ON ROTATION

Andrew Bird, Break It Yourself
I have been an admirer and fan of Andrew Bird for years. With each new release, Bird, a mult-instrumentalist who is classically trained, mesmerizes with his intricately built songs and music. Layering violins, guitars, whistles, and vocals, Bird creates wonderful and whimsical symphonic landscapes that cross musical boundaries to create his own unique space. Sometimes, I admire Bird from afar, appreciating what he is creating, but not quite able to get 100% behind what he is doing. Other times, like with his latest release, Break It Yourself, Bird captivates me, and I can only sit back and  give him my undivided attention. I just love this release and think that it is one of his best albums to date.  
                                                        Danse Caribe  

Carolina Chocolate Drops, Leaving Eden

How does a band top a Grammy award winning album (Genuine Negro Jig) that was a darling of critics and listeners alike? For the Carolina Chocolate Drops, they continue to do what they have been doing so well since 2005, which is paying and playing their respects to old time string music. On their latest release, Leaving Eden, the band once again shines with a new collection of original and cover songs. While there is quite a bit that I can say about the new album, I  thought that I would let the band's Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons do the talking. Here is a great interview they did with NPR's Scott Simon last week.
Country Girl   

Bowerbirds, The Clearing
I know that Bowerbirds are technically categorized as a folk band. But on their latest release, The Clearing, the duo of Philip Moore and Beth Tacular have moved their music beyond a plain where it can be easily categorized.....and this is a great thing. Always wonderful storytellers, Moore and Tacular embrace bigger and more adventurous arrangements on The Clearing which not only enhances their songs, but helps bring a new level of narration to their stories. I had read that The Clearing reflects the best and most important moments of Moore and Tacular's lives after some significant challenges. Listening to it, you can feel and sense their journey to reach these moments and it makes for an absorbing listening experience.
                                                        Tuck The Darkness In  

White Rabbits, Milk Famous
White Rabbit's last album, It's Frightening, was one of the more memorable releases of 2009. Produced by Spoon's Britt Daniel, it was a heavy percussion ladened effort that paid dividends for the development of the band's sound. Back with Milk Famous, White Rabbits does not so much dial back on the percussions, as they take what the learned on their last effort, and use it to color and texture this new collection of songs. It makes for a more subtle usage of percussions, resulting in music that feels more relaxed and sophisticated. I think that Milk Famous is a great follow up album and I am glad that the band did not try to repeat what they did on It's Frightening.
                                                       Heavy Metal