best of 2023 • Hayden • Miss Fort Erie

Speaking about the track, Hayden says: "’Miss Fort Erie’ has been in my back pocket for a while now. It  was written and recorded pretty quickly up in my attic in the summer of 2016. At the time, my mind was on balancing a young family and being out on the road. Something I’m weighing again now and in the coming months. I thought it a funny idea to describe a conversation between a couple, where the traveler always plays down their adventures so as to not make the one at home feel left out. As per usual, there’s a twist ending. Musically, I had a blast playing all the parts, and for an artist with a catalogue lacking in middle eight’s or bridges, I’m particularly proud of the changes throughout the song.”

best of 2023 • Jefferey Lewis • What I Love Most in England (Is the Food!)

 

https://thejeffreylewissite.com/

I love green sheet fields with all edges

Bound by old stone walls and hedges

And the sticks, the vibes, the charming mix

Of farmer, punk, and druid

That mist's more mystic than where I'm from

But on this list the shock biggest to come

Is that one other thing I really love in England is the food

best of 2023 • Joanna Sternberg Live at Union Pool

Joanna Sternberg’s music often sounds as though they’re performing a one-person show to an audience of plushies and bedroom clutter. They possess a humble loneliness that is utterly without charm, which of course, somehow, makes their songs helplessly charming. On I’ve Got Me, their second album and their first as a drummer and string arranger, Sternberg balances unvarnished emotion with meticulous craftsmanship. They never offer advice, just a little space for emotion and self-reflection. PF

Hurray for the Riff Raff • Alibi • 2024

hurrayfortheriffraff.com

corner club • when i die • 2023

Website

"Casual bits of sound make their way into corner club’s field-like, ambience-heavy repository...Moving with the spontaneity and vicissitudes of life, corner club’s music is of an autobiographical quality...'little love lullabies,' like so, speaks with earnestness."

"Emotive and ethereal single “dreaming (梦中),” featuring a stripped-down soundscape of layered vocals and acoustic guitars...the track is melancholic and heartfelt as it draws from personal experiences to deliver a comforting listen."

"They're definitely ones to watch in 2023..The moody bedroom pop track ['whenever you're ready'] features whimsical vocals and a soft coolness that contrasts with the hilarious and somewhat petty lyrics."

Good Good Blood • if no one else cares, why should I care? • 2023

Beans on Toast • Humans • 2022

https://beansontoastmusic.com

The album featured a host of friends & musicians including the spoken-word artist Dizraeli, acclaimed author Nick Hayes (on banjo), multi-talented gospel singer Sarah Telman (backing vocals, strings), Rosie Bristow of Holy Moly & The Crackers (accordion), Adriano Rossetti-Bonell (saxophone) and Graham Godfrey (drums), alongside contributions throughout from Mystery Jets’ Blaine Harrison and Jack Flanagan. With every fibre made with a little help from his friends, the cover art for the album is by London based painter Georgie Mason; whereas its videos have come courtesy of wildlife photographer and old school-friend: Curt Walsh.

“Survival of the Friendliest’ lifts the soul up and provides a much needed energy boost in difficult times.”

DSCVRD

"the perfect antidote to re-energise us all."

LOUDER THAN WAR

“shimmer(s) with Beans’ trademark of truth and humour.. Captivating”

RNR MAGAZINE

The Howl & The Hum • Thumbs Up • 2022

https://www.thehowlandthehum.com/tour-dates

Closing-out a benchmark year for the band, the alt/folk three-piece have teamed-up with celebrated Australian director Matthew Thorne on a gripping visual narrative to accompany their latest single “Thumbs Up”.

Filmed in an ex-coal mining commuter settlement in the heart of the Rhondda Valley of South Wales, the video follows the story of a young man and his struggles with, and love affairs with, small town life. 

The Money War • Miles Away • 2021

"If you've been paying attention to the world of Australian music over the last few years, then the chances are good you've heard of WA duo The Money War." Tone Deaf

"You make this one feel comfortable as a well warmed doona while hiding deceptively barbed lines amongst it that suddenly make you a little forlorn... a little sad."

