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Musician of the Day: Nick Drake

January 30, 2012 By

Nick Drake

I cannot express my love for today’s musician, Nick Drake. Though most of his work was overlooked and cast aside when it was first released and even up until his death in 1974, Drake’s music has gained a significant cult following and is considered to be one of, if not the, key influence in the resurgence of 1960’s and 1970’s folk traditions, apparent in the works of artists including Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, and Six Organs Of Admittance. Drake only recorded 3 full length albums, “Five Leaves Left”, “Bryter Layter” and “Pink Moon” starting in 1969 and ending 1972. Drake recorded Pink Moon, severely depressed and doubting his abilities as a musician, in two two-hour sessions, both starting at midnight. The songs of Pink Moon were short and emotionally bleak. Drake recorded them unaccompanied with a piano was later overdubbed on the title track. Naked and sincere, it is widely thought to be his best work, and I fully agree. In all honesty, I can’t say anything about Nick Drake that you can’t find anywhere else, so I’m not going to, but I can tell you that he is one of the most brilliant musicians I have ever heard. All I can do I show you his stuff and hope that you all appreciate it for all that it is worth. His music is life changing and change the way you think of most music today. I hope you all enjoy today’s musician as much as we do here at EHBS. Thanks for reading and as always, listen and enjoy.

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Filed Under: Blues, Folk, Indie, Singer/Songwriter Tagged With: , , , , ,

Musician of the Day: Glen Hansard

January 13, 2012 By

Glen Hansard


I’ve been on an Irish music kick this week; Tuesday we had Damien Rice and today I figured I would do a piece on Glen Hansard and his unlikely story of success. Born in Dublin in 1970, Hansard quit school at the age of thirteen in favor of playing music on street corners for money, determined at a very young age to make music his livelihood.

In 1990 Hansard formed the rock group The Frames and in the twenty-one years since they have released eight full studio albums and two live albums along with gaining considerable popularity and acclaim along the way. Albums of note include their first album, Another Love Song which was released in 1991 and re-released last year as the original edition had gone out of print, as well as fan favorites Fitzcarraldo (released in 1996), Burn the Maps (2005) and The Cost (2006).

Hansard is associated with another act, The Swell Season, in which he is one half of a folk-rock duo paired with czech multi-instrumentalist Marketa Irglova. Formed in 2005, they have since released three full length albums together: A self titled in 2006, the soundtrack to the film Once which Hansard and Irglova starred in as well as wrote all the music for (the movie drew a lot of attention to the duo and led to their recognition in the United States as well as the clamoring of several record companies to sign them, all of which were declined) and Strict Joy in 2009 (My personal favorite). I love the Frames, but if you aren’t listening to The Swell Season you really should be. Something I hope I can help fix.

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Filed Under: Folk, Indie, Singer/Songwriter Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Witness – The Everafter LP: An Album Review

January 12, 2012 By

Witness

Witness is a rapper/hip-hop musician, born John Parr, currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To date, he has released three EPs (“Ever Since”, “Evermore”, and “.45 Sweetheart”), an instrumental album dedicated to the late Nujabes (“Hope Springs Eternal”) and one LP, entitled “The Everafter LP”, which is what I am reviewing today. He is signed to Rockwell Product Shop in Japan, and unsigned in the U.S. He is currently working on his first full-length album while simultaneously working on a collection of live studio recordings of his existing music with his touring band “The Family Secret”.

This is something I’ve wanted to mention in previous reviews, but never got around to. I really think it applies here though, so here it goes.

When it comes time for me to make a new artist/album review (usually when really bored at work), I try not to review recently released ones. I prefer to wait a bit, because over my years, I’ve noticed a peculiar trend with me and music. If I pop a brand new CD in and immediately start to love it, I tend to think less and less of it over time (a few examples being Protest the Hero’s “Fortress”, Panic! At the Disco’s “Vices and Virtues, which I reviewed favorably, “Doo-Wops and Hooligans” by Bruno Mars, and the entirety of the Madina Lake discography). And on the flip side, if I originally write an album off as being good, but not great, that album almost always becomes one of my favorites (examples of this phenomenon include “Some Kind of Trouble” by James Blunt, “They Said A Storm Was Coming” by Jamie’s Elsewhere, and “First Temple” by Closure in Moscow, which rests comfortably as my fourth favorite album ever). So when I first started listening to Witness, I immediately wanted to spread the word and review him. But, I was smart and I waited to make sure the album could keep me as interested after at least six months as it did when I first starting listening.

