Nutmeg State of Mind - In Honor of Newtown

Various Artists - Nutmeg State of Mind (2013)

Here's a nice little album with a big heart. It's a benefit/tribute/honor album dedicated to those who lost their lives in Newtown, CT during the Elementary School shooting last December. Along with giving you a taste for the variety in the Connecticut music scene, all proceeds to the purchase of Nutmeg State of Mind goes to the mental health care organization, Mental Health America. 

It's a shame to see another innocent and safe town in America have to add their name to a horrendous school shooting (or any type of incident like this) list, but it's really great to see people stepping up for their state and supporting those who lost their lives much too soon (and their families), as well as looking into mental health help for those who might be in need but can not afford it. Folks on the news and in the paper often want to get into the debate about gun restrictions, and maybe they should, but what really needs to be looked at, which isn't as easy to monitor, is the mental condition of someone who may want to harm others as a way of seeking attention. Usually in the cases of such terrible shootings like we unfortunately had to hear of again in America - they are cry for help. A cry for help that may have been too late.

Anyways, I really feel like this is an awesome way to give back to Newtown and supports an important cause even if you are not familiar with any of the music that is on this album. No, It's not much but it's something . 

Be sure to check out Nutmeg State of Mind and donate if you can:

This album features all sorts of different genres and styles from Connecticut-based musicians and bands like Electronic (Color Plus, Steeve), hip-hop (Acemo, Chef the Chef, Ghost Row), indie rock/pop (A Beacon School, Fins, The Guru, M.T. Bearington), acoustic (Sidewalk Dave, Jefferson Washington, Closely Watched Trains, DawnMother), and many more.

A special thanks has to go out to Terry Carr and Peter Kelly from theup-turn.com for putting this album together. 

Last.fm

Monday XXXXXVIII

Despite lots of hip places/sites/magazines posting their best-of lists and stuff, I am waiting until after the holidays just as I did last year.

For those who can't wait though, here are some honorary mentions:

Adventures - Adventures 7" (2012)

Adventures is the name of the Reba Meyers-fronted Code Orange Kids side project. It's really good. Like really really good. 

"Like Seed" is currently my favorite track from this four track 7incher. 

Reba has an awesome singing voice that is both rough and smooth. I would have to say, out of the female fronted releases that came out this year i.e. Traveling, Slingshot Dakota, Lemuria, Cerce and Hop Along, Reba and Adventures takes the cake. That's definitely saying something.

Last.fm (scrobbles to "The" Adventues... watch out!)

The Devil and a Penny - C. (2012)

The Devil and a Penny were so impressive when I saw them last spring. So impressive that I can't get over how much different they sounded live than they do on their recordings. That energy and catchiness I heard live is not captured the same way here on 'C.'. It's a gift and a curse that I saw them I guess. None the less, I must give this album an honorary mention and a high recommendation. They deserve it!

Last.fm

The Guru - Go Easy (2012)

I feel bad that I haven't given The Guru's new release, 'Go Easy' a proper review of its own, (it was high up there on my agenda too) but with finals coming up and all that nonesense, I must place it here for now. 

The Guru had a tough task of following up with another album after releasing the super catchy and fun magic-carpet-ride-on-fire, 'Native Sun' just last year, but 'Go Easy' is still a stellar sophomore album. Is it as good as 'Native Sun'? Ehh maybe - maybe not - but that's not really what's important. What's important is that they still have that disco-rock-whatever sound that got me interested in their sound to began with and tried a little less to sound just like Modest Mouse. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a fan of Modest Mouse... It's just, these guys aren't Modest Mouse... They're The Guru. And I believe this album really shows that they aren't just being a Modest Mouse-sounding band, they are a band making their own catchy music that is very much their own. 

...And fun!

I was also meaning to mention that these guys were giving both 'Native Sun' and 'Go Easy' away for free this weekend but by the time I found out, it was just too late. Sorry about that...

Last.fm (avaliable for scrobbling on Spotify under "Guru"...)


Stay tuned for more honorary mentions coming soon.

Friday Steamin'

Just some stuff you can stream and listen tooooooo... I don't know. Stuff and stuff.

Kite Party - Baseball Season (2011)

I happened to hear about Kite Party from the Algernon Cadwallader show that took place near me a couple of weeks ago. They weren't there but I did find out later that they play a nice little blend of indie rock and pop punk that can't really be slumped into one of those categories and ignored. So regardless of what it is, what it isn't, is not enjoyable music. That's a double negative. Listen.

Favorite track: "Arizona"

Last.fm

Pneu - Pince Monseigneur (2008)

Really good and powerful math rock from France. If you like 'Highway to Health', their 2011 release, this is right up there with it.

Laasst.fm

The Guru - Native Sun (2011)

I'm really trying to think of something to write about these guys other then, modestmousecore. 

Still really really fun stuff. 

These guys are also the creators of Seagreen Records, who, you may or may nor remember, released that sweet Valentine's Day comp last Valentine's Day. 

Favorite Track: also "Arizona" (Though, they do have a song called, "Pirate's Cove" which is a name of a mini golf course I just went to yesterday...)

(...I total destroyed it...)

Last.fm

if and it - Sparkly Gold (2012)

Portland's own indie/fuzzy/folk/jam band have a new album out called "Sparkly Gold". because, well... it's shiny and new.

if and it (pretty sure they like to keep it lowercase) have the distinct honor as the last thing I listened to in 2011 and the first thing I listened to 2012. Yeah, that happened, and it was all thanks to the New Year's Eve party that Local Sprouts (a local restaurant and work place for many nice cats) put on. It was a very nice thing of them to do and a very lovely night to watch not only 2011 kick the bucket but also if and it, a native singer-songwriter named Christopher, and Glass Fingers. As the clock struck the big ol' 12 o'clock hour and the ball dropped in New York, if and it was playing their last note. Luckily for you though, this was not their very last note ever together as a band and will be playing more in the future, persuadably for this new album as well. They've got themselves a fancy-dancy CD release party for 'Sparkly Gold' the 20th of July at the Dirigimus warehouse in Portland and everyone is invited. You should go, maybe.

PS: if you would like to read a real review for 'Sparkly Gold', I'd highly suggest you check out The Portland Press Herald's (That's right! The Portland Fucking Press Herald!) review, here.

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Have a nice weekend!