The Break Mission is a Brooklyn trio showcasing a unique talent for impassioned storytelling and lilting dynamics. Critics and fans alike have described the band as sublime, anthemic and refreshing. Their newest release, The Prospect EP builds on the momentum of 2007's, As Much Light As It Will Take, and introduces a beautiful complexity to their endearingly fresh sound. They've performed with the likes of Kristin Hersh, Matisyahu, Squeeze and Apollo Sunshine, The Break Mission is eager to take their new material on the road. Their most assured release to date; The Prospect EP will be released via iTunes in February.mp3:
The Break Mission: Website • MySpace
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Recently featured Wait.Think.Fast. has released a single, Look Alive, to coincide with the recent release of their 7-track EP, Vuelve Al Mar. And as on the EP, the single features the dreamy cinematic sound that stands the band out on their own creative merits.mp3:
Wait.Thnk.Fast.: MySpace • Buy Vuelve Al Mar
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Barbara Trentalange is probably best known for fronting Seattle's Spyglass; she may well be equally lauded for her work on her second album, Awakening, Level One. Unique and compelling and bosting a killer sonic sound,Awakening, Level One is dark in nature but does dig deep into the human psyche for a place to command you to place the music in a genre capsule. Her 2006 debut solo album, Photo Album of Complex Relationships, met with tons of critical praise and overwhelmingly positive reviews. Awakening, Level One is likely to receive the same.mp3:
Barbara Trentalange: Website • MySpace • Buy Awakening, Level One
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East Hundred is a five-piece band from Philadelphia who's sound can be likened to Denali and Death Cab For Cutie. On January 13th they will self-release Passenger, their first full-length effort. The nine lushly produced tracks move through a haunting melodic landscape of loss, regret and ultimately, hope. East Hundred comes out of old friendships and failed loves. Their music shores up their relationships…or the relationships feed their music…or it’s a little bit of both.mp3:
East Hundred: Website • MySpace • Buy Passenger
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Toronto-based experimental folk trio The Silt are set to release their debut LP, Cat's Peak, on January 12th. After two lo-fi outings on their own label, Cat’s Peak is a true meeting of pop and experimentalism, featuring sublime harmonies and words of nature’s magic and love’s mysteries delivered with the band’s characteristic avant-country sensibility. A veritable super group of Toronto’s young, improvised music community, the band is regarded as the brainchild of singer/guitarist/flautist Ryan Driver, whose solo album Feeler Of Pure Joy will also be released in early 2009.mp3:
The Silt: MySpace • Pre-order Cat's Peak from Fire Records
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The Weight are set to release Are Men on March 10th via Tee Pee Records. The Weight's 2009 release Are Men marks an interesting evolution of the group's sound. What was once a singer-songwriter-with-backing band is now simply a band. Of men. Are Men reveals a sound and feel very much different from 2004's 10 Mile Grace, which found the group working within the framework of earnest alt-country executed by post-punk kids. In contrast, Are Men brings a sense of light-hearted fun-timin' to the songwriting and execution (more country-rock block party, less alt). It's the sound of a band enjoying the process. Sing-along choruses, three-part harmonies, psych guitar freak-outs, rowdy gang vocals - all things people love...so The Weight have discovered.For the similarly post-jaded kids and honest fans of Americana, Are Men sounds like the record you actually enjoy listening to.mp3:
The Weight: MySpace • Buy Are Men from Tee Pee Records
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Finally, a couple of great mixtapes courtesy of our friends at When You Awake, featuring a Tribute Mixtape dedicated to the great Delaney Bramlett who recently passed away. Included are some Delaney and Bonnie tracks mixed in with cover versions of his tunes by Jim Ford, Lulu, Duane Allman, The Staple Singers, Blue Cheer and Eric Clapton.Los Angeles alt-country band I See Hawks In LA shares their "Top 10 Songs For Inducing An Ecstatic State". A great mix includes tracks by George Harrison, Los Lobos, Byrds, Cream and of course, Peter Shilling's 1983 synth pop masterpiece, "Major Tom".
As we like to do, we'll tempt you with a track, the rest are just a couple clicks away!
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The Weight are a good olde rock band, love the tracks on their myspace.