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Recommended if you like: Sufjan Stevens, Nick Drake Recommended tracks: “The Stone”, “The Planet”, “The Sea of Glass”
It has been a while since I received The Goldminer from Canoe’s Carl Hoiland, but it takes me a while to fully digest albums like this. However, Canoe has just released their newest album, The Ship, on iTunes, and I felt like it was time. Though perhaps it borders too much on the philosophical, this album is a dreamy, crystalline journey that definitely gives back what you put into it. It’s a beautiful, mystical album that deserves far more attention than it has gotten, particularly now that their next album threatens to overtake it in popularity. Read the rest of this entry »
Should Mormons make money off spirituality? Could LDS music possibly be elevated to the same level as hymns? Complicated questions with complicated answers. A few weeks ago, in response to a series I have been writing called The Top 10 LDS Musicians You’ve Never Heard Of, someone told me that I needed to look up JP Haynie, and I’m very glad I did. Upon first listen, the arrangements will seem vaguely familiar, but they also have a definite ring of their own. Listeners will find the songs literate, sparse, and harmonic, with a touch of bliss and melancholy. I sent a few interview questions to Jordan Haynie and asked him about his music, his upcoming album called The Sand, Deseret Book music, and the scene in Salt Lake, and he responded graciously and honestly. Great interview, and highly recommended from Linescratchers. Read the rest of this entry »
Recommended if you like: The Flaming Lips, Badly Drawn Boy, Wilco, The Decemberists, Bela Fleck
Lime Colony’s self-titled release is an example of an album that is better than the sum of its parts—what it lacks in truly memorable melodies or vocals, it more than makes up for in intelligent, intricate instrumental arrangements. This is music that will grow on you. In fact, the whole album grows, beginning in its first track (“Terry’s Theme”) with some very simple guitar strumming; a second guitar is added, then a horn, a saxophone, percussion, until it builds into a beautiful, layered instrumental track—witih definite echoes of contemporary folk master Bela Fleck—before quietly fading back out. Read the rest of this entry »
Lime Colony’s second album, a surprisingly complex, lush indie acoustic romp with almost Charles Ives-inspired backing arrangements, entitled Lime Colony, is now available for purchase on iTunes. Earl Kramer, member of the band, is a Latter-day Saint.
Recommended if you like: philosophy, pop music, and art
Recommended tracks: “See Through Rocks,” “Andromeda,” and “Huang Shan (The Ah-ha Song)”
By the time I develop a true opinion of a song or album, it’s inevitably past the time when it’s relevant. Perhaps I’m just slow. I remember how incredibly depressed I was when I found out John Lennon was shot and killed. I was fourteen years old at the time, and the year was, in fact, 1998. So you, my dear reader, should consider yourself lucky that I’m getting around to reviewing Cary Judd’s Goodnight Human album, released late in 2009.
However, I still think the album is relevant. And for what it’s worth, it’s probably one of the best things to happen to me since I started Linescratchers. How’s that for an endorsement? Read the rest of this entry »
This past week, I had the opportunity to interview Jonathan Borgia, also known as Less Than Three (<3) and let me tell you, I had such a blast! If you are interested in not only good music, but reading an interview with an artist whose personality really shines through his writing, read on! From this interview, you can tell how excited and passionate he is about not only his music, but having the opportunity to tour as well! Being one of the youngest artists we’ve interviewed, I was very excited to get his input and views on the industry where so many people have given into temptation and gone down a different path. In this interview he not only discusses this topic, but he also talks about his future, the tremendous love he has for his fans, and of course, his music.
Linescratchers welcomes Jim, a new writer/reviewer from Kentucky. Long-time Linescratchers fan, with experience as a radio host and pretentious new music reviewer, Jim brings a non-Mormon whistle-blower perspective to our elite circle. – Syphax
The Sweater Friends – Dear Abbey EP andEveryone We Know album
Recommended if you like: great boy-girl harmonies, coffee shoppe acoustic guitar pop, sweaters, friends
Recommended Tracks: Dear Abbey EP: “Dear Abbey”, “Sinners in the Repentance Club”, Everyone We Know: “Filo Sophia”, “The Last Pirate Song”, “Breaking the Azeotrope”
Upon first listen, The Sweater Friends’ music sounds deceptively simple. A boy and a girl, each equipped with an acoustic guitar, and nothing else. However, underneath that plain appearance first impression are songs about the difficulties of love and life, featuring music with beautiful lyrics and gorgeous melodies and harmonies.
