I’ll start the same way I Guess Im Floating did in their post: “I didnt know much about Sarah Jaffe until”.. until I heard her refreshing voice hit the charts on hypem.com a couple of weeks back. Her unpretentious folk vocals are best to be compared with full body snuggies that wrap you up in calm layers of warm melodies. She dwells more towards the mellower end of the spectrum yet behind her soft delicate voice, there is still a fun cheerful girl waiting to be discovered. In “Perfect Plan” she playfully bounces between upbeat catchy tunes and having a slower more delicate ballad. However, without a doubt, my favorite song from her is “Clementine” who share the same name of Jim Carrey’s crazy partner in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And its funny because I wouldnt have been surprised if Sarah’s “Clementine” actually made it to the Eternal Sunshine soundtrack if only she had released it before the movie.
Sarah Jaffe is based out of Denton, TX and she will be releasing Suburban Nature in may via Kirtland Records.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
[via]
![rosie and me bird and whale [Folk/Acoustic] In Love With Rosie and Me](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rosie-and-me-bird-and-whale.jpg "rosie-and-me-bird-and-whale")
And here it is guys. I will declare it right now. My favorite folk band to have contacted me these past 2 months is without a doubt, Rosie and Me. When I’m reviewing music submissions, I always try to give the entire song a chance, even if its completely awful… but there are times that you can tell something is going to be amazing by just listening to the first 5 seconds. At second thirteen of “Come Back” I had already fallen deeply in love with Rosie and Me, and there was no coming back.
Singer, Rosanne Machado, accurately describes the group as “unpretentious and simple”. Both ‘Come Back’ and ‘Bonfires’ are acoustic wonders that sound and feel as natural as the change of the seasons and as spontaneous as Snooki from the Jersey Shore. These positive, warm melodies are almost enough to fight the cold winter this year and keep you refreshed during the summer.
Rosie and Me have been well received in the US, Germany, Canada, Poland and many other countries expect for perhaps the most surprising one: Their hometown of Brazil. In truth, after I listened to their songs, I was a bit surprised they were actually from Brazil because you dont typically see an American folk influence in Latin American countries. This of course makes their sound all the more unique, drawing from different cultures to create a sound of their own.
If you like The Weepies, Band of Horses, Stars, William Fitzsimmons and Bon Iver… you will love Rosie and Me. There EP Bird and Whale is due on March 2010.. in the meantime here is “Come Back” and an exclusive Music Ninja release of “Bonfires”. You can also Pre-Order it here
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
http://www.myspace.com/rosieandme
http://twitter.com/rosieandme_
![LouisAguilar SixFeetUnder [Folk] A sad but strangely compelling tune](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/LouisAguilar-SixFeetUnder.jpg "LouisAguilar-SixFeetUnder")
I apologize. It is uncalled for putting up a sad folky mellow tune on a Monday. You might be already depressed for knowing that the weekend is over and this tune might not help you feel any better. But in the interest for GREAT music, I must continue. Six Feet Under is a bitter sweet song from French born folk singer Louis Aguilar, who know resides in Marshall, Missouri.
With a calm rusty voice, Louis shares a tale about a man who is going through an important change in his life. Whether it is a metaphorical change about life, or simply a much literal reference to death itself, Louis reminds us to enjoy life and all its glory. No matter what we are or believe in, the truth of it all is that life is short for a reason, so we can treasure every minute of it… and ill stop there before I sound too corny! Such a powerful tune can be found on his album Old Man Poems and much more on his myspace.
Louis Aguilar – Six Feet Under
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
[This Song was released under a CC license by Bad Panda Records.]
![fleet foxes small [Folk] Fleet Foxes (somewhat) New Direction](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/fleet-foxes-small.jpg "fleet-foxes-small")
Fork Knife Music proclaims that 2009 was the year of forgetting the wonderful five-piece Seattle-based band Fleet Foxes saying, “They were the darlings of ’08, and that summer was filled with complete, non-stop Fleet Foxes, listening to album so much that every musical nook and cranny became memorized and cherished.” With over a quarter of plays on their myspaces just on the two months after they went online, they had established themselves as THE indie folk band to talk about.