And it did. Simply put, Witness is who got me back into rap/hip-hop after an eight year absence.

But enough about me, let’s move on to the album. “The Everafter LP” contains ten tracks and clocks in at just under thirty minutes. It comes quick and then leaves you longing for more. The album starts out with “Twenty Three”, a song about personal reflection and the revelation that you can’t know what’s going to happen in your life. Featuring fellow artist and producer Emancipator, it sets the mood of the album perfectly as a jazzy, soul-filled piece of art. Immediately afterwards, the album jumps into “Cheap Date”, which has Witness observing the traditional bar scene and its typical inhabitants while also taking a few potshots at himself, something Witness isn’t afraid to do. A few tracks later, “Two Step”, one of the more aggressive tracks on the album, reflects on seduction, the interactions between men and women, and the feeling that no matter how far ahead you get, something or someone is always there to try to hold you back. The album concludes with the ballad “Lower Case” (possibly my favorite on the album), which tells the tale of two lovers forced apart, with the promise that they’ll be together again.

Here, I would normally start ranting about where an artist particularly shines, but with Witness, I don’t even know where to begin. Lyrically, the album is genius, with Parr painting pictures of love and heartbreak, watching how the world and its people change over the years, with some subtle social commentary here and there. The beats in which Witness raps over are also worth mentioning. Heavily influenced by the late Japanese artist Nujabes (who Witness cites as one of his main inspirations), Parr blends a divine mix of jazz and hip-hop beneath his relaxed and sultry tone to create some of the most thought provoking and addicting songs I’ve ever listened to.

I really don’t have a complaint for this album. It may not seem very professional, but I don’t have anything negative to say (plus, I’m not getting paid for these, so I’m not a professional). Would I like it to be longer? Of course! But not because I feel it’s missing anything, simply for selfish reasons. I purchased this album in the middle of May of 2011, and to this date, I can’t recall a time where I can say I wasn’t in the mood for a song off of it. That to me justifies my perfect 10 out of 10 score for “The Everafter LP” by Witness.

When discussing music with friends, I tend to describe a lot of musicians as people who “won’t set the world on fire, but do a damn good job at what they set out to accomplish”. However, I truly believe that, given the chance, Witness could indeed set the world on fire with his craft. So sit back, use one of the links that follows, and indulge in the beauty of underground hip-hop.

Written by Joshua William Bickel

-William, Cody, Logan & Jeff

Witness
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Witness

Filed Under: Hip-Hop, Indie Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Musician of the Day: Clara Engel

January 11, 2012 By

Clara Engel

I had the oportuity to chat with the Toronto-born singer-songwriter, Clara Engel, the other day and it couldn’t have gone any better. Engel is wonderful and is extremely original when it comes to everything she makes. She has so much to offer the music world and its listeners and this is hopefully going to get her some more, well deserved attention.

Clara Engel
An interview of sorts.

EHBS: Well lets get this “interview” going. Ready?

Clara Engel: Yep.
EHBS: Awesome! First off thanks for making time to do the interview and thanks for getting ahold of us. I would have never found you other wise.
Clara Engel: You’re welcome! The pleasure is mine.
EHBS: Well I’m glad I actually got to hear your stuff. It is extremely unique.
Clara Engel: Thanks.

EHBS: So who are you and where are you from?

Clara Engel: I’m Clara Engel, some kind of combination of musician and poet.. and I am from Toronto, Canada.

EHBS: Nice description. Hows the weather up there?

