The John Henrys
It’s only fitting a band of Canadian rootsters like this would tap a mythical figure of folklore for their namesake. Indeed, Ottawa’s The John Henrys understand the power of the familiar. But while the mighty Henry keeled over after his big challenge, vocalist-guitarist Rey Sabatin Jr. and company are going strong after theirs, a rollicking alt country salvo called Sweet As The Grain. Released on their own label 9LB Records, distributed through Universal Music in Canada and True North Records in the US, Grain is a record that carves its own path while casting reverent glances toward The Flying Burrito Brothers, Uncle Tupelo, The Band, and a host of others.
Tagged: Canadian bands, folk music
RELATED
Pink Mountaintops — a wry Canadian duo — are getting some pretty steady exposure on my stereo at the moment, and lots of others judging by their steady rise up the rock echelons. They’ve got that skaggy swagger and well-worked male/female vocal arrangements, particularly on Tourist in my Town, that drew so many people to Velvet Undergound and the other psych-stoner rock bands of that era, and the production is similarly lo-fi. Their 2004 eponymous debut album barely sold until frontman Stephen McBean released the debut album of his other band, Black Mountain, and news filtered out of this little gem. Listen to the song, Rock and Roll Fantasy.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Late Bloomer: a brilliant folk album by Allie Moss
I have worked alongside Allie Moss for nearly a year and heard her new album, Late Bloomer, around the end of last year. The album opens with a familiar song, Corner, which was featured on the BT Infinity advert in the UK last year. Her beautiful voice, combined with her gentle acoustic songs, makes it an amazing album that any folk enthusiast can enjoy.
Love and Theft by Andreas Hykade
Traditional folk music was distributed by word of mouth, with musicians trading songs and making other people’s melodies their own. There was no such thing as copyright law. These days, all sorts of media follow the same model, and this video by Andreas Hykade illustrates how the contemporary culture maker can make beautiful new things out of old, recognizable images.
Also by DERRICK STEMBRIDGE
Hailing from The Netherlands, Chris Berens works predominantly with ink, varnish and acrylic. Although, by his own admission, his paintings are not made with a particular message in mind, he works from recollection to create his very personal and intimate images. ‘I treat every painting as I would a diary’, he says, ‘in which I paint my thoughts and feelings’.
Paul Smith limited edition Fisheye No2 camera
Are you into wide angles? Then you might want to check out the new Paul Smith limited edition Fisheye No2 camera. Paul Smith collaborated with Lomography cameras to make this special item, which has a 180 degree wide-angle view and amazing fish-eye barrel distortion. Included is a bulb setting for long exposures and a switch for multiple exposures on the same frame. You also have the ability to use hotshoe flash or the built in flash. The body of the camera is attractive in a fashion sense with its metal accents and the Paul Smith signature multi-colored stripes.
Speck fitted case for iPhone 3G
Here’s one for all you tech savvy fashionistas. Outfit your iPhone 3G in form-fit style with a case from Speck. The lightweight, snap-together design lets you instantly make your iPhone 3G a fashion statement, while the soft fabric provides added comfort and extra grip in hand. Personally, I’m digging the plaid. But maybe that’s just because it’s getting chilly outside.
YOU'RE SAYING (1)
HAVE YOUR SAY
Milwaukee-based artist Kristopher Pollard has a new series of fictional rap portraits. Trying to match, or possibly exceed, the over-the-top style of any given rap icon, Pollard’s heavily detailed series of ink drawings add a few more names to the pool of hip hop extravagance. Read more
We are blown away by the rich, vibrant, mystical, mischevious world of Australian artist Jason Howe, who ‘draws directly from a subconscious drenched in the hallucinogenic, technicolour imagery of Saturday morning cartoons’. His work was most recently on show at Sydney’s Monstrosity Gallery. Read more
Lasse Gjertsen is the future of cut and paste music. He’s just arrived ten years too early and with a really bad haircut.
Mexican architecture firm Senosiain Arquitectos recently designed a shell-shaped dwelling for a Mexico City couple. The owners are already living in their new abode with their two very happy children. The structure is maintenance-free and earthquake proof, and is full of soothing greenery and smooth, rounded surfaces. Read more
Writer Warren Ellis and artist Paul Duffield have teamed up for a pretty stunning, albeit mildly cliched webcomic about mysterious survivors in a post-apocalyptic London submerged in water.
It’s only fitting a band of Canadian rootsters like this would tap a mythical figure of folklore for their namesake. Indeed, Ottawa’s The John Henrys understand the power of the familiar. Read more
If you’re into supporting WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, here are some T-shirts with leaked US Embassy cables and other classified information printed on them.
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Get lost in a daydream or a craving for something sweet while gazing at these cool sculptures by Brooklyn-based WiNK WiNK PONY. Made using clay, tree bark, wood, and mossy moss.
Honest Food Preparation Instructions
Yes, we’ve all been there: the chinese food from last week that still looks edible amongst the bare surrounds of an empty fridge. But really, we shouldn’t. Just let it be. Or College Humor will expose you! Read more
Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
Michelle Blade’s psychedelic artwork
Michelle Blade’s washed out paintings are deceptively simple, her washy acrylics creating psychedelic textures and conjuring ghostly figures from the past. Read more
Nerd-attack! Man, this TARDIS zipper robe is so much cooler than any Star Wars crap people are hawking this days. This is for the true gangsta nerd.
A tribute to the movie trilogy Back to the Future and that childhood fantasy, the Hoverboard, and designed in the style of a vintage comic book ad that promises the earth but delivers very little, this sexy five colour screen printed t shirt is by New Zealand-based label Cuppa t shirts. Read more
If you have a Twitter feed that focuses on cool pop cultural things and you’d like to swap Tweets with Lost At E Minor and other like-minded Twitterers, drop us a note (with Tweet Swap in the title). We have a system in place and we’d like to have you in on it! [illustration by Brad Fitzpatrick]
FOLLOW US
DISCOVER MORE
SO...
SEARCH: Can't find what you're looking for? Do a search..
IS IT GOOD FOR YOU TOO?
We hope you're enjoying your time on Lost At E Minor, but it's not over yet. Got something to share? Tell us about it and we'll look to publish it. If you want to have your work featured on the site, we'd love to hear from you. Pssst, we also have an online store stocking some of the goodies we feature on the site.
If you're a media agency and want to use this platform to connect with our readership, then drop us a line and tell us about it. Oh yeah, and we do digital consulting for cool brands that want to reach the sort of demographic that visits this site.
roentarre said | 21 September, 2008
Is this band in Melbourne atm? Bennet’s lane? Soooo cool