Archive for February 2011

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Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion - "Bright Examples"

Rating: Folky, smooth and old-school are just a few of the ways I would describe Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion's sophomore album, Bright Examples. Sarah Lee, the granddaughter of Woodie Guthrie, (the man who wrote the American classic "This Land Is Your Land") and daughter of Arlo Gunthrie (writer of "Alice's Restaraunt") obviously has some serious songwriting genes, so it's no surprise that Bright Examples is so spectacular. Her voice has the quality of Stevie Nicks, which is truly showcased in the song "Butterflies." Not only does Guthrie's talent shine through on the album, but Irion brings so much to the table on Bright Examples. His vocals are very reminiscent of James Taylor, and his songwriting sounds like something off of a Crosby Stills and Nash album, as can be heard in the track, "First Snow." I can honestly say that Bright Examples is one of the best albums I've heard in a while. If you're into the sounds of Stevie Nicks, James Taylor, Peter Paul and Mary, Johnny Cash or newer artists like She And Him or Jenny And Johnny, this album is for you. Start out with the tracks "Ahead of Myself" or "Bright Examples," two that showcase the duo's incredible sound. - Karly Kaschak

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Silk Flowers - "Ltd. Form"

Rating: You know, there haven’t been enough albums released in the past year that sound like 80s electro-pop. Alright, maybe that was a bit sarcastic, but if you enjoy synthesizers, Silk Flowers’ album Ltd. Form is just what you need. Their spacey, ambient feel sounds a bit repetitive at times, but it has its moments. “Frozen Moments” would be one of them. It has few vocals, but when you hear them in tracks such as “Fruit of the Vine” you might understand why. - Christine Vecchione

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Oh No Oh My - "People Problems"

Rating: This group has true potential for being the next popular indie rock band. They have released their second full length album People Problems, been featured at South By Southwest, and truly have a polished sound. Vocalist Greg Barkley’s sound is something best described as what could possibly come out of the mouth of one of Michael Cera’s many teenage, boy next door characters and their overall sound is similar to a toned down Vampire Weekend. For a great overall impression, take “I Don’t Know You” or “Walking Into Me” for a spin. - Christine Vecchione

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The Low Anthem - "Smart Flesh"

Rating: The Low Anthem is a folk quartet from Providence, Rhode Island who just put out their fourth studio album, Smart Flesh, on Nonesuch records. The album starts out slow with the track “Ghost Woman Blues,” and is mostly slow throughout the album. The third track, “Boeing 737,” takes listeners by surprise as it is the most energetic track on the album, and one of the best. This entire album will captivate listeners with the spine-tingling vocals. The album is 11 songs long, caps out at around 45 minutes, and it ends with the fantastic track “Smart Flesh.”Even if folk/country is not your cup of tea, this album will captivate you as it is one of the better records to be released so far in 2011. - Joe Deegan