At the end of 2008, their first album Fleet Foxes was rated album of the year by Billboard’s Critic’s Choice and in Metacritic’s end of year best album round-up it appeared in 17 lists, topping six of them.
They toured for most of 2009 and yet without releasing new content it almost seemed that they had been forgotten this year.
Will 2010 be the same? I doubt it! Even though there is not clear date for the release of the next album, they have guaranteed a release in mid 2010. This time Fleet Foxes will be heading into a much softer direction. Lead vocalist Robin Pecknold told Pitchfork that while it is not going to be a darker album, they will definitely tone down the tempo a notch to to provide a much softer mellow sound.
I found it interesting that Hot Cakes decided to quote this specific part from the Pitchfork interview.
“I want the recording to be really fast. I want to do all the vocal takes in one go, so even if there are fuck-ups, I want them to be on there. I want there to be guitar mistakes. I want there to be not totally flawless vocals. I want to record it and have that kind of cohesive sound.”
With a lot of artists spending too much time inside the studio, the genuine guys of Fleet Foxes understand that music is a form of expression and they dont want anything to stand in the way between their music and their listeners.
Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
About 2 months ago I wrote a post about the wonderful and energetic songs from the folk group Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. I am always mesmerized to the energy and chemistry they demonstrate when playing live shows. This is a video of their performance to the Late Night Show with David Letterman.
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros – Home
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Amazon
For more information you can check my previous post and make sure you check out theirmyspace
![adam and darcie california trail [Interview] & [Album Review]: Adam and Darcie California Trail](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/adam-and-darcie-california-trail.jpg "adam-and-darcie-california-trail")
Poetic Version Review:
From the first time you are able to ride the bicycle without any help, to almost falling in love with someone that you just met, sometimes in life things just click and although you may not understand the why or the how, all questions become mute as the moment takes over and puts you in a different place and time. Equally, on a musical scale, this is how I felt when I listened to Adam and Darcie’s latest album “California Trail”. As I was checking my Inbox for new music, I was provided a link to listen to their new single “Hands/Mind”. A very simple task I thought to myself, I opened the link and started playing the song. About twenty minutes in I came to the realization that I was not just listening to one song but the entire album available for streaming on their website. It was purely magical, their album and my ears had just clicked, love at first listen one can say. Before I was able to answer the how or the why, their carefully crafted melodies, delicate to the ear but strong with emotions, had taken me to another place that although unfamiliar to me, had never felt closer to home, I was walking on the California Trail.
Regular Version Review:
I am a little embarrassed to admit that the above is 100% the truth. I enjoyed their album so much; it inspired me in many ways. The best answer is always the simplest one and when you add instrumental melodies, intertwined vocals between wife and husband and the passion to create, you get Adam and Darcie definition to what music means to them. California Trail is a story telling venture about longing for a peaceful, family life and a place to call a home.
![california trail [Interview] & [Album Review]: Adam and Darcie California Trail](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/california-trail.jpg "california-trail")
Adam And Darcie – I Need To Let Go Of What I Wont Miss
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Adam And Darcie – The Fox, Hare, And Doe
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Free Download: Adam And Darcie – Hands-Mind
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I got a chance to bounce a couple of questions with Adam and Darcie, and here is what they had to say. (more…)
I still consider myself relatively new to writing and having a music blog and The Music Ninja keeps evolving and changing according to the incredible people that keep emailing me with their recommendations and promotions. Unfortunately, due to the little exposure I have had in Metal music, I deleted the metal category on this website and in its place I am opening the “Folk” Category that is partly inspired by listening to the “Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros” new album.
The very first song from their album “Up From Below” titled “40 Day Dream” completely left me speechless. To describe it first you have to understand their unique style as this is a 11is-12 member band. Songs are rock influenced with distingushible folk styles and full of big open-hearted anthems and incredible back up choruses. The lead singer Alex Ebert, who apart from looking like Jesus Himself, is able to glide through each song with his warm and soothing predominantly folky voice that even reminds me of Bob Shane from the Kingston Trio. Their single “40 Day Dream” is very uplifting, just perfect for waking up every morning with its clapping and thumping crescendos, long and sustained violin notes and a playful piano that will definitely get you out of bed in a good mood.
