This is going to be a quick post, but I wanted to share this song with you because I know Akhil is way too modest to post it on the site himself. Hopefully, you have had an opportunity to read Akhil’s first posts on the site, and the more he shares, the more you will realize just how knowledgeable and entertaining of a person he is. If you’ve had a chance to check out the About Us page, you may have noticed that Akhil is a musician, and this is a new solo song that he created that I think is pretty neat. If you can, please take a listen and leave comments with your thoughts so Akhil can get some feedback. He didn’t ask me to post the song, but I feel like it deserves just as much attention as any other music we post on the site. I am going to dedicate this song to Akhil, even though it’s his song, because he’s just that good of a guy. Here’s to you Akhil.

Brownpower – Everything

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If I had to choose one new Icelandic band to share with you, Seabear would most likely be the winner. Not every song on Seabear’s debut album, The Ghost That Carried Us Away, is earth shattering, but those that are make me weep with joy. The band reminds me of Low combined with a folksier, more low key version of The Boy Least Likely To.

“Libraries” is the most upbeat song on the album, and reminds me of Arcade Fire’s better music. The violin graces us with her presence on many of these tracks, and makes the songs “Hospital Bed” and “Arms” absolutely stellar. Seabear is not a very well known band yet, and I suggest you jump on the bandwagon before it takes off. I know I’ve come across a great band when I have an impossible time picking which songs to put on the blog. It’s a good indicator that if you like these samples, you should go and buy the album.

Seabear is Sindri Már Sigfússon, Gudbjörg Hlin Gudmundsdóttir (violin, vocals, harmonica), and örn (guitar, & lapsteel). They are from Reykjavik, Iceland and are on the moor music label At first, Sindri was a one man act, but when he was asked to open for The Books in Germany, Gudbjörg and örn helped out, and after having a great time performing live, they decided to, well, stay in the one man band.

From my understanding, new members just joined, so there are now seven band mates in all. Seabear still seems to stay true to their core, and only records with one microphone (except while recording the drums), which gives a lo-fi sound. Their use of only one mic may change now that there are seven members, but if not, that would make for a funny SNL skit–watching seven musicians crowd around this one microphone with each one secretly trying to move in closer so they have more presence on the album–that would be classic.

The Ghost That Carried Us Away (2007)

Seabear – Libraries

Seabear – I Sing, I Swim

Seabear – Hospital Bed

Singing Arc EP:

Seabear – Drunk Song

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Last Friday, I saw the Band of Horses play at the 9:30 Club, in Washington DC, and can say that it was one of the best shows I have seen in a long, long time. If you have the opportunity to see the Band of Horses live, please, for my sake, go.

I just read Patrick Foster’s review of the show in the Washington Post, and he didn’t seem to think BOH’s live performance lived up to their recordings. He said the crowd “probably went home disappointed.” I could not disagree more. Let me know if you think differently, but I personally believe that somebody must have slipped something into Foster’s drink (or that the 1:15 am show was past his bedtime), because their performance, which I assume is similar to all their live performances, was spectacular and those who I spoke with that attended agree. Perhaps, the fact that I was in the front row made a difference, especially because I got to fully appreciate the length of BOH’s front man, Ben Bridwell’s, enormous beard and sweet table steel guitar, but I had a great time and thought their sound was phenomenal.

There is one thing that I can agree on with this ”Patrick Foster” guy, if that’s even his real name—Band of Horses new album release, Cease to Begin, is incredible. Rarely will you find an album that has one great song leading into another equally as good, if not better, song. It is also be difficult to find a band that is able to handle the delicate balance between mellow folk/country and indie rock better than the Band of Horses.

Band of Horses was formed in 2004 by Ben Bridwell and Matt Brookes in Seattle, even though they have now relocated to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, closer to where Bridwell grew up. Sub Pop became interested in the band after hearing them open shows for Iron & Wine, in Seattle, and the label has now released two albums of the bands, their new album, Cease to Begin, and their debut album, Everything All The Time.

Suggestion: When you buy Cease to Begin, consider purchasing the vinyl version; it is actually a dollar cheaper on Subpop.com than the CD, and the vinyl comes with a coupon code to download the entire album in mp3 format, absolutely free of charge.

Cease To Begin (2007):

Band of Horses – Ode to lrc

Band of Horses – Detlef Schrempf

Everything All The Time(2006):

Band of Horses: The Funeral

Band of Horses: Wicked Gil

Bonus:

Band of Horses: Wicked Gil (live on the interned)

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