Hear Fort Frances cover the Grateful Dead

By Frank Krolicki

There's never a shortage of cover songs that fail to impress, but throughout the year Chicago's own Fort Frances have proven they are a band that knows how to put a worthwhile spin on another artist's track. Adding to a short list that includes the likes of Beck and Will Smith in their "As Told By..." cover series, this time the guys decided to pay homage to the Grateful Dead with a rendition of the breezy "Ripple" of the 1970 album American Beauty. Fort Frances vocalist/guitarist David McMillin said this of the track and the decision to cover it:

"This marks the most calming and relaxing recording I think we've ever done, and we all loved it: banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass, snare drum and lots of harmonies. We chose this particular tune because a) we love it and b) we're gearing up for the Americana Music Festival this weekend. Jerry Garcia was a past recipient of the AMA's President's Award."

Take a listen to the track and download it for free below. Also catch Fort Frances live at Schubas with Dry the River on September 28th.

Listen: Blonde Ventura - 'Love Rearranged'

By Frank Krolicki

Chicago indie pop quintet Gold Motel are about to release their second LP on July 3rd (you can download one of the tracks, "Musicians," right now courtesy of rcrdlbl.com), but in the meantime one of the band's members has something else to share.

During the downtime after finishing that record, guitarist/songwriter Eric Hehr began a side project called Blonde Ventura, which consists of him and vocalist Rachel Pointec. "Love Rearranged," the first Blonde Ventura track to see the light of day, is now available as a name-your-price download via Bandcamp. Like Gold Motel material, it's immediately catchy, has smooth, sugary female vocals and bittersweet lyrics, but stands out by incorporating a synthy, dancey groove into the equation.

You can hear and download the track below, and be on the lookout for more as Hehr has plans to write and release additional material as Blonde Ventura.

Little Boy Jr. - 'Tell Me, Lazy Lover'

By Frank Krolicki

Chicago five-piece Little Boy Jr. put their recent win as The Deli Chicago's "Artist of the Month" to good use. As a result of scoring the most votes in that poll the band was able to record a couple new tracks at Catfish Studios, and now have them ready to share with the world as free downloads on their Bandcamp page. The two tracks--"Tell Me" and "Lazy Lover"--clock in at a total running time of under four minutes and carry on the '60s garage pop vibe established on their debut Local Thieves, but this time there's a bit more polish to smooth over some of the rough edges. Although very DIY in production, Local Thieves was the sound of a band with a lot of promise, and these new tracks make it clear these guys are well worth paying attention to. I admire LBJ's very obvious reverence of retro pop and look forward to hearing more. Listen to/download the new tracks for yourself below and catch the band live on Wednesday, April 25th at Red Line Tap.

Hear Fort Frances cover Beck

By Frank Krolicki

I'm always interested to see cover songs come through from Chicago artists--whether it's A Lull doing Springsteen or City States doing R.E.M.--to see what kind of unique spin the bands are able to offer tracks that originated with someone else. The latest to pop up is a Beck cover from folk-rock outfit Fort Frances. The band decided to take on the melancholy track "Guess I'm Doing Fine" off Beck's 2002 album Sea Change and deliver a version that's pretty faithful, but that at the same time takes the tune into an even mellower, more bittersweet direction. Great stuff! Hear/download for yourself below, and if you happen to be heading to Texas for SXSW, you can catch Fort Frances playing a few different shows there.

Guess I'm Doing Fine by Fort Frances

City States cover R.E.M. for Valentine's Day

By Frank Krolicki

photo: Jeremy Farmer

You might remember that last year locally-based art pop band City States released a cover of the Police classic "King of Pain" in honor of Valentine's Day. For 2012, they decided to keep offering up their spin on moody love songs by taking on an R.E.M. track. They chose "You are the Everything" off Michael Stipe and company's 1988 album Green, and took it into a more melancholy, atmospheric direction. You can take a listen and grab a free download below, or head over to the City States' Bandcamp site, where you can also check out the band's recently-released debut EP Resolution.

New track from Archie Powell & the Exports, LP coming in May

By Frank Krolicki

Archie Powell & the Exports are back! Well, they didn't actually go anywhere, but it has been a little while since they've given us new music. If 2010's Skip Work made you rightfully think of them as one of Chicago's most likeable and straight-up rocking bands, you'll be glad to know that a new set titled Great Ideas in Action is set to come out on May 1st. You might be even happier to know that you can download the first track, "Metronome," for free right now. It's a hook-filled, guitar-driven tune that's set off with cynical observations about the world while keeping an underlying sense of humor. In other words, it sounds very much like AP&TE. You can either get it from Bandcamp or in exchange for a tweet.