4 / 5 (Tommy Faith, Triple J)

"I've got so much time for this band and how can you deny this optimistic, hopeful warmth. it's faith and trust is contagious, love it!" 4.5 / 5 (Declan Byrne, Triple J)

"Are you two kidding me with this pop pureness? An instant charmer that I'm gonna be humming all week." 4 / 5 (Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J)

Official Website

The Barr Brothers • Tower of Songs • 2018

 

The Barr Brothers have been making music in Leonard Cohen's hometown of Montreal for the greater part of last decade — long enough to know the trials and pitfalls any songwriter worth their salt needs to learn to navigate.

CBC article

Barbarisms • Trains and Horses • 2021

mehro • "Hideous" • 2020

Having recently revealed his sophomore single Hideous to widespread acclaim, rising LA based newcomer mehro reveals the stellar video to the hauntingly beautiful cut. Showcasing mehro's beguiling vocal over plucked guitar strings, Hideous sees the hotly tipped artist lament the loss of a relationship over a chorus that will remain with you long after first listen. Speaking on the track, mehro states:

"When I wrote this song I was in dark place. When I closed my eyes, my thoughts were ones of self hatred, when I looked in the mirror I saw a monster."

In a world dominated by social media, mehro captured attention with only the power of his voice, the depth of songwriting and strength of his musicianship. Recalling greats like Jeff Buckley and Conor Oberst, all signs point to mehro having a huge year.

Oliver James Brooks • Flyin' Real Low • 2020

www.ThatEricAlper.com

“It’s an intimate, acoustic-only album that was… Born out of necessity,” Brooks offers. “There’s something very personal and powerful — and a little scary — when you go into the studio, let everything out from inside, and leave with something that ultimately timestamps your feelings at that exact moment. 

“When it came to the recording process, I wanted to ensure everything captured was completely honest and genuine. I didn’t want what I was feeling to hide behind any special effects, or anything like that. 

Luke De-Sciscio • Human Heart • 2020

"Good Bye Folk Boy winnows De-Sciscio's sound down to skeletal sketches made of little more than an expressive voice, intricately plucked acoustic-guitar strings, and songs that'll get stuck in your head for days.”
– NPR, The Austin 100

"De-Sciscio’s ‘Jamie Song’ foments on the angles of sight and sound, promising in the new and old; clamoring in the utmost integrity of love and belonging." – Come Here Floyd

Luke De-Sciscio ›

Its music video features a multitude of fan-submitted videos. In each, an individual holds up a sign detailing an apology. It's a vast and varied stream with myriad backgrounds on display—from different languages or locations to differing levels of detail. Together, De-Sciscio and his fans identify and emanate "Ho'oponopono".

Scott Avett & G.E. Smith • "Just Be Simple" • 2017

You never hear me talk about one day getting out
Why put a new address on the same old loneliness
Everybody knows where that is
We built that house of his
And when he's not home
Someone else you know always is
If Heaven's really coming back
I hope it has a heart attack
When they see how dangerous it is for guys like that
The night has always known when it's time to get going
When it's really been so long that it starts showing

Laura Marling • Tiny Desk (Home) Concert • 2020

While many artists have postponed the release of their new music in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Laura Marling rushed to change the release date of her album from late summer to April. On this Tiny Desk (home) concert, we find her in her living room, with an intimate performance of songs from her just-released record Songs For Our Daughter. The album is an homage to a future generation of women and to Maya Angelou's Letter to My Daughter, a collection of essays addressed to a fictional daughter. The warm, home setting makes room for Laura Marling's extraordinary voice to shine.

Tyler Burkhart • No cigar • 2019

Tell us where you're from 

What you want to become 

And we'll say if you're ok 

Where did you go to school? 

Right answer and you're cool 

Yeah, you're the kid the whole day 

You get a sticker in your face 

Information 'bout the case 

So you know your potential 

Don't think you can extend 

Don't think you can extend, just comprehend 

But I don't wanna hear it 

No, it's more than I accept …

First Aid Kit • Random Rules • 2019

These are artists that seem to have nothing to do with each other and nothing to do with Berman, yet they’ve come out of the woodwork to pay tribute to the man. First Aid Kit’s contributions include a cover of American Water’s “Random Rules,” perhaps the best-loved Silver Jews song, as well as a new original song called “Strange Beauty” that the band wrote while processing Berman’s death. Stereogum