Tag: indie folk

March 15, 2024

Song of the Day: Michael Knott - Jail

As you’ve undoubtedly already read elsewhere, and seen all over the chrindie corner of the internet, Michael Knott died earlier this week. Much has been written about the man, the music, the iconic artist, so I don’t intend to re-tread any of that ground here. This is a Song of the Day post after all. Nonetheless it does seem fitting to use this week’s SOTD column to feature more of Knott’s work. He wrote and recorded so many incredible albums from the 1980s through the 2020s that it’s hard to pick a “best” or even a “favorite.”… Continued →

December 15, 2023

Song of the Day: Over the Rhine - Etcetera Whatever

This band has been around since the 90s, maybe even the late 80s, making brilliant folk/pop/rock/blues/adult alternative/whatever type music. They’re the sort of band that other musicians love to love. The core of the band is husband-wife duo Linford Detweiler on piano and Karin Bergquist on vocals. The rest of the band has been a revolving cast, and in the half-dozen times I’ve seen them live, roughly half of those have featured just the pair. They’ve always danced around the edge of whatever “Christian music” means, always dropping hints about their faith, but simultaneously distancing themselves from the industrial machinations of the Christian music industry.… Continued →

February 17, 2023

Song of the Day: United Harvest Workers Union - Compassion

This folk-punk band was formed as a sort of atypical worship band. Their purpose was to create “authentic church music devoid of hype.” Hailing from Pittsburgh, the band features members of Last Hope and Timbre, its roots firmly embedded in the punk scene. Their one and only album was self-released in 2010, but saw a digital re-release in 2019 via Zap Records (home of 2 Minute Minor, Voice of the Mysterons, October Bird of Death, and others). I reviewed the album in 2019, here, and really enjoyed it.… Continued →

January 6, 2023

Damien Jurado Pulls His Music from Spotify for Ethical Reasons

Singer-songwriter and indie darling, Damien Jurado, long known for his poignant songs and unique arrangements, has as of this week pulled all of his music from streaming giant Spotify. The announcement came yesterday via his blog. Jurado didn’t mince words when it came to the reason behind his decision: “I simply cannot continue to support or align myself with a corporation who continues to profit off of the musicians it refuses to pay a fair and decent wage.” Read the full statement here: https://damienjurado.com/blog/2023/01/05/leaving-spotifyContinued →

October 20, 2022

REVIEW : LN - Monkeys & Spoons

It’s so great to have Gary Murray and co. back to making music again after almost a decade of quietude. Gary had to retreat for a few years beginning in 2014 while taking care of aging parents and other personal matters. Monkeys & Spoons certainly reflects that solitude, as well as the grief of losing someone you’ve had close. While the album cover nearly depicts contents of jazz fusion or post-rock (both Koinonia and strangely, Talk Talk are evoked by the artwork), don’t be led astray there.… Continued →

October 1, 2021

Song of the Day: Havalina Rail Co. - I Change My Clothes

Havalina Rail Co. was a delightfully quirky, eccentric, genre-fusing and genre-bending experimental band from California. Across their 10-year career (give or take), the band dabbled in folk, ska, jazz, ragtime, blues, Americana, surf, and multiple internationally-themed genres. No two albums in their canon treads the same ground, and yet each successive opus is clearly recognizable as Havalina. The band stopped recording as HRC somewhere in the early 00s, but members have turned up elsewhere. Most notably are Matt Wignall who is a renowned photographer and is perhaps now best known as the producer for several Cold War Kids albums.… Continued →

May 24, 2021

January 1, 2021

Song of the Day: Champion Birdwatchers - Resolution . . . in C

So, it’s New Year’s Day. 2020 is a recently faded memory, but with the obvious enduring repercussions. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Or affirmations, or commitments, or whatever else people are calling them nowadays? My wife (who is an artist) loves the New Year holiday. She sees it as a blank slate. A new chance to start over. Erase all the marks from the chalkboard (remember those?) or the whiteboard, or your Zoom screen and go again, taking all you’ve learned to try and do it better next time.… Continued →

August 18, 2020

July 25, 2020

REVIEW : Roemer - Straight Bars and Guns

Roemer is a stripped-back acoustic/indie folk project. If you’re anything like me, folk has to be some really special to catch my attention—a quirky vocal style, effective use of harmonies, skilful playing, or best of all hard-hitting and/or poignant lyrics. If it has one or more of those, I’m more likely to pay attention. Straight Bars and Guns was written from an outsider looking in. Much like myself, Roemer is an American citizen living abroad. He in Berlin, me in the south of England. Being an American who doesn’t actually live in the United States gives one an interesting take—neither more nor less accurate, just different.… Continued →

April 20, 2020

Keith Settles - Four Years (New Song)

