Ryan Adams – The Shadowlands

Michael_Prince

Most people never find love
Most people never find love
Sometimes you just can’t be a man
Sometimes you just can’t be a man
When you’re living in the darkness
Of the shadowlands
The shadowlands
The shadowlands

If you spend enough time in the darkness, you’ll find your eyes have adjusted to it. The chill of dew becomes your blanket. The shadows, your sanctuary. You adapt and choose to stay. And after awhile, you begin to fear the light. But we were not made for darkness. One by one, the boards will be removed from the windows. Rays of light will fill these rooms. Blinding and warm, our eyes will adjust once more. We will no longer fear the light or what we found in the shadows. And we will be grateful for the numbing chill that let us feel the warmth.

Ryan Adams is the master of sad hope. A perfect example of this can be found in his 2004 masterpiece “The Shadowlands”, from Love Is Hell. The genius of this song occurs at its very beginning, but the listener has no idea it has happened until the 2:37 mark. The third time Ryan repeats “the shadowlands,” a filter is finally removed and the recording suddenly becomes clear as day. The entire first half of the song is slightly out-of-focus and obscured by shadow, but you have no idea until you hear the difference. The effect is so moving, so heartbreaking, and yet the rest of the song is an instrumental that can only be described as a sigh of relief. As one who finally stepped into the warming light.

Artist: Ryan Adams
Photographer: Michael Prince

The Shouting Matches – I Need a Change

Mister_Adams_Joshua_Tree

Let a calm rise over your mind
Close the door.

Sitting atop the hill at Gas Works Park, I watched the sun set on my city. I had spent all day downtown, meeting with clients, art directing a photo shoot and enjoying a few beers on a sunny balcony with a friend. As I walked the streets and jumped buses, The Shouting Matches provided my sunworn soundtrack. Joyful and gritty, it perfectly illuminated how rich I feel. Sure, life is hard, but we find rest in the sun because of it. We sigh with the first gulp of a beer. And we hold each other a little tighter.

The Shouting Matches is the blues trio collaboration of three grownass men: Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, Brian Moen of Peter Wolf Crier, and Phil Cook of Megafaun. I haven’t been this excited for a supergroup since Middle Brother. Their debut LP, Grownass Man, plays like a shot from the hip, but it hits you dead between the eyes. It’s one of those rare albums that captures the gregariousness of a live performance with the tight orchestration of a studio session. It’s the result of three talented bros who’ve been jamming together for seven years. Their sound joins an uprising of nostalgic American music, which I’m totally fine with. I love Joseph Sutton-Holcomb‘s take on this:

In 1965, The Lovin’ Spoonful had a pop hit called “Do You Believe in Magic” that hit the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. One of the song’s early lines goes, “If the music is groovy / It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie.” It’s funny how nostalgia is such a constant in American culture. We just love that warm and fuzzy feeling. Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon’s newest endeavor is an infectious, 35-minute reminder of how satisfying nostalgia can be when done correctly.

And done correctly it is. There are clear references to early blues masters such as Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker, while some tracks seem to pay homage to today’s heavy weights, The Black Keys. Even though Grownass Man may be a blues record, it remains versatile in execution, ranging from grit-laden riffs to screaming harmonica back to soothing organ. Some stampede the dance floor, others have a seat at the bar. While there are many stand-out tracks on this brief album, “I Need a Change” tugs hard at my slow-jam heart strings. Its first chord alone could open a beer. K-sshhhk. Its patient restraint and sudden turn at 2:08 into a pristine jam space at 2:16 just slays me. At golden hour, with the sun warming your face, put this song on and see how long it takes for your head to fall into a knowing nod. And you’ll know how hard life has been as you feel how rich you are.

Artist: The Shouting Matches
Photographer: Mister Adams

Phosphorescent – Sun, Arise!

Christopher_Hall

Sun a-rising. Ease. Easy oh.
Dark as I been. Ease. Easy oh.
Be easy oh.

“Dark have been my dreams of late,” he said, “but I feel as one new-awakened.” This is not something we do once in the course of our lives. We do not simply wake up from the darkness once. We do it over and over. And over. The dawn is not completed with the flip of a switch. The night fades, shade by shade. The sun arises, ribbon by ribbon. And we all will feel its warmth on our faces, in time. In time.

