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The Shaky Hands:

Portland’s The Shaky Hands seem a band rather settled in their sound after three albums. Certainly Let It Die ploughs a similar furrow to the blues-influenced indie-rock of both their self-titled debut and it follow-up, Lunglight

But that’s not necessarily a bad thing – Let It Die is primed to more than satisfy both their fans and also the newcomer, rooted as it is in classic influences such as Neil Young and The Kinks, and packed with easy charm. Pledge Now

Willie Nelson:

2009 release from the Country/Pop icon. American Classic is Willie Nelson's return to the Great American Songbook, a crossover standards album by the man who invented the genre with his landmark, best-selling 1978 album Stardust, which has been certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA. Produced by Tommy LiPuma and featuring guest duet partners Norah Jones on the classic tale of seduction 'Baby It's Cold Outside' and Diana Krall on 'If I Had You.'. Pledge Now

Blitzen Trapper:

It is fitting that ten seconds into Blitzen Trapper’s fifth full-length record, front man Eric Earley utters that most sacred of rock ‘n’ roll tropes: “For to love is to leave or to run like a rollin’ stone,” he sings in the harmonized verse that leads off the album’s epic title track, “Destroyer of the Void.” As is the case with just about every musician or band that has employed the Blues’ greatest simile­Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, Van Morrison, the Temptations, the Rolling Stones­Blitzen Trapper is unabashed in its embrace of tradition. Pledge Now

The Country Gentlemen:
Modern bluegrass was born on July 4, 1957 when the original Country Gentlemen took the stage at the Admiral Grill in Baileys Crossroads, Virginia. The foursome heard on this disc is the "classic" Country Gentlemen—Charlie Waller, John Duffey, Eddie Adcock, and Tom Gray, one of the greatest ensembles in bluegrass history. This reissue of the Gents' 1973 album catches the band in its prime. 28-page booklet. 16 tracks. 46 minutes.. Pledge Now

The Dollyrots:
2010 release, the third album from the California Alt-Pop/Punks. If there's one thing that experience can offer, it's learning from past missteps and building on the successes. And that's where the album title A Little Messed Up comes into play. It points to the idea that imperfections are all around and a natural part of human existence. No one's perfect and we're proud of that part of us, says vocalist/bassist Kelly Ogden. Pledge Now

William Fitzsimmons:

2010 release, the third album from the California Alt-Pop/Punks. If there's one thing that experience can offer, it's learning from past missteps and building on the successes. And that's where the album title A Little Messed Up comes into play. It points to the idea that imperfections are all around and a natural part of human existence. No one's perfect and we're proud of that part of us, says vocalist/bassist Kelly Ogden.. Pledge Now

Dale Watson:

On The Sun Sessions, not only does Dale Watson evoke an era, but he revives it to the point that it seems that it never faded. Embodying the early recordings of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Carl Perkins brewed with his signature Texas juke joint cool, Dale Watson is what country is, was and should always be. Recorded at the fabled Sun Studios in Memphis, TN, The Sun Sessions is an album that deserves the label of "instant classic." Backed by The Texas Two, these 14 original tracks turn love, heartache and the unsung heros of our everyday lives into legend.. Pledge Now

Carol Bui:

There's more to Carol Bui than meets the eye (or the ear). Which is saying something considering that her (2007) release, Everyone Wore White, is a complex tapestry that not only showcases her capabilities as a guitarist but fleshes out several corners of her history and personality. Bui draws from influences as disparate as Fugazi and traditional Vietnamese tunes (one of which she sings a capella to close out the album) and sings about life's rough patches with a tone that's disarmingly bold and direct. Her toughness and sensitivity shine through, but she's also witty and approachable. That's part of the beauty of her music: she's honest and forthright, yet leaves so much in her nuances for the listener to discover. There's a reason she's on the list of DCist's favorite local acts of 2007.
Over the months since her album's release, her buzz, already strong in the metro area has multiplied as everyone from My Old Kentucky Blog to All Music Guide has given her stellar reviews. Even the Pitchfork writer who famously blasted the work of another local artist gave Everyone Wore White a hefty 7.8. With a fiery live show to boot (and one already planned opening for Merge duo The Rosebuds), Carol Bui certainly has the capability to break out nationally in 2008.Pledge Now

Hot Chip:
With 'One Life Stand' Hot Chip have created another widescreen pop masterpiece. A track that seeps through to your soul while defiantly striking a pose on the dance floor called now. Indeed, hot chip have an uncanny knack of creating great singles, from the bruising 'over and over' and the dizzying 'boy from school' to 2008's ubiquitous smash 'ready for the floor', alexis, joe, felix, al and owen have constantly pushed the boundaries of what pop music can be and new single 'one life stand' is no exception; a masterful 3 minute wonder that will surely sit alongside the very best in the annals of contemporary pop music. Hot chip have always been equally adept at producing floor fillers alongside songs of intimacy and melancholy and with 'one life stand' they have pulled off the rare trick of executing both at the same time, by lyrically declaring a personal and tender message within the confines of a tune that is infectious, deeply danceable, fortified and ready for the dancefloor. Pledge Now

Patti Smith:
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, Patti Smith's first career-spanning single CD collection, OUTSIDE SOCIETY, contains 18 signature songs, remastered from all ten of Smith's studio albums. The chronologically arranged tracks move from her 1975 debut album, Horses ("Gloria", "Free Money"), through her last release in 2007, Twelve ("Smells Like Teen Spirit"). The liner notes features brief recollections of each song written by Patti, who personally supervised the song choices. Pledge Now