I usually try to avoid comparing bands or musicians, but I feel like there’s no way I can talk about Will Johnson without mentioning Jason Molina. The similarities are just too overwhelming.

First, both men are prolific singer-songwriters. Each front or have fronted multiple bands: Will Johnson currently heads both Centro-matic and South San Gabriel Official Website | MySpace | eMusic | Insound | Amazon | CD Baby | Amie Street while Jason Molina led Songs: Ohia before morphing it into Magnolia Electric Co. In addition, both men have released several solo records. All told, Johnson has around 14 albums to his name while Molina has over 16 (all released over the span of about 10 years). I don’t know about you, but I’m impressed.

And second, both men write remarkably diverse music. Johnson uses Centro-matic to pump out straightforward indie rock and South San Gabriel to explore more down-tempo material. Molina wrote somber, bluesy numbers under the Songs: Ohia moniker before heading in a more “alt-country” direction with Magnolia Electric Co. Both musicians’ solo albums are sparse, haunting affairs.

Despite these overwhelming similarities, Will Johnson and his two bands aren’t as well known as Molina’s. Which is a true shame because Johnson is immensely talented. I especially like his output under South San Gabriel: it’s perfect late night music. Random weird sounds and plodding beats from drum machines complement Johnson’s odd delivery and gorgeous melodies. It all sums to create a lonely, yet strangely comforting landscape.

I’ve posted my favorite track from each of South San Gabriel’s three albums: “New Brookland” from Welcome, Convalescence, “Stupid Is As Stupid Does” from The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation’s Through, and “The Are and the Cusp” from Dual Hawks.

[mp3] South San Gabriel - New Brookland
[mp3] South San Gabriel - Stupid Is As Stupid Does
[mp3] South San Gabriel - The Are and the Cusp

After five months of constantly listening to Frightened Rabbit’s Midnight Organ Fight, I still find myself untangling its contradictions and unraveling its many layers. Which is quite amazing considering my hyperactive listening habits.

I’ve finally figured out why I like the album so much: it is, more or less, the soundtrack to my life. It simultaneously encompasses the good times and the bad, the highs and lows. Despite this contradiction, or maybe because of it, Midnight Organ Fight always inspires. It’s a strange phenomenon: the louder I play it, the better I feel.

Like most great albums, Midnight Organ Fight reveals itself in layers. It took nearly a dozen listens before I could distinguish individual songs. Had I written this review back then, my favorite tracks probably would’ve been “Good Arms vs. Bad Arms” and “Poke.” Now I can’t decide. My favorite songs seem to change every time I listen to the album.

Frightened Rabbit Official Website | MySpace | eMusic | Insound | Amazon | CD Baby | Amie Street hails from Scotland, a fact immediately confirmed by Scott Hutchison’s vocals. Thankfully, his accent is noticeable but not overwhelming. In fact, it often adds an extra dimension to the music. I love the way he stretches out random words and phrases. At times, his voice nearly buckles under the weight of emotion.

The lyrics inhabit the gray area between breaking up and getting back together (which helps explain all the contradiction). On “The Twist” Hutchison sings, “It’s the night, I can be who you like / And I’ll quietly leave before it gets light.” Later, he asserts, “I need company / I need human heat.” But then on “Keep Yourself Warm” he belts out, “It takes more than fucking someone you don’t know to keep warm.” So which is it? Anyone who’s ever inhabited this gray area knows it’s actually both.

Last but certainly not least is the music. The wailing guitars in “Good Arms vs. Bad Arms,” the hypnotic piano melody at the end of “The Twist,” the slow steady build in “Backwards Walk,” and the simpleness of “Poke.” It’s overwhelming at first, but with repeated listens the layers start peeling apart. Soon, you will find yourself coming back for even more of exactly the same.

[mp3] Frightened Rabbit - The Twist
[mp3] Frightened Rabbit - Backwards Walk

Download three more Frightened Rabbit songs for free here. I highly recommend “The Modern Leper” and “Head Rolls Off.”

Are we in the midst of a singer-songwriter revival? Knee-jerk reaction tells me it’s not possible: a pervasive hatred of the genre has always existed among certain circles of critics. Never mind the fact that both singing and songwriting are inextricably connected to performing and recording, well, music.