Clara Engel: Right now it’s very grey, and fairly chilly. Spring and fall are nicer.
EHBS: Yeah I’m sure. Ohio just sucks year round but thats another story
Clara Engel: How cold is it now?
EHBS: Its almost 40 . . . all of our snow is gone
Clara Engel: Ah.. i hardly know farenheit degrees. They teach us celsius up here.
EHBS: Oh man and idk celsius hah well lets just say its way to warm for this time of year
Clara Engel: heheh. yes!

EHBS: hah So how would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it?

Clara Engel: I actively avoid that.. I tend to make them listen before I try. But I have a new description, if I’m pressed: “If shooting stars could mate with snails.”
EHBS: It is a tough question to answer but I think you just gave the most interesting answer in history
Clara Engel: haha, why thanks. Something shimmering and also slow.

EHBS: Yes that is perfect! How did you come across your sound? if that makes sense. . .

Clara Engel: It was just a slow coming into being…I don’t think I came across it, really. I just move towards what I find compelling and beautiful, and I’ve gotten better at translating what I hear in my imagination into real sounds and forms. I love simplicity, and unadorned sounds. Not sure if I really answered your question, heh…
EHBS: hah I think you did
Clara Engel: Good.
EHBS: Its always in a state of evolution
Clara Engel: Yes. I’m never satisfied.
EHBS: Nor should you ever be. Stay hungry
Clara Engel: Indeed! Stay alive

EHBS: Well put hah. When did you first start playing music?

Clara Engel: I started playing music on my own terms when I was twelve. before that I had lessons here and there, and played in school ensembles, but it was a different thing. I picked up a guitar when I was twelve. It wasn’t a creative medium for me until I came at it on my own terms.
EHBS: cool cool.
Clara Engel: yar

EHBS: What made you want to play guitar?

Clara Engel: I loved the beatles and they played guitars, and it also felt somewhat transformative for me to pick up a guitar and start writing songs… like the most unlikely thing for me to do, from an outside perspective. I delighted in that feeling.
EHBS: The beatles tend to do that to people hah
Clara Engel: They really do, heh still!
EHBS: Oh for sure. I’m obsessing over Magical mystery tour. Blue Jay Way is pure gold.
Clara Engel: Weird thing, that might have been the one album of theirs i didn’t own. I need to get it now, I guess!
EHBS: hah yes, I’m a huge supporter of avant-garde stuff and that album is just insane.
Clara Engel: I loved the white album and revolver and rubber soul. and abbey road even. I had them on cassette, probably killed those tapes I played them so much.

EHBS: YES! I love them all. Post 1964 is when they became something to marvel. Are there any other groups that you would call “influences” on you?
Clara Engel: I guess! Captain Beefheart… Diamanda Galas, CAN, John Tavener…. Robert Johnson. The beatles were where I got into music, but I got way into old blues as a teen, and then more avant garde-ish stuff, I guess. And now I just go for whatever sounds exciting to me.
EHBS: Wow we just became best friends . . . I am currently listening to Tago Mago by CAN
Clara Engel: Tago Mago!!! yes!!! Ege Bamyasi too!!! Probably my 2 faves.
EHBS: I have those and Monster Movie. Those three are amazing
Clara Engel: ahhh I don’t have that one … is that an album or a compilation?
EHBS: Its and ep of sorts, its only 4 songs but they are all really long and the last song is just over 20 minutes long. It’s brilliant.
Clara Engel: I also love Dirty Three and all soundtracks by Fatih Akin. You’d probably really like them.
EHBS: I’ll have to do some listening
Clara Engel: I recommend ‘ocean songs’

EHBS: Awesome! So anything that interests you? Any newer groups in particular?

Clara Engel: hhhhmmmmmm many things! hehehe let me think.
EHBS: Take your time!
Clara Engel: I’m reading a book called ‘Wabi-Sabi For Artists, Designers, Poets, and Philosophers’ – I won’t try to describe it cause I’m not even half-done, but it’s very interesting to me. And I love the band Fovea Hex… they’re pretty current, and I think more people should listen to them. I do tend to delve into the past a lot with my musical interests though… James Blake is really good too.
EHBS: Oh man James Blake is outstanding
Clara Engel: He’s unusual, something timeless about his songs. I’m drawn to timelessness

EHBS: Yes yes. So it’s not just music that influences you, its lots of things.
Clara Engel: Definitely… I read a lot of poetry too.
EHBS: Thats great. Favorite poet?
Clara Engel: That’s tough…. I love Theodore Roethke right now. Also Helene Cixous, if she can be called a poet as well as a theorist and philosopher
EHBS: Oh wow, I don’t know either of them. I’ll have to do some reading too hah
Clara Engel: Yours to discover!!!

