Tapes on the Floor's Favorite Tracks of 2011 (Part II)

I hope you caught the first part of my favorite 40 tracks of 2011, because we're on to the second half of the list. If you'd like to listen along, check out my Spotify playlists which contain all but a few of the tracks from both the first and second parts of the list. Let's finish this off— here are the rest of the songs from the past year that caught my ear and didn't let go.

Watch Me Jumpstart

Fear not gentle readers. If you've paid any attention to my Twitter feed or scanned the bylines on Time Out Chicago, you'll know that I am alive and well. Tapes on the Floor isn't dead, it just went on an extended (and, perhaps, well deserved?) hiatus. If the classic lineup of Guided By Voices can get back together and make a new record, you can watch me jumpstart this dusty corner of the internet.

Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, Southeast Engine confirmed for Nelsonville Festival

It's been a little while since my last update about the Nelsonville Music Festival, but with May quickly approaching, I thought I'd round up some of the more notable artists that have been announced over the past few weeks.

The first on that list is The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, a collaboration between Sean Lennon and his girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl. The duo will bring their breezy folk tunes (and Beatles heritage) to the stage on Saturday. Also appearing on Saturday will be the local boys in Southeast Engine, fresh off the release of their latest folk-rock opus Canary.

Other recent additions to the line-up include James Gang devotees Mount Carmel, Canadian folk singer/songwriter Doug Paisley, brother of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and a wonderful musician in his own right Ned Oldham and his band Old Calf, and the subdued sounds of Cincinnati's Over the Rhine.

Head over to the festival's website for a complete list of confirmed artists and to buy tickets for what is sure to be one of the most exciting weekends for music in Ohio in recent memory.

Southeast Engine hits "Black Gold", Crippled Black Phoenix to stop in Columbus

Here in Athens, Ohio the homegrown band Southeast Engine is a point of pride with just about every local music fan. Right now, we've got plenty to be proud of as the group is set to release their second album since being signed to Misra Records on February 17. Entitled From the Forest to the Sea, the record is a collection of 12 songs, and the first studio effort in their new four-man configuration. Recently, the band released the record's first single "Black Gold" on their website, and even pieced together a music video for the track which can be seen on Stereogum. It's a really great tune that finds frontman Adam Remnant commenting on the corruptive power of coal and ultimately concluding that "Man kills the things he loves / To prove himself to be above / The very things he depends upon". It's a powerful and, dare I say it, environmentally conscientious song that I wouldn't be to surprised to start hearing on those 'clean coal' commercials that have been showing up on TV. The group is heading out on tour in February in support of the record, and will be making a stop in Austin for the Misra Records showcase at SXSW in March.

I recently got turned on to the band Crippled Black Phoenix, which is a post-rock collective of sorts comprised of members of several prominent groups including Mogwai and Electric Wizard. While they haven't officially released a record in the US, their 2006 release A Love of Shared Disasters was apparently a pretty hot import. This year they have not one, but TWO records being released, although the US will only get a compilation of previously released work entitled 200 Tons Of Bad Luck via Cargo Records. However, the band is doing small US tour and one of the places they just happen to be stopping by is the Ravari Room in Columbus on April 4. The opening band will be none other than Columbus' very own Brainbow, so its bound to be a very special night. If your a fan of Godspeed You Black Emperor or A Silver Mt. Zion, you owe it to yourself to check these guys out. Click over to the band's MySpace to listen to some tracks and get tour info.

I Shall Be Reviewed

I'm Not There Soundtrack - Various Artists
I'm still not sold on the concept of the movie; a little too artsy for my tastes. The soundtrack is a totally different story; Dylan covers from the likes of Calexico, Cat Power, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Stephen Malkmus, Jeff Tweedy and the Black Keys just to name a few. While a few artists turn in pretty standard approximations replete with faux-Dylan vocals (Cat Power's Stuck in Mobile is likely the best of this catagory), others provide some pretty unique interpretations that make for a fresh sounding listen. It's almost predictable at times; a blues-stomp take on "The Wicked Messenger" by the Black Keys, a meticulously arranged brass-heavy rendition of "Ring Them Bells" care of Sufjan Stevens, but this approach tends to work. And then there are the perfect moments like Yo La Tengo channeling the Band on Blonde on Blonde outtake "I Wanna Be Your Lover" or Stephen Malkmus ripping through "Maggie's Farm" backed by Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelly and Nels Cline. It's one of the better artist-centric soundtracks I've ever heard, and a worthy tribute to the timeless quality of Dylan's music.

A Wheel Within A Wheel - Southeast Engine
My new hometown of Athens, Ohio seems to have a big thing for folk rock. The poster-child of the scene is local group Southeast Engine, who were recently signed to the independent Misra records, and have just released their first album for the label. A Wheel Within A Wheel exemplifies everything a homespun group like this should sound like; namely a minimal amount of studio gloss and a focus on capturing the group in an accurate way. The band's sound evokes the alt-country gamut, ranging from Ryan Adams to Being There-era Wilco. Highlights of the record include opener "Taking the Fall" and the Oakley Hall-esque "Quit While You're Ahead". The band also shows an impressive use of a string section on slower numbers like "Reinventing Light" and "Oh God, Let Me Back In". If this album is any indication, Southeast Engineis well on its way to joining the ranks of the aforementioned alt-country heavy hitters.