Casey Shea Does Florida

I have been meaning to write about Casey Shea ever since I was introduced to his music while away in Europe. He is a very friendly chap that continues to kick my ass at Words with Friends and he is also a great songwriter. He brings a flair for old-time songwriting while, seemingly, exorcising the ghost of George Harrison. I have been really enjoying his album Love is Here to Stay and it is high on my list for a recommended listen.

However, I am writing about Casey today because of a recent cover he did. Florida by Modest Mouse has always been a staple mix-tape track for me and I was thrilled when Casey put his take of the song up on the Family Records blog. I have been listening to his version incessantly and felt it was absolutely necessary to share it with you here.

Have a listen:

Florida - Casey Shea

Anais Mitchell at the Railway Club

If you have not had the opportunity to witness the joy that is Kutapira, I highly recommend you see them. I don't know if you can find tour dates or show times (their site seems quite vague) but, I must say, I was floored by their performance on Granville Street yesterday.

I had the privilege of seeing Anais Mitchell with her amazing band last night at the Railway Club. Once again, I was in shock at the turnout and I really wish more people would come and see these incredibly talented musicians. Anais headlined with her band mates each taking solo efforts prior to her performance. As Hadestown is high on the list for Album of the Year for me, it was great to see her pull off the material live.

I have not been that impressed with a guitar player in a long time. Jefferson Hamer has got to be one the best guitar players I have seen in years.  Much like Kutapira, he floored me with his solo performance and his impeccable twang. His rendition of Gram Parsons' Sin City was jaw dropping. On top of all that, he is a really nice guy.

Jukeboxer

I have been obsessed with every mix that Dale over at Jukeboxer has been putting together. They are exactly my taste in music and each and every one of them has there own unique and fantastic quality. I highly recommend checking them out.

Indie Music Filter v.7

The always amazing Indie Music Filter, alongside Aux.tv, have released another mix-tape and, as-per-usual, it has gone tremendously with my coffee and pancakes this morning.

You can stream/download it here. 

Tracklist:
1.waiting on you - sun airway
2. wristwatch - hungry kids of hungary
3. love more - sharon van etten
4. boy - ra ra riot
5. algebra - airship
6. weapons for war - a lull
7. invisible republic - young galaxy
8. wait up (boots of danger) - tokyo police club
9. kids on the run - the tallest man on earth
10. white city - bishop morocco
11. restoration - the acorn
12. hey big bang - superhumanoids
13. lungs quicken - lanterns on the lake
14. windowsill 1 - heartbeat hotel

Dancing Pigeons - Ritalin

I don't know a thing about the band Dancing Pigeons. However, I can tell you that they have released a excellent video for the track Ritalin. I have watched it three times simultaneously now and I can't tell you how much I love the expressions on the faces on the duelling men.  Definitely a "must see!"

And the song is not all that bad either!


Dancing Pigeons - Ritalin from Blink on Vimeo.

Blackbird Blackbird

For some reason, I woke up in a blissed-out mood and wanted happy, blissed-out, music to accompany it. Out of the blue come Blackbird Blackbird. I have been hearing about this band off and on for the last while but never really gave them a listen. I love it! Every song is getting me this morning and what this band manages to squeeze into their little two minute ditties is amazing.

There is something so easy about floating away in these excessively happy songs. Lyrical content is replaced by effects-laden vocal tracks of seemingly nothing. The ever-present pounding drums and swooping blips and blops are just perfectly executed. The songs just work. It reminds me of a great escape or a drive in the country, the music just keeps your toes 'a tapping.

I needed that today.

J. Tillman - Singing Ax

This excites me. J. Tillman has a new album coming out entitled Singing Ax. I personally got really excited about the email I received this morning because I have been obsessed with his music and musings as of late. Recorded by the always stunning Steve Albini in Chicago, this album is certain to be amazing and certainly worth every ounce of my excitement.

Check out the track:

Three Sisters - J. Tillman

Welcome to Daytrotter: Trailer

I know this is making it's rounds but man does it look great. I am so excited to see this film!

Fidel Catastrophe

Alright, I have not been excited about a band in a long time but I can't help but be ecstatic about the amazing Fidel Catastrophe. Reading the great STRATOSPHERING this morning left me full of joy. The blog introduced to a band that is worth getting excited about and definitely deserved as much promotion as possible. Plus, I shared the sentiment, shock actually, that Anticon have not snaped these guys up.

Anyway, these songs are so simple yet amazing. I have been listening all day and I have to highly recommend this band. Heck, if you want to help them press some vinyl, give 'em some money as well! 

Villagers

I don’t know what it is! Maybe it is the solemn mood that comes with an ever-so-slight depression or the anxiety of searching for change. Who knows? However, I have been greatly touched by simple acoustic music as of late. One such artist that I have been obsessed with is Villagers A.K.A. Irish tunester Conor J. O’Brien.

He is coming to Vancouver and playing the Media Club tomorrow night and I am excited. I never do this, but I have been listening to his music with baited-breath just hoping he can pull it off live.

See you there.
 

Photo taken by Enda Doran - www.endadoran.com

Mike Behrends

I have been listening to a lot of great music lately and finding time to present it here has come few and far between. However, I got a few minutes.

If you have not done so already, you have to check out Mike Behrends. Exploring the banjo/singer-songwriter genre, he has impeccable timing and is a fascinating listen. I love his songwriting and his, ever-so-slight, off key harmonies work impressively.

Check it out:

New Mexico - Mike Behrends

As If This Song Needed to Be More Inspirational!

Vanish Valley

Well, I have written next to nothing on here for quite some time and I feel awful about it. There is a massive job hunt currently consuming most of my waking hours and I have not really been seeking out a lot of music. However, I finally found a band that I thought was worth writing about: Vanish Valley.

