Le Diamant Brut: J Tillman & Caitlin Rose
What’s the Deal: Nashville’s music scene and reputation for churning out singer/songwriters should come as no surprise to anyone. But, perhaps one of the latest of these musicians coming from that way worth mentioning is Caitlin Rose, and you’ll have the chance to sample the sound yourself during South by Southwest this year. She has a strong country folk songwriting style that would make her influencers (Gram Parsons, Linda Ronstadt and others) proud. Her last release was an EP, Dead Flowers, but Rose has been hard at work on her full-length, which according to her will be grand production with multiple outside players.
“Dead Flowers” from the EP of the same name is great example of her musical abilities. She twangs-up this Rolling Stones cover in a way that almost makes you forget the original. A little steel guitar and a strong voice with a slight Southern drawl can go a long way. One of her own, “Shotgun Wedding,” changes it up a bit from the style of the previous. Fast picking and a foot-stomping beat help make this wordy tune about true love one that’s going to forget.
Something Interesting: Her day job, at least until recently, was working the window at Bobbie’s Dairy Dip. So, if you’re in Nashville and want to get your ice cream fix from a talented chanteuse, stop by her window and say hi. But, take advantage of her availability quickly because she’s likely to move above and beyond if she hasn’t already.
Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Sinful Wishin Well” and “For the Rabbits”
What’s the Deal: He’s a Seattle singer/songwriter with a stripped-down, sentimental musical style standing quite exposed with his acoustic guitar strumming and smokey vocals, and he'll be on location in Austin for South by. He’s also the drummer for Fleet Foxes, and some of his bandmates make a contribution on “Firstborn” to Tillman’s tattered vocals rarely breaking above a whisper and always traveling with the lightest step. There are some really serene and gorgeous piano pecks paired with what sounds like a chorus of angels sadly serenading the fallen.
Tillman just released his sixth disc as a solo artist and his first since he took the role behind the kit with Fleet Foxes, and it’s called Vacilando Territory Blues. The hushed and gentle folk songs as well as the organics of an album that was produced with all the slight imperfections of the musical journey in tact are felt in full effect on the album and in particular on songs like “No Occasion.” The sounds of strings and bells come in from time to time just to drop by to boost up Tillman’s vocals and then disappear into the mist, leaving almost no trace behind them.
Something Interesting: The video for his song “Firstborn” shuns music video convention and goes for a nature documentary approach. The entire time the camera follows flocks of birds back and forth between buildings. It’s very peaceful and graceful, and it fits the song snugly.
Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “James Blues”
