The Music Ninja » Folk

[Album Preview] You Won’t- Skeptic Goodbye LP

Richard Stephens — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:44:14 +0000

Skeptic Goodbye is the first recording project from Massachusetts band You Won’t.

The band’s clever songs touch on universal themes like time, movement, and pop culture- making references to Back To The Future, 80′s fashion, and the idea of the “American Dream” to tie their listeners to the songs and give them replay value. More than that, though, the songs are statements about today’s ideals; set to music through melody, drumline percussion, clapping, and acoustic guitar. “It’s just an illusion babe” sings vocalist Josh Arndouse (who’s voice draws references to both Bob Dylan and The Tallest Man On Earth) on the single “Three Car Garage”. The sentiment sets the mood for the rest of the album, allowing retrospective tracks like “Who Knew” and “Television” to shine in ways they couldn’t achieve on their own.

Musically there isn’t a lot of flashy instrumentation going on. When you do hear synth/guitar leads they’re more to illustrate feeling than show off talent. It’s more likely that the songs exist to compliment the lyrical content rather than dazzle fans- but the ideas are concise and never fall short of real entertainment. Overall the album flows really well, and seems to get better with each listen.

Skeptic Goodbye will be released through Old FLame Records on February 14th 2012.

Stream only: You Won’t- Three Car Garage
Download audio file (01 Three Car Garage.mp3)

Stream only: You Won’t- Who Knew
Download audio file (03 Who Knew.mp3)

[Album Review] Inlets' Inter Arbiter + MP3:"In Which, I, Robert"

The Music Ninja — Fri, 14 May 2010 06:29:54 +0000

On first listen, one might say that Inlets write folk songs. However, that’s only true on the most superficial level. Many songs on their latest album only loosely follow conventional song structures, and even when they do cleave closer to a popular style there’s some strange instrumentation that may throw listeners off the scent. Indeed, Inlets give into some experimental tendencies, but despite the ostensible lack of accessibility they have crafted a thoroughly enjoyable album for all ears, even those not used to bands with experimental leanings. Inlets have gained quite a few Grizzly Bear comparisons so far, and they sort of make sense: Sebastian Krueger’s vocals have a powerful-yet-serene quality not dissimilar to Ed Droste, and the music on Inter Arbiter is atmospheric à la Veckatimest. However, it would be more accurate to draw a comparison to Joanna Newsom. There’s the unconventional instrumentation, the quavering vocals and, most importantly, the sense that each song might just collapse in on itself at any moment. It’s this sense of danger and feeling of unpredictability, paired with Inlets’ gift for creating accessible melodies that makes Inter Arbiter such a compelling record. Read full review at inyourspeakers.com

Inlets – In Which, I, Robert”Download audio file (Inlets Robert.mp3)

Inlets – Bright Orange AirDownload audio file (brightorangeair.mp3)

Inlets – Pictures Of TreesDownload audio file (Inlets-PicturesofTrees.mp3)

[Folk/Video] Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – HOME

The Music Ninja — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:05:15 +0000

Whats so great about this video? Its exactly what I pictured in my head the first time I listen to Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The give intake between the vocals, the whistles, the subtle electronic melodies and playful thumping drums create a warm atmosphere, a place that while it may not look like it, does feel like home. According to the band, “this video for Home is a collection of some of our favorite memories over the past few years.”

Below is a wonderful remix we posted a while back from producer RAC.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Home (RAC Mix)Download audio file (esmz Home (RAC Mix).mp3)

You can also click here to download Home from our previous posts

[Folk/Acoustic] Introducing Thomas Wynn & the Believers

The Music Ninja — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:46:53 +0000

Local talent always has a special place in The Music Ninja’s heart yet never before has an upcoming local band gotten so deep under my skin than the six-piece folk/rock group Thomas Wynn & The Believers, from Orlando, Florida. With their soft southern guitar strums and soaring genuine vocals, the live performance of “It’s alright” can only be described as being an acoustic oven pre-heated with enough soft and warm melodies to just melt your heart. It is almost embarrassing for me to describe music as heart melting, but if you took the time to watch the video above you cant help but to be inspired by their emotional honesty and genuine passion to perform the music they have carefully crafted. Thomas Wynn & the Believers are the type of band that makes local music junkies (like myself) proud to live in Orlando.

You can find their Feb 2009 debut album The Reason on itunes and amazon and expect a 2011 release coming up soon.

Thomas Wynn & the Believers – Its All RightDownload audio file (05 – Its All Right.mp3)

[Looking Back] Five Fantastic Folk Songs

The Music Ninja — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:45:43 +0000

This song is a bit of a throwback released in 2002-03 by Irish singer-songwriter and musician Damien Rice. I was first introduced to it when I heard it on the episode “In Traslation” from the first season of tv show Lost and its been on my ipod’s folk list ever sense. Hes not so much known for creating happy, upbeat songs but rather mellow, borderline depressing melodies paired with his clam and slow vocals. This is actually one of his more cheerful song, which at the end of the day it is still not saying much. However, his genuine lyrics, steady pace and warm vocals create a soothing experience for the worst of all rainy days. ‘Delicate’ is off his album ‘O‘ who topped the US Billboard Heatseekers chart and has sold over 650,000 copies in the US.

Damien Rice – DelicateDownload audio file (Damien Rice – Delicate.mp3)

Lisa Hannigan is best known for having accompanied the successful singer-songwriter Damien Rice (described above). On Fuel Friends Blog‘s 2009 recap, they describe Hannigan as being able to blend whimsy and beauty without being silly, which is very difficult to do. There’s a charming imagination in her songs, a pristine and heartbreaking depth to her voice, and an incisive emotional honesty that has made her one of the favorites in the folk genre.