Phosphorescent is Matthew Houck. You could easily identify his voice in a crowd. Albeit, a very hushed crowd. His listeners have made many comparisons of his wavering delivery, but the point is, we cherish the imperfections that make him – and his influences – unique. More than unique – significant. London Evening Standard once claimed him to be “the most significant American in his field since Kurt Cobain.” And like his influences, Matthew is bound to no genre. His explorations of texture and arrangement remind me of the ambitions of other courageous songwriters today, such as Beck, Bon Iver or even the recent growing pains of Iron & Wine. His latest release, Muchacho, is a masterful shadowbox of all these elements. “Sun, Arise!”, which bookends the album beautifully, sets the stage for a lush, eclectic album that fits together seamlessly. And it all just so happens to be the perfect Spring soundtrack.

Artist: Phosphorescent
Photographer: Christopher Hall

Earlimart – 10 Years

Mister_Adams

Sleepless nights
The tape rewinds itself 1000 times
A choir of voices asking,
“Why’ve you not responded
To the life you said you wanted?
Is your heart still haunted
By a ghost?”

Lying on my back, abandoned in the backyard, my eyes beheld the last blue sky our Spring would offer until July. The party had gone back inside, but the Jawbone was still providing a soundtrack from the balcony, so Charlie and I claimed our spot on the lawn. When you’ve got so much on your mind, it’s difficult to be still, but something about that sky sedated me. Song after song, we watched the sky fade like final breaths. The moment “10 Years” came on, a plane entered our view. A single scar across a flawless canvas. It was as if it had no destination, no itinerary. Its 600mph journey seemed almost pensive. Looking down, he saw me laying on my back as if I hadn’t a care in the world. From 30,000 feet, anything looks peaceful. And so it came to be on an Easter afternoon that a Boeing 737 and I finally understood each other.

Earlimart is a lo-fi indie rock duo out of LA. I had listened to their 2007 release, Mentor Tormentor, but hadn’t encountered them since. It’s like running into a friend you haven’t talked to in years, but you never really knew them all that well to begin with. You reminisce, admire all that’s changed, and move along. Their hushed harmonies remind me of the late Elliot Smith, who apparently was a close friend of the band. It still shows on their latest release, System Preferences. The sound is nice, but it all seems to blend together and fade into the background. But then a knockout track comes along and shines amidst the gray. “10 Years,” much like it’s dynamics, enraptured me suddenly and slowly. Its sound is timeless. Like that moment in Lost In Translation when My Bloody Valentine’s “Sometimes” plays in the background. Life seems to freeze for the duration of the song and you take a moment to find your bearings.

Artist: Earlimart
Photographer: Mister Adams

Low – Just Make It Stop

Randy_Martin

Now I’m looking up
From a ten foot hole
Seeing nothing but blue sky
Shining on my soul
As I untie the chord
And untwist the knot
We could get where we’re going
If I could just make it stop

Prologue: When Odysseus learned from Circe that his ship would be passing by the siren’s island, he told his men to put wax in their ears to protect them from the fatal song. As for himself, Odysseus chose not to plug his ears. Instead, he had his crew tie him to the mast so that he could experience the siren’s temptation without the risk of death. As the ship drew closer, the siren’s song seeped through the mist. They promised Odysseus tales of his future honor and glory – if only he would come closer. With all his might, Odysseus tore at his bindings, but they would not break.

Addiction shares a common thread with insanity. An addiction can never satisfy, but we return again and again only to crash into its shore. Last week, I quit two addictions: smoking and Facebook. Hey, laugh all you want, but if one day you wake up unhappy and realize you have been for quite some time, perhaps its time you considered making some changes. Me? I decided to remove the habits that never satisfy, creating space for what does. And that is? You’ll have to ask yourself sometime.

Since 1993, Minnesota’s Low has put out ten albums. Ten. Their latest, The Invisible Way, caught my attention when I heard it was produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. I have thoroughly absorbed it, having taken it on some epic bike rides and work days, and I must say – it’s extraordinary. Being a trio, their sound is… efficient. And I mean that in the best possible way. They may hit the self-labeled slow-side of the slowcore scale, but if you’re paying close attention, you’ll soon find your heart is racing. Its poignant lyrics and dramatic compositions are filled with unexpected moments. Sudden turns, hooks and epiphanies raise the stakes for this collection of deceptively simple songs. Being a new fan, I was pleased to discover they will be in Seattle April 6th, supporting the new album.

