Jangle-pop artist and former Paper Rival member Patrick Damphier has announced his upcoming LP Say I’m Pretty, which drops on 02.01.2019. To kick off the countdown to release day, Damphier has posted the first single from the album, called “Pretend It”. READ MORE…
John Isaac Watters, the vocalist of Rainstorm Brother, used to work as an architect. When listening to the careful arrangement of “Fire You Light,” the second track on the folk-rock duo’s new EP, Part One, it’s easy to understand why. His vocals are a little bitThe National, a little bit Modest Mouse and a lot of vibrato, acting as the foundation around which all the other instrumental sounds are built. READ MORE…
This is one of the most impressive lyrical tracks I’ve heard all year. The opening line is an absolute stunner and the imagery doesn’t stop there. From irony to just outright cleverness, it’s about the depths of sin and human identity but doesn’t feel preachy at all. In fact, it’s not a sermon at all, but it’ll teach you a lot about how to live your life. The Americana pseudo-throwback style is the perfect vehicle for it, too…..READ MORE
West Virginia is far more than meets the eye. A native of Morgantown, singer-songwriter Charles Wesley Godwin paints a rich and honest portrayal of his homeland and its people with his debut album. Seneca is a moving snapshot of his 26 years of life and well-soiled roots in the Appalachian hills, a backdrop that has given birth to some of the most intelligent and hard-working people in the country.
When you partake in his gripping storytelling, it comes as no surprise that Godwin’s shared bills with the likes of Shooter Jennings, Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, Luke Combs, Aaron Watson, David Allan Coe, Sundy Best, Waymore’s Outlaws and Nicholas Jamerson. Godwin is truly at home on stage and alongside like-minded musicians who go against the grain and shake up the status quo.
“This album will give people a really good look into what it’s like culturally in Appalachia. People have a way-off view from the outside of what we’re all about, what our priorities are and how smart we are,” says Godwin. The record is steeped to perfection in gentle mountain streams and a way of living that is surprisingly universal. Through earnest, sinewy craftsmanship, he mitigates the stereotypes that plague the state and reconfigures expectations.
Another essential piece of his story, “Shrinks and Pills” exhibits a dry, sly humor and sees Godwin lament the roar of the open road in his ears and an unquenchable homesickness wedged deep in his bones. He misses the comfort of his homestead, but he wouldn’t have it any other way–heartache be damned. “Hardwood Floors” dazzles in the dim light of a local pub as he shares a tender embrace with his wife amidst the ho-hum of the crowd…..READ MORE
Mad Crush lead guitarist Mark Whelan worked at New World Records, a small independent shop in Charlotte, NC, in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He reflects on his time behind the counter. —Ed.
“Being surrounded by vinyl, listening to records all day expanded my taste, which is what I wanted.”
“Opportunities to explore music were scarce then, when you could only hear what was on the radio or what friends owned, or what you could afford to buy. Maybe it was a bit more exciting to listen to something the first time because of the ceremony it required—taking a record home, pulling off the shrink-wrap, and laying around on the floor or couch listening while studying the album cover. Record stores are part of that treasure hunt, the feeling that something fascinating was probably lurking in a bin somewhere….READ MORE