Jeff Tweedy :: Sunken Treasure DVD

It's been quite some time since An Aquarium Drunkard has had the opportunity to feature anything Wilco related, which in a way is a shame given the blog's namesake.

Directed by the Burn To Shine ducu-series creators, Brendan Canty and Christoph Green, Sunken Treasure does an impressive job establishing the live experience for the viewer, especially Tweedy's relationship and interaction with the audience.

Recorded and shot in February of 2006, comprised of footage from five of Tweedy's solo gigs in the Pacific Northwest, the DVD plays out like the majority of Tweedy's solo performances the past few years. The 17 tracks included on the DVD mix up Tweedy's sparse, bare bones acoustic treatment on new songs, some Uncle Tupelo nuggets, and new arrangements on familiar tunes in the increasingly vast Wilco canon.

Note: Also included with the DVD is a 24 track free Jeff Tweedy MP3 Download, which is possibly worth the price in itself.

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Amazon: Jeff Tweedy - Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest
www.wilcoworld.net

+ Rbally has the Jeff Tweedy Rocky Mountain Folk Festival show.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Jeff Tweedy MP3s.

Micah P. Hinson And The Opera Circuit

Recorded in Micah's hometown of Abilene, TX, it's a small wonder we're even getting to hear this album so soon after Hinson's debilitating back surgery following his European tour earlier in the year. I suppose all that time on the mend must be an agent of creativity as ...And The Opera Circuit comes on strong. A slew of friends were enlisted to help out with the recording including Eric Bachman who reportedly took charge of the string and horn arrangements. Note: Bachman too has a great 2006 release out right now entitled To The Races.

Those under the spell of 21st century soulful, rural-leaning, folk-singer-songwriters take special note: Hinson is worth you time -- check out the sample tracks below. Presently touring, his record was released via Jade Tree October 10th.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Micah P. Hinson :: Letter To Huntsville
MP3: Micah P. Hinson :: Jackeyed
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Amazon: Micah P. Hinson :: The Opera Circuit
www.micahphinson.com ++ www.myspace.com/micahphinson

+ Micah P. Hinson available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Micah P. Hinson MP3s.

Now Podcasting :: Episode 17

Welcome to Episode 17 of the podcast edition of The Aquarium Drunkard Show; airing live every Wednesday 2-4 p.m. PST at the Little Radio studios in downtown L.A. As requested, below is the tracklisting order for this week's podcast.

Prompted/inspired by a Lambchop show a few weeks ago here in L.A. I decided to continue the theme of Episode 16 for this week's show. Track highlights include: A track off the upcoming Jay Farrar/Anders Parker side-project Gob Iron, a track off Drive-by Trucker Patterson Hood's upcoming sophmore solo record, a track from the unreleased Whiskeytown side project Freightwhaler, and much more.

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Lambchop – Paperback Bible ++ Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Cursed Sleep ++ Magnolia Electric Co. – Don’t Fade On Me ++ The Cassettes – Sweet Virginia ++ Hezekiah Jones – I Am A Cinematographer (cover) ++ Elliott Smith – Condor Ave. ++ Freightwhaler – The Ghosts Are Out Tonight ++ Lucero – My Best Girl (7” Version) ++ Joseph Plunkett & The Weight – Black Roses ++ Big Ditch Road – Saint Lonesome ++ Barton Carroll - Look Up, Look Down That Lonesome Road ++ Old Crow Medicine Show – Cocaine Habit ++ Hank Williams – Honky Tonk Blues ++ David Eugene Edwards – Wayfaring Stranger ++ Gob Iron – Death’s Black Train ++ The Rolling Stones – Cocksucker Blues ++ Patterson Hood – Heavy And Hanging ++ Ben Weaver – Geisha (unreleased demo) ++ Centro-matic – Triggers & Trash Heaps (stairwell demo) ++ Neil Young – Revolution Blues ++ John Hermann – Don’t Throw It All Away ++ Steve Earle – CCKMP ++ Vic Chesnutt – Degenerate ++ The Flying Burrito Brothers – Juanita ++ The Byrds – Lover of the Bayou ++ George Harrison - Beware of Darkness (demo) ++ Seu Jorge – Life On Mars ++ Whiskeytown – Dreams (live/Fleetwood mac cover) ++ David Johansen/Larry Saltzman - The Last Kind Words ++ The Mountain Goats – Wild Sage ++ Bill Withers - I Can't Write Left Handed ++ Bloodkin - End Of The Show
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Subscribe: Add This Feed
MP3 Download/Stream: Episode 17
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An Aquarium Drunkard Podcast: Archives Here

Ill Lit :: The Tom Cruise Album

Los Angeles based Ill Lit's latest album entitled Tom Cruise is a 10 track trek through '70s singer-songwriter country rock propped up by the economical use 21st century electronic synth flourishes. It pans out pretty well somewhere in the vein of Josh Rouse crossed with The Jayhawks. Breezy you could say.

