ON ROTATION

M. Ward, A Wasteland Companion
I almost forgot that M. Ward had a solo career, which seems absurd considering that A Wasteland Companion is his ninth outing. But that happens when an artist has had so many successful collaborations over the past few years. Now Ward is back in his own space and I found his new songs to be very absorbing. Striking a nice balance between quieter moments, which occupy most of the album, and a few upbeat sing-alongs, Ward narrates these songs and stories about life's moments and time's passing with a gentle touch.   
The First Time I Ran Away  

Heartless Bastards, Arrow

Last year I fell hard for Drive-By Trucker's Go-Go Boots. As a pick of the week, I wrote "Sometimes I don't want a high concept album.....I just want to hear great straight-forward songs with great songwriting." Heartless Bastards' fourth album, Arrow, fits that need to a tee. With Erika Wennerstrom's great skills as a singer, songwriter, and guitar player, the band lays down ten solid songs that combined to make a winning album. Just don't get too caught up with thinking all the songs are going to sound the same. They don't. This is an eclectic mix of songs, but each one is so good that you'll be happy for the many change ups that show up throughout Arrow.
Parted Ways   

Of Monsters And Men, My Head Is An Animal
Last year I became very interested in Of Mosters And Men when KEXP broadcast from Iceland and featured the band. At the time they were just releasing this debut album in their home country. They sounded great live and had an wonderful energy, one that I was not sure could be translated well in a studio recording. So I waited. Now, finally, the album is making its debut here and I am so glad that the album captures the essence of their live performances. My Head Is An Animal is a fun and lively album. I love the interplay between Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson who share vocals. You can tell that they, along with the rest of the band, had a good time making
                                                        this album. And you will have a great time listening to it.
                                                        Little Talks  

Lee Fields, Faithful Man
While I can't say that I have followed Lee Fields' career very closely, I am certainly familiar with him as recording artist who has been singing his brand of soul and funk music for forty years. That kind of longevity is rare these days and hard to maintain. But Lee Fields does it, and he does it with power, grace, style, and maturity. It makes an album, like Faithful Man, something out of the ordinary. There is a lot of living in these songs. Fields' with his band, The Expressions, have it all going on, all through this album, and it was a joy to experience.
Your The Kinda Girl