When I first heard the name Langhorne Slim, I expected a dirty blues sound. Something about that name made me think of the delta blues and I pictured a skinny, old black dude with a howling voice singing songs about being down on his luck after his old lady left him. Langorne Slim may have fallen on a few hard times, but you wouldn’t know it by listening to his newest release on Kemado Records. His songwriting and music find the beauty of day-to-day life and the album is a joyous celebration of life’s ups and downs.

The album starts with “Spinning Compass,” a song that sets the tone for the entire album. It’s about a relationship ending, not mutually or amicably, yet somehow Langhorne Slim’s lyrics about pain and misery are camouflaged in an upbeat song that you’ll sing along to in the car (but not quite get all the words). “Yeah I’ve been miserable, totally invisible, less than hmm hm hmmm, never given all you’ve got, hmm hm hmmm, loved a little lost alot.”

Then “Rebel Side of Heaven” follows and gives all us sinners hope with the anthem chorus, “Although we’ve sinned all our lives, we’re not going to hell. We’re going to the rebel side of heaven.” From there the album rambles on with more American music on songs like “Restless” and “Sometimes.” Slim puts together a string of songs with a potpourri of sound that would smell great if ears could smell. There’s a smattering of soulful blues and a dash of finger-picked twang. You’ll hear guitars, drums, trumpets, keys, the violin, and I’m pretty sure I heard the xylophone a few times. “Collette” is the most stripped down and personal track on the album and it’s my favorite.

What really draws me to Langhorne Slim is his unbridled passion. He’s an artist that pours himself into his music. I don’t know him personally, but I would imagine that songwriting is a contemplative, healing process for him. Several songs start off with themes of sorrow, but there’s always a “but things will get better” transition to hope and optimism, if not explicitly in verse, then in the melodies and instrumentation.

Langhorne Slim’s music will make you feel better. Like on “Diamonds and Gold” when he offers advice: “Toss your misery out the door/ What are you waitin’ for/ You’ve got to learn to get a little happy along the way/ It’s alright to change your style/ It’s alright to smile/ It’s alright to get a little happy along the way.” Now imagine those inspiring words coming from the love child of Cat Stevens and Josh Ritter.

I’m not sure what the rebel side of heaven looks like, but I hope when I’m bellied up to the bar at The Big Guy in the Sky’s Bar and Lounge, that Langhorne strolls up in his fedora so I can buy him cocktail. I hear ice cubes are made of clouds up there.

MySpace | Kemado Records

Langhorne Slim - Rebel Side of Heaven

Langhorne Slim - “Restless” on Letterman

Put The Rustlanders on stage at Winterland, hand Scorsese a camera, have these boys play “Holdin’ Out” and God as my witness, you might just be watching The Last Waltz. When I first listened to The Rustlanders self-titled debut, I felt like I was listening to Richard Manuel and Levon Helm harmonize. After playing “Holdin’ Out” three times in a row, I finally come to grips with the fact that I was not having a flashback and was able to move forward with the rest of the album.

The Rustlanders are good ol’ Americana at its best. Influences abound throughout the disc, but the foursome from State College, PA take those influences to work and create their own sound. “Blind Faith” is an absolutely brilliant track with great lyrics that are powerfully delivered with a rich Hammond organ and a ripping guitar solo.

It doesn’t look like they’ll be outside the Pittsburgh area for awhile. If you happen to be in that neck of the woods and enjoy Americana, I would make my way out to a show. For those of you that don’t live in PA, buy the album and patiently wait for The Rustlanders to roll into town.

Website | The Rustlanders

The Rustlanders - La Conchita

Arguably my favorite music movie of all time is a documentary called Standing in the Shadows of Motown, which was recommended by a good friend named PRick Lachey. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s the story of the Funk Brothers. Never heard of ‘em? Well in 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. gathered the best musicians from Detroit’s thriving jazz and blues scene to begin cutting songs for his new record company. Over a fourteen year period they were the heartbeat on every hit from Motown’s Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, this unheralded group of musicians had played on more number ones hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined - which makes them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music…but it left them broke and playing hotel lobbies.

I stole most of that from the movie’s plot description. Whenever I hear Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, I can’t help but think of that movie and the classic Motown hits. And yes, I know her album, 100 Days, 100 Nights was released last year and she’s been all over the blogs, but she deserves some long overdue attention on HearYa.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are a refreshing throwback to Motown’s heroes. That soulful sound is timeless, so she doesn’t need to do much to modernize it. Maybe that’s why she and the Dap Kings play these songs so effortlessly. The sound is like warm butter.

If you like this track, then you’ll like the rest of the album.

Sharon Jones - 100 Days, 100 Nights

When I was really young my parents would always try and get me to eat McDonald’s cheeseburgers. That was supposed to be my special treat, but all I wanted to do is eat hot dogs. No matter who told me how good these cheeseburgers were, all I wanted to do was eat me some hot dogs. Finally one day I broke down sunk my teeth into my first McDonald’s cheeseburger and, you know what? It was mighty delicious.

What the hell does this have to do with The Acorn? I’ve been reading so many positive reviews about Glory Hope Mountain that I just kept on putting it off. I finally broke down and downloaded this album on eMusic and, much like that first bite of US Grade A Beef, I was hooked immediately. The songs feel like a house of cards - like they can fall apart at any moment and I guess that’s what appeals to me. Glory Hope Mountain is a haunting, fragile piece of work that’s full of emotion.

And these songs should sound emotional. Glory Hope Mountain tells the turbulent life story of lead singer Rolf Klausener’s mother; her mother who died during childbirth, her abusive father, natural disasters that plagued her native Honderus, and the new life she found in a move to Canada. Rolf studied West Indian rhythms and Honduras Folk Music to shape the sound and I’d imagine his mother is beaming with pride.

As a whole, I personally dig The Acorn’s upbeat tunes more than the slower ones and their sound reminds me of Midlake or Talking Heads. “Crooked Legs” and “Flood Part 1″ are fantastically intricate tunes that really get inside you. While the some of the slow tracks may take a little more time to grow on you, the closing tune “Lullaby” is strikingly beautiful at first listen.

They are going to be at The Empty Bottle in Chicago this Friday, so if you’re in town, try to make your way out to see them. If you miss them, don’t worry. They’ll be be recording a live session with us in the studio during their stay in the windy city.

Website | MySpace | Paper Bag Records

The Acorn - Crooked Legs

The Acorn - Flood Pt. 1