EHBS: THANKS! So, I was looking at your discography, you’ve got quit a bit.

Clara Engel: I write a lot of songs…
EHBS: That is something that is becoming a lost art form.
Clara Engel: Being prolific is often frowned upon these days actually… I have had people critique me for releasing too much. (I think that is a dumb mentality tho)
EHBS: Seriously?
Clara Engel: Yes! I also have been critiqued for playing too many shows.
EHBS: . . .
Clara Engel: A singer must sing, a writer must write… I stand by that. I need to do both!
EHBS: Well keep on doing it. people will someday see that its a good thing
Clara Engel: Thanks, I sure will! I love doing it too, and that’s the most important thing, I’d say.
EHBS: Oh for sure! With out the love music isn’t music.
Clara Engel: Indeed. It’s a shitty job or something

EHBS: What does your work mean to you? Are all of your albums some form of expression?

Clara Engel: That’s hard to say… probably because it’s so close to me. the best way I could put is that I do it because I’m alive. It’s like needing to eat, learn, love, experience the world. I also really need to be creative, and the form I work in happens to be the form of song.
EHBS: I see
Clara Engel: If i lost my ability to make music, I’m pretty certain that I would just start creating in another medium.

EHBS: So its really just you interpreting your world? Is that a way of putting it?

Clara Engel: Yeah, I guess! but also I love listening to other people’s stories, and my songs are not really autobiographical but it’s always filtered through my way of seeing the world.
EHBS: Nice nice. I dig what you’re producing so please don’t stop hah
Clara Engel: I won’t, if I can help it!

EHBS: GOOD! So are there any other people that play with you?

Clara Engel: I play with a drummer named Paul Kolinski, and a horn player named Nicolas Buligan in Toronto. And I work with a lot of different people when I go on tour.

EHBS: Nice. Did any of those people help record or are featured on any of your work?

Clara Engel: Yep! They are both on my album Secret Beasts… and on my forthcoming record. I had a less coherent ‘band’ before that, but everyone is listed on my Bandcamp site.

EHBS: It probably says on the bandcamp site but are you playing many shows or touring at all soon?
Clara Engel: I’m touring in March with Valerie Kuehne (Dream Zoo)… we’ll be playing in NYC, Philly, New Haven, Boston… some more places that I can’t remember. We’re also going to record for a day in Boston to see what happens. I’m really excited for that.
EHBS: That’ll be so awesome!
Clara Engel: Yes!!! I was in Cleveland once, but I haven’t had a chance to do a show there yet.
EHBS: You should try and make it back!
Clara Engel: I’d love to! I’ll look into it!

EHBS: Well one last thing, anything you want people to know? Anything about anything?

Clara Engel: Right here: ‘Ashes and Tangerines’

I want to thank Clara for taking the time to sit down and talk with us! It is great to see real musicians out there who do care about the music and the people who love it. I hope we can keep this going! Thanks for reading and as always listen and enjoy!

-Cody, Logan and Jeff

Help Clara out by donating here!
Clara Engel

Clara Engel

Filed Under: Avant-garde, Folk, Indie, Singer/Songwriter Tagged With: , , , ,

Musician of the Day: Damien Rice

January 10, 2012 By

Damien Rice


An Irish-born singer-songwriter, Damien Rice has been playing music since the early nineties with classmates from college in a band called Juniper, a pop-rock band who released two EP’s until Rice left the band in 1998 to pursue a solo career. He has released two albums since then: O, in 2002, and 9 in 2006, both of which achieved high positions on various international Billboard Charts from Ireland, through Europe and in America with a total of 11 singles.

