Glen Hansard and the Swell Season

Dubliner Glen Hansard calls himself either Glen Hansard, The Swell Season if with Markéta Irglová in a duo or The Frames if based on the emerald isle. Glen has something to say with his songs, from the Swell Season album Strict Joy we find the eerie erie Drown Out. Some nice female vocals in If you want me otherwise Glen dominates the album, see All the Way down. Don't miss the shower video of Low Rising - probably the best duet accomplished on the album with a nice piano in the background.

The solo album of Glenny came out last year, under the name of Rhythm and Repose with more emotions then ever before, as in Bird of Sorrow - try keeping the goose flesh under control, I dare you. Proof of talent in Philander with a video too - and musical diversity in organ-accompanied Races. The unsung singer Glen has something to say for sure.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 2013

Frisco-rockers BRMC are back with the seventh album Specter at the Feast - an excellent compendium of noise-rock mixed with influences from modern pop without ever gliding into the grimy mainstream scene. Not yet. Heads up for songs very similar to Oasis. And, I have to apologize for the links, but these guys managed somehow to evade having their songs on YouTube, so live version will suffice.

In no particular order, the top tracks are Returning (only live versions on YouTube), the sadder contribution to the album. Then, the amazing Oasis-esque Lose Yourself (live) and Let the Day Begin. The live-version does not do it justice, but don't miss Lullaby that brings some light to the eternal Finsternis of the Specter. You wanna rock? Pump Teenage Disease into your inferior colliculus and see if associations to Motörhead are evident. And be sure to get the album and not rely on the live versions. I promise.

Seattle cave singers and Naomi

The peculiar voice of Pete Quirk has not changed since the fantastic No Witch from early 2011. Sadly, neither has the musical repertoire. As seen so often before with bands after a few albums, it appears they have niched themselves into a corner of sparse diversity. Still, some magnificent tracks remain - Shine starts like so many other tracks but opens in a harmonica after about three minutes, followed by lyrics out of this world. My fave was the happy When The World and the tablatures of Week To Week. Finally, Northern Lights with an intro reminiscent of Ein Kompliment by Sportfreunde Stiller. Expect more from the next album. Everyone gets a Mulligan.