I’ve had a couple of recent releases playing relatively non-stop on my computer lately. Here’s a couple of samples:

Easton Stagger Phillips is a side-project of the grossly underrated Tim Easton, whom I interviewed here back in 2004 and actually posted on the morning of my wedding day. Easton has quietly built himself an arsenal of some of the best recordings of the past 10 years. He has multiple musical personalities, but it all ties back to his strongest asset – his songwriting. For this album, he teamed up with fellow musicians Leroy Stagger and Evan Phillips, his friends from Alaska and they put together a collection of songs that feel awfully Big Pinkish – and that’s a compliment of the highest order. The album is called “One For The Ditch” and the sample here is called “Stormy.” Easton doesn’t handle vocals on this track, but any of the songs will give you a sense of the great vibe on this record.

Blitzen Trapper is a band that kind of defies explanation. Part indie rockers, part campfire singers and part psychedelia, I suppose. But certainly unique. They sound like the kind of band that might not shower very much. I really have no idea what that means, but I think you still get the point. They’ve just released “Furr,” which I believe to be their 2nd full length release and it’s really moving the needle for me. Sample here is “War On Machines.”