Five Freshies – 4.1.14

“Five Freshies” is a weekly column highlighting a handful of new albums added to the vaunted New Music Shelf here at KBUT Community Radio. Expect to hear these releases featured prominently on the airwaves in the coming weeks.

Cloud Nothings – Here and Nowhere Else – (Rock)

Terrific, visceral, hook-filled punk songs with an urgent immediacy, a quick pulse, pounding drums, and lyrics and vocals that reflect the mundane despair of everyday life in the Rust Belt or wherever the hell else you’re from.

The Jones Family Singers – The Spirit Speaks – (Gospel/Soul)

8 piece family gospel group creates stellar uptempo gospel with time-honored harmonies and plenty of soul and funk influence. Regardless of your religious affiliations or lack thereof, anyone can appreciate the soul and sweat that goes into these songs.

Phish – We’re In The Dark – (Rock Jammy Jams)

Everyone’s favorite cover band presents a live concert recording where they cover the Dead’s In The Dark by playing nothing but home appliances. It was so epic, but unfortunately you had to be there (the light show was sweet!). The deluxe-edition release comes with a special collector’s item: a new Dyson vacuum hand-signed and numbered by drummer Jon Fishman.

Thievery Corporation – Saudade – (World)

D.C.’s powerhouse electro-lounge duo return to their roots with a release entirely devoted to their first shared love: Brazilian bossa nova. It’s much more warm, organic and vintage in sound than what they’ve become known for.

Various Artists – James Murphy’s “Losing My Edge” Compendium – (Compilation)

A compilation of every good song ever done by anybody. Different discs include: every great song by the Beach Boys, all the underground hits, all the Modern Lovers tracks, every Niagra record on German import, a collection of white labels of every seminal Detroit techno hit (from ’85, ’86, ’87), a compilation of every good ’60s cut and another box set from the 70’s.

– Grant McFarren, April 1, 2014

Five Freshies – 3.26.14

“Five Freshies” is a weekly column highlighting a handful of new albums added to the vaunted New Music Shelf here at KBUT Community Radio. Expect to hear these releases featured prominently on the airwaves in the coming weeks.

Tycho – Lost in the Dream – (Electronic)

Beautiful swirling guitar melodies, lush soundscapes, and upbeat, driving beats make up the new album from the talented producer Scott Hansen. A great springtime record to get lost in.

The Robert Cray Band – Darlings – (Blues)

5x Grammy winning guitarist and singer-songwriter releases his 17th studio album, this being an 11 song collection of Staxx & Chess influenced soul and blues that showcases his singular guitar playing and his soulful vocals.

Liars – Mess – (Rock)

The ever-evolving and challenging Brooklyn trio returns with an angry, schizophrenic collection of experimental, heavily electronic post-punk.

Prince Fatty vs. Mungo’s Hi Fi – Prince Fatty vs. Mungo’s Hi Fi – (Reggae)

British reggae producer Mike Pelanconi’s all star collective mines the fertile sounds of early 70’s dub and reggae with convincing results. Should appeal to fans of the classic Jamaican reggae sound.

Johnny Cash – Out Among the Stars – (Country)

The Man in Black recorded this previously unreleased “lost album” in 1984 during a commercial low point of his career. Despite the circumstances, his voice and spirit are in great form and the production is bright and crisp in the early 80’s Nashville style. Includes two duets with June Carter and one with Waylon Jennings. Stream the entire album over at Pitchfork.

– Grant McFarren, March 26, 2014

Five Freshies – 3.19.14

“Five Freshies” is a weekly column highlighting a handful of new albums added to the vaunted New Music Shelf here at KBUT Community Radio. Expect to hear these releases featured prominently on the airwaves in the coming weeks.

The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream – (Rock)

Unabashedly catchy, propulsive rock that exhibits some wonderfully meandering guitar lines, Adam Granduciel’s wistful yet hopeful vocals, and a Springsteen-ian drive and directness (yeah, the background organ doesn’t hurt either).

Kevin Drew – Darlings – (Rock)

The former lead singer and creative force behind Canada’s indie rock supergroup Broken Social Scene returns with his first solo album since 2007. It’s a shaggy yet anthemic, emotive yet sex-obsessed record full of expansive synth and guitar sounds and Drew’s coolly detached vocals.

Ibibio Sound Machine – Ibibio Sound Machine – (World)

British/Nigerian vocalist Eno Williams and her crew create a high-energy collection of West African highlife, early 80’s disco, and psychedelic electronic soul. “Let’s Dance (Yak Inek Unek)” is the obviously dance-floor friendly lead single that blends punchy African horns and percussion with an electronic soundscape not all that far separated from another famous “Sound Machine”.

La Misa Negra – Misa De Medianoche – (World)

8-piece band from Oakland traffics in the explosive and fun throwback sounds of 50’s & 60’s style cumbia and Afro-Colombian dance music powered by horn and accordion-driven riffs.

The Revivalists – City of Sound – (Rock)

Blues-based Southern rock out of New Orleans that incorporates warm horns and soulful pedal steel guitar into their approachable sound.

– Grant McFarren, March 19, 2014

Five Freshies – 3.11.14

“Five Freshies” is a weekly column highlighting a handful of new albums added to the vaunted New Music Shelf here at KBUT Community Radio. Expect to hear these featured prominently on the airwaves in the coming weeks.

Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers with Edie Brickell – Live – (Bluegrass)

The highly acclaimed bluegrass group performs with everyone’s favorite pickin’ comedian and the idiosyncratic singer/songwriter Edie Brickell. Watch the PBS trailer here.

