3 Songs: On Repeat

Phosphorescent – “New Birth In New England” (It’s been over 5 years since we last heard from Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent but last Friday marked the release of his new album, C’est La Vie, via Dead Oceans.  The personal new album is shaped by life changes such as moving to a new city and becoming a father, and also by tragedy, as Houck had a near-death experience with meningitis.  Musically, the new songs reach grand, room-filling new heights with the addition of choirs and strings to his folk-rock sound.  Check out the Simon & Garfunkel-like jauntiness of the standout single heard here.) https://phosphorescent.bandcamp.com/album/c-est-la-vie    

Stream: https://soundcloud.com/phosphorescentmusic/new-birth-in-new-england

Jim James – “Over And Over” (Earlier this year, the My Morning Jacket frontman released his third solo album, Uniform Distortion.  The album - with its blown-out bass-led grooves and squealy, 70’s-style guitar leads – was a return to his guitar-driven form after recent forays into psych-soul.  Now James is set to release a companion album titled, Uniform Clarity.  Out last Friday on ATO Records, the new album features Uniform Distortion songs in their stripped-down form with simple arrangements of just vocals and acoustic guitar. Additionally, James is on an acoustic solo tour in support of the album.) http://smarturl.it/UniformClarity     

Stream: https://youtu.be/VrWom8vQlBc   

Bayside – “Sick, Sick, Sick” (The long-running Nashville-by-way-of-NYC punk band led by vocalist/guitarist Anthony Raneri recently released Acoustic Volume 2, via Hopeless Records.  The first volume was an EP released in 2006 and the second, album-length volume reads like a career-spanning greatest hits compilation, featuring fan favorites such as “It Don’t Exist”, “Duality”, “Pigsty” and “Devotion And Desire”.  The reimagined acoustic arrangements are still ornate but allow for Raneri’s stellar songwriting to shine through, especially on the standout track heard here.) http://smarturl.it/AcousticVolume2

Stream: https://youtu.be/zPBXWPhcG_c