Rice’s music is of a confessional nature- through his beautiful guitarwork and trademark powerful, reedy voice you always feel that Rice is apologizing for something, and his lyrics correlate to that with emotions of sorrow, regret and overall hopelessness, but we never really get a feel for what it is exactly Damien Rice is trying to confess. Nonetheless his songs are incredibly evocative; Damien Rice is a master at making you feel what he wants you to feel, and I think therein lies the secret to his success. Give some of these songs a listen, it’s great stuff and we hope you enjoy it!

Written by Logan Scott Ford
-Logan, Cody & Jeff

Damien Rice
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Damien Rice

Filed Under: Folk, Indie, Singer/Songwriter Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Musician of the Day: The Weeknd

January 9, 2012 By

The Weeknd

I’ve been on a kick of mostly beats lately, I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing but I’m not complaining. With that being said today we present to you The Weeknd. The Weeknd is Toronto-based R&B singer, Abel Tesfaye. Now when we are talking about R&B, it is truly R&B. There’s no mix of rap thrown in this stuff, it is pure soul, which is what makes his music so interesting. You don’t here pure R&B at all anymore, it’s very refreshing. In March of 2011, Abel, dropped his first mixtape, House of Balloons. Then in August of 2011, he released his second mixtape, Thursday and his newest album, Echoes Of Silence, was released on December 21 2011. Not many musicians or bands have been able to put out three, consistently solid, full length albums in one year, let alone 9 months, it is almost unbelievable. His music is a perfect example of everything you want to hear in R&B, even if you aren’t a fan of that style of music, you just might end up tapping your foot to his work. Another great part about Tesfaye’s music, are his actual beats. They are extremely original and well put together. I can honestly say I’ve never heard anything quit like them, ranging from an almost avant-garde style to classical. The Weeknd is an extremely talented musician, I hope you all like him and his music as much as I do. Thanks for reading. Listen and enjoy!

-Cody, Logan & Jeff

Download all three mixtapes for free from his site below!
The Weeknd

The Weeknd

Filed Under: R & B, Soul Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day: Can

January 6, 2012 By

CAN

CAN was an experimental rock group founded in Cologne, Germany in 1968. They described themselves as an “anarchist community”, and constructed their music largely through improvisation and editing. They known to be one of the finest of the original “krautrock” bands and are among the most important experimental artists in recent music history. CAN is one of the main influences for one of my favorite bands, Swell Maps, as well as many other early avant-garde groups around the world. The group split in 1979 but reunited briefly in the mid-80s and early 90s but over the groups 10+ years of making music they produced a large discography that included over 15 full length albums and an even larger number of singles, EP’s and compilations. I am extremely new to this band, but from what I have heard, I am in love. Their experimentation and creativity is something to be admired. They weren’t afraid to try something new and because they did, music was changed drastically. Listen and enjoy!

-Cody, Logan & Jeff

CAN

Filed Under: Avant-garde, Experimental, Krautrock, Lo-fi, Rock Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day: Cataldo

January 5, 2012 By

Cataldo


I’ve known about Cataldo for a few years now- my best friend and roommate for nearly two years found him on the internet once, a random Myspace find I think (he was always good for accidentally happening across wonderful bands on the internet, but I digress) and to be frank I wasn’t really that into it. There were two songs that were alright: I liked Wedding Cake, off the self-titled first album because it told a pretty story about a man accepting the love of his life marrying someone else, and Black and Milds off of the second album, Signal Flare, because it’s catchy as all hell. Seriously, listen to that song once, you’ll be singing the chorus for the rest of the day. Other than those two songs though, I just didn’t see it. Just another generic folk band who kind of wanted to be Bright Eyes and kind of wanted to be Iron and Wine.

Cataldo released their newest album, Prison Boxing, in late September of last year and I was fully prepared to feel mostly unimpressed when my old roommate called me to tell me about how amazing it was. I checked it out though, and I was hooked. I listened to it, and then I listened to it again to make sure it really was as good as it seemed that first listen. Then I listened to it again. And again. This went on for over a week. I’ve probably listened to Prison Boxing three hundred times since it was released and honestly it just keeps getting better. I’m actually listening to it right now and I really should stop because it keeps distracting me and at this rate this article will never be finished. It’s the perfect folk album, telling tales of heartbreak and separation and the worst parts of a man’s life through a lens of cheerful sounding, uplifting music. It’s an interesting dichotomy and it works out beautifully.

