Hotels & Highways • Greetings From Wilbraham

Left to right: Lisa Piccirillo, Syd, and Patrick Cupples.

I loved the debut album from Hotels & Highways, Lost River. So I am very excited that Lisa Piccirillo, Patrick Cupples and Syd have a new EP, Greetings From Wilbraham. The six-song collection features the same combination of rock, folk, roots music, and intimate storytelling found in the first. There are moments they remind me of The Band, and other times I think of other great bands.



Hell, I am still listening to the debut - and think "Train Whistle" is unbelievably amazing - so I was quite excited to hear about the new EP. Starting with "Lonely Together" and continuing on, there remains that intimate feel, like hearing a friends confessional. "Get No Sleep" strays into bigger waters, sounding more U2 that Bob Dylan. There's a mighty sweet vibe to "Please Tell Me Again" and Lisa delivers a vocal somewhere between Natalie Merchant and Bonnie Raitt. There is a return to the quiet storytelling in "A Day Off", and Patrick allows the song to spring to life. "Sleep Just Fine" begins with a quiet grace, before taking on a Beatlesque turn, with a tinge of psychedelia. That left "Barbecue Suitcase" to bring home the humor and style of the band, and ode to love and the joys of raising Barbecue Suitcase. You can hit "play" below and give it a listen for yourself.



Now you can either click on the widget above, or click here to purchase "Greetings From Wilbraham". For more about Hotels & Highways, visit their official website. Sign up for the mailing list, and you can get the latest updates from the band.

Great 2011 Releases

Clockwise: Hotels & Highways, Nathan Leigh Jones, Angus & Julia Stone, and Mikey Wax.

With my next to the last post in 2011, I thought I would try to show some appreciation for some of the breeders on my playlist. Look, I know you must feel like a real minority on my iTunes playlists, but you really are appreciated. I refuse to discriminate against you just because of who you sleep with. That said, there was some great music from this group, and I loved listening to that music whenever I could.

I first found out about the music of Hotels & Highways because I was a big fan of Syd's music. So when he got together with Lisa Piccirillo and Patrick Thomas, I couldn't wait to hear what came of it. When they released Lost River, I was blown away, and couldn't hear it enough. They fuse together the rootsy sound with a modern edge like few can, and made a great, complete album. Watch this video from a live performance of Train Whistle from their debut.



You can purchase Lost River from iTunes and Amazon.

I have David Raleigh to blame for my preoccupation with the music of Nathan Leigh Jones. David and the handsome Aussie are friends, and Nathan has produced some music of David's, including the beautiful That's What Friends Are For with Raleigh, Sir Ari Gold, Alan Cumming, and Billy Porter. But it was his great music that really won me over, from his 2008 EP, The Way I'm Missing You, to the newly released Sooner Or Later, I just love it all. In fact, I had to go to New York City to see Jones and Raleigh perform with my dear friend David Dust, and it was a magical night. Only recently, Nathan released the video for Beautiful You, off the latest album.



You can purchase Sooner Or Later from iTunes and Amazon.

I still remember the point when I first decided I would be a Mikey Wax fan for a long time to come. It was when I happened across his video for La Vie En Rose, looking for something to use on the blog. Well, I hit play, and developed a big crush on him, one that has not ended yet. I bought the last couple of EPs and a full album he put out, but with the release of his latest album, I was blown away. Mikey focused his energy on the music, and put out a Pop wonder called Constant Motion. I just love it, and think it should be a mandatory listen for all music lovers. Give a listen as Mikey sings Counting On You, which has recently started to get some airplay on the radio!



You can purchase Constant Motion from iTunes and Amazon.

I don't know where I've been for the last few years, but for some reason, it hasn't been on the same plane as Australian siblings Angus & Julia Stone. However, since finding them, I am completely loopy about their quirky music, and lap it up like it was pudding. I found some of their older music, and love it, just like the latest stuff. And it doesn't hurt I am totally crushing on Angus, damn, he's beautiful. They started the year with a single at the top of the Australian charts, and soon that song made it on to a commercial in the US, and I discovered my new obsession. Watch the video for Big Jet Plane off the album Down The Way.



You can purchase Down The Way from iTunes and Amazon.