Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests Of...

Normally the whole dude-with-acoustic thing doesn't do much for me, but Josh Ritter is a different kind of dude-with-acoustic. Lyrically he's almost embarrassingly warm and charming. The songs themselves have that undeniable Woody Guthrie kind of authenticity, almost like there's a little role for all of us in each number. They're not all overwrought with emotion, just honest folk tunes from somebody who seems like a good, wholesome dude. This album plays like a friend who's just calling to check in and tell you what's been going on.

LINK:
Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests Of...

Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog

Here's the new one from Iron & Wine, and it is outstanding... his best since The Creek Drank the Cradle. That's saying something because over 2 albums and 3 EPs, his work has always progressed artistically, and been strikingly consistent.

The Shepherd's Dog finds Sam Beam taking on gradually more expansive arrangements and instrumentation. If the muddy homemade recordings on Creek showed Beam's potential as a songwriter, then Shepherd is his PhD dissertation. Highly recommended.



LINK:
Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog

Sufjan Stevens: Michigan

If you love Illinois, you're gonna like Michigan, Ole Suf-boy's home state and initial foray in to the much-discussed 50 states project. Though it is stylistically similar to it's follower, the album is little less dense and melodically developed, with fewer ensemble-oriented tunes and more of a solo and rock-band feel.

Highlights:

• "Flint" -- one of Suf's better solo piano ballads
  
• "For the Widows..." -- Banjo!
  
• "The Upper Peninsula" -- excellent vocal harmonies, and great band feel
  
• "Detroit, Lift Up..." -- Poly-rhythm madness you know and love

LINK:
Sufjan Stevens: Michigan

New Okkervil River - "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe"

Once Stage Names, the new Okkervil album coming August hits I'll have a few hundred more plays piled on to the old Last.fm tracker (which, by the way, you should get).

Here's the opening cut from the album, and it's predictably mega. Even better it shows that Okkervil River continue to explore some new directions while refining everything that made their last album Black Sheep Boy the best release of 2005 (IMHO of course). Will Sheff comes even closer to blowing out his voice on this track -- and in fact may have.

LISTEN:
Okkervil River - "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe"

Los Lobos - Just Another Band From East L.A.

Recorded in 1978, this album is a glorified demo tape used by Los Lobos to nab restaurant and weddings gigs around L.A. at the time. The album features some very well-known cuts (the versions of both "Guantanamera" and "Sabor a Mi" are highlights) and a huge vareity of folk song genres, ranging from Ranchera ro Bolero to Son.

Even if you don't speak a lick of Spanish, you'll appreciate the energy, enthusiasm, and vituosity behind these recordings.

DOWNLOAD:
Los Lobos - Del Este de Los Angeles (Just Another Band from East L.A.)