Hey Remember Us?! Folk Music Friday - Hey Marseilles

Let's pretend six months haven't flown by and you are anxiously waiting for another Folk Friday music post.
Well wait no more!

Hey Marseilles is my new discovery hailing from Seattle, WA. There is something about the Pacific Northwest that must really call to me, since neighboring Portland is the epicenter of the Decemberist's musical development too.

Much like The Decemberists, Hey Marseilles is touched by folk and indie elements, using unconventional as well as the typical instruments in their seven member arrangements.

They currently have one album, Of Travels and Trunks, with has a few gems and potential to grow in the indie music community. There is clear joy in the songs they write, and they seem unafraid to use language to their advantage.

My favorite is "Calabasas," a sweepingly epic description of driving up through California to Washington. Take a listen!

Inspiration!

Over the past few days I cannot believe how much this musician has appeared in my daily activities. Its a bit spooky and seems cosmically aligned that I share! First there was the segment on NPR. Then I heard her on a college radio station. Finally my puppeteer/artist friend Zach, who has a blog of his own, mentioned her. And that's when I knew I should publish something! I will admit I was a little self conscience, because I don't want all the aforementioned sources to think I was copying them. It was all leading up to this.
Have I intrigued you enough? Well, drum roll please....
Take a listen to KATE BUSH.



She's crazy. How could you not love her?
A quick peak at her biography and you can see that she has served as inspiration for artists of all kinds. Florence Welsh of Florence and the Machine sighted her as a huge influence.
What I love most is her passion for creativity and art. She's not trying to hit the top of the charts, nor is she worried what others will think of her creation. She says she just likes to "play," and I really admire that kind of freedom. I hope you enjoy it too!

p.s. The Decemberists new album comes out on the 18th!! Preview it!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Sharon Van Etten}

Yesterday, my dad texted me with partial lyrics to a song he had just heard on the radio & said it was by Sharon something & could I do a little sleuthing to find out what the song was & who the artist was because, he said, he thought I would really enjoy the music.

Sleuthing accomplished & hypothesis correct! The artist in question is Sharon Van Etten & the particular song he had heard was One Day, which is on her new album: Epic & I LOVE it.

I couldn't find too, too much information on who she is, etc, but here is an article published by The Village Voice (read full article here)- from what I can gather she is 25 years old & originally from Tennessee, landed an internship at Ba Da Bing Records in NYC (home to the band Beirut) & eventually acquired a record deal herself.

Her first album, Because I Was In Love, came out on May 26, 2009. The second record, Epic, was released this past fall on September 7, 2010.

Her music is very quiet, a little dreamy & melancholy, solid folk. Enjoy below!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Mail the Horse}

New band centered in Brooklyn. No videos to post yet, so listen here. It's worth it, I promise!

Review.

Facebook.

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Best Coast}

I found out about Best Coast via Goldteef's blog {check her out!} & I'm really digging the low-fi, scratchy, vintagey sound. They are from California (hence "best coast,' which I will ignore, ha!) & formed in 2009. Their first full length album, Crazy for You, came out on July 27, 2010.

Their videos are cool too, enjoy below:

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Hocus Pocus}

I hope everyone is having a lovely Halloween/fall weekend! I haven't quite decided what I'm being tonight, but given the time & thesis deadlines & laziness I very well might put on a Red Sox cap & an accent & be a Masshole. Anyways, today's music is brought to you by the amazing 1993 {!} movie Hocus Pocus - starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Thora Birch, and Bette Milder among others, since I have been dying to watch it given the holiday. Next week we will return to music music, but this week we are being festive. Enjoy!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {The Mummers}

Another English folk-ish band...Sorry! I'll branch out soon! This week I'm bringing you The Mummers, from Brighton, specifically- their music is lovely, lovely {I've been listening while I write my thesis this week}.

The band centers around Raissa & Mark Horwood {who unfortunately committed suicide in 2009}. Their most recent album - Tale to Tell - was released in April of 2009. Enjoy!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Emmy the Great}

Here's another English folky for everyone to enjoy - I swear I listen to other music!

