Yoni Wolf, of the fantastic and fantastically under-appreciated band Why?, is one of our favorite lyricists-songwriters.  A few years back Why? unleashed a stentorian, stereophonic one-two via their twinned-albums, Alopecia and Eskimo Snow.  In late 2012 Why? released another one-two via their Sod in the Seed EP and new album Mumps, Etc., both of which have added greatly to their beguiling discography.  The band is now located in Wolf’s native Cincinnati after a long stint in Oakland, and is now out on tour in support of Mumps, Etc.  We’ll write more soon about this great band and, in particular, the weight and worth of Wolf’s wordsmithing, but to get a feel for Wolf and the band check out the vignette below of them performing their song Shag Carpet on Minneapolis’ Radio K.

It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with all the young buzz bands coming out of the UK these days (Palma Violets, Daughter, etc., etc.). The latest is band Peace, who have made their mark with critics/fans both across the Pond and at SXSW. After listening to their debut album In Love, we understand the allure. They combine some of the best that British rock has offered: Oasis, Stone Roses, Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, etc., and add a dollop of the Beach Boys (check out the harmonies on California Daze below) and Nirvana (check out the Follow Baby official video below) . They have largely managed to make their own sound (the Oasis-influence is prominent though).  If the lead track off the album, Brighter Than The Sun, is any indication, Peace is going to take over the world.  That’s right–expect World Peace (apologies Metta).  Time will tell if they continue to evolve.  Check out some of their songs below or go over and stream their new album at NME

We are huge fans of Noah and the Whale.  The band largely strikes all the right chords with us, and their The First Days of Spring album remains one of our all-time favorites.  NATW has now released their official video (below) for song There Will Come A Time off of their impending new album, Heart Of Nowhere.  Evidently the video is a trailer for a short film directed by bandleader Charlie Fink that will accompany the release of the album on May 6th.  We like the building, anthemic feel of the new song and can’t wait for the new album.  Check the video below.  After is the new album’s songlist.

The Heart Of Nowhere songlist:

‘Introduction’
‘Heart Of Nowhere’
‘All Through The Night’
‘Lifetime’
‘Silver & Gold’
‘One More Night’
‘Still After All These Years’
‘There Will Come A Time’
‘Now Is Exactly The Time’
‘Not Too Late’

Yesterday we posted a performance by the great Low at Saki’s for A.V. Club. Today A.V. has released a couple more songs from their new, Jeff-Tweedy produced album The Invisible Way.  The new album is receiving near-universal raves, and these performances are so good we have to repeat ourselves and post them anew.  First check out Clarence White (ostensibly an homage to the late Byrds member, but also Charles Heston–huh?) that builds bountifully as if a song by Low’s Alan Sparhawk’s Retribution Gospel Choir.  Then check out one of the highlights from the new album, Plastic Cup. So high, but so Low.  At bottom you can download new song Just Make It Stop.  Don’t let it stop.

Low plays “Clarence White” live at Saki

Low plays “Plastic Cup” live at Saki

We’re used to mixologists grafting new sounds onto/into/with the music elements of a song. But what we haven’t heard so much is a lyrical mashup in which two songs’ lyrics are combined and a (mostly) new melody tacked on.  Until now.  The UK’s delectable Daughter held sway with us for a good part of 2012, and on Tuesday this week they finally released their fantastic new album If You Leave (get your copy HERE).  As if that wasn’t enough, they are back with a mesmerizing addition to their discography. Listen to the band as they played live yesterday (for BBC Radio One) their mash-up of Bon Iver’s Perth and Hot Chip’s Ready For The Floor.  Brilliant.  You can listen to the full Daughter/BBC Radio One session HERE.

Low has been out regaling the cognoscenti with performances from their new, Jeff Tweedy-produced album The Invisible Way on Sub Pop.  And we are the lowly beneficiaries of these performance’s heights.  Check out Low performing songs from the new album, a cover or two (of course) and others for The Line of Best Fit and A.V. Club below.  And if you go to La Blogotheque (votre code ci-dessous est merde, monsieurs et madames!) HERE, you can watch a stellar 30+ minute set by the band.  Superb stuff.

Low plays “Holy Ghost” live at Saki

You can watch more many performances by Low for A.V. Club HERE.

Last night former “math-rock”-scions-turned-anthem-rockers Pinback showed up on Jimmy Fallon to play Proceed to Memory off of their stellar recent album Information Retrieved. Water! Fire! Rain! Hail!

In recent days, much has been rightly said and written regarding Jason Molina’s passing this past Saturday at the too-young age of 39.  Adding to those tributes is the The Avett Brothers’ appropriately-somber cover below of Molina’s song Hammer Down.  “Hammer down, heaven bound.”  RIP Jason. If you want to read/listen to more of Molina’s songs and effect, Drowned In Sound has two of the better pieces to start with HERE and HERE.  The song’s telling lyrics are below the video.

Hammer Down:

“Hammer down, heaven bound
Hammer down, heaven bound

I saw the light
On the old gray town
Sometimes I forget that I’ve always been sick
And I don’t have the will to keep fighting

Hammer down, heaven bound
Hammer down, heaven bound

Hammer down, heaven bound
Hammer down, heaven bound

When its been my ghost and the empty road
I think the stars are just the neon lights
Shining through the dance floor
Shining through the dance floor
Of heaven on a Saturday night
And I saw the light
I saw the light

Hammer down, heaven bound
Hammer down, heaven bound”

You’ll forgive us, but it’s Clem Snide (Eef Barzelay) Week this week at Chez Lefort.  Comes now the discovery (we’re a bit slow) of the vignette below in which Barzelay covers one of our all-time favorite Neil Young songs, Barstool Blues (off of the comparatively obscure Zuma album).  Despite a cold and a cough, Barzelay does the lofty song proud, inflecting new heart and soul.

Just last week we openly clamored for a new album from the great Clem Snide.  We’re pretty sure Eef Barzelay and the snide ones were just waiting for our prompting to announce their impending new Spring album, Songs For Mary.  Evidence comes our way below in the form of the just released official video for new song All Good Hearts.  According to Clem/Eef, the song is: “Song number 3 from Songs for Mary which is the new Clem Snide record and is to be released in the spring of 2013. The song was written by Eef Barzelay and he also made the video. Jared Reynolds plays the bass. The Funmaker plays the drums.”

“Spoiler” alert: the video is a mostly-disturbing, visual non sequitur (at least in our pea brains).  Or it’s a rehash of the trite old relationships-as-political-conflicts motif.  Either way, you would not do wrong to skip the viewing and just look outside your window while listening to yet another beauty-in-song from Eef Barzelay/Clem Snide.