In House #1873: Julia Dawn Live; New Utah Carol

Today's in-studio guest is Fresno, CA-based singer-songwriter Julia Dawn, in Pocatello for a performance tonight at Portneuf Valley Brewing. The up and coming artist recently released the Falling EP, an effort that features a disparate mixing of sonic elements that led one reviewer to compare her sound to Bjork if she performed in the 1930's. Indeed, Dawn's music is easily described as genre-shifting, moving between pop, folk, americana and speak-easy jazz to create emotionally-charged numbers like "Darwin's Fall." Also included on her latest is a rare minor-key take on the classic "You Are On My Sunshine," slowed to a crawl and utterly changed in meaning. Julia Dawn's been out on the road for the past month, playing solo dates in California, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah before being joined by Joe Simpson on keys and trumpet for remaining dates in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Julia Dawn

In House #1873.
Airdate: 5/18/07
Focus: Fresno, CA-based singer-songwriter Julia Dawn live in the studio, plus new music from Vermillion Lies, Utah Carol, Kristy Kruger, Rocky Votolato, and more.

BONUS MP3s from today's live set-

"Thank God I'm Ugly" (MP3)

"Darwin's Fall" (MP3)

"Sweet Lord" (MP3)

PLAYLIST

In House #1872: Page France's ...and the Family Telephone


Page France

In House #1872.
Airdate: 5/17/07
Focus: Recent release from Page France, ...and the Family Telephone, plus new music from Benni Hemm Hemm, Vandaveer, Sea Wolf, and more.


PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #311

In House #1849: Bill Callahan's Woke On a Whaleheart; New Clientele

Now the man formerly known as Smog (or, alternately, (Smog)), Bill Callahan releases the first effort under his own name, entitled Woke On a Whaleheart, tomorrow on Drag City (edit-Actually, that's only if you're in Texas. Everyone else has to wait until next week). A prolific, previously mysterious artist, Callahan has released no fewer than twelve previous full-lengths over the past seventeen years or so. His frayed-edge, lo-fi beginnings have gradually been polished up and expanded, though his work has remained consistently dark and interesting, much of it built on the foundation of his caustic sense of humor. The latest takes the general direction of his last few albums, the most recent being 2005's A River Ain't Too Much to Love, a step or two further with nods to gospel and Americana-based folk. "Diamond Dancer," meanwhile, lays a looped string chorus over a fat bass-line of the Stax variety and ends up light years away from the bedroom hiss of his early output. It's fitting that this is the album's standout track, as it sums up the evolution of an artist who has nevertheless managed to remain edgy and captivating through it all.

In House #1849.
Airdate: 4/16/07
Focus: New release from Bill Callahan, Woke On a Whaleheart, plus new music from The Clientele, Apostle of Hustle, Julie Doiron, and more.

BONUS MP3-
Bill Callahan, from Woke On a Whaleheart:

"Sycamore" (MP3)

The Clientele, from God Save the Clientele (due 5/8):

"Bookshop Casanova" (MP3)

PLAYLIST

In House #1798: Julie Doiron's Woke Myself Up; New Alasdair Roberts

Canadian singer-songwriter Julie Doiron returned recently with her first new effort in over two years with the excellent Woke Myself Up. Doiron's seventh solo album finds a reunion of sorts as she's joined by her former partners in the band Eric's Trip, something that hadn't happened since that band's 1996 swan song. The result is a fuller, more rock-oriented sound in places, particularly on standout cuts like the opening title-track, "No More," and "Don't Wanna Be/ Liked By You," all of which contrast nicely with the more hushed, post-folk tones Doiron has established in the past. Songs like "Dark Horse," and "Yer Kids," show Doiron in stunning form, despite their disparate subjects, out of time folk songs as at home in the past as the present. Woke Myself Up is out recently on Jagjaguwar.

Julie Doiron

In House #1798.
Airdate: 2/01/07
Focus: New releases from Julie Doiron, Woke Myself Up, and Alasdair Roberts, The Amber Gatherers, plus new music from Marissa Nadler, Bill Callahan, Rosie Thomas, and more.

BONUS MP3-
Julie Doiron, from Woke Myself Up:

"No More" (MP3)

PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #250