It's easy to dismiss the infinite number of music blogs out there as an echo chamber of wanna be insiders that only will praise a band until you've heard them. But to do so means missing out on some great original writing and endless insights into music both familiar and the unknown.
One site that gives reason to believe is When You Awake. The owner, Jody Orsborn, is equal part curator of the past -posting epic clips from around the web and putting together a terrific series of mix tapes- and trustworthy gateway to the present - with honest reviews of emerging artists and thorough coverage of the LA music scene.
Over the past few months she's turned me onto my favorite new band, Hacienda, as well as my new favorite dead artist, Jim Ford. (check out both below, and be ready to wonder how you've never heard of Jim Ford before, I have been asking myself that for two months and still haven't come up with a reason)
Here's a quick smattering of some other stuff that has made my day: Linda Rondstat covering Tumbling Dice, a mixtape of Kris Kristofferson covers (BTW: if anyone has ever looked more beautiful than Rita Coolidge in that video, I haven't seen them) and a 2009 interview with the ever bizarre Van Morrison.
This week Jody has a great guest mixtape from the Pete Osberg, curator of Wolfgang's Vault, who until Nick Meriwether got hired, might have had the best job going.
Listen:
Hacienda Who's Heart Are You Breaking" (buy)
Hacienda Apples
Jim Ford Sounds
of Our Time (buy)
Jim Ford Workin
My Way to L.A
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