"a pop-perfect bit of alt-country, beset by a frail, ethereal synth whisper, like a ghost shooting through the farm, blowing up stalks of hay before finally crashing face-first into a wall" - Pitchfork Media

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Ill Lit :: Across Country
MP3: Ill Lit :: Satan's Doing Fine Without Me
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eMusic: Ill Lit - Tom Cruise
www.myspace.com/illlit
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Ill Lit MP3s.

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Backyard Tire Fire :: Skin And Bones EP

Illinois based Backyard Tire Fire may be new to me, but they have been at it for a good while now, having released four proper albums, with another on schedule for January 2006. In the meantime the band have released the Skin And Bones EP to tide their fans over. Comprised of four studio cuts and two live tracks, Skin And Bones proves to be a quick jaunt into the band's rock & roll & alt.country Drive-by Truckers-esque sound.

RIYL: DBT, Son Volt, Bloodkin, The Drams, Slobberbone, and the like...

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Backyard Tire Fire :: Skin And Bones
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eMusic: Backyard Tire Fire - Skin And Bones
www.backyardtirefire.com +++ www.myspace.com/backyardtirefiremusic
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Backyard Tire Fire MP3s.

Elsewhere: Check out Hero Hill's latest entry in his Beat Series, Yer Bird recording artist, Hezekiah Jones covering Will Oldham's "I Am A Cinematographer."

Willie Nelson/Ryan Adams :: Songbird

photo credit: john graboff

American icon, performer, storyteller and marijuana-reform advocate, Willie Nelson has an album slated for a Halloween release next Tuesday. Normally I wouldn't get too terribly excited about such news as, in my opinion, ole Willie has been phoning it in for some time now (see: last few records) collaborating with all sorts of questionable so-called country artists (see: Toby Keith and his ilk). But, after all, he is Willie, and can do whatever the fuck he wants, the rest of us with our opinions be damned.

But wait, things are different this go around. On Songbird Nelson has teamed up with Ryan Adams and his band The Cardinals, with Adams helming the controls wearing his producer's hat. Sure, this is a Willie Nelson album, but it's clearly a Willie Nelson album as seen through the Ryan Adams lens. Just as Daniel Lanois's production work on Nelson's 1998 Teatro album. Reportedly the majority of the song selection and arrangements were completely Adams' call and upon your first listen it's obvious.

Me? I love it, but my affection for Adams' music is no secret around these parts. I also happen to be a big Willie fan, so there is yer caveat emptor, dear reader. The sound: The Cardinals rollicking accompaniment adds a needed spark that has been missing for quite some time in Nelson's recorded music. Adams' production and arrangement, particularly on the cover songs, wield a power elevating Nelson's iconic voice and storytelling capabilities to new heights.

Below is the one Adams' penned song for the album "Blue Hotel." It's pure Ryan delivered by one of our country's national treasures. Also, check out the Cardinals take on the song which has been a mainstay in their live set the past six months.

DOWNLOAD:
Hear: Willie Nelson :: Blue Hotel
MP3: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals :: Blue Hotel (live)
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Amazon: Willie Nelson - Songbird
www.willienelson.com +++ www.ryan-adams.com +++ www.norml.org
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Willie Nelson MP3s.

Vinyl Check :: Bill Withers

When it comes to my turntable and vinyl collection -- with all this 21st century technology at hand -- I can be a little lazy, leaving an album on for a month at a time (or more) without changing it up. But, this also means that whatever record is on the table then becomes the de facto go-to soundtrack in my home. Meaning that next to listening to music on my computer, whatever vinyl record that happens to be on the turntable gets a hell of a lot of play.

Right now that record happens to be the incomparable Bill Withers 1972 Live At Carnegie Hall double LP. I now own this bad mother fucker on cassette, CD, and vinyl -- the cassette and vinyl were inherited from my dad's collection, and even then I had to get it on CD as well. It's just that good.