So then why all the hatred? I think it has something to do with the format of the genre itself. To be considered a singer-songwriter you need: (1) a guitar and (2) a decent voice. Unfortunately, simplicity often (and erroneously) equates to stagnation. In circles of critics obsessed with finding the next genre-bending flavor of the month, genuinely good yet straight-forward music gets kicked to the curb. Honestly, when was the last time you listened to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah?

It’s interesting to note the large number of popular indie artists that could be labeled singer-songwriter but aren’t. Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, The Mountain Goats, Cat Power. There’s almost a stigma associated with the genre.

Which brings me to my true problem. Because of this critical marginalization, I am only now starting to appreciate the music of Josh Ritter, the quintessential “singer-songwriter.” Hailing from Idaho, Ritter’s style reflects his mountainous surroundings. From hushed acoustic ballads to rollicking barnstormers, he embodies both dark, secluded ravines and vast, wind-swept praires.

The four tracks posted below sample several albums. “Wings” is a haunting lament; “Idaho” a gorgeous a capella hymn; “The Temptation of Adam” an apocalyptic love story; and “Still Beating” a bittersweet tribute to rejection (Happy VD everybody!).

If we are in the midst of a singer-songwriter revival, Josh Ritter Official Website | MySpace | eMusic | Insound | Amazon | CD Baby | Amie Street is without a doubt the standard-bearer.

[mp3] Josh Ritter - Wings
[mp3] Josh Ritter - Idaho
[mp3] Josh Ritter - The Temptation of Adam
[mp3] Josh Ritter - Still Beating

Not included in the list above are the incredible “Girl In the War,” the epic “Thin Blue Flame,” and the gorgeous “Baby That’s Not All.” The reason for this is simple: I’ve already posted these songs on my site here and here.

Cat Power’s Chan Marshall is like fine wine. Not so much that she gets better with age (which is certainly true - each consecutive Cat Power album has garnered her more and more critical praise). Instead, I argue that the older her material gets, the better it sounds.

I think working backwards through her catalog has lead me to this conclusion. The dark, moody music of Moon Pix, Myra Lee, What Would the Community Think, and Dear Sir is truly mesmerizing.

Interesting story: A few weeks ago, California got hammered by a monster storm. It brought 11 feet of snow to parts of the Sierra and packed winds in excess of 75 mph. One thing I really miss about the Midwest is lightning and thunder, which Pacific storms don’t frequently produce. The last time I’ve heard thunder in California was back in 2001.

As I sat that morning in my apartment marveling at the storm, I listened to Moon Pix, a great rainy day album. The song “Say” (posted below) even features a recording of rain and thunder.

What happened next was hard to believe. As I sat listening to “Say” the heavens above slowly split open with a bellowing crack of thunder. It had nearly the same tone and length as the recording in the song. At first I thought it was the song, but I soon realized it was out of place. Needless to say, it was a great way to start the day.

So in honor of that amazing coincidence, and her forthcoming album Jukebox (January 22 - tomorrow!), I’ve decided to feature Cat Power in this month’s Artist Spotlight. The six tracks posted below sample Myra Lee and Moon Pix and are all somber, bluesy, electric gems. Enjoy with a glass of wine?

[mp3] Cat Power - Top Expert
[mp3] Cat Power - Ice Water
[mp3] Cat Power - Still In Love
[mp3] Cat Power - Rockets
[mp3] Cat Power - Say
[mp3] Cat Power - Metal Heart

I’m afraid my “Southern Twang” Regional Mix failed to convey just how obsessed I am with The Acorn. Despite hailing from Canada, the band made the mix because their music transports me to a simpler time. You know, the whole thing about sitting on the front porch watching the sunset.

I stumbled upon The Acorn thanks to cokemachineglow’s often spectacular “No Big Hair” review section, which spotlights lesser known bands and serves up several mp3’s for consumption (this is also how I found out about Deer Tick).

Working backwards through The Acorn’s catalog has actually benefited me; over the course of two albums (The Pink Ghosts and Glory Hope Mountain) and two EPs (Blankets! and Tin Fist), the band grew exponentially. The songs posted below sample each recording (except Blankets!), with emphasis on their recent pinnacle Glory Hope Mountain.

