Posted in Folk/Acoustic

Stream the New Leonard Cohen Album

Head over to NPR to stream Leonard Cohen‘s new album Old Ideas. The album, which is Cohen’s first in about eight years, will be the legendary singer songwriter’s twelfth studio album and is set to be released January 31st through Columbia Records. Cohen is known for influential albums like Songs of Leonard Cohen and Songs of Love and Hate, and for penning “Hallelujah”. You can also check out an interview pertaining to Old Ideas that Cohen did with the Guardian over here.

Old Ideas Tracklisting:
01. Going Home
02. Amen
03. “Show Me the Place
04. Darkness
05. Anyhow
06. Crazy to Love You
07. Come Healing
08. Banjo
09. Lullaby
10. Different Sides

Drummer Leaves Fleet Foxes

J. Tillman, the drummer for Fleet Foxes, has left the band and posted his farewell on Tumblr. His last show with the band was in Tokyo on January 20. Sub Pop has also signed the band Poor Moon, which includes Fleet Foxes members Casey Wescott and Christian Wargo. You can listen and download the song “People in her Mind” here, which will be on the band’s Illusion EP that is planned for release on March 27. Click here for last night’s episode of Austin City Limits that features live performances by Fleet Foxes and Joanna Newsom.

Interview: The Smith Street Band

The Smith Street Band, who released their debut LP No One Gets Lost Anymore last summer, managed to respond to some questions during their current tour. Their folk punk approach to the music that they create, along with lyrics ranging from themes of melancholy to partying, really make this band distinct. I encourage you to check out their Bandcamp page and download both of their releases. If you own a turntable, you can also purchase the vinyl records of the 7 inch from Jackknife Music and their LP from Poison City Records.You can read the full interview below.

What are your names and what are your roles in the band?

Wil Wagner – Vocals/Guitar, Tom Lawson – Guitar/Vocals, Lee Hartney – Guitar, Michael Fitzgerald – Bass, Chris Cowburn – Drums, Vocals

What is the origin of your band’s name?

We were originally called Wil Wagner and The Smith Street Band, as a take off of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, but changed the name to just the Smith Street Band as the band became more and more of a collaborative effort. Continue reading →

Watch: Iron & Wine – “Godless Brother In Love”

Iron & Wine‘s folky, sun-soaked “Godless Brother In Love” (off 2011’s Kiss Each Other Clean) has received a set of visuals courtesy of director Claire Marie Vogel. The video, which features slow-motion cuts and a group of friends enjoying the beauties of nature, matches the song quite well, adding dimension to Iron & Wine’s calming vocals. Check it out below.

LITS’s Top 25 Albums Of 2011

2011 was a great year for music and if one thing’s for certain, it’s the fact that there is always a constant stream of new artists and new music to listen to. In fact, if I had to give 2011 a tagline, it’d be “The Year of the Newcomer,” a title that’s also quite fitting for our list of the top albums of the year. Our list, as voted by our editorial staff, is full of new artists that surprised us with their craft, some of which was actually self-released for free through outlets like Bandcamp. It’s crazy to think that in an age that is so densely packed with new releases and new information, so many of our favorites come from such humble origins. It almost makes you feel like you’re lost… lost in the sound. And that’s something I’m completely okay with.

Here are our favorite albums from 2011. We hope you find something you enjoy just as much as we have over the past twelve months.

25. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy

24. Moon Duo – Mazes

23. Owen – Ghost Town

22. Beau Navire – Hours

21. Caroline – Verdugo Hills

20. Wilco – The Whole Love

19. Death in Vegas – Trans-Love Energies

18. Belong – Common Era

17. SBTRKT – SBTRKT

16. Leann Grimes – Leann Grimes

15. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

14. The Roots – Undun

13. Radiohead – The King of Limbs

12. ASAP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP

11. The Horrible Crowes – Elsie

10. Arrange – Plantation

09. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

08. The Wonder Years – Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing

07. Beach Boys – The Smile Sessions

06. The Rosebuds – Loud Planes Fly Low

05. James Blake – James Blake

04. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80

03. Drake – Take Care

02. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

01. The Weeknd – House of Balloons