Those Darlins

When I was younger, and right up through college, I was sure I hated country music. Of course, when the only stuff you've heard is glossy wannabe rock mainstream country music, you get the wrong impression of what country music is, or at least, was and can be.

Old-time country, even as recent as the 1970s, wasn't so glossy and was much more of a down-home, back porch feel and not a "listen to this in the shiny new pick-up on the way back from the Wal-Mart" feel. It didn't take itself so seriously, it had nothing to prove, and it felt more organic. Knowing that now, I can embrace those qualities when I find them again in country music. Most recently, I've really enjoyed the music of the young, all-female band Those Darlins.

Those Darlins are a Tennessee trio of girls from a college town that are embracing their roots and bringing all the bar-room grit and fun of older country back to a younger crowd. With songs like "Whole Damn Thing" (a personal favorite) where they sing about getting drunk and eating a whole chicken, you can hardly say they take themselves too seriously, and the 3 voices seems to just invite people to join in and make it a sing-along, as if the whole bar might just break out into some country classic.

Those Darlins' debut self-titled album is set for release next week. In the meantime, there are two places on the web where you can get a free mp3 download of their music. If you go to their website and sign up for their mailing list you will receive a free download of their song "Wild One", and if you go to the Paste Magazine site they offer a download of their song "Red Light Love". They are certainly one of the new discoveries I am most excited about.

Singing in Motion

I recently came across a few different YouTube videos that seems slightly odd to me. Apparently, there are a number of different musical shows/sites that feature musicians singing their songs while in various modes of transportation. There's a "Black Cab Sessions" where artists sing in a cab, there's the Swedish "Tram Sessions" where they sing on a trolley, and then there's "(Behind) Closed Doors" a Dutch venture, where artists sing in a moving elevator. I really don't get it. But I thought I'd share.

The first is Jens Lekman singing his single (and personal favorite) "Black Cab" while riding IN a black cab. Alas, I think it gets a bit awkward towards the end when he gets to the part of the song where he's singing about the cab driver not knowing anything and how he should keep his mouth shut...but all remains quiet from the cabby as he sings.


Swedish band "New Found Land" sings in a tram, I have only recently discovered them:


And last but not least, Ane Brun and her friend (and my favorite) Nina Kinert, sing together in an elevator:

American Idol, say what?

I should preface this entry by saying that I do not watch American Idol. I watched one full season to see what the big deal was (season 3) and then stopped again. So I didn't see even a single episode of this last season, BUT I heard plenty of feedback from friends about it and all of it was very pro-Adam.

Tonight, a friend of mine said someone had sent him Adam Lambert's version of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and that he liked it a lot. I looked it up on YouTube and the most surprising thing I found in it was that he stated quite plainly that he had heard a middle-eastern version of the song and that is what inspired him. It definitely sounded like a version I already knew, and really, how many middle-eastern inspired versions can there be? I went to a few Idol forums to read comments, a few fans said he got the idea for it from another reality TV show (Dilana sang it on Rockstar: Supernova in '06). Though I agree it is similar, I think Dilana's version definitely kept it a bit more countrified, especially towards the end of it, whereas Adam's was not one bit country.

The version I believe inspired him is by Universal Hall Pass, (and later a commenter did mention it, though it seems to have gone unnoticed). The song was recorded by Melissa Kaplan (aka Universal Hall Pass) for the 2003 short film "Ring of Fire". So, not only does it come before the Dilana version, it also sounds a lot more like Adam's version, and is specifically middle-eastern, as that is what Melissa's specialty is, and what they specifically asked for for the movie. Maybe it's just my loyalty to UHP and my disloyalty for AI, but I think her version is worlds better. That said, I went ahead and listened to some of his other performances and thought they were much better, people just thought this was very different and original, which it is, but the originality was not his.

• Universal Hall Pass - "Ring of Fire"

Lacrosse Video

Swedish pop band Lacrosse wins at most smile-worthy videos that involve what must be very low production costs. The single from their last album featured hand puppets traveling the Unites States, and this new single from their album "Bandages for the Heart" features people wearing blue, singing while looking un-expressive, singular move dancing and balloons. And somehow I find it brilliant.

This is one of those songs that I wouldn't think was overly special if heard alone, but after the video I had to hear it again and again because I think of all the funny dances I want to do along to it.

Notch up another point for Sweden.

Nina Kinert

My latest discovery and minor obsession is the music of Swedish singer-songwriter Nina Kinert. Her latest album "Pets & Friends" came out in her native Scandanavia last year, but I only discovered it last week. Within a day of hearing her initially, I was ordering the album as import because I couldn't be without it.

She is modern folk and reminds me a bit of Laura Marling. She has an absolutely breathtaking voice and has been touring in support of friend Ane Brun, whose backing vocals (as well as Britta Persson's) are featured on "Pets & Friends". "Pets & Friends" is a very solid album and I am very impressed. The single from the album "Combat Lover" is fantastic. No links for the music, but check out the video below.

I am not sure how I feel about the video, actually. I don't particularly feel like it matches the song other than the sinister qualities they both share, but at least it gives you an idea of what to expect as far as her music is concerned.

St. Vincent

St. Vincent, singer/songwriter Annie Clark, is set to release her sophomore LP entitled "Actor" on May 5th.

Her first album, "Marry Me" was one of the most impressive debuts of 2007. She has a raw talent of having a beautifully classic and elegant voice paired with both artistic, avant-garde sound, yet also more listenable and sing-along worthy than her contemporaries Bat For Lashes or My Brightest Diamond.

Her elegant voice and exterior (she's like a rock and roll Audrey Hepburn) are only an added bonus for this amazingly creative and skilled musician. I was lucky enough to see her live when she opened for John Vanderslice shortly before her debut LP came out and I was very impressed. I look forward to her new record

She has released the first single from the new record to her website, it promises great things.

• The Strangers

Ida Maria

This is old news. Ida Maria came out with her debut album sometime in 2008, but man, it took me until now to really appreciate her. I can't stop listening to her first single "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked". Her other songs are fantastic too, and although she's not gotten a lot of press here in the U.S., obviously her home country of Norway thinks she's pretty swell too because they gave her the Best New Artist award this year. Congrats, Ida Maria! You deserve it.

You can get a free song by signing up for her mailing list on her website.

Until then, check out a video for her song "Oh My God" here.