The band’s music has an organic quality that makes it immediately engaging. The intros to “Glory” and “Heirlooms” alone inspire a sense of warmth and comfort. And then there are the actual songs, which feature gorgeous acoustics, innovative (almost tribal) percussion, and Rolf Klausener’s mesmerizing vocals.

Expect to hear about this band again at the end of the year.

[mp3] The Acorn - Blue Light
[mp3] The Acorn - Heirlooms
[mp3] The Acorn - Glory
[mp3] The Acorn - Oh Napoleon

Consider this the calm before the storm. As in I’ve been listening to tons of great new music and have lots to post about. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to distribute it all: mp3s take less effort than a podcast, but I’d have to post at least 5 articles to clear out the backlog.

I’m also working on a new post category, which for the time being I will keep secret. I want to make sure I can actually deliver it first.

With all that said, it’s time to introduce this month’s (you choose which month, August or September) Artist Spotlight. The band is Deer Tick, a project of 21-year-old singer/songwriter John McCauley.

His debut LP War Elephant is slated for release on September 4th, yet I inexplicably picked up a used copy of it a few days ago. So for the first time ever, I am posting about something that has yet to be released. Which should tell you something about the quality of Deer Tick.

On the band’s website, McCauley writes, “The music of Deer Tick is something that should speak for itself. Otherwise, I’m not doing my job very well.” After several listens to War Elephant, I can honestly say that McCauley is doing his job extremely well.

If I must speak for his music, I’d say it sounds like a raspy Dylan on vocals with The Cardinals backing him up. The lyrics are exceptional and the melodies infectious. Since I’m lazy, I’ll classify it as alt-country, but it’s so much more. Just give it a listen and see for yourself.

[mp3] Deer Tick - Standing At the Threshold
[mp3] Deer Tick - Dirty Dishes
[mp3] Deer Tick - Nevada

As my blog quickly approaches the ripe old age of one, it’s fun (at least for me) to look back on my old posts. Nearly a year ago, I posted an article called My Top 5 Favorite Bands. A lot has changed since then.While I still consider all 5 of those bands to be among my perennial favorites, several amazing bands have since worked their way into my collection. I realize I’ve blogged about all these guys before, but I feel compelled to share once again why I love them so much. In no particular order, here’s the new list:

MONO: Music beyond words

I am still obsessed with this band. Despite having only 39 Mono tracks in my iTunes library, I’ve listened to them almost 800 times. It doesn’t matter what mood I’m in, I keep coming back for more. The track posted below is from their debut LP Under the Pipal Tree released in 2001. In it, you can clearly hear the band honing what will soon become its signature sound: layers upon layers of guitars soaring to climaxes so high you’re afraid of what’ll happen when it all comes crashing down. One of my favorite Mono tracks, period.

[mp3] Mono - The Kidnapper Bell

THE NATIONAL: Elegantly-wasted Americana

In all reality, The National probably should’ve made the list the first time around. Never have I heard a band combine beauty and sadness so effortlessly and yet so successfully (see “About Today” and “Slow Show” below). I’ve been listening to The National steadily for the past year, which I can’t say for too many other bands. And with the release of their excellent new LP Boxer, the band has proved without a doubt that they belong on this list.

[mp3] The National - About Today
[mp3] The National - Slow Show

THE WALKMEN: Inelegantly-wasted Americana

I never expected to like The Walkmen as much as I do. I honestly can’t explain what drew me to them, let alone what keeps me from ever wanting to leave. Maybe it’s the Dylanesque vocals, maybe it’s the drunken guitar pieces, or maybe it’s lines like this: “Don’t know what to offer you I’m only broke and lonely / And another one goes, and another one goes by / Sometimes when I walk outside I see it right in front of me and so / Bright.” Amazing lyrics to an incredible song, which is posted again for your convenience below.

[mp3] The Walkmen - Another One Goes By

MENOMENA: The absolute pinnacle of indie rock

Words cannot describe my love for this band. After seeing them live a few weeks ago, I can honestly say indie rock doesn’t get much better than Menomena. All three members are incredibly talented musicians; at the concert I quickly learned that they all share lead vocals and can play just about any instrument under the sun. Tracks from Friend and Foe rocked with even more intensity than on the album, while older material greatly benefited from the live setting. Below is the standout track (well, one of many) from their debut album I Am the Fun Blame Monster, whose title can be rearranged to spell The First Menomena Album.