A little about Cataldo, now. Cataldo is the stage name of singer-songwriter Eric Anderson and the ever revolving group of musicians that play with him sometimes. Anderson started recording back in 2005 with the self titled album that I mentioned earlier, and a few years later he released Signal Flare, which sounds a little more well produced and is a little higher quality in terms of material. Then last year Prison Boxing came out, and it’s like they’ve transcended into some higher plane of musical ability. I’m not sure what terrible heartbreak Eric Anderson went through in order to create such beautiful music, but I can only hope it happens to every other musician out there.

None of the youtube videos are particularly good quality, so here is a link to his bandcamp page- you gotta listen to Prison Boxing, it’ll change your life I swear. And in retrospect, the older stuff isn’t half bad, either.

Written by Logan Scott Ford
-Logan, Cody & jeff

Though we do love amazon, EHBS and the artists prefer that you buy from or at least check out their bandcamp pages. To do so just click on the large, underlined print!

Cataldo

Cataldo

Filed Under: Folk, Indie, Singer/Songwriter Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Musician of the Day: Black Milk

January 4, 2012 By

Black Milk


There may be nothing that I appreciate more than hip-hop, yes hip-hop. When it comes to this style of music, I am extremely critical, cynical and even more picky. For most of the hip-hop I hear, it is kind of a joke. It is simplistic and really has nothing that makes it stand out from anything else that you hear, but every once in a while I am introduced to someone that blows me away. Most recently that someone has been Black Milk.

Black Milk, is a hip hop producer and MC from Detroit, Michigan. His style and flow are eclectic, powerful and original. When he gets on stage, he completely takes over. He leads his band the same way James Brown used to, directing them, cueing their parts, just putting on a show. Besides it’s not every day that you see an MC play a live set with an actual drummer and a DJ. That is a rare occurrence in most of today’s live and even recorded hip-hop albums. I know this is a short bio, but to be honest, I can’t really describe my thoughts and feelings about the music. It is intense and it is exactly how, in my opinion, how hip-hop/rap should be. So please take today’s musician and really give him a good listen. I can almost guarantee that it won’t disappoint you. Thanks for reading and as always, listen and enjoy!

-Cody, Logan & Jeff

Black Milk

Black Milk

Filed Under: Hip-Hop, Rap Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Musician of the Day: Witness

January 3, 2012 By

Witness

Witness is the stage name of PA native John Parr, an up and coming hip hop artist in his early twenties who has been recording his own peculiar blend of jazz and hip hop since his sophomore year of high school. A strong supporter of the Do It Yourself ethic, once he finished schooling Witness booked several coast to coast tours crossing over forty states, selling more than three thousand copies of hand pressed demos along the way, which led to him being signed by the Japanese independent label Rockwell Product Shop, although (somehow) he remains unsigned in the States.

Witness has released four EPs The Eversince, Evermore and fEverafter series of EPs as well as the separate .45 Sweetheart with the subject matter ranging from young love to heartbreak and loss as well as commentaries on the human condition growing up, all of which delivered with Parr’s now signature husky delivery and sublimely melodic lyrical flow, as well as an instrumental tribute EP in honor of the late Japanese musical producer Nujabes, whom Witness cites as a major influence, called Hope Springs Eternal.

Witness is currently working on the material with which he will release as his long awaited full length debut, which I for one am practically foaming at the mouth over in eagerness to get my hands on it. A friend of mine turned me on to Witness a few months back and I haven’t stopped listening since- despite the fairly small body of work everything Witness has done is excellent in quality and it looks like it will only get better from here. Now without further ado, music by Witness. Give it a shot, and try not to enjoy yourself. You won’t succeed.

Written by Logan Scott Ford
-Logan, Cody & Jeff

Witness
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Witness

Filed Under: Hip-Hop, Indie Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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