Akron/Family - Love is Simple

Tired of folk that ain't trippy enough? Or perhaps, on the flip side, you're tired of Animal Collective making gurgling sounds through a flanger and calling it music? Well I got the medicine you need, right here, in Portland's Akron/Family. Really neat and unique psych-folk, with some amazing songwriting and some pretty insane guitar playing. Got a chance to see these dudes live last year and it was pretty incredible. Lots of fun, dancey songs with occasional melancholy to keep ya grounded. They've put out several records but I think that this one, titled Love is Simple, is their best. It seems to be the most upbeat and accessible, but that's not to discount their psychedelic wanderings, which their is plenty of. Think of Death Cab for Cutie with more rock, more drugs, and less pretense. This record is an excellent introduction to the psychedelic, experimental folk field, and I can never seem to get enough of it. Check out the jams below, and if you dig, get the jams.

Akron/Family - LOVE IS SIMPLE

Drudkh

Atmospheric, progressive black metal from Ukraine. Lots of folk influences, as well as occasional proggy parts with synth and crazy technical riffs. Here's the 2 records I have. Probably grab some more soon and post them for you guys.

Forgotten Legends (2003)
Microcosmos (2009)

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Bearded singer, songwriter, actor Will Oldham. He's put out music under several monikers: Palace, Palace Brothers, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, and probably a few more. If you like indie, folk, or americana music, I'd be surprised if you didn't already know about him. If you don't know anything about Will Oldham then his "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy" records are a great place to start. Here are a few of my favorite picks from the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy catalog, including a collaboration record he did with jazz/post-rock mainstays Tortoise.

Ease Down The Road (2001)
Master and Everyone (2003)
Superwolf - Matt Sweeney and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2005)
The Brave and the Bold - Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2006)

Slow Club - Yeah So

Melding folk, punk, and indie, Slow Club has carved their own niche in the music scene. Lots of fun auxiliary percussion like tambourines, bells, and drumming on wooden chairs,  as well as male/female vocal harmonies, which I am a true sucker for. Sometimes serious, sometimes poppy and dancy, this record pretty much rules from start to finish. A really really fun album to dance and sing along to.

GET IT!