It’s hard to believe that someone as laid-back and cheerful as Kirby Heyborne could incite any sort of controversy whatsoever, but being an LDS celebrity comes with a price. Many know Kirby as an actor, from LDS-themed films such as The R.M., Sons of Provo, and The Singles Ward, but he’s also a heartfelt, passionate, and sincere musician. Kirby’s acoustic-based folk is touchingly simple, yet texturally complex, and the strength of his lyrics are in their honesty. In this interview, Kirby talks about the pressures of being a celebrity and the motivation necessary to succeed in music. Read the rest of this entry »
Brent Colbert is The Awful Truth. Or rather, Brent Colbert knows The Awful Truth, because it’s him. I had the pleasure of interviewing Brent about his Indie project, which will sound both familiar and dissonant to the average Indie rocker. Brent currently hails from Salt Lake City, though Linescratchers first came into contact with him through Rexburg connections, where he spent some time at BYU-I. You will soon be able to purchase his upcoming album, Object Permanence, on iTunes, though in the meantime you can hear his songs at his Myspace or on The Hills.
For those of you who are interested in seeing Nick and Shane Barnwell perform, well, you might have to wait a bit. Nick will be in Chile till October 2010, serving a mission. Before he left, however, Nick and his brother, from Bozeman, Montana, wrote music together. Shane recently contacted Linescratchers, sending several of his laid-back, organic tunes, and this was the result of the ensuing interview. You may have already heard them, they were featured in our last (July 4th) podcast.
In the sometimes gloomy world of rock and roll it’s refreshing now and then to hear a band like The Sweater Friends. This isn’t your average happy folk-rock duo. Their songs are sweet, fun, and catchy. Jake and Allyson met as children in the same neighborhood, and their friendship grew long before their music did. Their lyrics are interesting and insightful, but are not bogged down musically like lots of insightful lyrics can be. They will be playing soon with Mindy Gledhill on April 24th at Kilby Court. More on that later.
To find The Sweater Friends at iTunes, click here.
Annelise LeCheminant brings an eclectic musical landscape to the table. She definitely doesn’t fall into her own ruts like many musicians- she is constantly experimenting with new sounds and new ideas. Her music is mature and universal, and the listener is benefited through her self-discovery. There truly is “a song for everyone” in her catalog. She will be having a CD release party for her new album Driven on January 10th, so go see what the fuss is about. It will be held at:
The Leona Wagner Black Box (Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center)
138 West 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT
Admission: $15 General Admission
With Special Guest: Scott Foster
Linescratchers’ second interview from over the oceans, the articulate, passionate KaRyn Daley is a breath of fresh air in the acoustic scene. The folk/jazz/acoustic scene can be so over-saturated with blandness, and trapped in its own laziness, that when you find a musician like KaRyn, something truly fresh and unique, it’s almost jarring. Her lyrics are amazingly honest. Her melodies are perfectly simple, but are ornately decorated with her stellar but raw vocals. KaRyn has a rapturous, sometimes subtle but controlled vibrato, a dark, soothing tone, but believe it or not, she’s a soprano. She is currently teaching music in Seoul, but she has taken time from her schedule to fill out this interview. Find out more about her music at http://www.myspace.com/karynmusic.
Recommended if you like: Sufjan Stevens, Nick Drake
Kirby Heyborne – The Elm Tree
It’s hard to believe that someone as laid-back and cheerful as Kirby Heyborne could incite any sort of controversy whatsoever, but being an LDS celebrity comes with a price. Many know Kirby as an actor, from LDS-themed films such as The R.M., Sons of Provo, and The Singles Ward, but he’s also a heartfelt, passionate, and sincere musician. Kirby’s acoustic-based folk is touchingly simple, yet texturally complex, and the strength of his lyrics are in their honesty. In this interview, Kirby talks about the pressures of being a celebrity and the motivation necessary to succeed in music.
INDIE/ACOUSTIC
ACOUSTIC/FOLK