No one is making music music like this anymore. No one. And, by the way, if you are reading this and only hip to Withers' music through that commercial that used "Lovely Day," or the ad nauseam use of "Lean On Me" stop reading now, and sample an MP3 below. This album far from the fabricated sterile soul that would come to dominate the airwaves in the coming years -- in fact, it's the exact opposite. Check out these vinyl rips complete with snap, crackle & pops, below.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Bill Withers :: I Can't Write Left Handed
MP3: Bill Withers :: Use Me
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Amazon: Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Bill Withers MP3s.

eMusic Roundup :: Summer/Fall 2006

I try to do an eMusic roundup every four months, but I forgot and haven't done one since May. Woops. If you are new to eMusic, you should know four things: A) you can sign up, get loads of free MP3s through their no-strings free trial offer (and immediately quit should you choose), and B) eMusic is THE place to go for independent artists on the Interweb, and C) they don't have wonky file formats like an iTunes..these are MP3s, period. Also, D) I get a small kickback should you go through the links below, so keep that in mind when joining and hook a brother up.
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Here are some artist's new/reissued records on eMusic that Aquarium Drunkard fully endorses, some of which will be featured on our Best of 2006 list. Go back to May for the old list, and four months prior for an even older list.

Robert Pollard +++ Sunset Rubdown +++ Destroyer +++ The Hold Steady +++ Bobby Bare Jr. +++ The Lemonheads +++ Akron/Family +++ Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 +++ Portastatic +++ Josh Ritter +++ The Handsome Family +++ Howe Gelb +++ Micah P Hinson +++ Townes Van Zandt (reissues) +++ John Coltrane (reissues) +++ Grayson Capps +++ Bloodshot Records Compilation +++ Horse Feathers +++ Damien Jurado +++ Yo La Tengo +++ Ben Kweller +++ Ratatat +++ Pernice Brothers +++ Drive-by Truckers +++ etc etc
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Gob Iron :: Death Songs For The Living

Gob Iron's Death Songs for the Living is the sort of wonder project that keeps the alt.country/alt.folk set frothing at the mouth in anticipation. And for good reason. Comprised Jay Farrar and Anders Parker, Gob Iron is almost entirely the duo's take on old, yet re-styled and arranged, traditional folk songs. Recorded in the span of five days in the Autumn of 2004 the project came together when Anders Parker was enlisted to take part in the recording of an aborted Son Volt album. It seems the pair's shared muse had different plans for their time together.

Inserted between each track are instrumental interludes coalescing the album into a singular piece of art (see below mp3 example) best taken in as a whole. Available Halloween, Death Songs For The Living more than fits the bill for those interested in setting a spooky, backwoods-gothic mood to go along with those tricks and treats.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Gob Iron :: Death's Black Train
MP3: Gob Iron :: Interlude #1
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Amazon: Gob Iron - Death Songs For The Living
www.sonvolt.net ++ www.andersparker.com ++ www.jayfarrar.net

Related Post: Anders Parker - S/T 2006 Release

+ Farrar/Parker available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Farrar/Parker MP3s.

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GOB IRON 2006 TOUR DATES
November 3rd, 2006 The Parish Austin, TX
November 5th, 2006 Park West Chicago, IL
November 7th, 2006 Paradise Boston, MA
November 8th, 2006 Northsix Brooklyn, NY
November 10th, 2006 Black Cat Washington, DC
November 11th, 2006 Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC
December 2nd, 2006 Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA
December 3rd, 2006 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
December 4th, 2006 Slim's San Francisco, CA
December 5th, 2006 The Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
December 6th, 2006 Fox Theatre Boulder, CO

Damien Jurado :: That I'm In Your Shadow

October 10th saw Secretly Candians's release of Damien Jurado's latest LP And Now That I'm In Your Shadow -- his seventh full length album. I *just* missed seeing Jurado with Rosie Thomas in Atlanta the day after the LP's release - so this is as close to the new tunes as I am getting for now. Harkened as a "band" album with additional members adding to Jurado's expanding sound (yet losing none of his existing intimacy), And Now That I'm In Your Shadow is a natural progression for one of the folk/slocore genre's leading artist's career. Check out the Jurado's back catalog as well...

"I want to be set apart," Jurado continues. "I don't want to be lumped in with Bright Eyes and Will Oldham, because the music I do is not that at all. It is very story oriented and cinematic." He would prefer to be branded a maverick, à la Antony and the Johnsons or Sufjan Stevens. "Artists that [industry] people have no idea what to do with. But at the same time audiences, the public, love them because what they do is so different." - Damien Jurado to The Stranger

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Damien Jurado :: Denton, TX
MP3: Damien Jurado :: And Now That I'm In Your Shadow
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Amazon: Damien Jurado :: And Now That I'm In Your Shadow
www.damienjurado.com

+ Damien Jurado available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Damien Jurado MP3s.

