Pick Of The Week: "New Multitudes" by Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames

You had me at "Jay Farrar" ... but feel free to throw in two of my other favorite songwriters of all time, Will Johnson from Centro-matic and Anders Parker from Varnaline. And just in case anyone still needs convincing, toss in Yim Yames aka Jim James from My Morning Jacket, because then this record is an absolute LOCK for pick of the week and there's really no point considering any other albums! Really you could give these four guys the phone book and get a pretty good album out of it, but instead they took inspiration from the unpublished notebooks of another stellar writer, Woody Guthrie. There's no lack of info out on the web about how this fascinating project came together, just search on "new multitudes" and have at it ... but get the record first so you can listen to it while you read up on it! Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames - New Multitudes: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Heartless Bastards

There's no lack of buzz on this release and well deserved. I love Erika Wennerstrom's vocals, her songwriting, her emotion, the production (by Jim Eno of Spoon), the way the record builds from a whisper to a wail, and I don't know why there is a buffalo on the artwork but I love that too. Anybody else hear a little Led Zeppelin in there? If more women found their way into rock in this gender-free way instead of in the more common girly way, there would be more records like this. And that would be a good thing. Heartless Bastards - Arrow: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Dr. Dog

We love Dr. Dog! Each of their last several albums has reached a little bit in a new direction, their songwriting craft is in peak form, they're loose and fun without being sloppy or lame. They love their pop melodies and harmonies just as much as their raw vibe and fuzzy guitars, and it all blends beautifully. Recommended if you want a modern version of The Beatles, Dylan, The Band or any of the classic greats. Dr. Dog - Be The Void: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Imperial Teen

It's always fun when long-time favorites make a great new album and I have a chance to introduce them to a new audience. Imperial Teen released their first album a remarkable 16 years ago. Way back in 1996, their quirky pop (with a bite) was a bit rebellious since the music world was obsessed with post-Nirvana Alternative Rock. In retrospect, looking at the success of bands like Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot, they obviously were just ahead of their time. There's nothing not to love about this album, its well-written, cheery, fun, and has enough rock to avoid sugar overload. It's perfect to get us through cold and gloomy February!  

Imperial Teen - Feel The Sound: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Craig Finn

I still remember distinctly the first time I saw Craig Finn perform, with his band Lifter Puller, although many lesser shows have blurred in my memory since then. It must have been in 2000, after their record "Fiestas and Fiascos" came out. They played in the dirtiest, diviest club I have ever been to in Los Angeles (not surpassed yet), the wonderful and infamous Al's Bar. The performance was mind-blowing, to say the least, and the gritty atmosphere only enhanced the feeling that we were discovering something truly and incredibly awesome. As I recall it, there wasn't even a stage at Al's, the bands just played in a corner of the bar. Craig Finn has a passionate performance style all his own and stories that will sear your soul. Combined with the indie punk of a Minneapolis band, it was powerful and irresistable. Shortly after that performance, Craig moved to NYC and formed The Hold Steady, and I've seen some mind-blowing performances by that band as well, in much nicer venues. Now its time for his solo release. This album is not for punk fans, or indie rock fans, or alt-country fans, although it has a little of all those genres in it. This album is for Craig Finn fans. Way slower, and vastly stripped down from any of his band projects, his gift for storytelling shines through just like his performance did that night in 2000 from underneath the grime of Al's Bar. It doesn't really sound like most singer-songwriter albums, or any alt-country album, it just sounds like Craig Finn. And that's A-OK in my book. Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

P.S. IF the title of this album is a reference to the motto "Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose", written by Peter Berg for the best show ever on television, Friday Night Lights, then Craig Finn moves up from genius to über-genius in my world view.