Keith Settles is a name you may not instantly recognize but in terms of IVM past history, the name contains significant weight. Jess started out the IVM interview series on YouTube way back in mid 00’s and then when Keith Settles came aboard to help out, he created some of the finest video interviews we had up until that point. In fact, those are the last video interviews conducted by IVM (see YouTube page). Keith was frontman for a group out of So. Cal. called The Parousia and as of the last couple of years he has gone solo with some teeth clenching, honest tunes with an ep titled “Stories To Tell” set to drop on May 15th independently.… Continued →

Benjamin Daniel Drops Debut Indie Full Length

Benjamin Daniel (Ben Kunz) a friend and constant IVM supporter over the years has just dropped his debut full length titled “Shaping Season Vol. 1”. If you could imagine a collaboration of David Bazan, Sufjan Stevens, Manchester Orchestra, My Epic, Anathallo, and The Fray, you’ll get a hint as to the direction of these songs. This is beauty in it’s most purest form and a stripped down approach that takes the listener on a moody journey through the stories and music of Mr. Benjamin Daniel.… Continued →

April 17, 2020

Song of the Day: Good Saint Nathanael - Making Repairs

Good Saint Nathanael is the alter-ego of Nate Allen (Destroy Nate Allen). Whereas DNA was quirky and sometimes frantic acoustic punk, the saintly version is subdued, still quirky, but much more poignant indie folk. Last year’s Hide No Truth was filled with ardent reflections on life, God’s grace, and themes of spiritual abuse and the need for healing. While the video for “Making Repairs” was filmed last spring, it was only released last week. And it couldn’t be more timely. Many of us are slowing down, taking stock, re-examining our lives in light of quarantine and disease.… Continued →

February 29, 2020

Har Adonai Releases New Album "Now is Golden", Makes a Fan Out of Me

I’ve known Adam Rosenfeld for several years since his days running Men of Israel Records, the home of Man Alive in their early years. He has been making music under a number of different names for the past 2 decades and now has unveiled his latest project, Har Adonai. He takes indie rock and folk, combines it in one explosive push of the mix button on the blender and creates a sonic masterpiece only he could make. I can’t even describe what it sounds like other than to say it sounds like HAR ADONAI.… Continued →

January 17, 2020

Song of the Day: The Innocence Mission - Lakes of Canada

If you asked me to name the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard, there would be a lot of contenders, but this one would certainly be up there. Haunting melodies (courtesy of Karen Peris), cryptic lyrics that hint at familial pain of some sort, topped off with Don Peris’s intricate acoustic guitar work and some incredible harmonies as well. It’s hard not to be moved by music this gorgeous. Check out the original version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izewuu3rX8k The band reworked the song last year. Listen to that version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPbWVCGt_eMContinued →

January 3, 2020

Song of the Day: Sufjan Stevens - Jacksonville

Here’s the thing . . . Sufjan is incredible. Whether or not you like his music, one has to acknowledge the astounding amount of talent the guy has. To me, he is the musical equivalent to the literary Tolkien. What I mean is this: somewhere in the deep recesses of their brains, the creative impetus for all those ideas already existed. For Tolkien it was a myriad of languages, races and lands–each with their own histories and storylines. For Stevens, it’s his complex musical compositions alternately cloaked in folk, electronica, and baroque hues.… Continued →

March 10, 2019

REVIEW : Good Saint Nathanael - Hide No Truth

If you’re reading this review, chances are you’re aware of Nate Allen. Released a ton of folk-punk albums with wife Tessa as Destroy Nate Allen. DNA was energetic, fun, and although there was always a message, it was generally focused outward (“Jesus, Keep us Safe from the Cops” and “Boobie Bar” come to mind). Good Saint Nathaniel is Nate’s latest project, a solo outing, in which he turns inward to personal reflection and resolution. And the results are surprisingly good. Stylistically this is indie folk. Closest comparisons I can make are Damien Jurado’s darker stuff (there are no pop songs here), or even some of Mark Kozelek’s stuff (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon), but with more uplifting content.… Continued →

October 30, 2018

August 11, 2018

August 6, 2018

July 26, 2017

Jess Penner to Release "Imagination" Ep August 11th

Indie Pop singer/songwriter, Jess Penner, will release her new ep titled “Imagination” on August 11th through Position Music/Recurrent Records. This laid back collection of tunes for the whole family is ripe with electro pop-folk and will inspire joy not only in youngsters but adults alike. I’ve followed Jess Penner’s music since she was a part of the Hawaii based alt rock band Spooky Tuesday way back in the 90s. She has continued to produce positive, uplifting indie focused pop music for the past few decades through groups like Chandelle, We Cry Diamonds, Kayjez, and her much adored solo work.… Continued →

March 3, 2017

October 28, 2016

October 19, 2016

October 17, 2016

Introducing: One Way Home

I am proud to introduce our readers to the music of folk-pop trio, One Way Home. Featuring a blend of folk, americana, bluegrass, and pop in an undeniably addictive mix of music meant to get you singing along and lifting your hands in praise. I haven’t heard a group quite like these fine people so make sure you check out their new full length “Front Porch” that released back in March on spotify below. You can download the title track to that full length on Hearts Bleed Passion Vol.… Continued →