long time coming but now the snow is gone.

The snow isn't quite all gone yet, but when I looked out my window this morning I noticed that mountains of snow have been reduced to a few inches of mostly dirty snow that is quickly melting away. And so, as we do every year, PTC celebrates the beginning of spring with this Josh Ritter song, off his fabulous 2003 album, Hello Starling.

Snow Is Gone


celebrate.

and hell, i took you up on all your threats to leave.

Massive thanks goes to JV, via David Dye, for passing this artist my way. Dan Mangan is a twenty-seven year old singer/songwriter from the Vancouver area, and as of this morning, is aggressively improving my world. He's put out two full length albums, the most recent was Nice, Nice, Very Nice in 2010. He's a touring machine, and fortunately will be at the Winnipeg Folk Festival in July (see you there). Below are three tunes Mangan played at Edmonton's 95.7 The Sound last November (I may have just discovered that LeVar Burton works there!). The first of the three, Road Regrets, blew me away this morning. All three songs are well-written, and if you like Mumford & Sons or The Tallest Man on Earth then you'll love Dan Mangan.

Road Regrets


Sold


I Will


it saves.

the place we used to call our home can't be found when were alone

I first heard Joshua Radin in the background of a Grey's Anatomy episode in 2006. I was never much of a fan of the show, but holy tornado did they have some tremendous soundtracks. Seems to me that most prime time series' on major networks have the same formula: shit drama that manages to suck you in and incredibly good, new music that adds significant weight to the dramatic moments.

A good friend of mine, KKC, asked me to recommend some musicians that were similar to Alexi Murdoch (new album just came out, post coming soon) to her a few weeks back, so I replied with a boatload. A few days later she sent me a message explaining her new burning love for Joshua Radin, especially his song "No Envy, No Fear." I'd heard all or nearly all of Radin's first two albums, and liked most of the tracks, but somehow missed the final track on his second release, Simple Times. So, I sat down to youtube during a break from thesis work and found three clips of Radin at PASTE, all of which are below. But the first listen of "No Envy, No Fear" was an absolutely sledgehammer to my chest. I mean it sat me right down and took hold of me for a good hour. The idea behind the song and the fact that it was inspired by Bob Dylan only gives the song more weight.

The third video is "Winter," the song that launched his career when Zack Braff included it on Scrubs in 2004.

Radin's third album, The Rock and the Tide, came out in October of last year, one in which he left the somber, solo approach at home, brought in a full band, and attacked the space with a new, upbeat sound. It's not hard, it's just faster paced and has more depth. The last video is the first track and also my favorite song off the album, called "Road To Ride On."

No Envy, No Fear


You've Got Growin' Up To Do


Winter


Road to Ride On


it saves.

everyone's Irish today.

In conjunction with the Irish Holiday (cough) that Americans, regardless of their amount of Irish ancestry use to get hammered drunk, I offer up some of my favorite Irish-themed tunes. Don't forget to have fun.

The Pogues - Body of an American


Spirit of the West - Home for a Rest (yes, I know they're Canadian)


Flogging Molly - Drunken Lullabies


enjoy.

and the hardest thing about this love is that it's never gonna last.

The Rural Alberta Advantage recently released their second album, Departing (Saddle Creek) and with it, have taken a progressive leap forward since their 2009 debut album, Hometowns. The ten songs on this album are collectively much more fast-paced and offer up much more musical depth than their softer, more somber debut release (which was quite good in its own right). The trio of Canadian musicians are currently at SXSW (I vow to be there next year) and will join up with James Vincent McMorrow to tour several midwest cities, among others, following SXSW. Below are my favorite/youtube available tracks off their new album. Also, here is what Pitchfork had to say about the new release. Oh, and the video for Stamp is awesome.

Stamp


Under the Knife


music saves.

i've got the cure for the shape that you're in.

The Low Anthem have released a new studio album. I thoroughly enjoy it. Below is the single and top track, Apothecary Love, recorded by Le Blogotheque at Grand Central Station in NYC. Just for the sake of good music, the second posted video is their stunning rendition of This God Damn House at PASTE Magazine in the fall of 2008.

Apothecary Love


This God Damn House


music saves.