I will let you listeners check them out but they instantly grabbed me with their hooks, melody, and great experimentation. I know that I tend to write those three redeeming qualities often but I guess that is what just draws me to great music. Hope you like 'em!

BACK!

Well, we have finally made it back to Vancouver and I am pleased to let you know that Paper Pistol is back to the daily grind. Getting life back together can always be a bit of a hassle but we are looking forward to finding more, doing more, and living more in the coming months.

Talk to you all soon and I will be sure to let you know how Lou Barlow was tonight at The Media Club. Frankly, I can't believe he is playing such an intimite affair and I can't wait to see him.

Cheers all and thanks for the support.

Jane Siberry Releases Entire Catalogue for Free

I am not the biggest Jane Sibbery fan in the world but I have to admire her for what she has done with her entire catalog.

She has made it all available for free!

Apparently, and this is my assumption based on a short paragraph I read on her site, she got fed up with trying to find a way to sell her music and volunteered prices via paypal and just said: "Fuck it, here it all is!"

I am next to positive that this is going to be viewed as a brilliant marketing move in the coming months and I can't help but think that her fanbase is going to grow substantially once again. I am already thinking of several tunes from my youth that I want to go back and listen to. I mention this as I have not thought of Siberry in years. She really brings back some fond, albeit obscure, memories from my music past.

I think that is really cool, Jane!

Frère De Song

I was introduced to Frère De Song this morning and I can't stop listening. He is incredible and I really think everyone should have a listen. I love the simplicity of the recordings and his melodic touch is unbelievable.

Words with Friends

Okay, I have become completely obsessed with the iPhone application Words with Friends. What a fantastic way to spend those waiting hours in airports, the ones that have free wi-fi that is, gaining a little word knowledge and challenging random people to a game of scrabble. Building vocabulary has never been so much fun! If there are any challengers out there with an iPhone and a little extra time, I would love to play you. My user name is *Michaelnasi.

Now, as this is a music blog, I have to highly recommend Nick Curran and the Lowlifes. From the instant you here that hard-rocking, piano swinging wonder stuff, I am sure that you will be hooked.

I also have to stress, again, my apologies for the lack of posts but, hopefully, it is explained by the photo below. Hope you are all well and there will be a lot more from P.P. once I get back to my home shores.

Speaking of homecoming shores, I am reading The Odyssey for the umpteenth time but it makes it so much more fun to read when you can stare at the island that Homer is speaking of. I highly recommend Kefalonia as a vacation spot if you are looking for one in the coming months. 

Paper Pistol Will be Down for a Few Days...

Due to sunny beaches, beer, and a severe lack of wireless access, we will not be writing many posts in the next couple of weeks. Time to go to the beach!

Myspace Bands - A Couple of Them from Croatia

There always seems to be some silly excuse for not writing for a couple of days on here. I don't have one but I did find something that interested me enough to write about. The music of Croatia.

I have been holed up  in a town called Vodnjan, Croatia for the last 2 months and for some reason I have just decided today to explore the local music scene. I was just looking for a band to see should any of them be on tour around this area. In my search, I found some incredibly great music and I thought I should share it with you here.

Here are a couple of bands that I feel definitely deserve mentioning:

1. PIPSCHIPS&VIDEOCLIPS
2. LEUT MAGNETIK
3. Aesqe 
4. svadbas

Monday Myspace Page - Like Animals Again

Like Animals Again is an eclectic mix of, well, all sorts of different genres of music. However, it all seems to come together elegantly and is a lot of fun to listen to. I picture them as a group of carnies having far too much fun with their instruments. Their exploration is marvelous and how they make that cheesy synth sound great on tunes like Amphibious Genes is beyond me!?

I know one thing for sure, I can't wait to see them live when I get home.

Neverest Songs - Small Voyages

Neverest Songs (aka Luke Twyman) has been on my radar for the last couple of weeks and I feel awful for not getting around to writing about his music. His talent is undeniable and it really is one of the better albums I have heard this year.

Listening to Neverest Songs' Small Voyages is like sitting down to a private recital. As trite as it may sound, it honestly feels as if you are alone with the music. The songs feel as if they are a collection of lullabies written for a dying relation or a new born baby. Simple progression is always met with interesting exploration and the music always seems to build in directions one would never expect. The songs bleed sentiment and are more and more uplifting with each and every listen.

The album is available at Unlabel and, by the looks of things, I would love to get my hands on a hard copy. Look at that amazing packaging!

Have a listen:

Neverest Songs - The Devil's Kneading Trough
Neverest Songs - Calculator
Neverest Songs - Pillars of Creation

Bakers at Dawn - Nebraska

I know I recently wrote about Bakers at Dawn but he has released another, very worthy, album. Nebraska is a collection of tracks that were previously released as a collection of two cdr's. It is available for free and it doesn't get much better than that.

Mos Dub by Max Tannone

I have been listening to this all morning and it is absolutely fantastic. Incredible mixes of reggae classics with one of the most talented artists in hip-hop... how could it be bad!?

It also helps that it is a warm and sunny day in Croatia and I am about to ride a bike through farmer's fields avoiding as many barking dogs as possible. The aim, have a beer on the beach.

What a life!

Monday Myspace Page: Let's Say We Did

My initial reaction is to compare Let's Say We Did to Wilco but I think this would be poor judgment on my part. These songs are sweet, well written and show huge amount of potential.  Also, I generally hate comparing bands.

From the gruffy voices to the twangy guitars, it's true Americana with a twist. Songs like Follow Me Down and Galaxies shine and I can't see anything but future success for these guys.

There is an e.p. available, via paypal, and you can listen to several tracks here. Do yourself a favour and have a listen.

The Skydiggers and Their Anthems

These songs remind me of my youth. I miss my youth today.

... enjoy