There is definitely something magical and inspiring when listening to ES&MZ because of how cheerful the songs become when you have a relatively large number of band members singing, clapping and even whistling along. “Home” another favorite of mine, is a witty, sharp, and sweet song where Jade joins Alex in a short battle of interchangeble verses that ultimately leads them to join forces with the rest of the band as they sing away the choruses. Seeing them live must be insanely awesome!
Folk-rock is definitely a genre I have not explored too well over the years but thanks to Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros I can definitely add folk-rock to my favorite genres.
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros – 40 Day Dream
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros – Home
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Song/Artist Steve Reynolds with his captivating folk influenced slow rock was featured in the soundtrack of Eli Stone’s “Mortal Kombat” episode with a beautiful mellow the song titled “Coming In Too Low”. Soothing and sincere sounding lyrics that spread across the emotional spectrum of indulgence, wanderlust, love, lost love, joy and a lot of pain, youthful run-ins with the law, full release, redemption and resultant wisdom.
His must buy album released June 3, 2008 The Carnival Papers appears to come across as folk yet it contains a lot of modern rock influences that give it a very unique sound. There are albums that only have a few great song and the rest track are just OK, which is definitely not the case with The Carnival Papers as Steve Reynolds keeps you entertained from beginning to end. From the very folky lyrical driven “Once In Your Life” to the more epic violin accompanied songs “Mistaken Identity” and the heavy orchestrated “Coming In Too Low” Steve Raynold is able to pull every song with elegance.
Coming In Too Low – Steve Raynolds
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Mistaken Identity – Steve Raynolds
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Once In Your Life – Steve Raynolds
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I just discovered today ( a little late since they released their EP “We Are Here For You” in 2006, and “Some Things Come and Go” in sept 2008) and I am enjoying their unique and organic sounding folk electronic sound. Music for Humans by Huma, their style is still very acoustic and subtle even though they describe themselves as electronic. An easy listen that will get you though the day this Wednesday evening.
“A brother. A sister. A best friend/girlfriend. Kids behind counters making music on coffee breaks. Teachers after school playing NYC late. Librarians singing softly in the stacks. We started in New Jersey with a self-released EP bringing together pastoral pop with an electronic twitch. So many sounds combined in every scene lived. It became shows played and friends made. It became an album released on Cult-Hero records in 2006 called “We Are Here For You.” It became a tour, more shows and continues to spread. It became a new home on the west coast. Here we are today. Nothing stays the same. It’s about writing new songs for new releases and playing for new faces. We will be happy to answer any questions.”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
From her solo debut album titled “Sea Sew” comes Irish singer Lisa Hannigan’s first single “Lille”, a mellow melodic instrumental song that is bound to lower your heart-rate. Her album Sea Sew was released in Ireland on September 2008 and then an American release followed February 2009. You can check Lisa receiving the Colbert Bump when she appeared on the Colbert Report here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Free Download by Amazon – Myspace – Website
This second song comes from American-born musician Sean Fournier. In his album “Oh My” (available for free download) spreads across many genres including folk, acoustic and pop. The song “Another like you” really stands out as the slow tempo and mellow acoustic in the background enables him to showcase his great signing voice. He is on a quest to spread his music around the world, and judging by the many great songs on his albums, I will definitely join his cause. Go to http://www.sean-fournier.com/ohmy/ to download “Oh My”!
“Another like you” – Sean Fournier
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Quebec Antique is a project by duo Andy Dollerson and Michael Blake. Their Album “The Abbey Tapes” is a mix between Ambient and Electronica with sprinkles of Pop thrown in. If you like this song I highly recommend that you listen to “Right as Rain”, which sounds similar to some of Dntel and Imogen Heap’s slower, more ambient songs. You can listen to their whole album at their virb.com
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Have any other suggestions to add to this list of Mellow Music? Comment Below!
