Folk

Best of Outside Lands: Beck, Radiohead, Wilco...

If you didn't make it to the Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco last weekend (or you did and want to relive it), check out our free playlist and photo gallery below featuring some of the top acts. While everyone had their own unique experience, the climatic triple threat of Bon Iver, Broken Social Scene and Wilco on Sunday was my personal highlight. A common theme throughout the day was crowd participation (there were several occasions when the audience was invited to clap, sing, and scream along). From the reviews that I've read, and from general word-of-mouth buzz, the festival appeared to be a great success. Hopefully the artists and promoters feel the same way and will book a second annual Outside Lands next year!

Free playlist featuring Manu Chao, Radiohead, The Cool Kids, Nicole Atkins, Beck, The Walkmen and more:

Outside Lands photo gallery below courtesy of Ryan Salm - Ryansalmphotography.com

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Meiko, 'Under My Bed': Free MP3 of the Day

If you think Brandi Carlile's unlucky in love, you haven't heard Meiko. Like Carlile, the L.A. songstress makes a husky-voiced post-coffeehouse pop--and makes art out of feeling forlorn. Along with Priscilla Ahn, expect her to vie for diarist of the year.

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Jonatha Brooke, 'There's More True Lovers Than One': Free MP3 of the Day

Brooke's new LP is required listening, and not only for folk junkies. "The Works" sets old Woody Guthrie lyrics to new Brooke tunes, a whopper of a project that the songstress proves equal to. Her bittersweet sort of melody is a great match for Guthrie's wry sensibility.

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Sonya Kitchell, 'For Every Drop': Free MP3 of the Day

Hailing from rural Massachusetts, teenager Sonya Kitchell is coming of age with her fresh approach to singing and songwriting. Much like Norah Jones, Kitchell hooks you in with her quiet-is-the-new-loud vocals and delicate arrangements.

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Calexico, 'Two Silver Trees': Free MP3 of the Day

On "Carried to Dust," indie rock's bards of the border continue their remarkable hybrid: old Southwest dirges cross-bred with a particularly dark and brooding folk-pop. Few bands in the scene pull off such a natural dignity--or intimacy.

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Alex Woodard, 'Reno': Free MP3 of the Day

Few singer-songwriters wear their Leonard Cohen influences as well as San Diego's Woodard. And that cool folk melancholy sounds especially fine next to gleaming country-pop guitars. Woodard is tough to classify, and we should consider that an asset.

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Conor Oberst, 'Danny Callahan': Free MP3 of the Day

The man known for not leaving Omaha has now left America entirely. Oberst's new disc (an admittedly solo one, at long last), was cut in Mexico, and seems scented with a freer spirit than the often-sallow Bright Eyes work. Rollicking guitars pair finely with the familiar reedy vocals.

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Theresa Anderson, 'Na Na Na (Empty Heart)': Free MP3 of the Day

There's garden-variety DIY, and then there's Theresa Andersson. Despite, or perhaps because of, her ultra down-home recording tactics (a kitchen studio, a "vibraphone" made from bottles), the Swedish songstress has cut a disc of enough warmth and nuance to put fancy engineers to shame.

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James Jackson Toth, 'Doreen': Free MP3 of the Day

Toth's tumbledown guitars and weary vocals can suggest a '70s Rolling Stones B-Side; one of those sublime little hangover ditties, where Mick just decided to roll tape. Other appealing evocations on the Tennesseean's debut are alt-country types like Gary Louris or Tom Heyman.

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Free playlist: Summer Daze

Now that we're knee-deep into summer, it's time to recap the big festivals going on this season. Coachella and Bonnaroo have come and gone, so now our eyes are on, among others, Lollapalooza in Chicago, Outside Lands in San Francisco, and Rock the Bells in cities nationwide. And it's not too late to catch the Sub Pop 20th Anniversary Festival. This two-day tribute to one of the greatest indie labels ever is happening in Seattle--aka the home of grunge rock--this weekend. Road trip!

Listen to our free Summer Daze playlist by clicking the green button below. Then … Read more