Emmy the Great

Emily was born in Hong Kong {she is half Chinese} in 1984 {26 years old} & moved to London when she was 12. Her first full length album, First Love, was released in 2009. She has been compared to a modern/anti-folk version of Nick Drake {the glorious} & Joni Mitchell {my soul}.

I dig it, it's good coffee-shop folk music, but more upbeat. I particularly enjoy the video/song below since I am all about correspondence {J'adore pen pals & postcards}.

MUSIC: Folk Friday {TLC}

This is definitely not folk, but I have had this TLC song in my head all day & I think it might kind of be a '90s day anyways. Enjoy the throwback!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Kate Rusby}

I feel pretty lame about missing two Folk Friday's in a row - you & I both know I would rather be trolling around for new music &/or scrolling through my iTunes to find something to share instead of constantly writing & editing thesis chapters.

This week I have a new folkie for you, well she's new to me & I'm digging it. Maybe you will too - I think it's safe to say she is right up Britt's alley.

Kate Rusby - a lovely combination of traditional & modern folk - is, unsurprisingly, from England {everything I listen to for the past 2 years or so seems to be coming out of England, any suggestions on American artists from our emerging folk scene??}. She was born in 1973 in Yorkshire. Kate was raised by a musically inclined & interested family, learning fiddle at any early age. She debuted at a festival when she was 15 & joined forces with fellow folky - Kathryn Roberts - for a few albums, garnering them attention & a few awards. She currently has eight solo discs available on iTunes.

I think Kate must also be a little bit of an artist because her website {linked above} sells some of her doodles on mugs & shirts & other things. I really dig them - super cute. See the mugs below:

I'm quite excited about this find - let me know what you all think! However, it doesn't look like she will be making her way to the U.S. anytime soon - view her tour dates here.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Carole King}

I know I haven't blogged since last Friday & I know Carole King isn't the newest/coolest {folk} music out there right now, but I'm jumping in feet first in the thesis writing pond this weekend, so I'm relying on the classics to get me through. Namely, this means I have already listened to Tapestry twice this morning. There are a million things one can say about this lady - amazing songwriter, performer, etc {let's leave James Taylor out of this}, but I'll just leave you with a link & some videos to enjoy! I'll be listening to her all day & sucking down cups of tea to keep me sane. Wish me luck & enjoy!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Brett Dennen}

This is sort of a blast from my {recent} musical past -all thanks to shuffle mode on the iPod. I was obsessed with Brett Dennen senior year of high school - like I think my discman {yah, totally didn't even have an iPod for at least another year or so} was about to light on fire I played his two CDs I had so many times. His voice is really distinct & I like that some of his stuff is super slow & lovely & others have a little more jam feel to them {not a good musical description, but I don't think I'll be sending in my application at Rolling Stone any time soon, so whatever}. I actually saw him at the 2009 Newport Folk Festival - beautiful.

It looks like he has 3 CDs out now: Brett Dennen {2004}, So Much More {2006}, Hope for the Hopeless {2008}

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Bombay Bicycle Club}

These guys hail from London & have such a sweet sound to them. Their debut CD, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, came out July 6, 2009. That was followed by Flaws released July 12, 2010.

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Laura Marling}

No idea how I came across this gorgeous folky {Pandora is most likely}, but I legit cannot get enough. I listen to her CD on repeat & it only makes my desire to move to the English countryside stronger & sadder.

Laura Marling, who is only 20, comes from England & was part of the folk-act Noah & the Whale before going solo in 2007/2008.

Her first disc, Alas I Cannot Swim {2007}, was followed by I Speak Because I Can {2010}. Her voice is simply stunning.

Oh, yah, all these pictures are of the same girl -she's been through a few hair incarnations {& they all look great, which is hard to pull off!}.

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Eisley}

I love to leave Pandora on especially when I am getting ready for work. More often than not, it plays exactly what's on my iTunes anyway, but the other day, a new sound came through my computer speakers.

Basically the indie rock version of the von Trapp fam, Eisley is band from Tyler, Texas, made up of four siblings Chauntelle, Sherri, Stacy, and Weston DuPree and their cousin, Garron DuPree.
They are a hardworking bunch, performing as headliners and supporting bands all over the country, while still releasing 2 full albums and 8 EP's.