The Cassettes :: 'Neath The Pale Moon

Brought to you by L.A.'s own Buddyhead Records is the latest LP from Washington D.C.'s The Cassettes. Self described as a "rock n' roll vaudeville western band" The Cassettes play there own brand of indie rock referred to as steam punk -- yeah, dig that. I'm new to these guys but fully on board after listening to this latest release the past few days. They have a modern yet antiqued & quirky sound that you can expect to see on future track listings for my Little Radio show and A.D. Podcasts.

++ Going to CMJ in NYC? The Cassettes will be there at Buddyhead's label showcase.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Cassettes :: Sweet Virginia
MP3: The Cassettes :: Muja Chi Larki Daydo
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Purchase: The Cassettes
www.thecassettes.com ++ www.myspace.com/thecassettes
+++++++ The Cassettes bigass Wiki Page

+ The Cassettes available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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SXSW 2006 :: Richard Hawley Interview

Live Daily has recently aired an interview I did for them with Richard Hawley at SXSW in Austin last March. A casual interview, Hawley and I discussed touring, music blogs, his influences, etc at a restaurant prior to his gig later that night. A real gentleman and a pleasure to interview.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3/Stream: SXSW 2006 :: Richard Hawley Interview
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MP3: Richard Hawley :: Precious Sight (acoustic)
MP3: Richard Hawley :: The Nights Are Cold (acoustic)
MP3: Richard Hawley :: I'm On Nights (acoustic)
MP3: Richard Hawley :: Darlin' (acoustic)
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Amazon: Richard Hawley - Cole's Corner
www.richardhawley.co.uk
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Richard Hawley MP3s.

LUNA :: Tell Me Do You Miss Me

This 2006 documentary (surrounding the final year of LUNA's career as a working band) has come up several times in conversation within the past week. I figure that alone merits yet another LUNA post on the Drunkard.

As a huge fan of the band's catalog it was both an interesting documentation of the inner-workings of the group, as well as a bit depressing and anti-climatic. Dean Wareham looks especially less than enthused to be on stage in some scenes, and readily admits on camera that he too would probably have packed it in himself in 1999 -- when bassist and founding member Justin Harwood left -- had it not been for his (romantic) interest in Britta Philips (who replaced Harwood on bass duties).

For LUNA fans the DVD is an interesting and bittersweet send off for the band following them throughout their final tours in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Despite years of critical acclaim, the commercial success that always seemed *almost there* continued to elude the band. These frustrations, plus other obligations appear to culminate in the final straw of their Decade-plus career. Two tracks below off the band's sole live album, available at here at eMusic.

Stay tuned: Post on the new Dean & Britta EP soon.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: LUNA :: Sideshow by the Seashore (live)
MP3: LUNA :: Tiger Lilly (live)
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Amazon: LUNA - Tell Me Do You Miss Me
Amazon: LUNA - Luna Live
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www.fuzzywuzzy.com
www..deanandbritta.com

+ LUNA available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional LUNA MP3s.

Rolling Stones :: Cocksucker Blues EP

photo: Sticky Fingers' LP jacket

The kings of early '70s hedonism had a court order produced declaring this documentary could not be shown without the presence of it's director, Robert Franks. That did not stop the bootleg of the film from being widely dispersed on the black market. This is a truly naked, candid, often disturbing look at a band on tour wrapped up in drama and addiction. It's also fascinating. The film takes up where Albert Maysles documentary Gimme Shelter left off post Altamont/post sixties - during the Stones 1972 tour.

The unreleased tracks below are off an old boot I came across entitled "The Cocksucker Blues EP." Even with the Internet I have never been able to locate much further information than that. Stones fan should check this out. Look for further unreleased Stones treats on The Drunkard in the coming months before the close of the year.

Elsewhere: Please take some time to read one of my all time favorite fan pieces on The Rolling Stones entitled "Death of a Junky: The Rolling Stones" by Derek Phillips.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Rolling Stones :: Cocksucker Blues
MP3: The Rolling Stones :: Brown Sugar (alt. take - Clapton on lead guitar)
MP3: The Rolling Stones :: Brown Sugar (live 1973)
MP3: The Rolling Stones :: Starfucker (live 1973)
MP3: The Rolling Stones :: Dancing With Mr. D (live 1973)
MP3: The Rolling Stones :: Angie (live 1973)
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Video: More Cocksucker Blues Extracts : Here
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Rolling Stones MP3s.

Pussy Cats :: Revisited & Re-interpreted

The story of John Lennon's estrangement from Yoko Ono in 1974 has become the stuff of rock & roll lore. Holed up for months in L.A., Lennon's adventures have long been playfully referred to as his "lost weekend." Read: super-bender. During this stint to the golden coast, among drinking, drugging, corralling and other la la treats, Lennon produced Nilsson's album Pussy Cats. I have always held a soft spot for this album as it seems so off-kilter compared with Nilsson's other output. I just recently learned that the reason his voice sounds so different/rough (I've always liked it actually) was that he ruptured a vocal chord during the sessions.