Epilogue: I went to Low’s website to grab their web address. Today the band announced a new film compiling their 20 years of music videos and short films. The film will be titled How To Quit Smoking.

Artist: Low
Photographer: Randy P. Martin

Port Isla – Adventurers

Lars_Wastfelt

I can’t wait til winter’s over
Wave goodbye to cold
All the time we spent together
Chasing pots of gold

These misty mountains and dripping evergreens have stories to tell. With bark soaked-through, their branches recall the intermittent warmth of sunbeams that pierce the canopy. Our once-trodden soot illuminates the dusty rays as the cool lapping of a hidden creek guides our way. We reach the pool, with its blinding jewels that cannot be gathered or preserved. And as we rest in their shimmer, we will hear them tell of a time when the mountains slumbered and the forest wept.

Port Isla is a four-piece Folk/Baroque band from Norwich, England. Their familiar sound merges the harmonies and instrumentation of Fleet Foxes and Stornoway. Tell me about it. Their ballads are set for summer, which is most apparent in their latest single, Adventurers. Acoustically driven, shimmering with tambourine and mandolin, you’ll envision yourself sprinting down a hill toward the waters edge. While they may not have an LP yet, all of their songs are available as free downloads via Soundcloud.

Thanks to Music Savage, as always, for bringing the best music to our ears.

Artist: Port Isla
Photographer: Lars Wästfelt

Lady of the Sunshine – Silver Revolver

Seb.tec

It’s all in my head
All I’ve ever been to myself
Is my own enemy

The horizon, teal and calm, fades in the west, like pupils of a fallen prey in the jaws of its predator. It’s been a hell of a day. And all that my wearied eyes can do is helplessly stare out this window as the night claims its prize. Cigarette in hand, you stare at that western sky and watch as the remains of the day are devoured. It’s alright. Breathe. All days were made to pass away. It’s served its purpose and proven our weakness. It’s revealed our dependency. Thank you for the reminder. I’ll keep that in mind tomorrow. And then I’ll forget and we can do this all over again.

Lady of the Sunshine is the solo project of Australia’s Angus Stone (of Angus & Julia Stone). This album may be from 2009, but it found its purpose tonight. Between gigs with his sister, Angus began writing some darker material that had begun haunting him. On this collection of songs, he related “Every one of the emotions in your head has its own voice and this album is what became of them.” And now he’s got a new album, Broken Brights, which is available now on iTunes. It hasn’t arrived on Spotify yet, but a few tracks can be sampled on his site. His sister Julia also has a new album, By the Horns. Check it out on iTunes too.

Artist: Lady of the Sunshine
Photographer: Seb.tec

Foy Vance – Joy of Nothing

Dzesika_Devic

Waking up with the pouring rain
Same old sun in the sky again
All the doves and fighter planes
Sharing the sky like it’s nothing strange

I believe there is great worth in delight. For some it’s wine. For others it might be a beer. Coffee or tea. Or maybe a smoke. The fresh start of a novel or the wisp of its concluding pages. The weight of an axe or the bend of a fishing rod. The pulse of a piano’s keys or the tremor of a bow. The lean of a bike or the pull of a swing. The edge of the ocean or the immensity of the mountains. The stillness of water or the rushing as it bends. You see, it doesn’t matter what you savor, but simply that you learn to. Of course, I don’t expect anyone to disagree with such a sentiment, but we all could use a reminder from time to time. To slow down. To make room for something worth sharing. I think that would be a good place to start.

And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true. – Stranger Than Fiction

Ireland’s Foy Vance will break your heart. He is an entertainer, a modern day troubadour. But his charisma is equaled by his sincerity. It’s as if he savors all the angst, sorrow and joy he has ever known in the back of his throat, letting it build until a scream is all that can convey. If you ever have a chance to see him live, please do. He is an artist that miraculously gets the most standoffish crowd to participate. Often he will step in front of the mic as such a wail requires no amplification. In preparation for his new album, which arrives this summer, Foy has released this supple track to wet our appetites. And check out the music video below as it will encourage you to begin planning your weekends this coming Spring and Summer.

