanticism for tides and seasons bygone. Surrendering himself with a fierce abandon, at times with tenderness, at times with desperation, Daniel has a voice of gold and dust, like a good blade a bit rusted. With the sensibility of a poem or short story, Daniel’s lyrical content is ripe with abstract sketches of the intrigues of death and dreams unborn, the confusion of identity and intent, and the overwhelming ebb and flow of love.

Sahara Smith – Myth Of The Heart [2010]

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I was born in Austin in 1988, but did most of my growing up in the hill country where I started performing locally at fourteen. At fifteen I was selected to compete in A Prairie Home Companion’s ‘Talent from 12-20’ contest and took home second place. Since then, I’ve been pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter, and am currently fortunate enough to be working on my first album with producer T-Bone Burnett.

Tyler Stenson – Bittersweet Parade [2010

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“Fearing no metaphor and drawn instinctively to the bright flame of the American West, Stenson is a fire builder. He pits soft Americana against tender, billowy pop until it sparks, fanning the flame with his gusty, crackling vocals for warmth.”
Mark Stock – Willamette Week