[mp3] Menomena - The Strongest Man In the World

CAT POWER: The only cat I’ll ever like

I definitely consider myself a dog person, but Chan Marshall, with her gorgeous voice and haunting melodies, has struck a chord in my dog-loving soul. I seem to get a lot of feedback on my Cat Power posts, which leads me to believe many of you have already come to appreciate her music. So I’ll keep this blurb short, enjoy a terrific piano dirge from Moon Pix called “Colors and the Kids.”

[mp3] Cat Power - Colors and the Kids

Like most people out there, I love adore my iPod. It makes my 40-minute morning and afternoon commute tolerable. It also helps me get through those really slow days at work. In other words, I probably couldn’t survive without my iPod.

But despite my undying affection for anything Apple, I really don’t like their iPod commercials, and I especially hate how any featured track/band instantly becomes a hit. I will, however, give Apple credit for choosing music that is slightly off the beaten path, but most times I see the ad so often there is no hope for me ever liking the song again.

With that said, this month’s Artist Spotlight, Kings of Leon, found themselves featured in an iPod commercial a few years back. Luckily, I didn’t pay much attention.

When they released their 3rd studio album Because of the Times earlier this year most of the hype had passed, leaving only the band and their music. After listening to the song “On Call” a few times, I rushed out and purchased the album.

I know this isn’t very descriptive, but Kings of Leon are cool. That’s the best I can come up with. Because of the Times is full of big guitar solos and catchy hooks. This stuff is obviously meant to be played loud.

The band’s sound has definitely progressed over the years. While I enjoy their older stuff, I keep coming back to Because of the Times for its larger-than-life sound. I’ve posted three tracks below: “California Waiting” from Youth & Young Manhood and “On Call” and “McFearless” (such a cool song) from Because of the Times.

I really wanted to post the album closer “Arizona,” but if you like the three tracks below, just buy the whole damn thing, crank up the volume, and enjoy every second of it.

[mp3] Kings of Leon - California Waiting
[mp3] Kings of Leon - On Call
[mp3] Kings of Leon - McFearless

As is becoming routine, I apologize for the lack of activity on my blog. After a month or so of relatively calm waters, the hurricane that is grad school has finally gained strength, knocking me and my blog well off course. At the moment, I believe I’m in the eye of the storm, so bear with my if I don’t resurface for another few weeks.

But enough of that. I’ve been sitting on this month’s Artist Spotlight for quite some time. I started listening to them at the beginning of 2007 (thanks to eMusic), though I had known of their existence for several years. I’m just disappointed it took me so long to get into them.

The band is The Walkmen and they have a sound that’s difficult to categorize. The one thing I can tell you with certainty is that the singer sounds like Bob Dylan. Their older material reminds me of Interpol (but not really), while their latest stuff is very bluesy. You should probably just listen to the tracks posted below.

You may recognize the first song from a Saturn car commercial (which I never saw) that garnered The Walkmen a modest amount of attention a few years back - similar to how the VW commercial revived interest in Nick Drake (but not really). The second song posted is the stunning title track from my favorite Walkmen album, Bows + Arrows. And the last song beautifully closes their most recent LP A Hundred Miles Off.

[mp3] The Walkmen - We’ve Been Had
[mp3] The Walkmen - Bows & Arrows
[mp3] The Walkmen - Another One Goes By

PS - Don’t let the poor quality of this post influence your opinion of The Walkmen. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the first great album of 2007. I present to you Friend and Foe by Menomena.

Quite frankly, I’m obsessed. These guys are amazing. I think I’ll let their music do the talking. Start with “Wet and Rusting” to whet the appetite (enjoy the pun?). Move on to “Muscle’n Flo” and if by song’s end you aren’t completely hooked, finish with the stunning “Rotten Hell.”

Friend and Foe is cohesive and consistently excellent. Despite the band’s ability to jump effortlessly from genre to genre, the album flows beautifully. Often, the lyrics conjure up images of standing resolutely in the face of a looming conflict.

Honestly, I haven’t heard anything this inspiring in a long time. Fans of Wolf Parade (or lovers of great music) will feel right at home.

[mp3] Menomena - Wet and Rusting
[mp3] Menomena - Muscle’n Flo
[mp3] Menomena - Rotten Hell