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Jam of the Day | Heatmiser – Christian Brothers

Photo by JJ Gonson  Elliott Smith fucks me up. Discovering his music early in my high school career was the second most revelatory music-related moment of my life, and ever since then I’ve had a deep love of the tragic songwriter. “Christian Brothers” from Elliott’s self-titled album has always been one of my favorite of … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Caveman – In The City

“In The City” by New York’s Caveman certainly came around at the right time. It’s a refreshing retro track that sounds itself like a rite of passage into spring, while it also relates the story of a blossoming urban romance. Listen to the track off their new, self-titled album below, and grab a copy of … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Frightened Rabbit – The Woodpile

Will you come back to my corner?Spent too long alone tonightWould you come brighten my corner?A lit torch to the woodpile high I go back and forth on my favorite Frightened Rabbit song. Some days it’s “Yes, I Would,” others it’s “Poke.” And then there’s “My Backwards Walk” and “Living in Colour.” Depends on the … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Thunderbitch – My Baby Is My Guitar

Are you a fan of Alabama Shakes? Of course you are. My Jam of the Day comes to you via Thunderbitch, a side project of Alabama Shakes leading lady – Brittany Howard. According to their Facebook page, Thunderbitch played their first and last show this past December, so who knows if we’ll ever hear anything like … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Ra Ra Riot – Angel, Please

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Ra Ra Riot. Their forthcoming album out 1/22, properly titled Beta Love, promises synthy pop proclamations of devotion we’ve come to expect from the quartet. One of these, “Angel, Please,” is an ode to a cherubic lover that’s loaded with undeniable verve and charm. Wes … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Ice Choir – I Want You Now And Always

I want to feel you like the stars behind my eyes.  The force applied,  Fingers pulling from the dark to break my spine.  Imagine the internet randomly bringing a fascinating new person into your life, seemingly by accident. Almost beyond your control or intention, you find yourself entering into a dance, a tango of sent … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Megan Bonnell – We Are Strangers Now

Photo by Justin Broadbent From friends to strangers, or from lovers to strangers, the transformation often happens in an instant. What we’re left with is anyone’s guess, but there is a hole to fill, and like Ryan Adams once sang, “What do you do? How do you keep love alive?“ I think that’s what Ontario-based … Read more

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Jam of the Day | The Naked And Famous – Rolling Waves

You swim from pulling tides That swallow you at night Let go, let go Into these rolling waves Here’s your assignment: 1) Download “Rolling Waves” by The Naked And Famous and load it onto your audio device. 2) Go to your sacred/happy place. (You know the one. It makes you feel infinite.) 3) Play “Rolling … Read more

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Jam Of The Day | Crystal Stilts – Star Crawl

Crystal Stilts’ “Star Crawl” sounds like a love song sludging its way through a long week at a day job: the thick guitars and the droning beats, and vocalist Brad Hargett’s drawling chorus: I’m too tired, baby, come on, I’m too tired, baby, come on. It’s paired in the official video with slow motion footage … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Dear Criminals – Lover’s Suicide

Dear Criminals are like that new kid on the block who moved in two houses down from yours. He’s your age and you challenge him to a game of one-on-one basketball to be, you know, neighborly, but he beats your ass 25-3. Here’s the kicker, though: He invites you back to his place for cookies and … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Naked Gods – Yoho

Sunday evening, for the first time in my life, I questioned the physical demands of the tambourine. Not only could all that to-and-fro shaking possibly tear a rotator cuff, but the incessant pounding could very well rupture the radial artery running through one’s wrist/palm area, causing a slow and painful death. Seth Sullivan puts his … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Jim James – A New Life

Let’s get one thing clear …. there’s so much more stardust when Jim James is near. I’m jamming to Jim today and his new solo record that was just released this week. What a treat that I get to share my favorite song on the album with you. “A New Life” has sucked me in … Read more

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JOTD | Bob Dylan – Girl From The North Country

This afternoon, the sky ranges from cornflower blue to gunmetal gray with a tangerine line on the horizon. Nashville fades below as the brilliant colors swirl together up above. For a few moments, there is nothing but the wind, my breath and “Girl From The North Country.”  