Tensnake – Glow – (Electronic)

German DJ & producer has been resurrecting deep disco house for several years now with standout, climactic tracks. On this proper album he gets assists from the great Nile Rodgers, vocalists Jamie Lidell & Fiora, famed producer Jacques Lu Cont, and more.

Iska Dhaaf – Even the Fun Will Burn – (Rock)

Seattle duo creates slacker rock for a new generation with heavy drums, fuzzy bass, catchy guitar riffs, and distant vocals.

Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys – Radio Shows – (Bluegrass)

Famed bluegrass duo Jim & Jesse McReynolds and their Virginia Boys were recorded live on-air in Montgomery, AL in 1962. This reissue is chock full of great old-timey bluegrass and features the talents of Allen Shelton, Jim Buchanon and more. More information on the reissue can be found here.

Ambrose Akinmusire – The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint – (Jazz)

Award-winning trumpeter and composer Akinmusire bestows upon us an expansive, thoroughly modern, and often dark and challenging jazz album recorded with his quintet. You can stream the entire album over at NPR’s First Listen.

– Grant McFarren, March 11, 2014

Five Freshies – 3.4.14

“Five Freshies” is a weekly column highlighting a handful of new albums added to the vaunted New Music Shelf here at KBUT Community Radio. Expect to hear these releases featured prominently on the airwaves in the coming weeks.

The Men – Tomorrow’s Hits – (Rock)

Brooklyn’s most convincing rock group continues their fine & fast string of records with Tomorrow’s Hits, a raw and fun collection of rough bluesy rock ‘n’ roll complete with jazz-influenced experimental patches and a small dose of blue-eyed soul (with a shiner).

The Black Lips – Underneath the Rainbow – (Rock)

Georgia’s finest garage rock revivalists return with another quick and rollicking album of tuneful yet raw garage rock about cars, drinking, drugs, & parties, although this time around there’s a bit more of an “I-know-I-should-be-older-and-wiser-than-this” sense of regret. Patrick Carney of the Black Keys produces half of it, and doesn’t ruin the fun.

Dawn Landes – Bluebird – (Americana)

Talented singer/songwriter presents an emotional break-up album that incorporates Americana, old-school country balladry, and spartan yet intimate production. Looking for a female counterpart to your Justin Townes Earle obsession? Start here.

Real Estate – Atlas – (Rock)

Lush guitar interplay, strong harmonies, downcast vocals, and keyboard flourishes build into the heart-warming sound of Real Estate, who sound more confident and stronger than ever on their 3rd LP.

The Motet – The Motet – (Funk/Soul)

7th album from the hard-touring, Colorado-based funk band features plenty of blissful funk with bits of disco and soul. Recording an all-analog system for a nice, warm throwback sound.

– Grant McFarren, March 4, 2014

Chris Coady – Live In-Studio

Gunnison’s own singer-songwriter Chris Coady performs live at the KBUT Studios on January 16, 2013 as a preview for this weekend’s Crested Butte Songwriters Festival. Events will take place all over Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte this weekend as some of country music’s biggest songwriters perform their hit songs in intimate settings.

“From January 15-19, 2014 at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s Elevation hotel-and-spa in Colorado, The Crested Butte Songwriters Festival will proudly present the best performing songwriters in the world.

Building on its incredibly successful debut in 2012, this year’s festival will once again showcase the faces, voices and stories behind some of today’s biggest hit songs. Fans and songwriters will swap stories and mingle in a series of casual and intimate performances set against the breathtaking backdrop of Mount Crested Butte.”

Willy Porter & Carmen Nickerson – Live In-Studio

Willy Porter and special guest Carmen Nickerson graced the KBUT studios during the “Friday Night Fish Fry” on Friday, January 10th prior to their performance the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. Listen below for some find harmonies and intricate finger-picked guitar alongside Willy’s cultural commentary and contextual background.

A Conversation With Singer-Songwriter Martha Scanlan

Singer-songwriter Martha Scanlan joins KBUT via telephony magic for a revealing interview ahead of her January 11th performance at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts as a benefit for the Mountain Roots Food Project.

“Martha Scanlan is a bluegrass singer-songwriter, featured on the Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour and the “Cold Mountain” Soundtrack. Martha has been touring and headlining festivals across the U.S. and Europe since the release of her critically acclaimed Sugar Hill debut, The West Was Burning. She has collaborated and shared the stage with a variety of roots musicians including Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Levon Helm, Ollabelle, Black Prairie, Ralph Stanley and Norman and Nancy Blake.”

Sometimes People Give Us Cool Stuff: Mo’Plen 1000

An Album Cover to Love

People ’round these parts are notoriously generous, and sometimes we get some awesome rare grooves donated to KBUT. Enter: the Italian funk/lounge compilation Mo’Plen 1000 (tagline: “Easy turbo sound in a trippy deluxe!”). Bursting with funky psychedelic instrumental grooves, it’s the perfect companion for a lazy spring day of driving with the windows down (especially if your ride and companion are as fetching as those on the album cover). Sure, there’s a little bit of fluffy, uninspired filler amid the 16 tracks, but overall this is one of those compilations you didn’t know you needed until a trusted friend puts it in your hands.

Is your CD or vinyl collection lying around collecting dust? KBUT is always accepting music donations, especially if they’re awesome. Stop by the KBUT studios at 508 Maroon Avenue in Crested Butte or call (970) 349-5225 for more information.

– Grant McFarren, September 12th, 2013

The ethereal jangle-rockers Woods try on the greatness that is The Kinks:

Not a bad fit, eh? This little number is due out as a B-side to a Woodsist 7″ release in July.