Johnny Flynn | Country Mile

I have been enjoying the new album by poet, singer and actor Johnny Flynn.  We're featuring it tonight at 9 on The Album Of The Week.  Check out the fun and creative video for the title track "Country Mile".

Lou Reed on Martha's Vineyard 1997

When Lou Reed arrived at WMVY in the early morning of October 12, 1997 for an interview, there was a rooster in the tree next to the front door.  I remembered seeing the rooster around before and I thought, “There’s that rooster.” Lou saw it as we greeted each other outside and he said something like “I love that, a rooster in a tree!”  It was a funny, and a very Vineyard kind of icebreaker...  read more in the Vineyard Gazette.

When Lou Reed arrived at WMVY in the early morning of Oct. 12, 1997 for an interview, there was a rooster in the tree next to the front door. I had seen the rooster around before and I thought, “There’s that rooster.” Lou saw it as we greeted each other outside and he said something like “I love that, a rooster in a tree!” It was a funny, and a very Vineyard kind of icebreaker. - See more at: http://mvgazette.com/news/2013/10/31/remembering-lou-reed-calm-vineyard-moment?k=vg52697c726a0a3#sthash.KlnhpHRG.dpuf

Patty Larkin | Still Green

I sat down with Patty in August to talk about her new record "Still Green". Listen to what she has to say about this very personal, insightful and beautiful album here.

Feist at Newport Folk

Leslie Feist played the main stage at Newport Folk just now with the rain falling and soaking fans pulling up close to the stage. She was with her drummer and keyboard player, and all of them locked into a great groove and feel. Feist’s guitar playing anchored the whole set and it was inspired and rugged and rocking and spontaneous. All the familiar melody lines ran through the songs in a different way. She came out to the front part of the stage a couple of times and the crowd loved it. She put her guitar down and grabbed her hat at one point and did a little 5 second moonwalk as she launched into another song. Feist uses her voice in such an unusual way, running up as it rises, swooping down as dips and dives, pulling back and rushing forward, opening up to the vast expanse of her art.

Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell | Old Yellow Moon

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell have known each other for close to forty years and they knew that one day they would make an album together. Thankfully that day has come! "Old Yellow Moon' was released earlier this week.

Harris was introduced to Crowell's music in 1974 by Brian Ahern, her former husband and producer of her early albums.  Ahern produced the new CD.  Harris heard "Bluebird Wine" from a cassette tape that Ahern played for her, and "that was the ticket," she said. That early Rodney Crowell song, which Crowell never recorded, is included on the new album with Rodney taking the lead vocal and Emmylou, the back-up.

Crowell contributed four songs to the project, with others coming from Kris Kristofferson, Matraca Berg, Hank DeVito, Roger Miller and Allen Reynolds. It is obvious that a lot of thought went into the choice of songs, but after listening to the album a few times, I feel like they could take ANY song in the world and make it their own.

The years playing on the road and in the studio, and their life experiences have added up and inform every note on this record. Both Harris' and Crowell's voices have never sounded better. Their finesse in delivering a song is on par with the best of the best, and there are many moments of absolute brilliance. Brian Ahern, Vince Gill, Bill Payne, Stuart Duncan provide top notch accompaniment.

Harris and Crowell talk about the project in this video, shot in Crowell's home studio, with Crowell's dog listening in and observing the action

Trixie Whitley| Fourth Corner

I've been listening to the new Trixie Whitley album "Fourth Corner" and I'm loving it. I wanted to share this video. Things are not as solid as they seem..

Jesse Harris | Sub Rosa

As I was listening to the new Jesse Harris, I went to his website to see what he was up to and what he was saying about his new album.  He has posted several videos of his new songs, all filmed with an iPhone.  The videos are simple and beautiful and they really enhanced my experience of the songs so I thought I'd post a couple here.

This is Jesse's 11th album and most of it has a Brazilian feel.  There are strings, horns, and guest appearances from Norah Jones (he'll join Norah on her tour of South America in November and December), Conor Oberst, Richard Julian, Melody Gardot and more.

The Tallest Man On Earth | There's No Leaving Now

Kristian Mattson has the rare talent that allows him to create and hold a space in which all of us on the other side of his guitar can come in direct contact, face to face, heart to heart with his thoughtful and passionate art.

Mattson, who records and performs as The Tallest Man On Earth, recorded his third full length album "There's No Leaving Now", in his home studio in Darlana, Sweden with his signature minimal accompaniment.  He added Matts Winkvist on bass on several tracks and Niclas Nordin on drums on a couple. It's subtle, but there's a little lift with this support.

Mattson's guitar playing is distinctive whether he's strumming or picking and the well placed reverb on his voice augments the emotional waves that roll through each track. The Tallest Man On Earth is a Romantic, like the musical, visual and literary artists of the 1800's who placed emotion and connection at the center of their work.

The album will be released on June 12th. Just after the release, he returns to Town Hall in New York City to play a couple of sold-out shows. It was there that The Tallest Man On Earth opened for Bon Iver in 2008 and the reaction of the audience led to a buzz that started to propel Mattson to a new status.

The space around Kristian Mattson is rarefied and pure. It just occurred to me, maybe that's why he calls himself The Tallest Man On Earth.

JD McPherson | Signs & Signifiers

Oklahoma born vocalist and guitarist JD McPherson gets deep inside the music on his debut album Signs & Signifiers. R&B, Blues, Rockabilly and Hip-hop have influenced his sound and he goes way beyond a mere retro trip back through these styles. He cuts a new path with his sharp eye and ear. Recorded in the Chicago attic studio of producer/bassist Jimmy Sutton, it's "100% analog". Alex Hall is on drums, piano and organ. You'll get the idea with these videos. Great groove, honest(leads)to goodness.

Cold Specks

The debut album from Canada's Cold Specks, "I Predict A Graceful Expulsion" is due on May 22nd. We received an advance copy. I have been listening and wanted to share this video...

Julia Stone | It's All Okay

I just played the new Julia Stone on mvy's What's New For Lunch-love it!! Check out the video...dark night, vintage Thunderbird, steering wheel on the right, blond and eventually barefoot Julia.

Joe Pug | The Great Despiser

Joe Pug has done a clever thing in using Shawn Stuckey's artwork on his CD covers and his website. Not only is it beautiful, but when we received his new album this week and I saw that familiar style on the cover drawing, I knew Joe was back in town.

"The Great Despiser", which will be released April 24th, is the follow-up to 2010's "Messenger". Here's Joe baring his soul once again with his resonant, somewhat mournful vocal delivery and beautifully straightforward guitar finger-picking and strumming. He communicates the importance of the songs he's written through his unwavering commitment to every note. About half of the songs have full band arrangements and it's great to hear Joe rock out. He keeps a balance, though, and doesn't forsake the winning simplicity of just his voice and guitar.

I listened back to an interview I did with Joe backstage at Newport Folk 2009 and his performance from that same year. Something to keep you going until the album is released in April...

Click here for the interview

Click here for the Newport Folk performance