It is amazing what a difference a week makes. Our station was inundated with three boxes of CD’s from the Post Office. This makes my quest for new music easier but it also means I might miss something really good. I can tell you though that the material I had for my radio show this week was outstanding. Let me tell you about what I found.

I started the program with Seeker Lover Keeper. They are kind of an Australian super group; but if you’re not from Australia you probably have no idea who they are. They are comprised of a trio of ladies, led by Sarah Blasko, who I have featured before on my show. Sarah formed this band/project with Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby. They all contribute songwriting duties, vocal leads and instrumentation. The self-titled, debut release came out in Australia back in June of 2011 and found itself #3 on the ARIA Albums Chart a week later. (Higher than any former release from Blakso, Seltmann or Throsby individually) The album digitally dropped here in the States earlier this month. The song I selected for you this morning was penned and sung by Sarah. She wrote this song originally back when she was eighteen, while listening to a lot of PJ Harvey material, but never recorded it. When joined by Seltmann and Throsby, Sarah felt that this was the musical vehicle to launch this tune. It’s called “Every Time.”

I completed that opening set with another track from Kathleen Edwards. Her new album, VOYAGEUR (released on Rounder Records) officially came out last week and I thought I’d revisit it. I have been playing “Change The Sheets,” which is the lead off single but I wanted to give you a different taste of the depth of this album. The sample I chose to play was “Sidecar.” It’s got a little more oomph to it than some of her other material. (I wish she’d do that a tad more)

Changing musical direction with an absolutely lovely down-tempo gem from Bahamas, which is Afie Jurvanen. This talented Canadian guitarist has worked with many of his compatriots as a studio musician and tour player; artists like Feist, Jason Collett and Zeus. His new album, his second, is called BARCHORDS. I was quite taken with a couple of tunes; track two – “Caught Me Thinking,” which I will be playing in upcoming weeks; and the lead off track, “Lost In The Light” and it’s the one I pick to air. It’s good stuff.

Then came the latest from Dare Dukes. Now I know Dare Dukes isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but this song really got my attention. I think if you broke down the elements of the song, banjo, nasally voice and an off-kilter tempo; it would never fly. However, Dukes blends these quirky elements into a brilliant product. The song is “Meet You At The Bus,” which I have played before, back in November, and since the entire album just dropped last week, it gave me a good excuse to play it again. The tune can be found on the disc; THUGS AND CHINA DOLLS. (Download it free from here)

Let’s keep things moving here with a band I tweeted about earlier this week, which is why you should be following me on Twitter (It keeps you way ahead of the New Music curve) Anyway, I am smitten with this group; they are Audra Mae & The Almighty Sound. Audra is the great grand niece of Judy Garland. (I don’t know what that does for you but it seems noteworthy) She is from Oklahoma City but has since relocated out to California where she released her debut album, THE HAPPIEST LAMB, in 2010. Well, Audra is back with her sophomore effort and she’s brought some support; in the form of a backing band known as The Almighty Sound. She’s enlisted the help of Deana Carter to produce the album and she’s picked, and penned, some good tunes to fill the release. The lead off track of their self-titled disc is “The Real Thing;” and it is indeed. Oh…BTW, the album releases on February 14th.

Closing off that two-song set was Poor Moon; they are Christian Wargo (Fleet Foxes, Crystal Skulls) Casey Wescott (Fleet Foxes, Crystal Skulls) and brothers Ian and Peter Murray. Apparently, the band is named after Wargo’s favorite Canned Heat song, which I think is a great way to name one’s band. This new band formation just signed with Sub Pop records (good catch; but not that surprising that Fleet Foxes are on Sub Pop) and they are going to be releasing an EP; ILLUSIONS, which comes out on March 27th. The song I sampled was “People In Her Mind.,” which I believe can be downloaded for free via Sub Pop’s band page. BTW, Poor Moon will be playing at the Museum Of Fine Arts, here in Boston, on April 13th.

My lineage subject was Nada Surf. Nada Surf originally formed in 1993 and had early success, using Billboard Charts as the measure of that success, but they almost fell into the one-hit-wonder category. However, the two founding members, Matthew Caws and Daniel Lorca, kept their vision alive. After a four-year hiatus the boys resurfaced and produced a solid Indie album, LET GO. They’ve never returned to the “chart” success but they’ve managed to produce a quality product and play a good live show. The shows they are planning now are in support of their new disc, THE STARS ARE INDIFFERENT TO ASTRONOMY, which came out January 24th. That is extraordinary that they’ve made it twenty years. Anyway, the song sample I had for part one of this feature was “Waiting For Something.”

For part two of the feature I played “Inside Of Love,” which is from the album LET GO.

My re-issue song of the week was from Stone Roses. Technically, they were only together a little over ten years; with only two albums to their name but that had a huge impact on college radio in the late nineties. Their debut, self-titled album was so successful that it took them five years to do their follow up release; but it just couldn’t live up to the promise. They broke up a few years later. It was only just last year when I featured the Stone Roses as my Re-Issue of the Week due to the 20th anniversary release of one of their albums. But hey, I like these guys a lot so any reason seems good to me. The re-issue project today is an album titled THE VERY BEST OF THE STONE ROSES and the song I had for the show wass “She Bangs The Drums.”

Next came the latest material from School Of Seven Bells. I really find this band interesting. Their music vision is always BIG; with great arrangements partnered with engaging melodies and appealing lyrics. The new album, GHOSTORY, is due out this Spring. They have an engagement booked at The Brighton Music Hall, confusingly located in Allston, set for May 4th. The track I aired was, “Lafaye,” which is the lead off single; however, you can download a deeper track, “The Night,” for free, via their SoundCloud page.

“Blue” is not the selected single from First Aid Kit but I liked it best off their new album, THE LION’S ROAR. They are a wonderfully gifted duo that craft outstanding Folk music with beautiful harmonies and if I wanted to Veg-out or go to sleep; I’d put on this album. However, that is not how I consume music. I want it to inspire or evoke and hopefully make you engaged or possibly moving to the rhythm. I just thought this was the most accessible tune on the album.

I finished off that lovely set with the latest from Jessie Baylin. I just love the feel of this song. Jessie sounds like Dusty Springfield on her tune “Hurry Hurry.” I think is must be the strings that spark that thought. I haven’t had a chance to listen to the remainder of this album but I’m looking forward to it. For those of you who care about these things; I read that Jessie is married to Nathan Followill, who is the drummer for Kings Of Leon. That is an interesting musical partnership. Anyway, the new album, LITTLE SPARK, just came out last week.

Let me slip in one more from Jenny Owen Youngs. She is back with her third album, AN UNWAVERING BAND OF LIGHT, and it’s a great complement to her previous work. If you’re not familiar with Miss Youngs, she does a great job combining Pop, Neo-Folk and Indie, along with some clever lyrics; and you’ll get a good taste of it on the song I selected. The track is “Your Apartment.” Also, FYI, Jenny has an upcoming show at the Middle East in Cambridge on March 24th

Songs in BOLD are links to videos of that song. Songs that are ITALICIZED are links to Soundcloud Audio Files of said song.

Come listen LIVE on wmfo.org from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. (I could use the support) ;^)

If you are interested in having me produce a designed playlist for you; email me your contact details and we discuss how to make that happen.

If you missed the live version…check out the archived one. Here’s the LINK.

I suggest you follow me on Twitter and get an early taste on new music that comes out each week. (FYI, The Drums, Katie Costello and Smoove & Turrell are now all following me…how cool it that?)