Into An Atmosphere the forthcoming release by Margaret Chavez is due out on July 31st via We Know Better Records. The project of Marcus William Striplin’s music is described as “latin freak-folk rhythms with a topicality the microgenre has never dared to approach.” Ahead of the album’s release Margaret Chavez has shared the title-track, now available to stream.
While she’s not yet a household name, Stephie James has often been one of the key navigators for several who are. Working with the likes of Buddy Miller, Steve Earle, and Shawn Colvin as an assistant engineer at Dan Auerbach’s studio and touring with the likes of Anita Baker and Nikki Lane, the Nashville artist honed her sound while collaborating with greats. Her upcoming EP, These Days, was produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff). It captures her stirring noir soul—a callback to the retro pop of Amy Winehouse and classic rock ‘n’ roll of Roy Orbison rolled into one. James’ lead single, “Sin City”, is exemplary of this essence. Dark and rootsy, the tune features James as a venerable frontwoman to what becomes a garage rock-fueled jam, offering plenty of room to sink into its dusky, hypnotic vibe.
Listen to this week’s State of the Art Spotify playlist featuring:
Misty Boyce – The Clearing
RJD2, Homeboy Sandman – One of a Kind
Night Stone – Conquer Time (Lazerbeak, ICETEP, Sophia Eris)
Man Man – On the Mend
Devil Doll – You Can’t Have Me
Diet Cig – Stare into the Sun
Sylvia Rose Novak – Bad Luck
Ab Soul – Dangerookipawaa Freestyle
Epic Levels – Battle Prep
Earl Sweatshirt, Maxo – WHOLE WORLD
Beach Bums – Shrug (Lolipop Records)
Koncept, James Salvato – Movie Premier
Bright Eyes – Forced Convalescence
Tedo Stone – Same Old Kid (Laser Brains)
Hazel English – Wake UP! (Polyvinyl)
The Band Ice Cream – Eject
Nascar Aloe, Travis Barker, Jasiah – Dogshit
Slut Magic – Help Me
Chicano Batman – I Know It
The Dears – I Know What You’re Thinking and Its Awful
PUP – Anaphylaxis
Wyatt Blair – Candy Eyes (Early Tapes version)
Say Hi – Heavy Metal and Video Games
Geographer – Slave to the Rhythm
Zeds Dead – Save My Grave
Suicide Silence – Two Steps
Sa-Roc – Hand of God (Rhymesayers)
Sotomayor – Quema
D Smoke – No Commas
Fly Anakin – Hood Rockstars
languid.oceans – sway in the morn
Activity – Calls Your Name
Lightning Bug – Vision Scraps (Fat Possum)
Or check out the YouTube Playlist:
Listen to this week’s Captain Americana Spotify playlist featuring:
Michelle Billingsley – Gaslighting
Big Thief – Love in Mine
Devil Doll – You Can’t Have Me
Bright Eyes – Persona Non Grata
Sylvia Rose Novak – Bad Luck
Hiss Golden Messenger – My Wing – Live
Sarah Peacock – Keep Quiet
Craig Gerdes – The Hard Way
David Burchfield – State to State
Jeff Crosby – Liability
Matthew Ryan – Heaven Is a Place on Earth
Judy Blank – 1995 – Morning Tapes Version
Grand Canyon – River of the Damned
Jamie McLean Band – Lay Down Sally (Eric Clapton cover)
Brad Byrd – Tell Me Why
Dramarama – Abandoned Love
Drew Young – Lord, I’m Scared
Mapache – Read Between the Lines
Nathaniel Rateliff – Don’t Care Darlin’
Field Medic, Pickleboy – talkin johnny & june (your arms around me)
Myrkur – Leaves of Yggdrasil
Sarah Jarosz – Johnny
Western Centuries – Before That Final Bell
Sammy Brue – True Believer (New West Records)
Ashley McBryde – One Night Standards
James Elkington – Late Jim’s Lament
Marshall Chapman – Tower of Song (Leonard Cohen cover)
Ruthie Collins – Joshua Tree
Matthew McNeal – Be Yourself
Penny and Sparrow – Long Gone – Live at Majestic Theatre
Surrender Hill – Turn This Train Around
Or check out the YouTube Playlist:
Congrats to Julie Amici & Dean Mueller on the release of their new album, I Loved You So, out today! Here’s what the music press is saying…
“??? ??? ????????? ??? ???? ????????/???? ?????? ?? ??? 2020? ?? ???.” – Vents Magazine
“? ????????? ???? ?? ???????, ???? ??? ?????.” – Americana UK
“??????? ??????????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???-?????? ?????????, ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? & ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ???? ????-???? ??????? ?? ??????, ???? ??? ????. ???? ?? ?? ???? ? ???? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ????, ??????? ??? ?????-?????? ????? ????, ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ???????.” – For Folk’s Sake
“?????’? ???????? ???? ?? ?? ??? ??????, ????? ??????? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ????????—?? ????? ??? ???, ??’? ? ??????? ???????.” – Elmore Magazine
“? ????????, ????????? ?????????? ????-???? ?????? … ???? ?? ???????? ?? ????????? ??? ????? ??? ??????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ??????????? ????. … ???? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ????????? ???’? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? & ???? ???????’? ? ????? ??? ??.” – Vents Magazine
“? ??????? ??????? ????.” – Americana Highways
“??????? ??? ????. … ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ???????-????- ????????? ???????????? ??? ??????? ???????.” – Glide Magazine
If you’d like to pick up a copy of I Loved You So, it’s available in both CD and digital-download formats here.
Be sure to tune in this evening at 8pm ET / 5pm PT to catch a live album-release set from Julie & Dean, plus a special interview with solo artist & John Prine guitarist Jason Wilber. The stream will be running from the Julie Amici Music Facebook page.
When two singer/songwriters as skilled as Julie Amici & Dean Mueller get together, you know that some sparks are going to fly, and that’s exactly what happens shortly after pressing play on their new joint album I Loved You So. I Loved You So has all the hallmarks of a brooding, immensely reflective folk-rock effort, but in songs like its title track, Amici & Mueller make it very clear to us that they have no interest in following the rules and conventions commonly associated with contemporary alternative folk music.
There’s a reflective tone to this number offered up amidst lighthearted swing, and though that same tone is recycled in the slow-rolling “Sardines and Saltines,” it doesn’t sound as though it’s been simply repurposed with a new melody and a different groove. In this album, these two players cover as much ground as they can within eleven of the more eccentric songs you’re likely to hear before the spring season is over, yet their efforts sound anything but overambitious – on the contrary, their willingness to reflect honest emotionality through both texture and tonality is a breath of fresh air this year. READ MORE…