WYEP Music Blog

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Andy Mulkerin of Pittsburgh’s City Paper

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Andy:

Andre Costello and the Cool Minors, “Tumbleweed (They Call Me)” – Andre is an Ellwood City native and current Pittsburgher who recently released his first solo record through an Ohio boutique label called Wild Kindness. His warm, mature voice is offset at times on the album by sonic experimentation, but there’ms a simple, Americana basis for the tunes. Good stuff.

Jeffrey Lewis, “Cult Boyfriend” – Jeffrey Lewis is one of my favorite lyricists, because he mixes a depth of ideas with a penchant for clever wordplay. Sometimes it feels like he wrote the first line of a couplet as a challenge, to see if he can pull of a rhyme that makes sense. He usually can.

Damien Jurado, “Museum Flight” – Yes, it’s Guys With Guitars Week here on the buzz. The latest full-length from the venerable songwriter, Maraqopa, is forthcoming on Secretly Canadian. This track is gorgeous.

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Andy Mulkerin of Pittsburgh’s City Paper

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Andy:

Christopher Paul Stelling, “Mourning Train to Memphis” – Excited about the forthcoming debut LP from this Brooklyn-based Americana songwriter. It’s beautiful and touching in an understated way.

Howlin Rain, “Beneath Wild Wings” – One of my favorite bands of the past five years of so — Howlin Rain is the post-Comets on Fire project of Ethan Miller. This is from their new album, The Russian Wilds, released by American, which finds them straying further from the noisy Southern rock they started out playing, and more into smooth Southern soul.

Hospitality, “Betty Wang” – This is the first single from the garage-pop band’s debut release on Merge. It’s right up my alley, and I’m excited about it — also about them playing Brillobox later this month.

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Andy Mulkerin of Pittsburgh’s City Paper

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Andy – Best of 2011 version!!

I chose to bring songs from my five favorite albums of 2011, disregarding tracks that I thought were great songs from otherwise weak records. Fortunately, it so happens that my no. 1 favorite song of the year made it onto this list anyway!

The Joy Formidable, “Austere” – This Welsh-via-London three-piece had a huge year, releasing The Big Roar and headlining a U.S. tour early then returning to open a leg of the Foo Fighters tour. (Dave Grohl said early on in the year that “Whirring” was his favorite song of 2011, or might be.) Great rock band.

Wye Oak, “Civilian” – Wye Oak’s Civilian is probably my second-favorite album of the year, and the title track is my favorite song of 2011, I’d say. I liked it when I first heard it; when I put it on a mix in spring and listened to it in the car a lot, I feel head-over-heels for it. It’s not structurally interesting — it just builds, musically and thematically. Jenn Wasner’s vocals are mumblingly achey, and the band’s sold-out Club Cafe show this summer was one of the best of the year.

Austra, “Lose It” – I’ll go ahead and call Austra’s Feel It Break my favorite album of 2011. Katie Stelmanis’ vocal calisthenics are astounding; the vibe of the record is dark but not hokey. It’s been fascinating to see Stelmanis’ transformation from slightly awkward-but-talented frontwoman a couple of years ago to the glammed-up consummate performer she is today. I missed them at VIA, so I hope they come back soon.

Rounding out my top five albums:

Tristen, Charlatans at the Garden Gate – It’s rare that I say an album is too short — I’m of the “Get in, get out, leave ‘em wanting more” camp — but I wanted more than 35 minutes from Tristen! Fortunately, I understand she’s got a new album on the way. In the meantime, if you don’t have this one yet, pick it up. Masterfully crafted country-inflected pop tunes from a ridiculously talented member of the Nashville underground.

Pujol, Nasty, Brutish and Short – Another Nashville-ian on my top list — Daniel Pujol released two new EPs as Pujol this year, this one (his debut for Saddle Creek) and “X-File on Main Street” (a more abrasive set of songs, from InfinityCat, which grew on me after a few spins). This one’s poppy, but raw and daring; Pujol is one of the great young lyricists.

Honorable mentions:
The Poison Control Center — Stranger Ballet
Nikki Lane — Walk of Shame
Future Islands — On the Water
Emperor X — Western Teleport
Real Estate — Days

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Andy Mulkerin of Pittsburgh’s City Paper

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Andy (plus two bonus songs):

Nikki Lane, “Coming Home to You” – I played a tune from Nikki Lane’s debut EP a few months back on the Buzz and noted that her forthcoming full-length would prove whether she had staying power. In late September, that album came out, and the answer seems to be: Absolutely. Great songwriter, wonderful voice, cheeky sense of humor (as is evidenced by the title of the full-length, Walk of Shame). This is a delightful re-figuring of a song that first appeared on the EP.

Real Estate, “It’s Real” – This Jersey-via-Brooklyn indie rock band released its latest, Days, last month on Domino. It’s full of catchy, straightforward tunes; this one’s the catchiest, I think. Catch them live in Pittsburgh later this month.

Boca Chica, “Long Range Guns”- The local Americana group headed by Hallie Pritts has returned with a new full-length called Get Out of Sin City. It’s another crop of solid songs, and this one’s my favorite.

Black Crash, “Sometimes Dreams” – This is the title track from the local band’s newest release; recommended for fans of Britpop along the lines of Travis, and maybe Radiohead or even (*shudder*) Coldplay. Great vocals, solid tunes.