The album will feature 11 tracks: Metronome, Crazy Pills, Shooting Spree, Bend Over Backwards, I Need Supervision, You Might be Cruel (Or I Might Be Dumb), Job Fair, All the Same, Sticky Buttons, Great Ideas in Action, Only So Much You Can Do.

In other news with the band, they'll be heading south next month to play SXSW, but before that have a hometown show scheduled for Saturday, March 3rd at Township (formerly Panchos). Also, if you missed it last week be sure to check out how AP&TE recently took advantage of Kickstarter to accomplish something truly momentous.

Download a new Briar Rabbit track every Thursday in February

By Frank Krolicki

Following up his 2011 debut album Briar Rabbit and the Company You Keep, Briar Rabbit, a.k.a. Phillip-Michael Scales, recently recorded a four-track EP titled The Great Routine and he's releasing the songs one-by-one every Thursday this month.

The first track, "Coon," is available now for free download in exchange for a tweet. It's a thoughtful, melodic track with an air of sadness that sets the stage for the EP's concept, which reflects on old-time black minstrel shows from a modern-day perspective. The title track, "In My Head" and "Afterward (You Should Have Seen It)" will follow to complete the story.

Coinciding with Black History Month, The Great Routine is a project Phillip says was sparked by taking an African American Music History class and learning more about the late-1800s/early-1900s form of entertainment, particularly how black actors would perform in blackface.

Take a listen to "Coon" below and also check out a video of Phillip talking about his inspiration for the project. 



Briar Rabbit Presents "The Great Routine" from Briar Rabbit on Vimeo.

Check this out: Harmonica Dunn's Best of 2011 mix

By Frank Krolicki

Here's another dose of free music to help end 2011 on a high note. The "Harmonica Dunn Best of 2011" mix comes courtesy of Donnie Biggins, who put together the Chicago Roots Collective a couple years ago with the goal of getting local bands working together and developing a stronger music scene in the Windy City. Its 19 tracks feature mostly Chicago-based bands (many of which we've written about here on WCR, such as Bailiff, Dastardly, Derek Nelson & the Musicians and Sad Brad Smith) plus a few out-of-state artists worth checking out as well.

Check out the full tracklist below, and download it for free on Bandcamp.

1. The Happen-Ins - Be Yer Fool
2. Elephant Gun - Go And Leave
3. Bailiff - In The Reverie
4. The Dirty Pigeons - The Way I See It
5. Young Buffalo - Catipilah
6. Dastardly - Exercises In Self Loathing
7. Go Long Mule - Ghosts
8. Michele McGuire - Darling Girl
9. Antony And The Tramps - Gold Rush
10. Musikanto - Every Which Way
11. Farewell Milwaukee - Living On Your Look
12. Sad Brad Smith - Sure
13. Derek Nelson & The Musicians - Die Darlin'
14. The O'My's - In My House
15. Tristen - Baby Drugs
16. Flame Shark - Straight Through Your Heart
17. Rachele Eve - Wife Song
18. Rambos - Chuck Taylors
19. Ornery Little Darlings - Lazy

Tandem Shop Records gives the gift of free music

By Frank Krolicki

Merry almost Christmas, y'all. To add to all the seasonal fun, the people of Chicago's own Tandem Shop Records has put out their third annual holiday mix for free download. Wasn't that nice of them? You can now head over to their Bandcamp page to grab the entire thing, including two new songs from both The Island of Misfit Toys and Project Film, as well as tracks from Mr. Bear, Honest Engines and Tandem's newest addition, Many Places.

Although the tunes aren't really holiday-themed, try sneaking this on at the family get together when you've hit your breaking point from all the usual lame, overplayed stuff. It'll be sure to bring down the house. Or cause deep confusion. Either way, there's the potential for amusement. You can preview a couple of the selections below.

Download a new track from Unicycle Loves You

By Frank Krolicki

photo: Meagan Fredette

Chicago trio Unicycle Loves You loves you so much that they want to give you a brand new track from their forthcoming album Failure for free. I feel like everyone takes free mp3s for granted these days because nearly every band offers them and frankly a lot of them suck. But this one is in the camp that ensures free mp3s will never stop being worth getting a bit giddy over. "Wow Wave Cinema," operative word being "wave," takes you on a great big, joyous fuzz pop ride that doesn't stop for anything until it comes to a halt at two-minutes and fifty-seven seconds. Grab it below and keep an eye out for Failure on Valentine's Day 2012.

