I put the cover back on the grill this Labor Day evening and thought, well, that's it for summer. And even though the Atlanta temperatures are probably not going to play along any time soon, Labor Day for me pretty much heralds the end of the season. As much as I love autumn, I always hate to say goodbye to summer. Goodbye to swimming pools and beaches and hot, lazy days with nothing going on. Goodbye to white bucks and Seersucker suits (just kidding). Still, the turn of the season seems like an excellent opportunity to highlight a few records that I picked up over the course of the summer that, somehow or another, got a little lost in the shuffle initially, but later came to assert themselves with repeated listenings.
The Sea And Cake - Everybody. This record is butterfly-wing light and breezy, with interesting, gauzy guitar work and ethereal vocals that suggest a post-modern Mose Allison. At first listen, this record was just too delicate to stick, but it grew on me quickly, and became a "go to" album in short order. It comes highly recommended for convertables at sunset.
MP3: The Sea And Cake - "Up On Crutches" from Everybody
Ola Podrida - Ola Podrida. Another breezy stroll that should prove to be an equally good Autumnal soundtrack comes from Ola Podrida, which is essentially David Wingo, who has scored movies for indie-filmmaker David Gorden Green. This self-titled debut is a Southwestern acoustic treat that has also proved to be a grower that I've come back to time and time again this summer. The track included here, "Cindy," is a slow burner that is somewhat more intense than the rest of the record, and a definite highlight. Fans of M.Ward will be pleased with this album.MP3: Ola Podrida - "Cindy" from Ola Podrida
Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara. Last (for now), but certainly not least, is this record, which received a fair amount of attention in the blogosphere earlier this year, but for me was yet another grower that gained considerable strength over the course of the summer. This is a bit of gothic Americana with a softly lilting tenor and delicate, folkish background music not too far removed from Sufjan Stevens. Finger-picked guitars, accented with a gentle, stream-side banjo and minimalist percussion, cast a real spell that transports you to a simpler time. I recommend putting this on while sipping wine on a deck late at night while the rest of the family sleeps.
MP3: Great Lake Swimmers - "Changing Colours" from Ongiara.
Speaking of catching up, be sure and stop by Friend of TTT Pop Headwound and check out a plethora of MP3s that he's been meaning to post, but only now just getting around to. I know the feeling . . .