Apparently The Walkmen are fans of the album as well. According to their press sheet, after the band wrapped up the A Hundred Miles Off LP they decided to enlist the help of some friends and bang out a spot-on cover/tribute album of Pussy Cats. I find it pretty great, but imagine there will be some naysayers who condone it as ill conceived and unnecessary as it is a true cover album -- practically note for note in some instances. Regardless, it's a fantastic jumping off point for those unfamiliar with Nilsson's work and/or Walkmen fans interested in the band stretching it's legs in a playful and casual manner.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Walkmen :: Many Rivers To Cross
MP3: The Walkmen :: Don't Forget Me
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MP3: Harry Nilsson :: Many Rivers To Cross
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Amazon: Pussy Cats Starring the Walkmen
Amazon: Harry Nilsson - Pussy Cats
www.myspace.com/thewalkmen

The Walkmen available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Walkmen MP3s.

Official Release :: Tall & The Band Sessions

Closing in now on twenty years, The Black Crowes have stood their ground as the American blues-based rock & roll outfit working today. They are a throwback in the best way to the arena sized giants of the late sixties and seventies. Rock & Roll excess, drama, crooked music biz politics, sibling rivalry...money-makin'.

Last Spring I posted, as part of An Aquarium Drunkard's Lost Album Series, The Black Crowes unreleased albums Tall and The Band. Unbeknownst to me, at the time, the Crowes had plans for an official release which finally came to fruition late last month.

Yesterday I picked up the double CD package at Amoeba for a moderately priced nineteen dollars. The set comes with era appropriate artwork and photos with slim liner notes detailing the history of the sessions and "lost album" lore. As with most official releases of long-standing bootleg recordings (I'm looking at you Beach Boys' Smile and Dylan's Basement Tapes) there are often, if not always, some surprises for the listener in terms of tracklisting, mixes, and additions/deletions. This set is no exception. In a word, this collection is great -- just don't throw out those bootleg copies as it is an entirely different experience. Yeah, the sound might be a little tinny (especially on Tall) but essential nonetheless. For a review of the original "bootleg" versions, check out the links below to the original A.D. posts regarding these "lost albums."

Related Posts:
Lost Album Series VII :: The Tall Sessions
Lost Album Series :: The Black Crowes
Live Upload Series VIII :: Foamfoot (1-8-94)

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Black Crowes :: Dirty Hair Halo
MP3: The Black Crowes :: Wyoming And Me
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Original Bootleg (outtake) Tracks:
MP3: The Black Crowes :: She Gave Good Sunflower
MP3: The Black Crowes :: Exit
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Amazon: The Lost Crowes (The Black Crowes: The Tall Sessions)
www.blackcrowes.com
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Black Crowes MP3s.

The Broken West

This is relatively old news in the uber-fast Internet era, but I did want to mention that due to legal issues L.A.'s The Brokedown have been forced to change their name. That's the bad news. But, the good news is that we like their new name even better: The Broken West. As reported earlier, the band signed to Merge at the end of the summer and will be releasing their first full length at the beginning of the year. You can still pick up a copy of 2005's The Dutchman's Gold EP directly from eMusic. If you're on the West coast, L.A specifically you should have no problem catching these cats live.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Broken West :: My Love Is True
MP3: The Broken West :: Sparks
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www.thebrokedown.com
www.myspace.com/thebrokenwest

+ The Broken West available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Broken West MP3s.

Travel By Sea :: New Song

I stumble upon some of my favorite music finds by accident. A conversation, a late night podcast, an obscure music rag, etc., etc. In this case it was, as happens regularly, by the recommendation of a friend.

I know very little about Travel By Sea other than they are an indie-folk songwriting duo that have never met. One of them lives in Colorado -- the other in California. Their compositions are carefully put together piecemeal via the Internet. They have one full length album out which I have yet to hear, but based on the strength of this song sent to me via MP3 (allegedly off their upcoming album) I will be investigating. Check out this mysterious song without a name below.

Update/Edit: Mystery unfolding. Travel By Sea made contact and shed a little light on the tune and the behind-the-scenes of their inner workings. "that song is called 'too much too quickly' to give you a little more info about our band. i write the songs, sing and play guitar. brian does everything else including producing, mixing...all the rest of the instruments...etc. "

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Travel By Sea :: Too Much Too Quickly
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www.travelbyseamusic.com ++ myspace.com/goldenwest