Grand National - Drink & A Quick Decisio - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

After more than three decades as a member of such indie rock luminaries as New Radiant Storm King, Silver Jews, and Savak, multi-instrumentalist Matt Hunter tries his hand as bandleader, working with a group of longtime musicians from bands like King Missile, Yo La Tengo, Band of Susans, The Sharp Things, and Phantom Tollbooth. The result is a collection of mature, well-written songs, expertly played, simultaneously diverse and cohesive, each track surrounding Hunter's grizzled, road-weary, campfire songs with skillful musicianship.

The Brook & the Bluff get back to their rock & roll roots with Werewolf. Heavily inspired by the band's live show, it's a transformative album that finds the road warriors turning up their amplifiers, speeding up their tempos, and howling at the moon in four-part harmony. The result is both energizing and electrifying - a record fueled by the sharp songwriting and stacked vocal arrangements that have already earned the band more than 200 million streams, but shot through with the supercharged sonics of their concerts, too. After years of heavy touring, The Brook & the Bluff took a break from the road and wrote Werewolf at home in Nashville. Outside of their rehearsal space, regular life continued to unfold. One band member prepared for his wedding. Another made his way through a divorce. For several hours every weekday day, though, the four friends shut out the world and focused on nothing but music, channeling the southern-fried sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty, Eagles, Little Feat, and other classic rock staples into new songs full of melody, muscle, and self-introspection. Recorded during a series of live-in-the-studio performances, Werewolf is the sound of a reinvigorated rock & roll band fueled by rediscovery, amplification, and a decade's worth of brotherhood.

Halifax singer-songwriter Rose Cousins finds insight in solitude and strength in numbers. Supported by a thriving Halifax music scene and welcomed by an equally vibrant Boston community, her album WE HAVE MADE A SPARK was made in the spirit of community and collaboration.  Rooted in authenticity and conviction of voice, We Have Made A Spark feels as though Rose Cousins is singing for you, about your life. It is that sincerity that leads some to compare her to our most beloved songwriters, yet her delivery is distinctly Rose.InchThere is not a lyric, note or instrument out of place on the dark third album by East Coast folk-pop singer/songwriter Rose Cousins. Funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign and recorded in Boston with a large group of collaborators, the 11 songs showcase Halifax-based Cousins at the top of her game.Inch - NOW Magazine, February 2012InchThis is one of the most stunning albums this year. I feel like many people missed it, but it's never too late.Inch -Kim Ruehl, No Depression, December 2012InchA sadder than sad, startlingly beautiful, emotionally naked album from a masterful singer/songwriter.Inch -NOW Toronto, Top 10 Albums of 2012InchAs always, Cousins' honest lyrics are as disarming as the music which accompanies them.Inch -NPR Music, January 20131. The Darkness2. The Shell3. One Way4. What I See5. All The Stars6. Go First7. For The Best8. This Light9. If I Should Fall Behind10. All The Time It Takes To Wait11. White Daisies