RTB2

Not to be confused with the Star Wars character, RTB2 is a duo from Denton, TX that I have recently opened my ears to (which can make liking a band that much more sweet, I have noticed). Within the continuum of my musical taste, they definitely represent something near one end (the hard rock end, to be specific), but it is melodic and emotive and I enjoy their sound immensely and think you might too. It is in the neighborhood of The Black Keys, but more garage-y and raw. You can listen to some songs of theirs on their myspace page here or download their whole first album for free from their record label here (a label, by the way, with lots of other good bands, most of which let you pay-what-you-want or download their music for free). RTB2's most recent album was recorded live. What they sacrifice in so-called perfect sound quality I think they hoped to recoup in raw energy, and I can vouch for the fact that they put on a great show. Listen to The Spilling Blood Child (which will be on my 2010 Lake CD in a few short weeks) for an example of why I have come around....

Rocky Votolato

Rocky Votolato is an artist based in Seattle via small town Texas that plays music firmly planted in country folk and indie rock. I have been listening to his album "Suicide Medicine" for the past short while and the best way to describe it is Son Volt with a completely different voice out front. There are a few political songs on the album that are EMBARRASSINGLY bad but that is probably easy to imagine when you read the list of influences on his myspace page. It reads like a who's who of influences for self-important, over emoting 25 year olds. Luckily, Votolato is not any of that. When he wants to be more introspective (read: folky), he knocks it out of the park. If nothing else, Votolato is playing with his heart on his sleeve throughout the album and there is nothing wrong with that.

Slaid Cleaves

This week's NMM is Slaid Cleaves. He is kind of like an upbeat, male version of Mary Gauthier, who is a favorite singer of mine. He grew up in Maine, but now makes a home in Texas, bless his soul. His most recent album came out in 2009 and you can hear several tracks off of it on his website or on his admittedly unmaintained myspace page. The best song in my opinion is Cry-- check it out and tell me what you think, ok? Regardless, you have to admit this is a gorgeous album cover.

Airport Girl

Here are the instruments played in Airport Girl: guitar, steel guitar, banjo, harmonica, bass, keyboards, electric piano (how is this different than keyboards?), violin, and trumpet. Nothing wrong with any of this, right? The six, and sometimes eight, members of Airport Girl use these sounds to create a kind of slower tempo folk-rock music with a lot of alternately country and indie rock influences. Admittedly, it is something that could easily become background music if it were not so interesting and well done.

The sound is familiar but there is enough experimentation and wandering with the array of instruments that the familiarity you feel never gets stale. Lead singer Rob Price's voice is unremarkable and with his easy delivery, you're left to simply focus on the sounds of the band. Listen to the notes, man. They do a great job creating a mood. Lyrically, Airport Girl enters the fray (the vaunted NMM fray) as another great contemplative melancholy band that knows how to toe the line between contemplation and whining. However, the lyrics are not the king here. It is the sound that sweeps grandly one second and then seamlessly switches to spare the next.

It's Lefty approved.

The Cave Singers

I have been remiss. Too much travelin' gets in the way of music lovin' for some reason. So when I was out west becoming a music blog delinquent I decided to ask people about what THEY listened to so I would have something to post for NMM. Two people mentioned a band called The Cave Singers. They said I would like it, but I am not sure what made them think that. But you might like it. It sounds like something people I like would like. The song Summer Light is the best one they've got posted--I think the guy's voice sounds like a cross between Conor Oberst and Ryan Adams and some gravel (listen to Beach House and you'll see what I mean). Don't listen to the song Helen.