Chris Brown

Tip Sheet: Maine Music Today

This is the state of music in the State of Maine. The best new music from Maine curated by professional music fan and inventor or Record Store Day, Chris Brown. Updated weekly.

New to the playlist this week:

Doug Kolmar – Walking – The playlist begins with this lovely solo acoustic ballad, from Doug Kolmar’s new album out today. It’s the perfect song for this morning’s dreary weather and to open the album. We are going to ease into the playlist in the way it eases you into his album.

Toby McAllister – Bottom of a Bottle – Toby’s country/punk pop is one of the best compositions released recently. It’s so catchy that you will be singing the chorus by the end of the song. What I admire most about it, however, is how tightly written it is.

Weakened Friends – Smoke and Mirrors – I love this energetic track, despite it being buried on the second half of their new album, Feels Like Hell. The chorus reminds me of a Nirvana song. You’ll hear it.

The Pretty Reckless – Where Are You Christmas – Are The Pretty Reckless planning two releases this fall? Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas EP is scheduled for Halloween. It may seem weird to release it now, but it’s actually a bit later. Christmas albums are traditionally released earlier in October. It’s a straightforward pop rock song and very different from their intense modern rock single For I Am Death from this August.

Dave Gutter – Chris Got 86’d (feat. Chris Idol) – This could have fit on Dave’s masterpiece The Music Industry Is Trying to Kill Me. I’m glad it wasn’t because the album is perfect as it is and now we get more Gutter for the fall.

Not quite new, but worthy:

Jon Nolan – On My Own from his brilliant roots rock album, Slow Cooker

Toughcats – Get Up – New territory for banjo, dobro, and drums. It’s been 11 years since they released anything. I missed them.

13 Scotland Rd – The Weather – This funky and jazzy acoustic song has really cool flute solos. The recording is older but I have really been getting into this band recently.