Over the past few weeks I’ve been listening to Death Vessel’s newly released sophomore album, Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us. It’s been growing a lot on me, and I see myself listening to this when in need of a chill folk album. If you like Iron and Wine, Anthony and the Johnsons, or the Fruit Bats, you might like Death Vessel.

Several of my favorite tracks on the album include the opening track “Block My Eye,” “Bruno’s Torso,”  “Circa,” and “Obadiah in Oblivion.” Believe it or not, those vocals you hear are those of a guy, specifically Joel Thibodeau. I’m confident that I’m not the only one who originally thought the high falsetto had to be a female singer.

Death Vessel is based in Providence, Rhode Island. In 2006, they signed to Sub Pop, after releasing their debut album in 2005, Stay Close. While Thibodeau is pretty much the brains behind Death Vessel, he has plenty of support. Starting in last August, Death Vessel will be going on a lengthy US tour, check the dates below.

Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us (2008):

Death Vessel - Block My Eye

Death Vessel - Circa

Stay Close (2005):

Death Vessel - Deep In The Horchata

Death Vessel - Mandan Dink

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Almost two years ago, I featured a band out of Portland, Oregon, named Derby. At the time they had released a debut album, This is the New You, and I couldn’t stop listening, especially to the song “Parade.” Derby gets comparisons to The Shins, and Nat Johnson’s vocals bring to mind Elliott Smith (the lyrics are quite different than Smith’s, though).

They have just released their sophomore album, Posters Fade, and while I can’t say  that it’s one of my favorite albums, it has several really good songs on it. My favorites include “If Ever There’s A Reason,”"Only What She’s Selling,” “Treetops,” “Stumps,” and “Episode. ”

Derby’s talent lies with their more mellow alternative rock. Some of their songs are a little faster paced, which I feel can throw off the quality of the  vocals–especially because they lack the harmonies that Derby is known for. Granted, the album would probably become monotonous if it was only mellow songs, however, the indie rock songs just don’t do too much for me. They aren’t bad, they just aren’t all that memorable.

Derby is Nat Johnson (lead vocals, guitar, bass), Dave Gulick (vocals, rhodes, organ, guitar), and Isaac Frost (drum/percussions). Nat and Dave started playing together as dorm mates at University of Oregon, and Isaac joined the band after graduating from Oregon State University. They are not signed to a record label.

Posters Fade (2008):

Derby - If Ever There’s A Reason

Derby - Only What She’s Selling

This is The New You (2005):

Derby - Parade

Derby - Proving

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For those who like Sufjan Stevens, The Shins, Rogue Wave, and Jeremy Messersmith I highly recommend checking out the band Aloha. Their albums have been in my iTunes for a while, but it’s not until the last week that I have given them the listen they deserve. Their 2007 release Light Works has a really nice sound.

The 7 track LP is a lot less experimental than the band’s other releases, which they’ve built their name off,  but I personally like it more. It is really mellow, and a perfect prescription for productivity. Truthfully, there are only a few times that you are going to ask “what song is that?” Light Works is not an album set out to impress, meaning you’ll want to listen to it in its entirety.  Like The Album Leaf, you probably won’t grow an attachment to any particular song. The most rememberable songs include “Body Buzz” “The End,”"Gold World” and “Passengers.”

Aloha has a really interesting background. They first began to form in 1997, and the four bandmates, Tony Cavallario, Matthew Gengler, Cale Parks, and T.J. Lipple  are scattered across the east coast, hailing from Cleveland, Brooklyn, Rochester, and Washington DC.  Even though they live in different places they manage to get together to make music.  I think that’s really cool. Some bands give off the impression that they formed because it was convenient. However, it can be restricting to allow location to be a collaboration barrier. If each of these guys wanted to make their lives easier, they could probably just start up their own bands in their selected cities. They don’t settle for that though, and are so passionate about what they do,  they will travel whenever and wherever to make music. People who know Aloha’s history like their music that much more.

Aloha is signed to Polyvinyl records.

Light Works (2007):

Aloha - Body Buzz

Aloha - The End

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