Archive for the ‘Artist Spotlight’ Category

Spotlight: The Billie Burke Estate

The Bille Burke EstateThe Billie Burke Estate, who just released Let Your Heart Break, offer a strangely enticing combination of 1970s progressive rock, two-tone ska, and pop sensibilities that make themselves evidenced in “I Can Float” and “Everybody’s Gonna Die,” posted below for download and listening. The former exhibits a wealth of influence from across a wide musical spectrum, while the latter is a more straightforward piano-based pop song with a sardonic lyrical approach. Andy Liotta, mastermind of the Seattle-based The Billie Burke Estate, works vocals in forgotten ways, while instrumentation is effective but not over the top.

The Bille Burke Estate — “I Can Float” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/thebillieburkeestate-icanfloat.mp3]

The Bille Burke Estate — “Everybody’s Gonna Die” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/thebillieburkeestate-everybodysgonnadie.mp3]

(more…)

Spotlight: Papercuts

PapercutsPapercuts, fronted by Jason Robert Quever, bring us two unique and refreshing pop/folk rock albums: his debut Mockingbird (2004), and latest release Can’t Go Back (2007). In both albums, Quever takes on airy vocals that blend beautifully with his folk-style guitar work interlaced with string instruments, gentle percussion, and cheery pop tunes. His timeless style, most apparent in “Take the 227th Exit” and “Outside Looking In,” will very likely keep him in the spotlight for many years to come. Papercuts will also be going on tour this year beginning February 28th through April. Further information on tour dates may be found on gnomonsong.com.

Papercuts — “John Brown”
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/papercuts-john_brown.mp3]

An interview with Nathaniel Carroll

Indie pop musician Nathaniel Carroll performs in Hurricane, Utah / MusicGeek.org, Matthew MontgomeryNathaniel Carroll, indie pop pianist, guitarist, and vocalist, is preparing a new album for release at some point in the future. While awaiting the release, take a listen to two tracks, “You’ll Make a Killing” and “A Lie Worth Living,” which he provided for your listening. The tracks, among his most musically mature and best-recorded, feature Carroll’s signature genuine, heartfelt songwriting.

MusicGeek.org previously conducted an interview with Nathaniel Carroll in October, 2005. His music can be purchased at his web site.

Nathaniel Carroll — “You’ll Make a Killing” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/youll-make-a-killing.mp3]

Nathaniel Carroll — “A Lie Worth Living” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/a-lie-worth-living.mp3]

What’s the status on your new album?

Slow and steady wins the race.  I’d be vain if I told you that I planned on it taking over two years to record my new album, as if I’ve been carefully crafting some masterpiece in my secret underground lair.  In actuality, this album is one of many flaming chainsaws in my juggling routine.  I have the skeleton tracks (drums, piano or guitar, vocals) recorded for 10 songs, and I have 2 songs that are “good enough.”  I’ve enclosed them in this electronic correspondence for your leaking pleasure.  If track lists mean anything to anyone these days, here’s one that looks cool in my head:

(more…)

Spotlight: White Hinterland

Winter Hinderland / Courtesy of Dead Oceans, photo by Tod SeelieWhite Hinterland, who is really just 22-year-old Casey Dienel, plays a nice combination of those lovable jazz and indie pop aesthetics. The sound she creates, most would say, is a bit over her age, but I’d think that the arbitrary number doesn’t play into it. No, Dienel is a simple, honest-sounding songwriter, which works greatly to her benefit. “Dreaming of the Plum Trees,” posted below for easy listening and download, is as much influenced by Peanuts composer extraordinare Vince Guaraldi as it is anything, if not more. Her album, Phylactery Factory, will be released March 4 on Dead Oceans.

White Hinterland – “Dreaming of the Plum Trees” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/dreamingoftheplumtrees.mp3]

An interview with The Raintree

The Raintree / Photo courtesy of The RaintreeThe Raintree is a folk/acoustic artist hailing from Phoenix, Arizona. Ryan Osterman, once a member of The Maine, is now a solo artist with an incredible voice and amazing talent. With a hint of influence from artists like Bright Eyes, The Raintree won’t disappoint.

The Raintree — “Pairs” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/pairs.mp3]

Who are the main influences on your music?:
Well, honestly, just life and love — the people that bring about the sheer joy and accentuate the beauty in all of my surroundings. My musical influences vary and flux quite a bit and often, but I’ve always been a fan of Third Eye Blind, Goo Goo Dolls, Maria Taylor, Bright Eyes, Stars, Jimmy Eat World, etc. I could go on for a while, so I’ll spare you, but a lot of it has to do with what a band or song reminds me of. I embed memories within each song I listen to. Just about anything could influence me.

(more…)

Spotlight: Jenny Hallam

Jenny Hallam / Courtesy of Jenny HallamJenny Hallam is an independent, relatively unknown, artist from Worcester in the UK. Her music ranges from piano driven pop to quick paced, crunchy guitar ridden rock. She is yet to be signed or have a self released album, but does has a few demos up for listen on her MySpace page. The song Avoiding the Spotlight starts with quick drums, and dance influenced keyboard sounds, but quickly gives way to guitar solos that harken to the days of Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane. All things considered, this girl has some great talent and shows real potential.

Jenny Hallam – “Avoiding the Spotlight” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/03-avoiding-the-spotlight.mp3]

Spotlight: Aster

AsterAster, a Texas-based pop group, is good. How good? That’s a hard question to answer for any group, but their song “Attempting to Multiply” is interminably pop-ridden and on the cusp of catchiness. The sounds of some sort of keyboard are omnipresent through the track, and we see that Aster has a very keen sense of crafting something enjoyable. “Some Things Seldom Heard Of,” the title track from their album being released today, is likewise good, though a little more downbeat. The breathy vocals and spacey demeanor utilized on both tracks, posted below, make for a nice experience that evokes some musical greats; it’s clear that Aster is on the right sort of path.

Aster — “Attempting to Multiply” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/aster-attemptingtomultiply.mp3]

(more…)

Music Geek #3: Shoegaze, Famicom-style — The Depreciation Guild offers synthesizers with lush guitar work

Matthew Montgomery wears funny glasses in a Cedar City, Utah park.In the time since the writing and subsequent posting of my previous column, in which I probed for quality shoegaze, I have been offered a small variety of options by which I might discover more of this music I’ve found myself so enamored with.

First, I must offer my appreciation to those who answered my call; the suggestions have been greatly appreciated, and I’m putting effort into exploring these artists more.

In my own search, I’ve found some interesting things. The first is a group I discovered not terribly long after admitting to the internet that I was — and still am — on the clueless side of things as far as proper shoegaze is concerned. The group, The Depreciation Guild, is composed of two musicians and a certain device entertainment-happy children in the mid-1980s and, indeed, most anyone who’s spent time in the confines of American popular culture: the Famicom, or, as it’s more popularly known in the United States, the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The Depreciation Guild – “Butterfly Kisses”
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/butterflykisses.mp3]

(more…)