3 Songs: On Repeat

Shearwater – “I Luv The Valley Oh” (In anticipation of their upcoming new album due next year, the band has just released an album of cover songs titled, Fellow Travelers, via Sub Pop.  They put their own distinct spin on songs from bands they have toured with recently such as Xiu Xiu, St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Coldplay and Clinic but what makes it truly unique is that they ask the artists they are covering to come in and record with them with the exception that the original artist cannot play on their own song.  The liner notes written by Meiburg are worth the time as well.) http://shearwatermusic.com/        

Download: http://assets1.subpop.com/assets/audio/13747.mp3

Beachwood Sparks – “Make It Together” (The catchy, very Beach Boys-like first single taken from the long lost debut album, Desert Skies, by the seminal psych-pop group is out now on Alive Naturalsound Records.  Recorded in 1997 and previously unreleased, the album was recently remastered and shows the beginnings of the band and their harmony-rich, Byrds-like country-leaning and surf-inspired folk rock sound that went on to inspire and influence many bands.) http://www.thecalmingseas.com/  

Download: http://soundcloud.com/alivenaturalsound/beachwood-sparks-make-it/

Kurt Vile – “Feel My Pain” (Last week the indie guitar wizard released it’s a big world out there (and I am scared), a new 6-song EP that serves as a compliment to his highly-praised album, Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze, released earlier this year via Matador.  Included on the EP are the intended extended version of “Snowflakes” and the stripped down dark folk of new song, “Feel My Pain” with its cyclical guitars, and are taken from the same sessions.  The EP is available digitally and on CD, packaged with the deluxe reissue of Wakin.) http://kurtvile.com/         

Download: http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/kurt_vile/kurt_vile_feel_my_pain.mp3