William Elliott Whitmore - Old Devils

Sonic Youth - What We Know

Metric - Help I'm Alive

Sunset Rubdown - Idiot Heart

Taken from their new album Dragonslayer which is out in June. Looking forward to it.


MP3: Sunset Rubdown - Idiot Heart

Springsteen w/ Mike Ness - Bad Luck

Big Social Distortion fan so this is pretty cool from Springsteen's concert in LA last night.

A.C Newman - Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer

Bat For Lashes - Use Somebody

A great cover, her new album's really good too.


MP3: Bat For Lashes - Use Somebody

Neil Young - Get Around

The man is nothing if not an innovator. If you log on to Jaman.com you can watch a new film from 'Bernard Shakey' called 'Get Around'. Basically it's Neil driving around in his LincVolt, a 1959 Lincoln Continental converted to run on alternative, earth-friendly fuels, singing his new album 'Fork In The Road'. Here's the trailer

Get Around

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

The new album is due out early next month but before that next week, Conor is releasing a documentary which you can watch and download for free on his website. Here's the trailer.




He's also made available for free a track from the new album. Download it below

MP3: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - Nikorette .

Franz Nicolay - Jeff Penalty

Franz Nicolay is of course the Hold Steady keyboardist and he released a solo album at the start of the year which I still haven't heard. But this is one of the tracks off it and I like it, although it's like listening to the Hold Steady without Craig Finn which wouldn't be half as good. Still like this song though.




He also recently did a Daytrotter session which you can download from here .

Sometymes Why

Another great new release is the second album by Sometymes Why, who are Kristin Andreassen (Uncle Earl), Ruth Ungar Merenda (the Mammals), and Aoife O’Donovan (Crooked Still). It's a really great listen, with the harmonies of the three women particularly impressive. They've all got great voices and the songwriting by all three is excellent. It's out now from Signature Sounds .


Sometymes Why - The Stupid Kiss

Bill Callahan - Eid Ma Clack Shaw

One of my favourite songs of the year so far, released on one of the best albums of the year. Fantastic song and album.

MP3: Bill Callahan - Eid Ma Clack Shaw

Lucky Soul - Whoa Billy

One of the best bands around for a catchy pop song are back with a new single and it's as good as anything they've done so far. 'Whoa Billy' is a great song and the first single off their second album which I think is due out in the next couple of months. Definitely one to look forward to.


MP3: Lucky Soul - Whoa Billy

courtesy of the excellent Chromewaves

Justin Townes Earle - What I Mean To You / Mama's Eyes

Been listening to Justin Townes Earle's new album this week and it's really good. There's a wide variety of styles present on the album, not just country which does form its base. The lyrics are great and the arrangements of the songs are brilliant at times. The cover of the Replacements' 'Can't Hardly Wait' works well and fits in with his own songs. Very enjoyable album. Here's two of the tracks off the record. Well worth picking up.


Justin Townes Earle - Mama's Eyes

Justin Townes Earle - What I Mean To You

Delta Spirit - The Academy 2, 27 March 2009

Only about 15 people at the gig last night, probably due in part to Animal Collective playing across town but the band still put on a really good show. I thought there'd be more people at it but they seemed to be happy playing in Dublin for the first time and appreciated those who did come out. I really like their album and they're excellent live as well. The Academy 2 has fairly rubbish acoustics and it would have been an even better gig if it was in Whelans or somewhere similar but the songs still got through. A really good band who hopefully will be back again and a few more people will get out to see them. I'd certainly recommend people to go.


Delta Spirit - People C'mon

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - Slowly (Oh So Slowly)

Much better news for fans of Bright Eyes than the Killers attempting to make him sound like the Killers, is Conor's new album which is due out soon. This is the first track I've heard from it and it's really good. Looking forward to the album.

The Killers Cover Bright Eyes - Four Winds

Four Winds turned into a dance hit? It's on the Spaceman single/EP. A really strange idea and one that doesn't really work

Bruce Springsteen - Rehearsal Show

Springsteen is gearing up for the start of his world tour next week and did two rehearsal shows this week to prepare. This is the start of the show from the first night

The Felice Brothers - Run Chicken Run

The Felice Brothers released a great album last year and they're following it up with Yonder Is The Clock which is out next month. This is the first track I've heard of it and it sounds really good. Should be a good one.


The Felice Brothers - Run Chicken Run

Metric - Gimme Sympathy

They have a new album due out early next month. Should be a good one if this track is anything to go by.

Neil Young - Cough Up The Box

Big Neil Young fan but really not sure about this song. It's off his new album Fork In The Road which is out next month.

Springsteen on The Daily Show

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Bruce Springsteen - Interview
comedycentral.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Important Things w/ Demetri Martin Political Humor

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
comedycentral.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Important Things w/ Demetri Martin Political Humor

Modest Mouse - Satellite Skin

Josh Ritter - The River

Interview




Performance

Doug Burr - Should've Known

I missed the release of his newest album, which apparently came out last December but I'm definitely going to track it down. I really liked his last album On Promenade, especially this song , and the video below, so my hopes are high for The Shawl which has been getting some really good reviews.