Marni Wandner from Sneak Attack Media deserves a lot of praise for her perseverance. Not only does she send out regular emails, of which I am a recipient, but she also mails me the occasional physical copy of an album regardless of whether or not I reviewed the previous album {or dozen}. And now I’ve just realized I really have no idea as to the gender associated with the name Marni… so here’s to you, androgynous Marni, thanks for the hard work.
On this occasion I had the privilege of opening a package containing the latest effort by Langhorne Slim. He’s a singer/songwriter bloke who, on this album Langhorne Slim & The War Birds (iTunes), could easily be cataloged alongside early Dylan, or present day contemporaries such as Josh Ritter, Paolo Nutini, and Zach Williams. It’s a mournful disc filled with love songs; some happy and some more downtrodden. Taken altogether this is a very cohesive effort that moves with an assured pace from the brief and quick opener, Spinning Compass, to the melancholy closing track, Hummingbird.
mp3 : Langhorne Slim - Spinning Compass {removed by request}
mp3 : Langhorne Slim - Hummingbird {removed by request}
mp3 : Langhorne Slim - Rebel Side of Heaven {added by request}
This has easily been one of my favorite albums thus far in 2008. I know it’s rather ridiculous to say that seeing as how there’s no way to know, come end of the year, what albums will have staying power month after month. But I’d be willing to bet that come the end of the year I’ll still be listening to this disc as much as Cloud Cult or MGMT. {I’d also like to point out that Langhorne played a show just last night with Josh Ritter. I think pairing him with Zach Williams would be equally beneficial}.
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I’m really digging this guy. Great find.
Speaking of great find, have you heard of “We Have Band”? Just heard a track of theirs and thought it was really cool.
Thank G-d someone else is singing the praises of Langhorne! I can tell you, as a singer/songwriter who is extremely finicky and stingy with the kudos, Mr. Slim has “got it”. I have found that his genius in joyfully expressing himself heart and soul is a thing unique to his personality, stamped and alive on the album, and that in America we have been insensated to the “real thing” for a long, long time. I have actually been in contact with one of the major rock radio stations in Los Angeles who, while admitting that LS is “special”, still has not broadcast and shared his music with the region. KCRW has helped him, though, and I think it will eventually dawn on Clear Channel’s minions that Langhorne cannot nor will not be denied. Cream rises to the top.
The best thing since Bob Dylan.