Beck‘s latest album, “Morning Phase,” has steadily grown on me like a new haircut since its release on Feb. 21 on Capitol Records. Sonically, this mellow and folky album paints a pastoral landscape of twisting hills divided by ribbons of asphalt and old cars. That’s the world that Beck has created with his first album in six year.
Kacey Musgraves isn’t necessarily the spokesperson for modern country music but her debut album, “Same Trailer Different Park,” is powerful enough to shift the direction of the genre. This album captures the untamed spirit of […]
M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel have created yet another timeless collection of pop songs on She & Him “Volume 3,” released Tuesday, May 7. The retro sound is as authentic as it was on their […]
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/images/stories/00-downbeach/Shaun_Notes-Logo.jpg “Ghost on Ghost” released Tuesday, April 16 is the fifth and absolutely best Iron and Wine album to date. Singer-songwriter Samuel Beam, performing under the moniker Iron and Wine, has progressed as a songwriter […]
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/images/stories/00-downbeach/Shaun_Notes-Logo.jpg Samantha Crain exhibits youthful innocence and mature songwriting on her fifth album, “Kid Face,” released Tuesday, Feb. 19 on Ramseur Records. A skilled guitarist like Joni Mitchell with the unfiltered expression of Regina Spektor; […]
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/images/stories/00-2012/35/eht/Shaun_Notes-Logo.jpg Nick Cave leaves no psychological stone unturned on his most recent album “Push the Sky Away,” released Tuesday Feb. 19. The 15th studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds released by the […]
By SHAUN SMITH
Blogger-in-chief
M. Ward will not disappoint fans of his stripped down, reel-to-reel sound on his latest album A Wasteland Companion.
Ward (Matt Ward) has obviously been influenced by his musical relationship with Zooey Deschanel and it shows on the upbeat piano-laded “Beautiful Girl,” which stands not as a detachment of his signature style but an expansion of his talented reach. Fans of the doe-eyed hipster wonder will enjoy her standing beside Ward on “Sweetheart” and “Me and My Shadow.” Recording with Ward on this record makes her Patsy Cline style and hand claps sound authentic rather than retro.
Travel with Shaun Smith as he delves deep into the Dave Matthews Band Caravan June 24-26, 2011. Click Here for a link to live coverage