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Jam of the Day | Haim – Falling

Don’t stop, no, I’ll never give up I’ll never look back, just hold your head up And if it gets rough, it’s time to get rough “Falling” by Haim starts with a slow, deliberate heartbeat that quickens with guitar picks. Energy builds alongside the drums while a story unfolds, revealing a person on the precipice ready … Read more

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Friday Jam of the Day | Foxygen – No Destruction

Imagine, if you will, that Jesus returned to earth for just one night in the early 1990s. He made two very specific house calls over the course of just a few short hours. One to a mansion in the countryside surrounding London. The other, only an hour or so later, was in New York City, … Read more

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Jam of the Day | On An On – The Hunter

I am the hunter, I know how to find you  I’m taking your picture, I’m taking my time Give In, the debut album by Chicago-based experimental indie outfit On An On, is a celebration, a sumptuous aural cornucopia. It’s an invigorating, intoxicating collection of songs, like “The Hunter,” a driving story of pursuit, capture and slaughter. Death by … Read more

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Jam of the Day | High Highs – Open Season

So if you live in St. Louis, or you’re sprinkled somewhere else around the globe other than North Carolina, you probably wonder why this “Matt Smith” character dedicates a quarter of his posts every year to the lesser-known acts of the Hopscotch Music Festival. Well, here’s why folks — “Matt Smith,” while an avid music junkaholic, … Read more

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JOTD | Beirut – Scenic World (Version)

When I feel alive I try to imagine a careless life A scenic world  Where the sunsets are all breathtaking Last night, he asked me what my favorite song was. I immediately thought, “Duh. ‘My Girl’ by The Temptations.” Wait, that’s way too easy and inaccurate. I shuffled through my mental iTunes library. “Are you … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Andrew Ripp – Mirrors (Justin Timberlake cover)

  Andrew Ripp is the most talented singer in Nashville. Yeah, I said it. Here he is (in triplicate!) covering Justin Timberlake’s Top 40 ballad “Mirrors.” Yes, we like Andrew’s version better. His third album Won’t Let Go was produced by GRAMMY award winner Charlie Peacock and is available on iTunes.

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Jam of the Day | Pure Bathing Culture – Pendulum

I’ve been spending a lot of time outside at the pool recently, and while my skin has gotten exponentially darker in shade, my mood has lightened to almost a summer-vacation level. And with that, comes the immediate need for summertime jamz.  Not the kinds that I can twerk to — but something I can listen … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Savoir Adore – Dreamers

Now you see: what you thought was yours could never be had. Take a look around, try to understand that It’s a game that you’ll never hold onto very long. Where we are isn’t just a place where everything remains. If you could hold on to certain dreams and remain in them forever, would you? … Read more

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Jam of the Day | London Grammar – Wasting My Young Years

I don’t know what you want… Don’t leave me hanging on. Are you a fan of chill-inducing vocals, epic instrumentation, consciousness-raising lyrics, and effortless cool? Then today’s jam by soon-to-be megastars London Grammar is for you. When I first heard “Wasting My Young Years,” I stayed up way too late hitting repeat Idon’tknowhowmanytimes. The track … Read more

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Jam of the Day | San Fermin – Sonsick

Much like the annual running of the bulls during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain — The Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh brings a frenzied crowd of running people to downtown streets.  Hopscotch, however, sees tight-jeaned hipsters running between bars to catch up-and-coming acts instead of crazed Spaniards running for their lives while sex-starved … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Vinyl Thief – Smooth

Sometimes great music finds you when you least expect it. You might go to a show to see your favorite band and be wowed by the opener you’ve never heard of. Maybe you’re cruising down the blog freeway and come across a striking album cover, so you click on the song stream and the aesthetics … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Lissie – Further Away (Romance Police)

Does anyone love anyone Anymore? Take what they want Take it and run Out the door The song is “Further Away (Romance Police),” and the new album is Back to Forever. They both mark the confident return of Lissie, who will release her follow-up to Catching a Tiger on October 8th via Fat Possum Records. … Read more

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Jam of the Day | London Grammar – Strong

A push notification flashes across my phone screen. I become frightened, anxious and sad. Does anyone ever hope for this? You’ve heard both sides and weighed every option. Your brain says one thing while your heart screams the opposite. The forces are heavily laden with influence, promising hope or doling despair, depending on which way … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Sylvan Esso – Play It Right

Sunday marked the close of yet another Hopscotch Music Festival for those of us in North Carolina.  It’s normal day of reflection here in the south, being the Sabbath and all, but it’s a time for us music junkies to look back at the now-gone-weekend of booze and debauchery, instead of praying out those sins … Read more

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Jam of the Day | Oh Land – Cherry On Top

And all you ever dreamed of, it ain’t enough You’ll never fill that hole with the cherry on top On her Facebook page, Danish singer/producer Nanna Øland Fabricius gives a glimpse of her intention for her music: “I think that Oh Land has a unique landscape all on its own. I strive to make the … Read more