Golden Smog - "I Can't Keep From Talking"

Golden Smog has released four studio albums and one EP since their inception sometime around 1989 in Minneapolis.  I say sometime because this band is basically a loose connection of members from other like-minded bands that come together periodically to play and record albums.
As Wikipedia puts it:
Golden Smog is a loosely connected group of musicians comprised, at various times, of members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star. Golden Smog's lineup has often changed, but relative constants who appear on all the recordings are guitarists Kraig Johnson (Run Westy Run), Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), along with bassist Marc Perlman (The Jayhawks).
The group took their name from a nickname given to Fred Flintstone, which, in turn, was a parody of singer Mel Tormé's nickname (The Velvet Fog).
Wilco's Jeff Tweedy wrote "I Can't Keep From Talking," our song-of-the-weekend for today.  ENJOY!

Golden Smog - "I Can't Keep From Talking"
From the album 'Weird Tales'


Listen to "I Can't Keep From Talking"

Sister Hazel - "Fortress"

Happy holiday-weekend Friday everyone!  Today we've got the tremendous southern American rock sound of Sister Hazel.  That's right we've got Gators in the house as these guys originally formed on the University of Florida campus back in 1993.  Named after a local nun who ran a homeless shelter, this band has become one of my personal favorites.  "Fortress" is the title track from the third of their eight studio albums and was released back in 2000. I think a little VOLUME is in order...turn it up, ENJOY and have yourself a great weekend!

Sister Hazel - "Fortress"
Title track from the album


Listen to "Fortress"

The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You"

Happy Friday everybody!
This song from the Avett Brothers has been played a lot on the likes of WXPN and it's ilk, and I have heard this song so often over the past year and a half that I hadn't posted it thinking that we've all heard it plenty.  But it just occurred to me this morning that not EVERYONE knows this group or this song so....here you go.  One of the most critically acclaimed bands recently, North Carolina's Avett Brothers have a sound all their own.
As described on Wikipedia: ...the Avett Brothers combine bluegrass, country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, honky tonk, and ragtime to produce a sound described by the San Francisco Chronicle as having the "heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, the light pop concision of Buddy Holly, the tuneful jangle of the Beatles, the raw energy of the Ramones."
A lot to chew on there....suffice it to say they are unique. "I and Love and You" is the title track from their 9th album which was released in 2009.  ENJOY!

The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You"
From the album with the same name.


Listen to "I and Love and You"

Sean Hayes - "When We Fall In"

and a happy Friday to you my friends!  This week's tune is "When We Fall In" from Sean Hayes, an artist I just recently discovered who seems to me to have a very unique sound.
A blurb from Wikipedia:  'Born on August 27, 1969 in New York City, and raised in North Carolina, Hayes began playing traditional American and Irish music with a band called the Boys of Bluehill. He traveled the south...and eventually found his way to San Francisco, where he has lived since 1992.'
Genres listed for Hayes on Wikipedia are folk, indie, and soul, which gives you an idea of where he's coming from.
This song, from his 2010 album called 'Run Wolves Run,' streamed on my Pandora last week and caught my attention immediately.  Hope you enjoy it and have yourself a great weekend!

Sean Hayes -  "When We Fall In"
From the album 'Run Wolves Run'

Listen to "When We Fall In"

Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs - "Devil's in the Jukebox"

Happy Friday everybody...April is here...kind of hard to believe seeing that we can't quite shake winter here in the northeast.

Today we're featuring a great harmonica-laden tune from 'God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise,' the latest studio release from Ray LaMontagne.  Born in New Hampshire and living in the backwoods of Maine for many years, LaMontagne is a tremendous lyricist and songwriter but the soulful, raspy voice is truly his signature.  I've considered him one of the best American recording artists ever since I heard his first album back in 2004.  That first album, called 'Trouble,' featured my personal favorite of his songs, the anti-war anthem "How Come".  On 'God Willin,', his fourth record, he credits his band The Pariah Dogs and, from what I've read, it is more of a collaborative effort than his previous three. 

I suppose I'm not the only one that thinks he's doing something right as this 2010 album garnered three Grammy nominations.  

Enjoy the weekend and ENJOY THE MUSIC!

Ray LaMontagne - "Devil's in the Jukebox"

From the album 'God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise'

Listen to "Devil's in the Jukebox"