Artist: Foy Vance
Photographer: Džesika Devic

The Record Company – Turn Me Loose

Phil_Kneen

Why don’t you do what’s right
Instead of doing what’s wrong

Mother Teresa once was asked when it was she started her work for abandoned children. She replied, “On the day I discovered I had a Hitler inside me.” In referencing Mother Teresa and Hitler, it is far too easy to see them as icons of good and evil rather than people, like you and me, with the capacity to do good or evil. This is why I prefer stories with villains I can relate to. Last night, Elias and I made Manhattans and watched Rian Johnson’s third masterpiece, Looper. Many spend time dissecting the film’s time travel mechanics, but I can’t help wrestling with the film’s gripping theme. That destruction is a loop. And selflessness alone can break it. But each of us has a different story about how – or tragically, if – we make the change from selfish to selfless.

I would be selfish if I didn’t share with you a band that has been blowing my mind that last few days. Nice segue. But seriously. The Record Company, a blues trio from LA, channels the filthy guitar-work and indifferent mumbling of the great John Lee Hooker. Dirty guitar. I mean, absolutely filthy. Last year they released their Superdead EP for free, as well as an incredible album of covers, which can also be downloaded for free on their site. And now they’ve released this new single, which I can only hope will be on an upcoming album. I already need more from these guys.

As I related above, Manhattans have been a favorite drink of ours lately – and this has been our soundtrack. Honestly, like the band, the Manhattan’s appeal is larger than the drink itself. It’s the charisma of it. The gentleman’s culture. Cigars and vests. Wearing a suit with disdain. According to Esquire’s The Wondrich Take, “J.P. Morgan used to have one at the close of each trading day. It’s that kind of drink.” So tonight, when you finally get home after a long day, download these free albums, take a load off and have a glass…

To Make a Manhattan:
2oz of Rye Whiskey. 1/2oz of Sweet Vermouth. A few dashes of bitters. A few ice cubes. Stir in a low ball glass and garnish with a cherry. Bam.

Artist: The Record Company
Photographer: Phil Kneen

Junip – Line of Fire

Danielle_Hughson

What would you say
If you had to leave today?
Leave everything behind
Even though for once, you’re shining

My roommate decided to go to bed, but I’m not one to turn off a movie – let alone The Shawshank Redemption. I settled back into my seat, glass of whiskey in hand, and let Red’s concluding thoughts wash over me as the camera pans across the Pacific…

I find I’m so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.

Suddenly, without warning, the gravity of my past decisions found their pull. I remembered how it had felt that morning, climbing the ramp onto I-90, with Chicago in the rear-view mirror. To leave it all behind. To make a choice that would make any reader want to turn the page. It was so raw, but its consequence left me feeling numb. To this day, the aftershock still catches up to me in waves. At times, it feels as if it’s just another story – an answer to the inevitable, “So how did you end up in Seattle?” I have a wide array of answers to this question, depending upon the listener, their attention, the mood, how many drinks we’ve shared and my first impression of their character. I’ve told it so many times, I fear I’ve become an actor, vomiting lines I’ve memorized ad nauseam. I’ve forgotten how real it was – how real it is – as my life has never been the same. How dreadful. To be the storyteller and miss the point, the heart, of the story entirely. But then these flashbacks strike within me and – once more – I’m reminded of the gravity of it all. I take a look around and see my home with eyes anew. And I thank God for that fateful morning. How did I end up here?

This single from Junip’s upcoming album (arriving April 23rd) has been out for a while, but I felt the need to spend some time with it. José Gonzalez’s music is so lush and patient, I’ve found my relationship with it is far richer if I give it some room to breathe, allowing it to fill the space it needs to – in its own time. This track was no different. At first listen, its beginning had me believing this was simply another track from Fields. And then something happens at 2:10. The strings rise and the melody transforms ever so slightly, becoming far more urgent, pleading your heart’s attention. This point not only marks a significant change in this track, but in his craft as a songwriter. Up until now, Junip has mastered the ability to orchestrate these therapeutic, cyclical songs that envelop your consciousness, but Line of Fire punctuates this with an emotive, engaging hook. I hope this is a sign of what this next album may bring. I hope.

Artist: Junip
Photographer: Danielle Hughson