A Brief View of The Hudson – Go North To Find Me

The disc starts with a child asking if he'll be a rock star. A good start for an album that combines a childlike lightness with a grownup's maturity. This theme is enhanced musically combining a jangling acoustic sound and brushed drums and cymbals with electric guitars. On the song Down South it is mirrored in Ann's sweet vocals mixed with Nick's low growl of a voice.
The production leaves a good amount of air between the instruments creating a light and airy feel. It feels like you discovered some cool vinyl from 1967 and you wonder why you never heard of this group before. Discovery is one of the main delights of being a consumer of music. This six-song 'ep' leaves us hungry for more.

Ben Sadock- You Are The Beneficiary Of Us

There is a cadre of songwriter's on the Sidewalk's Antifolk scene that play the piano and write melodic, literate songs. To the circle that includes Peter Dizozza and Steve Espinola please welcome Ben Sadock, an American Joe Jackson for the coffee-house set.
No one in the circle is America's greatest vocalist. However, like Sadock, you can hear their humanity, their yearning, and their innocence in their voices.
On his latest disc Sadock sings of the loneliness of the smart kid. Watching from the sidelines as the football hero scores the cheerleader. Eventually, she'll be older; she'll look back and regret that she didn't notice the brilliant kid with the notebook. The one that figured he couldn't get the girls as Robert Plant but might score just as well as Randy Newman.
This is a lyrical album. Backed by a subtle and gracious production by Richard McGraw. Think more Elvis Costello's Imperial Bedroom than This Year's Model, more of a Sunday afternoon groove than a Saturday night blowout.
Next time you sit down to do the crossword with a coffee put on this disc instead of NPR and enjoy the hour float by like a child's wooden boat burbling along a country stream