Download MP3: Unicycle Loves You - "Wow Wave Cinema"

As a bonus, check out another new track, "Sun Comes Out (And I Don't Care)," that ULY have released to preview the record. It features the same poppy goodness with a bit more of a '60s pysch vibe.

Sun Comes Out (And I Don't Care) by UnicycleLovesYou

New track from The Kickback: 'Violently Carsick'

By Frank Krolicki

Photo: Diane Derib

The Kickback recently came into a bit of free studio time thanks to winning a Deli Chicago reader's poll, and here we have the result in the form of a new track called "Violently Carsick." According to the band's Bandcamp site, "The song was originally supposed to be a take on the song 'Route 66' for a Red Bull tour diary, but they didn't seem to be down with our turning it into a six-minute ramblethon and not really using the words, and we can't really blame them. But they still suck."

Personally, I'd listen to this any day over "Route 66." It's like "Route 66" with a mood disorder. Which is a lot more interesting. I was so hoping there would be a big payoff while listening to the seething, slow-burning first few minutes, and then boom, there it was. And it did not disappoint. In fact, it's pretty much amazing. Hear for yourself below, download the track for free or any amount you'd like, and go see the Kickback at their next hometown show on September 22 at Schubas with The Dig.

'Checking In' with Warm Ones

By Frank Krolicki

A while back I highlighted Warm Ones' debut album Sprezzatura as one of my favorite Chicago releases of 2010, and many months later it's still getting some pretty regular action on my iPod. The band have been keeping busy working on new material, and here we have the first taste via "Checking In." It's just one minute long, but it's a good example of the sort of scrappy, addictive power pop that makes Warm Ones so much fun. As an added bonus, they've released an alternate, fuller-sounding mix of the garagey track "Toys" off Sprezzatura. Below you can watch the video for "Checking In" and hear the "Fallujah Mix" of "Toys," and also grab both as free mp3s on warmones.com.

Toys (Fallujah Mix) by Warm Ones

Download two new remixes from My Gold Mask

Posted by Frank Krolicki

photo by Jim Newberry

In a dancey mood? Then you'll definitely want to grab two new remixes that Chicago's own My Gold Mask have just released for download. The first is a take on the duo's track "Violet Eyes," done by Baryshnikov with an extra icy cool groove applied to the moody, seductive art pop of the original version. Joining it is Robots With Rayguns' remix of "Ghost in Your Bed," a new spin on the opening track from MGM's most recent EP A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last). You can listen to and download both remixes below.

The duo are currently writing and recording their next record and will also head out on tour this summer. Catch them at two hometown gigs: Ribfest this Friday, June 10th and Millennium Park on Monday, July 18th (opening for Blonde Redhead as part of the "Downtown Sound" series).

   Violet Eyes (Eyes In The Forrest RMX by Baryshnikov) by My Gold Mask

   Ghost In Your Bed (Robots With Rayguns RMX) by My Gold Mask

In Tall Buildings Violitionist Session

Posted by Frank Krolicki

While passing through Denton, Texas, Chicago's In Tall Buildings (a.k.a. singer-songwriter Erik Hall) recently recorded a Violitionist Session with the great website of the same name, which offers unique takes of three songs as well as three-question interviews with various musicians. The set includes stripped back versions of "The Way to a Monster's Lair" and "Suitor" from ITB's debut record, in addition to an unreleased tune titled "Bawl, Cry, Wail."

Check out Hall's performance of "Bawl, Cry, Wail" below and head to Violitionist for video and free audio downloads of all three tracks. You can also grab a free mp3 of the album version of "The Way to a Monster's Lair" via the Soundcloud widget below. To catch catch ITB live, head out to this year's Taste of Randolph fest in the West Loop on Saturday, June 18th at 3:30 p.m.

   The Way to a Monster's Lair by In Tall Buildings

Download two new Village tracks for free

Posted by Frank Krolicki

Village can always be counted on for not only putting out high quality rock and roll, but also being really generous with it. They have offered most of their music for free download in the past, and now they're giving away some more of it via a digital 7" featuring two brand new tracks. Both guitar-driven tunes seriously rock, with "Heaven Is a Shroud" delving into the band's slow-burning, deep psychedelic side and the faster-paced "Got No Hold" bringing a more straight-ahead raveup.

