Well hello there! I hope you’re doing great on this lovely Tuesday. There are some exciting new releases for you to check out this week. For some reason, this seems to be the week of Christmas albums. Everyone from Wilson Phillips to The Indigo Girls is singing about the little drummer boy and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Wake me up when my girl Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” starts getting played on repeat, OK? That’s what I celebrate during the yuletide.
My top pick for this week goes to the utterly adorable bluesy folk stylings of Cheyenne Marie Mize. She reminds me a bit of the too-smart-for-her-own-good little girl from down the block who always wears dresses but has scrapes on her knees from playing outside. Some of you may recognize her from her collaborations with Bonnie “Prince” Billy, but you’ll enjoy her solo work even more.
This sweet Southern charmer of a debut album is a call back to the early days of June Carter and Patsy Cline. Anyone listening to these tracks can hear T. Bone Burnett’s genius production.
I have to admit, one look at the cover of this album and I was ready to dismiss this duo as a gimmick. Thankfully, though, I have been proven wrong and The Green Children have put together a pretty good ethereal dance pop album worthy of giving a spin. I’d say if you’re a Kylie or Goldfrapp fan, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this music from Milla Sunde and Marlow Bevan. In other great TGC news, the duo started their own foundation aimed at empowering women in developing countries.
I love that on her MySpace page, the “sounds like” description reads “A heart. On a sleeve.” I’d say that’s pretty accurate depiction for this alt-country singer/songwriter’s music. While country as a genre isn’t something I regularly get into, Harvell’s music is palatable to almost any ear.
If sleepy electronica is what you’re into, this is the album for you! With instrumental accompaniments from Kevin O’Donnell (drummer for Andrew Bird), C.J. Camerieri (horn player for Rufus Wainwright) and Julia Kent (pictured above) and Maxim Moston (cellist and violinist for Antony & the Johnsons) I’d call this one a bit experimental, too.
This is a veritable acoustic “best of” album for Dar and it was recorded with some pretty great friends to have around like Mary Chapin Carpenter and Patty Larkin. I can listen to this and think back to the time I took one of my college crushes to see her live.
Honorable Mentions: Antony and the Johnsons, Badly Drawn Boy, Belle & Sebastian and El Guincho.