Lisa Hannigan – I dont knowDownload audio file (Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew – 05 – I dont know.mp3)

The Felice Brothers are a folk rock/country rock band from Upstate New York founded in 2006. As suite101.com notes, like other famously frogged voices (see Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen) lead singer Ian Felice’s tones will be loved by some and positively hated by others. (those “others” should go back to listening to their Auto-Tuned artists and stay away from anything with soul). The Felice Brothers will be opening for The Dave Matthews Band at four concerts in Canada and the US, starting at The Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto on June 1, 2010. The relaxing and hopeful song ‘The Big Surprise’ comes of their latest album ‘Yonder Is the Clock’ released on April 7, 2009.

The Felice Brothers – The Big Surprise
Download audio file (The Felice Brothers-The Big Surprise.mp3)

Can’t say I know much about Jordan Martin, other than the fact that he can create beautiful songs filled with simple melodies and instruments. The slow banjo strums paired with extensive vocals narrating short but emotional stories of what there once was, and what there soon will be.

Jordan Martin – Faithful JohnDownload audio file (Faithful-John.mp3)

Bio:Dubbed the urban denizens of Canada’s country music scene, One Hundred Dollars lends a window into what country music might have become had the industry not been overtaken by popular music production and trite subject matter

One Hundred Dollars - No Great LeapDownload audio file (No-Great-Leap.mp3)

[Folktronica] Tunng – …And Then We Saw Land

The Music Ninja — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:59:28 +0000

Rarely do experimentalism and accessibility go hand in hand, but on their fourth album the London-based Tunng strike a fine balance. The electronic folk band’s …And Then We Saw Land is the best album yet from a group for whom musicianship comes as naturally as breathing. Their mix of earthy folk and spare electronics yields a consistently striking collection of songs. Take for instance the first track on the album, “Hustle.” The track opens with an echoing club beat backed by spare piano chords, before quickly dissolving into clean, finger picked guitar and a simple shaker. The song only gets better from there. Soon a twangy, relaxed banjo joins the mix, smattering the song with its folksy flavor, and by the minute-twenty mark, the track has evolved into a full-fledged, chorus driven folk jingle. So where does this put Tunng? Undeniably they are a folk band, yet they are also much more. Read full review at inyourspeakers.com

Tunng – HustleDownload audio file (Tunng-Hustle.mp3)

Tunng – BulletsDownload audio file (Tunng-Bullets.mp3)

Bonus:Tunng – Hustle (Cillo Remix)Download audio file (Tunng-Hustle-Cillo-Remix.mp3)

[Soft Indie Pop] Looking Back at The Rosebuds

The Music Ninja — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:42:37 +0000

How does music like this come out of somewhere like North Carolina? A hauntingly beautiful vocal (sung by The Rosebuds Duo of Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp) is backed up by an equally beautiful guitar riff and a reverb heavy drum kit make this one of the most impressive songs that nobody knows about. The dark tone of ‘Life LIke’ is put together so nicely that it can be put together on repeat. So put it on repeat. Just hope that in the future The Rosebuds get a good marketing team behind them and maybe a good remix or two.

The Rosebuds – Life LikeDownload audio file (01 Life Like.mp3)

The Rosebuds-Nice FoxDownload audio file (TheRosebuds-NiceFox.mp3)

The Rosebuds – Get Up, Get Out (Bon Iver Remix) Download audio file (The_Rosebuds-Get_Up_Get_Out_Bon_Iver_Remix_128.mp3)
The Hood Internet – None Shall Get Up Get Out (Aesop Rock Vs. The Rosebuds Mash-Up)
Download audio file (aesopvsrosebuds.mp3)

[Folk] Sarah Jaffe: "Clementine" + "Perfect Plan"

The Music Ninja — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:49:21 +0000

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.

Sarah Jaffe -ClementineDownload audio file (clementine.mp3)

Sarah Jaffe – Perfect PlanDownload audio file (13 Perfect plan.mp3)

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[Folk/Acoustic] In Love With 'Rosie and Me'

The Music Ninja — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:04:43 +0000

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

Rosie and Me – BonfiresDownload audio file (Bonfires.mp3)

Rosie and Me – Come BackDownload audio file (Come-Back.mp3)

http://www.myspace.com/rosieandme
http://twitter.com/rosieandme_

[Folk/Pop][Video] Benno Herz – The Sound

The Music Ninja — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:22:41 +0000

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I got to come clean and say I have a little bit too much alcohol in my body thanks to all the delicious wine in the house but I could not help but to sneaky one post before the day is over. I guess ill fix any errors the spell checker does not catch in the morning lol .. I’ve kind of become a professional at drunk typing!

A delightful piece from German singer/songwriter Benno Herz and his band. Although for such a cheerful song the video comes off a bit creepy, still this acoustically driven song makes up for it with its charm and energy. After being in a couple unsuccessful bands, Bruno Herz decided to take matters into his own hands and record his debut album “The Right To Be Weak” ENTIRELY from home! It is incredible, really, the amazing sound/production of the album as all notes and vocals are crisp, clear and completely soothing. Not to mention, calm yet powerful vocals that paired with the guitar’s soft melodies creates a steady harmonic road that takes you back to a warmer place. Not sure if it is because of Christmas but they are giving away this track for free on his website

Benno Herz – The SoundDownload audio file (the_sound.mp3)