Though its a bit harder than what I normaly qualify as folk, I like their sound and their independence.

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Sondre Lerche}

This discovery happened through one of those amazing chain of events that makes new books, music, etc that much sweeter. I can't take the credit though.My BFF during undergrad - Zach - was randomly watching Jay Leno or some late night show & Sondre Lerche was the entertainment. I want to say this was 2006 ish. He puts him on my ipod; we become obsessed. We were also obsessed with The Office & eventually saw Dan In Real Life with Steve Carrell & I was quite surprised to hear a familiar voice- Sondre did the whole soundtrack. Anyways I guess that's not too crazy of a chain of events, but I think it's funny - especially when you dig something years before he becomes known in any sense of that word.

Born in Norway in 1982, he has released 6 albums in the US. Also, he did a great duet with Regina Spektor who also rocks!

• Faces Down {2002}
• Two Way Monologue {2004}
• Duper Sessions {2006}
• Phantom Punch {2007}
• Dan in Real Life {2007}
• Heartbeat Radio {2009}

Enjoy!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {The Felice Brothers}

Get out your boots & banjo & add this to your mix of Wood Brothers, Punch Brothers, Avett Brothers {old stuff} & Old Crow Medicine Show.

The Felice Brothers formed in 2006 in Upstate New York {Iknow right, Kentucky sounds more plausible}. They have been doing the festival circuit since then, but from what I gather they're on tour with Dave Matthews Band {ugh} this summer. The group is comprised of Ian and James Felice, their friends Christmas, Greg Farley, & Dave Turbeville. Their other brother, Simon, left the band in 2009 to form his own group: The Duke & The King - & to focus on his writing endeavors.

Enjoy!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Amos Lee}

Amos Lee, originally from Philly & originally named Ryan Massaro, came onto the scene around 2004 when he was invited to tour with Norah Jones {who appeared on his 2005 debut CD}. This guy is one of my favorite go-to's for mood music. It just soothes & de-stresses.

Discography:

• Amos Lee EP {2004}
• Live from KCRW {2005}
• Amos Lee {2005}
• Supply and Demand {2006}
• Last Days at the Lodge {2008}

Video for Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight, off of the 2005 album Amos Lee, below:

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Destiny's Child}

This summer it seems like, musically, at least, I'll be getting in touch with my twelve year old self. Last week I watched Spice World & studied while listening to every single Spice Girls album ever. This week I can't stop with the Destiny's Child. Now, in 6th grade or so, when every girl was feuding over N*Sync vs. Backstreet Boys...I could have really cared less. I was all about Destiny's Child {& Missy Elliot...but that is another story}. I'm not terribly into Beyonce's solo career, but I was OBSESSED with all formations of the group that made her famous. Since it's summer, lets have some fun & go back all the way to 1999 with Say My Name off of their album, Writings on the Wall. The album includes original members LeToya Luckett & Latavia Roberson, however, they were fired just before the video was shot, so it features Michelle Williams & Farrah Franklin, instead. Drama!

Enjoy below:

MUSIC: Fok Friday {Sia}

I have been listening to this lady's album, Some People Have Real Problems {2008}, on repeat for two years now. Then, this week, I heard rumblings of a new album - she has mentioned before of quitting, or not doing any more solo, in-front-of-camera work. So, I thought I would share some of my faves from her to celebrate her new work, which I want to get my hands on.

Sia, born in Australia in 1975, is known for her souldful-jazzy-pop ish solo work, as well as her work with her group Zero 7. As a solo artist she has put out 5 studio albums: Only See {1997}, Healing is Difficult {2001}, Colour the Small One {2004, 2006}, Some People Have Real Problems {2008}, & the quite recent We Are Born {June 4, 2010}.

Additionally, she has worked as producer & song writer for the likes of Christina Aguilera &, in 2009, sang back up vocals s for Flight of the Conchords {!} CD, I Told You I Was Freaky. In her personal life, she is a vegetarian {I'm succeeding in that endeavor at least!} & openly gay -currently dating JD Samson from Le Tigre.

She is sort of cuckoo-crazy & I dig it, you'll get the idea in her videos below...I'm posting two {both from Some People Have Real Problems}!