You can listen to/grab both tracks below, and if you like what you hear be sure to get Village's two excellent full-lengths Minimal Animal and Local Moves, which you can download from their Bandcamp site for just five bucks apiece. Also, catch the band live this Friday, May 27th at Bottom Lounge with Holiday House and The Visitor. More info and tickets here.

Company of Thieves share track from upcoming LP

Posted by Frank Krolicki

Chicago-based quartet Company of Thieves will release their sophomore record Running From A Gamble on May 17, and in the meantime are offering a taste via a free download of one of the tracks, "Modern Waste." It's a guitar-heavy, hard-hitting-yet-catchy tune that very possibly showcases frontwoman Genevieve Schatz's intense vocals better than anything the band has released to date. Hear for yourself and grab the song below. You can also listen below to the their new single "Death of Communication," available to purchase now.

Free music from Tandem Shop

Posted by Conor

Some two-and-a-half months after that festive period, I discovered something that would have delighted me when it was first released. Free stuff. I love free stuff. But not only free stuff. This is a generous gift. This is a generous gift of music. Not only music, but new music. New Chicago music. Really good new Chicago music.

Tandem Shop is an independent record label from Chicago. With four acts currently on the label - Project Film, The Island of Misfit Toys, Mr. Bear and Honest Engines - it released a free download of eight songs under the name Happy Holidays from Tandem Shop!: Holiday Mix 2010. The songs give a great introduction to all four of the label’s Chicago bands, who are sure to have prominent futures in the local music scene.

Sure, I’m a little late, so let’s call it a St. Patrick’s Day gift instead. Happy Holidays!

Chicago, you saw it first last summer at Lolla: The Strokes are back!

Posted by Bobby

One is often required to play it cool. Ironically - considering that the Strokes have personified cool for so many - this is not one of those times. Blogs, music publications and Ray-Ban wearers all over the world today are digitally hailing the New York foursome's comeback. Almost exactly one decade since the release of their first single, "The Modern Age," the band have returned to form as if to say, "what's the big deal, I just stepped out for a cigarette."

When they headlined Lollapalooza here in Chicago last summer after a lengthy absence, the Strokes were every bit the garage revivalists they had become known to be. Now, the comeback has continued with the new single "Under Cover of Darkness," free to download today and tomorrow on thestrokes.com. Fans were so eager for it that they crashed the website upon the single's launch. The song starts with a bang - two, actually - and from then on out it bounces, clips curbs and blinks electric like the city that birthed it. We get not one, but two sing-along refrains and - get this - backing vocals, which I took to be a sign of the new album's purported more collaborative nature. "Under Cover of Darkness" builds on the restrained-yet-joyous hits that spilled off of the Strokes' debut album Is This It by utilizing the diverse arrangements they called upon with 2006's First Impressions of Earth, all the while never forsaking pop catchiness.

The new album is out March 22nd and is titled Angles, referencing the various circumstances each band member approached the project from. If this song is any indication, the Strokes may be about to nonchalantly remind us who started this party in the first place. Here's hoping to see them back in the Windy City soon.

Check this out: dreamy new sounds from architecture

Posted by Frank

Photo: Cara Patricia Higgins

If you, like me, are a fan of Chicago's Panda Riot and a sucker for dream pop in general, you'll want to know about architecture. The duo consists of the aforementioned band's Rebecca Scott and Melissa Harris, who are currently putting the finishing touches on the first architecture record and are planning an April release. They already have two of the songs - "Tomorrow" and "In the Morning" - available for free download on their SoundCloud site. With hypnotizing, wistful melodies and sweet-yet-slightly eerie childlike vocals, the tunes have a kind of haunted nursery rhyme vibe going on. Which is awesome. Hear for yourself below and look for more details on architecture's debut soon.

   tomorrow by architecture!

   in the morning by architecture!

'Follow the Drone' with a new, free single from Secret Colours

Posted by Frank

Photo: Eddie O'Keefe

Nobody can accuse Chicago's Secret Colours of slacking off. Between summer 2010 and the end of the year the band released not only their debut full-length LP, but also two standalone singles - the two-track  In the Absence and a trippy cover of The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows." They have also played frequent gigs and have drummed up quite a bit of attention in the Windy City and beyond. Now they're back with another single, Follow the Drone. It includes two brand new songs and is available for free download on their Bandcamp site.