New Jess Klein single

Jess Klein has a new single on emusic.  If you don’t know Jess’s music she’s an extraordinary talented singer-songwriter whose music moves from folk to almost-country to acoustic rock to a kind of post-punk pop.  Some of her work is sweet and melodic (try Blood, Sweat, Tears, or City Garden, or Real Live Love, all from the City Garden album, either from emusic or Amie) and some is sharp and funny (Flirting, here on youtube).  These tracks are a good starting point, based on what’s available on the sites I lurk, but all of Jess’s work is interesting, challenging, and definitely worth hearing. Her label’s website has samples here.  There’ a lot of acoustic folk, but if that’s not your thing the single Psalm 29 is stately and moving and beautiful, and her souly-bluesy collaboration with Peter Malik is just gorgeous (the tracks Immigrant and Midsize City Girls here; and as aside Norah Jones is on the same album).  Jess is also a fantastic live singer, one of those who is as good or better in a live recording than a studio.  There’s a live album on both Amie and emusic, should that catch your interest.  Jess also has a blog around these parts (and is indirectly the reason I started this here, rather than another site).  And now I think that’s about a long enough drooly fan-plug.

Amie street has been quiet lately.  There was a spate of Euro dance and metal, then almost nothing at all for the past few days.  However (and possibly related) the great sale price top-up is back: they’re doing 30% off the cost of credits right now, should you need some, but according to their emails, only for today.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: old Kings of Leon (for no particular reason) and the new Cold War Kids (here on emusic, if you’re an American). A very different album, strange and lyrical and melodic. Several outstanding tracks (try 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 9).  Cryptomnesia, the final track, is staggeringly good.  This is something to listen to straight though, proper album-style, not to chop and change.

And as an aside, the new Mogwai is also on Amie St, again, if you happen to be an American.