Devotchka “Contrabanda” from 100 Lovers (2011) Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “My Last Black Scarf” from Unentitled (2011) Bill Frisell “Just Like A Woman” from Have A Little Faith (1993) Bill Frisell “Sub-Conscious Lee” from History, Mystery (2008) Cabaret Diosa “Banana Rum” from Voodoo Pinata (1999) Rainville “Emma” from Longest Street In America (2002) Ego vs Id “Hey Sarah” from Taste (2010) DELLA “Anymore” from Anymore (2011) Take to the Oars “Vanishing Act” from American Volume (2011) Gabrielle Louise “Strange Summer Snow” from Mirror the Branches (2010) Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore “Dead and Lonely” from Saints & Sinners (2010) Euforquestra “Tramba” from The Adventures of Glen Devey (2005) Hot Rize “Late In the Day” from Untold Stories (1987) Stephen Stills “As I Come of Age” from Stills (1975) Musketeer Gripweed “River Callin’” from Dyin’ Day (2010) Yonder Mountain String Band “A Father’s Arms” from Town by Town (2001) Broken Everlys “My Troubled Ways” from Stoned In Juarez (2011) The David James Band “Pobody’s Nerfect” from Street Performer (2011) John McVey “Lay Your Burden Down” from Unpredictable (2010) Kinetix “Let Me In” from Let Me In (2010) The String Cheese Incident “Drive” from One Step Closer (2005) Kenny Perkins “Tiny Distraction” from Wild Frontier (2011) Wendy Woo “Fade to Gray” from Wide Awake and Dreaming (1999) Wendy Woo Trio “I Don’t Know” from Luxury (2007) Peter Sommer “Looks Like This” from Tremolo Canteen (2010)
White Water Ramble “Gypsy Funk” from All Night Drive (2010) Chris Thompson “Sweet Guilia” from The Road Ahead (2010) Heather Marie Philipp “To Remember You” from Under the Apple (2008) Wil Key “Say Anything” from Satisfy My Soul (2009) Bop Skizzum “Brass In Pocket” from Beauty Queen (2011) NEW The Outfit “Strange Bones” from Broken West Wishbone Test (2011) Acoustic Junction “Sugar Town” from Acoustic Junction (1995) Fox Street Allstars “Lost My Reflection” from Welcome to the Mighty Pleasin’ (2011) Vices I Admire “Sweetest Girl” from The Politics of Apathy (2009) Katey Laurel “The Wheel” from From Here (2011) Newcomers Home “Texas” from In the Hour (2004) Ben Markley “The 9th One’s Free” from Second Introduction (2009) John Denver “Take Me Home, Country Roads” from Poems, Prayers and Promises (1971) Firefall “Mexico” from Firefall (1976) Jeff Brinkman “Inside This Room” from To the Bones (2010) NEW Justin Roth “Trembling Like A Train” from Now You Know (2011) NEW The David James Band “Street Performer” from Street Performer (2011) Coles Whalen “Go Child” from The Whistle Stop Road Record (2009) Jen Korte & the Loss “It’s A Little Hard, Dear” from Jen Korte & the Loss (2009) Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “No Doubt About It” from Unentitled (2011) Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams “Mr. Pain” from Sinners & Saints (2010) Bonnie and The Clydes “It Ain’t Nothin’” from Bonnie And The Clydes (2011) NEW Randy Ricks “Charlie Sheen” [single] (2010) Kenny Perkins “Last Goodbye” from Wild Frontier (2011) Megan Burtt “It Ain’t Love” from It Ain’t Love (2010) Carmen Sandim Sextet “Mandala” from Brand New (2011)
It’s been a few weeks I guess since I featured some new music I’ve been into. This week I’m featuring three fairly new singer-songwriters in the library … two of whom share friends in common, two of whom went to CU Boulder … all three of whom are exceptional singer-songwriters in the best tradition of the style. All three albums equally should be well represented at community/public radio around the state. I really do expect to see them chart respectably… and to come up for regional music awards.
David James Band – Street PerformerGenre/Style: Rock, Pop, Adult Contemporary Website:www.davidjamesband.com RIYL: Ben Folds, Jamie Cullum, Elton John, Billy Joel, Chicago Sampled Tracks: Street Performer, Midnight Hide & Seek, Alcohol.edu Notes: count this one as among my picks for best self-written, arranged, and produced records of 2011 so far …. strong strong writing and arranging skills (something more BANDS to take notice of in every style of music). Equally strong are the individual performances of the core trio of David James (piano/vocals), Justin Francoeur (guitar), and Preston Smits (bass/vocals). From the website: As a university trained classical pianist, David James brings a unique technicality to piano pop music. Striving to keep tunes both radio friendly and musically challenging, his group’s newest album “Street Performer” targets a wide variety of listeners by incorporating memorable melodies and jazz influenced harmony. The final track “Alcohol.edu” earned him the 2007 John Lennon Scholarship for Songwriters from The BMI Foundation, NY. Free Album Download at:http://www.thedavidjamesband.com
Justin Roth – Now You KnowGenre/Style: singer-songwriter, acoustic pop Website:http://www.justinroth.com RIYL: Michael Hedges, Crosby, Stills & Nash Sampled Tracks: Out Of The Blue (The Orchard), The Last Time, Trembling Like A Train Notes: It took me a while to really warm up to this record … simple as it may sound on first or second listens, the simplicity and subtlety belie an underlying sophistication that takes you by surprise and is genuinely breathtaking at times … a superbly done singer-songwriter/acoustic guitar album.
Engineered and Produced by Justin Roth
All Instruments and Vocals by Justin
Mixed by Alex Oana
Mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
“Fans of Leo Kottke or Michael Hedges will find themselves right at home with the intricate guitar work…beautifully written lyrics.” – San Francisco Art Magazine
2007 Songwriter Showcase Honorable Mention – Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
2004 Songwriter Showcase Honorable Mention – Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
2004 Troubadour Contest Alternate – Telluride Bluegrass Festival
2004 SMAF Songwriting Competition Finalist – Susquehanna Folk Festival
2003 Emerging Artist Showcase Finalist – Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
John Mieras – Painted GlassGenre/Style: singer-songwriter, acoustic rock/pop Website:http://www.reverbnation.com/johnmieras#! RIYL: Paul Simon, David Gray Sampled Tracks: Love & Rent, Yesterday (I Wish There Was A Way), Constellations Notes: John was raised in Washington state and educated to be a musician, eventually moving to Colorado to pursue a MA in Choral music at the University of Colorado. Like his friend Justin Roth, he is friends with the duo Storyhill. Painted Glass , and produced by Chris Cunningham and recorded at Bascamp Studios in Bozeman, Montana. Like David James, he received his formal education at CU Boulder. I like John, especially his sensitivity about the world around him. Unlike the others, I’ve been able to spend some time getting to know John – and the way his music presents is in fact deeply reflective of how he sees his life, the world and his family. A very strong addition to the singer-songwriter collective here in Colorado.
David James Band – Street Performer Genre/Style: Rock, Pop, Adult Contemporary
Justin Roth – Now You Know Genre/Style: singer-songwriter, acoustic pop
John Mieras – Painted Glass Genre/Style: singer-songwriter, acoustic rock/pop
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 