Backseat Sandbar

You can  pre-order Slight Spell on LP for $12, shipping not included. Domestic and international orders will ship Feb. 12. Meanwhile, The Ravenna Colt has added more tour dates with Chapel Hill’s Roman Candle:

March 11: Knoxville, Tenn., @ The Square Room
March 12: Atlanta, Ga., @ The Earl
March 13: Birmingham, Ala., @ Bottletree

Slight Spell arrives in stores Feb. 16. Don’t forget: Louisville record release show Feb. 19 at Zanzabar, Feb. 20 in Lexington at Natasha’s.

CD and digital versions of Slight Spell will be released on Removador Recordings & Solutions the same day.

You can listen to and download one of the tracks, “South of Ohio,” now HERE.

I’ve had a chance to listen to the album and it is definitely one to check out.  In My Morning Jacket terms, it is more Tennessee Fire than Evil Urges (which to a lot of people is a good thing).  It’s not flashy, no gimimicky hooks, just a fresh folk rock album with the occassional dance with alt-country, or whatever they call it these days.  In short, it was exactly what I expected and given the circumsatnaces surrounding the record, I expected a lot.

Word from Karate Body is that they are sold out, but I’ve seen a couple of copies floating around.  I know Underground Sound had one for $17 yesterday. Really good stuff and THE pitchfork agrees… (oh, and that Owl City guy likes it too.)

READ THE REVIEW HERE

Sample:

Rachel Grimes- She Was Here

Rachel Grimes- Bloodroot

21c will be presenting the Hear + Now Music Series starting October 8, 2009 with the album release of Rachel Grimes, Book of Leaves (from Karate Body Records).  The show will also feature works by Daniel Gilliam, Lou Moseson and Sara Maclean.  The Series will feature newly composed works by regional creators and performed by regional creators for all of us to experience.  I’ve even heard that there will be a baby grand piano placed in the center of the room with seating in a theatre in the round style.  21c always pulls out all the stops and this series looks to be very exciting.

The pianist from Rachel’s, and currently of King’s Daughters & Sons ensemble, offers a stirring new solo piano set, packaged in a gatefold LP with a limited number of copies coming with an original sheet music score. Pre-order the regular LP HERE. In stores Sept. 22.

Monoliths & These Flowers Never Die
Double vinyl gatefold LP and digital formats
Coming Oct. 6
Cover artwork: Derrick Snodgrass

No clue how this whole album sounds, but I’ve been a big fan of PFH and what Karate Body Records has been putting out.  You can pick up a copy HERE when it releases in October.

You can listen to a two track preview here.

This album just came out today and I’ve already listened to it twice through.  You can pick it up at ear x-tacy for 12.99.  Here is what Hank had to say about the album:

Aging is shit: stuff starts to drag, things aren’t in the right place, hair leaves one area and moves to another. Thankfully music just seems to get better with time. The simplicity, honesty, and earnestness seems to trump any of that electro stuff you’ve been listening too, because that stuff is too big. It’s unwieldy. Old songs fit in your pocket. They crawl behind your ear. They remind you that someone could be singing to you.

That’s the beautiful recollection on Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s EP Among the Gold out via local imprint/ne’erdowells Karate Body Records. I wasn’t the biggest fan to Oldham’s last output. It was too slick, too big, and too unhinged. And besides, he didn’t have that smooth female croon that he’s been developing in his work (See: The Letting Go). Cheyenne Mize (from Arnett Hollow) is the perfect antidote. These older tunes are elegant, focused, and beautifully spun. Like a story that just keeps getting better with age, Among the Gold places us squarely in the past and present — drifting on a hushed sunbeam of song.

Tracklist:

1. Silver Threads
2. Love’s Old Sweet Song
3. Beautiful Dreamer
4. Kiss Me Again
5. Let Me Call You Sweetheart
6. Only a Dream

Kiss Me Again – Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie Prince Billy

Welcome to a new feature of Backseat Sandbar.  It’s called “A 6-pack with Backseat Sandbar.”  The premise is this:  Nick and I sit down with people who are influential in Louisville music over a 6-pack of their choosing.  It’s kind of like “Coffee Talk with Linda Richmond,” only we’re not drinking coffee and neither Nick or I wear a dress.

Our first episode features Mat & Joe of Karate Body Records.  If you don’t know about Karate Body, then you will soon.  Specializing in limited run vinyl, Karate Body scored a huge success with their recent release of Cheyene Mize & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s Among the Gold.  And are getting ready to drop (in the vinyl sense) Ben Sollee’s Learning to Bend.

What you’re going to see is the abridged version. Our actual video is over an hour long, so until we find some place to host that, enjoy this tasting.

