Happy new year and it's times like this we should all remember that a blog is for life and not just for Christmas.
Kicking off the new year, I'm sharing my #begborroworstream selections for January as you may have first heard last night on Rick Witter's excellent #discodown show on @minsterfm
Beg, borrow or stream
STREAM
Damien Jurado - Exit 353
Single available to stream now
We kick off another new year in music with the promise of new albums from some big artists including Bowie and Suede, but a relatively unknown artist has grabbed my attention for my first selection of 2016. Damien Jurado is described as a lo-fi folk singer songwriter and returns in March this year with the final album in a trilogy of musical stories. This gives you all plenty of time to catch up with the story so far.
Insert your own star wars music here as you read the next paragraph - The first album Maraqopa introduced a character deliberately unnamed who gets into a car crash… a riveting subject for any album. Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son picked up the narrative after the accident, in a commune inhabited by random characters all named Silver 'Something'. So you'd be called 'Silver whatever' etc. The last album coming soon is called Visions of Us On The Land and journeys further into the subconscious mind, a symbolic road trip spotlighting the people and towns that our central figure and his travelling companion, Silver Katherine, encounter upon leaving the commune.
Regardless of the random storyline and narrative, you'll be pleased to hear the music is well worth a listen, The lead single 'Exit 353' is my one to stream this month and I'm confident that fans of Fleet Foxes and Midlake will appreciate what they're about to hear.
You can catch Damien Jurado live in April when he tours the UK including Leeds Brudenell on April 17th. For now, I strongly recommend starting your new year by streaming the delightful sound of Damien Jurado and the single Exit 353
BORROW
Cage The Elephant - 'Tell Me I'm Pretty'
Album out now
Cage The Elephant have returned with a fourth album full of songs that make you wonder why they've never received the commercial success their music deserves. Listeners may remember the band from when they first came on the scene back in 2008 with songs like 'Ain't No Rest For The Wicked' and 'In One Ear'. They trailed the second album with the stunning single 'Shake Me Down' in 2010 and all seemed rosy for the band. Since then they've released a third album that went pretty much unnoticed but the American indie stars are now back and sounding more grown up and self-assured on the album 'Tell Me I'm Pretty'.
I've spent the last week listening to this on repeat and it's a grower that rewards you on repeat listens. They've dropped their earlier career punky sound and now craft some really intelligent songs. For an American band they have a strong British sound and this is evident on album highlights 'That's Right' and 'Sweetie Little Jean'. I was lucky enough to see them play York's Duchess in 2008 and I'd strongly recommend seeing them on their UK tour in February, calling lots of places including The Unity Works in Wakefield on 19th February.
I've chosen Cage The Elephant as one to borrow but after a few listens I reckon you'll be wanting to buy it to kick start your 2016 collection. Their lead single from the album 'Mess Around' should whet your appetite for more.
BEG
Hinds - 'Leave Me Alone'
Album out next Friday 8 January
If anyone was worried about the future of music in 2016, you only need wait until the 8th day of this new year before you can get your hands on one of the most exciting, fun and interesting debuts I've heard in quite a while. Rewind a year and things didn't seem like they'd turn out as well for the Spanish quartet as they were forced to change their name from Deers due to legal action from a band with a similar sounding name. Fortunately for us, this hasn't stopped them from spending the last year touring and recording their debut album 'Leave Me Alone'.
Hinds are an all-female band from Madrid and the glorious Spanish accent complements a very fresh and raw instrumental backing sound heard throughout each of the twelve tracks. In one of the warmest winters in years, it almost feels appropriate to be able to listen to the sound of summer in January. Songs like 'San Diego' and album opener 'Garden' long to be played in large fields of festival revellers later this year.
I can't wait to see the band live when they hit these shores next month. I'd recommend you checking out their website to see where they're playing close to you. For local listeners, they're supported by another great band, Public Access TV, when they play Leeds Brudenell on 22 February. Definitely one not to miss.
For now, I'll leave you alone to listen to 'San Diego' from my one to beg this month. The album 'Leave Me Alone' is quite simply an enjoyable listen.
