Rock Torch

Mark Bates carries a torch for Neil Young

by

Mark Bates and Neil Young

Mark Bates and Neil Young

Mark Bates’s recommendation: “I’d have to say that the artist who always moves me with what he’s doing (regardless of where his muse takes him) is Neil Young. There aren’t many writers left that can follow their dreams without compromise. Compromise is not a word in Neil Young’s vocabulary and it never will be. As a performer, Neil allows himself to be incredibly vulnerable on stage, and that enables the audience to become a part of his world. Most artists have difficulty being that naked on stage. For example, you’ll never see Bob Dylan (my second favorite artist) sitting alone behind an antique pump organ in a sold out theater. Neil is a little introverted publicly and is a very private person but seeing him perform is an open window to his soul. That’s a rarity these days.”

New to Neil Young? Mark suggests you start here: “Harvest Moon is an absolute masterpiece. I relate to this album in the same way that I relate to my first love. A magical experience. My mother played the album while I was still in a car seat, so it’s been around most of my life. The meaning of the songs have changed for me as time has gone on. Anyone who has loved, lost, and longed for whatever it is they used to have will be emotionally attached to the album. “The same things that make you live can kill you in the end,” sums up the whole record (and life) for me. The late Ben Keith plays lap steel and helps produce the album. It brought tears to my eyes when he passed a few weeks ago, but this album is a great example of how amazing he was too. They were a great team. I think it’s the quintessential Neil Young album.”

Mark BatesAbout our guest author, Mark Bates: Mark is only 21 years old, but he has already written over 21 songs. His rootsy Americana caught the attention NPR and in July they made his heartfelt song, Death Sucks the the song of the day. His 2009 release, Down the Narrow is available at Amazon and you can hear samples from that album here.

MP3: Flyin’ Shoes, written by Townes Van Zant, performed by Mark Bates


Adam Green carries a torch for Turner Cody

by

Adam Green and Turner Cody

Adam Green and Turner Cody

Adam Green’s recommendation: “I recommend Turner Cody, he’s one of my favorite songwriters. We got started together, both playing at open mics and on the subway in New York. I look up to him because he has a deep grasp of poetics and because he’s tall. Turner is somewhat of a contrarian (e.g. he’s a Jewish Republican who was born a Waspy Democrat) and his music likewise is unconventional. A song like ‘This Springtime’ is cunningly intellectual while still serving to continue the folk tradition. Nobody writes more romantic songs than Turner. Unfortunately one could maybe use a libretto for some of his lyrics because he mumbles sometimes.”

New to Turner Cody? Adam Green suggests you start here: “People should start off with a compilation 60 Seasons which is available on iTunes. I wish it had ‘Nicole’s Song’ on it (one of my favorites) but it’s a good introduction to his early work and people can get an idea from there. He’s probably recorded 10 albums which you can probably acquire if you go to his MySpace page. Enjoy!”

MP3: Next To You by Turner Cody

Adam GreenAbout the guest author, Adam Green: Adam Green’s music career began in the mid ’90s when he and Kimya Dawson formed the wildly popular indie band, The Moldy Peaches, a duo that later expanded into a six piece outfit that opened internationally for The Strokes. The band’s ‘Anyone Else But You’ was recently featured in Juno, featuring Michael Cera and Ellen Page’s adorable take on the song before the credit roll. The Moldy Peaches are on hiatus and Adam has since released a slew of great CDs, complete with songs about ‘Rich Kids,’ ‘White Women,’ ‘Hairy Women’ and, well, Jessica Simpson (see below). Adam’s is touring so be sure to spy the dates here.


Anna-Lynne Williams of Trespassers William carries a torch for Sergius Gregory

by

Anna-Lynne Williams and Sergius Gregory

Anna-Lynne Williams and Sergius Gregory

Anna-Lynne Williams’ recommendation: “I have long loved the songs of Sergius Gregory. He doesn’t have any pressed albums and maybe I like that his music feels like a secret. He records in a cabin in Alaska, and accompanies himself on cello and drums. It’s the kind of music that you listen to when the world is too loud, or your heartbeat is too loud, or you want someone to sing you to sleep. It sounds gauzy and drunken and wise. I take his songs with me everywhere. I love that however murky the recordings are or how cruel the sentiment, he can’t help but make everything beautiful with his voice.

His music is scattered around the internet, and there are some beautiful songs on MySpace. Some good ones to start with are ‘Next of Kin,’ ‘Better,’ and ‘Bricks & Mortar’.”

MP3: Next Of Kin by Sergius Gregory

Anna-Lynne WilliamsAbout the guest author, Anna-Lynne Williams: Anna-Lynne is one half of the band Trespassers William, the Seattle based shoegaze duo that have caught the eyes and ears of several television music soundtrack producers. Their brand of dream pop has been showcased most notably on Felicity, The O.C., and One Tree Hill. The band is currently working on their fourth album, but in the mean time, Anna-Lynne has released a gorgeous solo record under the name of Lotte Kestner. And big points to you out there that knew that the group’s name is borrowed from a character in Winnie the Pooh, a reference we actually confirmed on Just-Pooh.com.

Keep up with Trespassers William at their official site and hear Anna-Lynne’s performance of ‘Alone’ in the YouTube clip below:


Rusty Willoughby carries a torch for Scott Walker

by

Rusty Willoughby and Scott Walker

Rusty Willoughby and Scott Walker

Rusty Willoughby’s recommendation: “To me, Scott Walker has always exemplified everything that is wonderful and mysterious about music. His creative output between the years 1967 – 1969 on his solo releases, Scott I – Scott IV can arguably be considered one of the most consistent streaks of musical creativity and confidence ever put to record. Scott’s music is grand American Music filtered through the haze of nascent 1960’s pop artistic renaissance and the old world charm of artists such as Jacques Brel and Yves Montand. Brel, in particularly, was a heavy influence as you’ll find many Brel tunes translated and covered on Scott’s records.

From his early days playing bass in the Walker Brothers (not real brothers, as you probably already know) through his more taciturn stretch composing solo albums, Scott Walker’s continued march from Pop Stardom to Musical Savant was steady as she goes. Eschewing the typical Pop Star lifestyle in pursuit of more pure and honest personal expression, Scott Walker has always been a major influence on me, and i’m sure, any artist looking to find their own way in an absurd and beautiful world.”

Rusty WilloughbyAbout the guest author, Rusty Willoughby: Rusty has been a known entity in the Seattle area since 1990. He’s led and/or performed in local acts Flop, Llama and Pure Joy. He also has a strong collection of solo offerings that carefully balance catchy melodies, sweet harmonies and lush string arrangements. You will hear hints of Elliot Smith, but repeated listens reveal a unique voice that will earn a place on your iTunes most played list. Try starting with his Cobirds Unite record, which features Barrett Martin, Barb Antonio, Margrethe Bjorklund, Rachel Flotard, Johnny Sangster, Scott Sutherland, Lisa King and Tillman Herb. Rusty performs often and an upcoming show finds him opening for Black Francis with Rachel Flotard of Visqueen at the Tripledoor in Seattle. Check the Rusty Willoughby site for complete tour dates.

MP3: Too Early by Rusty Willoughby from the Cobirds Unite album

newsletter software