Aging is shit:  stuff starts to drag, things aren’t in the right place, hair leaves one area and moves to another.  Thankfully music just seems to get better with time.  The simplicity, honesty, and earnestness seems to trump any of that electro stuff you’ve been listening too, because that stuff is too big.  It’s unwieldy.  Old songs fit in your pocket.  They crawl behind your ear.  They remind you that someone could be singing to you.

That’s the beautiful recollection on Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s EP Among the Gold out via local imprint/ne’erdowells Karate Body Records.  I wasn’t the biggest fan to Oldham’s last output.  It was too slick, too big, and too unhinged.  And besides, he didn’t have that smooth female croon that he’s been developing in his work (See:  The Letting Go).  Cheyenne Mize (from Arnett Hollow) is the perfect antidote.  These older tunes are elegant, focused, and beautifully spun.  Like a story that just keeps getting better with age, Among the Gold places us squarely in the past and present — drifting on a hushed sunbeam of song.

Tracklist:

1. Silver Threads
2. Love’s Old Sweet Song
3. Beautiful Dreamer
4. Kiss Me Again
5. Let Me Call You Sweetheart
6. Only a Dream

Kiss Me Again – Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie Prince Billy

Louisville is for Lovers Vol. 9 released this month and is available on VINYL!  I picked up a copy at the Monkey Wrench last week and have been spinning this 2LP set pretty much every night.  For one, it is basically a best of Louisville sampler.  We have been covering the local music scene for nearly two years now, but still have not been able to see or hear a lot of the artists on the album.  After listening to this album, I will be first in line at the next show The Deloreans put on, as well as The Cut Family Foundation, The Come Hithers, She Wears Lipstick and Eremy Jirvin.  The regulars didn’t disappoint either.  Lucky Pineapple, Teneia Sanders, The Fervor, Pure Dirt, The Gallery Singers,  Whistle Peak, The Mack and, of course, Bonnie Billy completely hit the mark on their tracks.  This album is so positive for the local music scene, it is impossible for me to say enough good things about what the LIFL people do each year.   Both the artists featured and the fans buying the discs /LPs are treated to a glimpse of the immense talent this city has to offer.  It seems that each year this compilation release gets better and better.  For entertainment purposes, I am going with Side A of the 2nd LP as my favorite of the album; specifically, Eremy Jirvin’s “On My Own” supported by Bonnie Billy’s “The Girl In Me.”  The Ferver, Whistle Peak and Paul McGee are also on Side A.  It is what I would say is the ‘folkier’ section of album and that just jives well with the whole “lovers” theme.  With only three songs, Side B of the same record is pretty awesome too.  She Wears Lipstick’s “Sext Messages” is electro-love at its best.  The Gallery Singers’ “All That’s Left” hints of Lambchop, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen (pretty good company).  The album ends with The Mack, one of my favorite local artists; mellow, beautiful and a perfect cool down after 19 tracks of ear candy.

This LP is the first vinyl release from locals, Karate Body Records.  With vinyl sales up 90% from last year, expect some more release from these guys in the near future.  I give the packaging of the LP a ‘B’.  Without the plastic vinyl sleeve, the records would simply fall to the floor.  That said, the fold allows for liner notes which is a definite positive and it is hand made.  Also, I’m sure it cut the price I paid for the album down a bit.  Record presentation is a solid ‘A’.  I’m a sucker for custom pressings and this one is no exception.  As you can see above, both records are appropriately pink and white marble with black and white art in the centerand.  Both have a solid weight .  If you are from Louisville and collect vinyl, this is a must own.  You can grab a copy at Underground Sounds (I saw one left yesterday) and Ear X-tacy.  You can also get it from the Karate Body MySpace page for $16 bucks.  It is my understanding that they pressed 500 copies.

37 Flood has a recording of the LIFL WFPK Live Lunch for you listening pleasure.

Track Listing:

1. the come hithers-your’e just one
2. black kerouac-cold gold
3. deer meet-take me high
4. the ladybirds-the map of love
5. the cut family foundation-free, who?
6. the sandpaper dolls-pretending to be wise
7. lucky pineapple-altamira
8. the deloreans-la la love
9. pure dirt-is it true?
10. teneia sanders-joan’s song
11. ben & whit-the only time
12. eremy*jirvin-on my own
13. paul mcgee-i never realized
14. bonnie ‘prince’ billy w/cheyenne mize- the girl in me
15. the fervor w/dave cronin-same state
16. whistle peak-elbows and ankles
17. she wears lipstick-sext messages
18. the gallery singers-all that’s left
19. the mack-prisoner’s lake