Rustic Women

It's time to get in touch with my feminine side today, so Ive made a mini-playlist of four ladies that, either on their own or out front of a band, are belting out some amazing tunes leading up to special releases in 2012.


First up is a band that I haven't mentioned before, which is strange because their band tee is my fave t-shirt of all time. Erika Wennerstrom fronts Heartless Bastards, a brooding garage country band (having been compared to Crazy Horse, Neil Young, The Black Keys and more) who brought out a pretty amazing album in 2009 called The Mountain. Check it out - especially the title track - and get it here. Anyway, they have a new LP about to drop called Arrow, and this is the first cut off it. Its been floating on the blogosphere ether for a while - that's what happens when you hibernate for two months - but it's a good track for what promises to be another great album. Plus, Wennerstrom shreds, seriously. Arrow is out on Partisan Records, and you can get it here (there is a $US65 deluxe package that includes 2xLP, shirt, ltd edition lithograph, CD, and digital download with bonus tracks - well worth it methinks!)

Heartless Bastards - Parted Ways


I've somehow passed Sharon Van Etten by, but 'Serpents' brought me whiplashing back to have another listen. Her new LP Tramp is also out soon (out on Jagjaguwar - pre-order it here). She has a bit of a "topper" of a career - encouraged by TV On The Radio's Kyp Malone to pursue a music career, she has done backing vocals with and become good buds with The National, and Tramp feature the Dessner Bros, Matt Barrick (The Walkmen), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, whose Civilian was pretty ace and I forgot all bout it for last year's lists, oops!) and one Zach Condon (AKA Beirut). I can't see the songs from the stars! But seriously, listen to 'Serpents'. This is Neil Young (again!) and Stevie Nicks procreating, and that is an inimitably awesome thing.

Sharon Van Etten - Serpents


Lower Dens are also a bit of alright - each single they produce has me salivating, they are really coming into their own - and new track 'Brains' is all kinds of ace. I'm a bit in love with Jana Hunter (actually I'm in love with every woman in this list, their music is truly amazing), and on this latest brooding bubbler of a track I think she nails the spectral vocals perfectly. They have a new album coming out in May called Nootropics, which after the strength of this single is too fucking long! Get ready to become addicted...

Lower Dens - Brains


And finally we have an album that I actually talked about last year as part of Hits From The Box but has just recently gotten a vinyl release, Cheyenne Marie Mize's We Don't Need. You can get it here. It's a nice way to end of this excellent post, by revisiting an oft-missed little release. Enjoy!

Triple Friday Cover Up - Loving Someone With Wet Hair Down By The Water

Ah, the week's end. Its a beautiful thing. So let's end it with a triple treat of covers!


I mentioned earlier in the month the lovely Cheyenne Marie Mize and her incumbent release We Don't Need. What we have here is her reworking of a classic PJ Harvey tune. Seeing as PJ has had a stellar 2011 with her award-smashing Let England Burn, it goes without saying that she doesnt need any more exposure :). But this is a lovely rendition, and makes me even more excited to see Mize in the live arena.

Cheyenne Marie Mize - Down By The Water (PJ Harvey cover)


Ive started taking hellish commuter trips to my new workplace - two bus trips that has me up and hailing public transport at 6am. With the iPod back in action, its been funny that my shuffle keeps landing on noisy duo Japandroids, particularly 'Darkness On The Edge Of Gastown' off their Lullaby Death Jams EP. Ive also been enjoying Teen Daze's 'The Harvest' - seriously, this dude is really putting it out there. Whilst I cant claim my iPod has developed cognitive powers and smooshed these two together, maybe the vibes have echoed across the cosmos, with Teen Daze trying his hand at Japandroids' 'Wet Hair'.

Teen Daze - Wet Hair (Japandroids cover)


Finally, a warped do-over. Raw Moans doesn't do things by halves, forcibly etching his personality on every cover he attacks. As you may remember he has been working on Safe Sex, a concept album that retools songs by musicians that were affected by HIV/AIDS. The album will be released on vinyl through Los Angeles label Living Tapes very soon, but in the meantime, get a fix with the cover of Queen's 'Somebody 2 Love'.

Raw Moans - Somebody 2 Love (Queen cover)

The weekend will be filled with posts on Psychic Ills, Mark McGuire and the next instalment of Hits From The Box - no rest for the wicked! Nevertheless, beers will be consumed. Enjoy the break kids!

Hits From The Box #36 - Back To School...

Ah, the imposed two week holiday. Double edged sword, that one - you get to hang out and relax, get away from the necessary evils of work - but as its between contracts, its all unpaid. Which means whilst you may have fun on said two weeks off, the next fortnight is a complete bitch. So Im back on a new chain gang tomorrow. At least there is a Sonic Masala Presents... show to look forward to (making the gig BYO is looking like a wise decision with every passing second...)


So, who will kick off the Hits From The Box on this, my last day of freedom? Well, if it isnt State Champion! The name of the 12" is Deep Shit (out late this month on Drag City and Sophomore Lounge), and its drawling, brawling brushstrokes falls into the same raucous Americana punk territory as Titus Andronicus or The Gaslight Anthem. Its shambolic, whisky fuelled indie hoedown fodder, and the lyrics are just as rambunctious. Good stuff.

State Champion - No Babies


Apperception is the solo project of Toronto based composer Joey Hoyda, a minimalist, post-rock-oriented piece of ambiance, governed by polyrhythm and polymeter. The self-titled album is an intriguing listen, basically a continuing idea rung out over a series of guitar-centric suites, and its well worth chasing down.

Apperception - Zappa Memorial BBQ


Now we turn our heads to the UK, and little outfit Deaf Club. Their Lull EP is four tracks of moody angular melody with the smoky wisp of Polly Mackey's vocals blowing like smoke over the top of a still, twilight bay, the calm before the inevitable storm. The Welsh group are turning heads, have just recorded at BBC's Maida Vale studios, and will be playing at London's Hoxton Bar and Grill on October 19. Deaf Club - It, She