Every year or so I write about a couple random indie rock bands. I’m semi proud to say in the past it’s included bands like Blitzen Trapper, The Shaky Hands, The Embarrassing Fruits, etc., etc. I’ll write about them early in their career and then as they take off I’ll abandon them to bigger (better) music blogs. But I’ve actually got a pretty good track record at picking indie rock mini-superstars.

Anyway one such band is the English group Pacific Ocean Fire. I wrote about their debut record back when I did a “British Music Week” in 2006. The band has had a number of sobering experiences since and their new music reflects that. It’s more introspective and thoughtful and troubled than in the past. Also they have a wonderful female singer doing duets on a number of tracks including this one:

Coal Black Hearts

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Grayson Capps has a new live record out on Hyena Records. I’ve linked to an mp3 of the New Orleans flavored track “Washboard Lisa” on my twitter feed. It’s a Twitter exclusive so head on over. Follow me here.

I’m not completely sold on all the young newgrassy bands (how `bout you?). Crooked Still, The Duhks and others just leave me a little cold. The music is pristine and shiny, but at times lacks the passion of less acclaimed and even less purely talented groups.

One of the most acclaimed young groups that stradle this line between polished bluegrass and down to earth country is Nashville’s Infamous Stringdusters. They’ll be releasing their new record on Sugar Hill In June. The guys in the `Dusters can certainly play, and that, along with their age and scruffy appearance, are a few of the reasons the band is treated more like a jam band than a bluegrass band on the road.

So here’s “You Can’t Handle The Truth” from the sophomore long player from the Infamous Stringdusters. Compare and contrast with the Hayman, Watkins, Trout and Lee song below.

You Can’t Handle The Truth

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What perfect timing. Here’s an example of an English band playing traditional American music just for kicks around the kitchen table. Hayman, Watkins, Trout and Lee is the name of Darren Hayman’s bluegrass inspired americana group. Darren Hayman is the former front man for the English cult pop group Hefner. So this will receive a wider release than your “typical” London bluegrass band; it’ll be out on Fortuna POP! via Cargo and iTunes on May 6 (today!).

They literally recorded this around the kitchen table in Darren’s flat. It’s probably a purist’s nightmare and is no doubt riddled with miscues and off key singing. But there’s something to this. The lyrics are original and address topics that are more relevant cold Appalachian winters and/or moonshine stills. So again compare this with the song above and see what you think.

Buy it now here. Here’s the song “Sly and the Family Stone”

Sly and the Family Stone

and a cute video of Darren’s dog running around England to the tune of “Beulah Crossing The Marshes”

So which do you prefer or did you even read this far?

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Bonus demo of “Don’t Flake Out On Me” from the upcoming reissue of Hefner’s 2nd record The Fidelity Wars.

Don’t Flake Out On Me

One thing usually leads to another here and that’s just what happened after this week’s post on Two Fingers Of Firewater. I compared them to the British band The Tailors. I later checked in on the band and learned they’re prepping a new record called Come Dig Me Up – the follow-up to 2007′s acclaimed debut Wakey Wakey (I wrote glowingly about the band here and here).

“What You Say” is listed on The Tailors MySpace page as an outtake from the Come Dig Me Up sessions. If this is indeed an outtake than this record is going to be one to die for. The song harnesses all the energy of Uncle Tupelo, Social Distortion and Sun Volt and then manages to incorporate all these great harmonies and melodies in the chorus. It’s abrasive and soothing at the same time; a real gem. The new record will be out sometime in 2008 but you can (and should) order Wakey Wakey here now.

What You Say

Tom Williams is keeping busy. Hot on the heels of his recent Penguin EP he’s releasing a follow-up called simply February EP. There are 5 songs on there that are so thoroughly English you feel like you’re listening to a busker in Kensington Gardens instead of an acclaimed solo artist. People are throwing around terms like anti-folk and comparisons to Lightspeed Champion for Tom Williams & The Boat and I hear all that.

But these songs fit just as easily into a revised troubadour type sound; like a Bob Dylan for the 00′s. In other spots though, these sound as layered and lyrically evolved as something the Decemberists might release. On “Small Boy” there’s a lot of stopping and starting and frantic shifts in dynamics. While “Train Station Car Park” is more about family dynamics and getting old, than it is about said car park and the horrible traffic on the M25. February is another step forward for Tom Williams & The Boat

Small Boy
Train Station Car Park

“Trixy Vixen Does It Again” also from the February EP (and btw if you’re an artist and you’re not taking advantage of YouTube you’re crazy!)