The year is young, but one of the best things I’ve heard so far is the forthcoming release from Blair. Arriving January 26th on Autum Tone, Die Young is a pop album for this generation. We received some great feedback on Blair when we dropped her song “Candy In The Kitchen” into our podcast last week.

Die Young was recorded in New Orleans where Blair grew up listening to Nirvana and learning guitar by listening to John Frusciante’s first solo records. This year is already swept up with major releases by big-named bands. Don’t let that hype let you pass up a chance to pick up one of the year’s most promising surprises.

Buy: Blair – Die Young
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Myspace: Blair
MP3: Blair – “Candy In The Kitchen”
MP3: Blair – “Hello Halo”

We’re pretty excited about this one. Clogs is the creative collective that includes My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden, Matt Berninger and Aaron Dessner of The National, and Sufjan Stevens. They have a new album, The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton, arriving March 2nd on Brassland (available digitally 1/26)

Where previous Clogs output has leaned towards the instrumental, this album prominently features vocals from the amazing Shara Worden on over half of the tracks!

Listen/Download:
MP3: Clogs – “On The Edge”

The Creatures In The Garden of Lady Walton Tracklisting:

01. Cocodrillo (feat. Shara Worden)
02. I Used to Do
03. On the Edge (feat. Shara Worden)
04. Red Seas
05. The Owl of Love (feat. Shara Worden)
06. Adages of Cleansing (feat. Shara Worden)
07. Last Song (feat. Matt Berninger)
08. To Hugo
09. Raise the Flag (feat. Shara Worden)
10. We Were Here (feat. Sujan Stevens and Shara Worden)

By Alex Schaaf

If you missed Sharon Van Etten’s 2009 release, Because I Was in Love, then you missed out on an album that got a lot of year-end nods. In addition to her own album, she contributed guest vocals to The Antlers’ Hospice, which landed at #9 on our list of favorite albums from last year.

Sharon Van Etten has two upcoming Wisconsin shows that we highly recommend. She’s supporting Bowerbirds at the High Noon Saloon in Madison on Sunday, January 17th before landing here in Milwaukee for a show we’re presenting at Cactus Club on Wednesday, January 20th.

You are clearly identified as a “solo” artist, recording all of the backup vocals yourself on your album, performing alone, etc. Do you always envision yourself as a solo artist? What are the advantages or disadvantages of always performing by yourself?

Well, right now I am a solo artist… although I have just started collaborating with other musicians/singers… so hopefully soon I will have a bit more of a “band”… but unorthodox. Pluses to being solo is that there is not much gear, I don’t have to check with the band to confirm a show or go on tour…BUT

Minuses are that it’s more fun to travel with people, write with other people (as I’m learning…), and the financial weight of releasing an album and touring is split up…

How did you get together with Peter Silberman (The Antlers) to be able to contribute vocals to Hospice?

I found a song of his posted on a blog

I read that you are going to be recording a new album in 2010, if I’m not mistaken? Will the new album contain all brand new songs, or will there be any reworkings/re-recordings of old songs, as you did on Because I Was in Love?

There will be all new songs on the new album.

You seem to be very active in the creation/upkeep of your official website. How do you see the Internet as a tool to reach fans and to spread your music around?

The internet is amazing. There are so many great blogs, and so many great bands that grant permission for usage of songs… you can find anything. I am a huge fan. More people have exposure on the internet to put out what they do and voice opinions on who they are and what they believe in. Whether or not we agree with them, we have minds to think for ourselves and decide what we like based on the endless information we come across.. I love it.

What is on your bookshelf at the moment?

Woody Allen’s ‘Without Feathers,” Ray Bradbury’s ‘Dandelion Wine’, and The Letters and Journals of Paula Modersohn-Becker.

We’re always on the lookout for new artists — any new discoveries that you’d like to share?

Movie Star Junkies, Hologram, Shilpa Ray, She Keeps Bees, Scary Mansion, Forest Fire, Glass Ghost, Here We Go Magic, The Wooden Birds, Telecopy, Skogar, and Natureboy… have been in my rotation for the last year.

Tickets for Sharon Van Etten’s Wednesday, January 20th show at the Cactus Club are $7 and are on sale now.

Buy: Sharon Van Etten – Because I Was in Love
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Myspace: Sharon Van Etten
MP3: Sharon Van Etten – “For You”

Here are the Wisconsin and Illinois shows we recommend you take in this week. Check them out below and let us know which ones you’ll be attending or ones you think should really make our list. This week, we catch you up on some recent releases that we’ve been listening to including new offerings from Owen Pallet (Final Fantasy), Jason Boesel, Laura Veirs, and Vampire Weekend.

Upcoming Shows:

1/14 – The Rural Alberta Advantage + Conrad Plymouth – Mad Planet (MILWAUKEE)
1/16 – Final Fantasy + Sharon Van Etten + Peter Wolf Crier – Schubas (CHICAGO)
1/16 – Bowerbirds + The Rural Alberta Advantage – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)
1/17 – Bowerbirds + Sharon Van Etten + Peter Wolf Crier – High Saloon (MADISON)
1/17 – Lee Fields & The Expressions – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)

Just Announced:

2/18 – Trey Anastasio – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
2/20 – Patton Oswalt – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
3/23 – Vampire Weekend – Riverside Theater, Milwaukee
3/25 – Vampire Weekend – Chicago Theatre, Chicago
4/1 – Spoon + Deerhunter – Aragon Ballroom, Chicago
4/2 – Joanna Newsom – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
4/2 – Passion Pit + Mayer Hawthorne – Congress Theatre, Chicago
4/3 – Beach House – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
4/3 – Passion Pit + Mayer Hawthorne – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
5/19 – Colin Hay – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee

New Releases:

Owen Pallet (Final Fantasy) – Heartland, Jason Boesel – Hustler’s Son, Laura Veirs – July Flame, Vampire Weekend – Contra

+Bookmark our upcoming shows page for all your concert announcements+

One of our favorite bands, Great Lake Swimmers will headline the 21st Marquette Waterfront Festival in Madison on Sunday, June 13th.

Previously: From The Crowd | Great Lake Swimmers – “The Partisan”
Previously: 5 Questions with Great Lake Swimmers

Buy: Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
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Myspace: Great Lake Swimmers

Welcome to the 34th podcast/download I’m co-hosting with Ryan Schleicher at 91.7 WMSE.

Muzzle of Bees + 91.7 WMSE Podcast :: Volume 34

The Zombies – “This Will Be Our Year” / Brandi Carlile – “If There Was No You” / Sam Doores – “When I’m Out In The Wind” / Midlake – “Rulers Ruling All Things” / Yeasayer – “Ambling Alp” / The Daredevil Christopher Wright – “Stewardess” / Conrad Plymouth – “Fergus Falls” / White Pines – “Wolves Will Shiver” / Bill Callahan – “Too Many Birds” / Califone – “Funeral Singers” / Blair – “Candy In The Kitchen” / Neutral Milk Hotel – “Oh Comely”

Download: Muzzle of Bees + 91.7 WMSE Podcast :: Volume 34
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Subscribe: Muzzle of Bees + 91.7 WMSE Podcast

[photo by Haley Jane Samuelson]