Top 11 albums, top 6 ep's and a special gift to you (at the end of the post)

Here we go, 2013's top albums and EP's as chosen by me in no particular order! (Why 11 and 6?  Why not?!).  For the year, I had been picking 2 albums as my favorites, Evening Hymns Spectral Dusk and Andy Shauf's The Bearer of Bad News.  Unfortunately both were released in 2012... so without further ado, the best of 2013!




 Jim Guthrie - Takes Time

What I love about this album is how unexpected each song is. Nice songs with exciting production.  Listen here

Daniel Romano - Come Cry With Me

The country album of the year.  Romano continues his transition into a 70 year old country singer.  Listen here

Little Kid - River of Blood

Probably the least known on this list, and that's a shame. London Ontario's Little Kid writes like know one else I know.  Listen here

Shugo Tokumaru - In Focus?

If I absolutely had to pick a favorite on this list, it'd be this one.  This album is so wacky, yet has some of the best written  melodies I've ever heard.  Listen here

Hayden - Us Alone

Hayden has been a constant throughout my life.  But this year I think he's released his finest, most mature record.  Listen here

Sigur Ros - Kveikur

Sigur Ros released, in my opinion, probably their best album of all time this year, and not many people talked about it.  Well I'm starting the conversation now!  Listen to the first track here

Snorri Helgason - Autumn Skies 

A trip to Iceland this year, reaped a wealth of musical discoveries.  Helgason writes beautiful folk rock. If you're a fan of the next act, you will probably dig Snorri Helgason.  Listen here

Michael Feuerstack - Tambourine Death Bed

Beautiful chill (and chilling) songwriting.  Listen here

David Bowie - The Next Day

People are calling this a return to form for Bowie, but I'd say the man has been releasing great music for last 20 years.  This album is no different (well, ok, it's probably his best in that time). OH it also has my favorite album cover of the year.  Listen here

Fresh Snow - 1

Just happened upon this band at Steam Whistle's unsigned series and really dug their post rock vibe. Listen here

Arcade Fire -  Reflektor

Loved this album immediately. Couldn't say the same for The Suburbs. Arcade Fire isn't the type of band to get too comfortable with a sound, making every release interesting.  This may be their most dancable. Listen here

Top 6 EP's

Michelle McAdorey - Leave the Main Road 7"

I really dug the band Crash Vegas back in the 90's.  Front person Michelle McAdory released this wonderful 45 on my new favorite label Seventh Fire. Listen Here

Olenka and the Autumn Lovers - It's Alright 7"

Technically released last year, but due to a series of setbacks the physical copy wasn't released until this year.  Olenka continues to be one of the finest songwriters this country has.  Listen here

Nick Ferrio & His Feelings - Half the Time 7"

Another Seventh Fire release.  and another produced by Greg Keelor.  Nick channels Porter Wagoner on this great 45. Listen here

Yellowteeth - Repo 7" (?)

One of those most exciting shows of the year was seeing these guys play for NXNE. Sackville NB is a hot bed for great punk rock.  And Craft Singles are releasing these interesting square vinyl 7".  Listen here

Halleluwah - k2r 10"

Another discovery from Iceland is this great hip-hop electronic act. Bought this because of the album art alone, and was very happy with my decision.  Listen here

Michael Feuerstack (featuring Colin Stetson) - Shadow / Wolves 7"

Finally, a bit more Michael Feuerstack for you. featuring the great Colin Stetson, these two songs take a much different path then his album.  Limited to 300 copies, pick one up ASAP.  Listen here

A GIFT!

Well there you have it!  My favorites of the year.  Thanks for reading through, and as a thank you I have a special gift.  Earlier this year I recorded a little ukulele demo with friend Ryan Warner.  It was mastered by another friend Shawn Jurek.  And it's yours, free to download (although if you wanted to through a few bucks my way I wouldn't be upset).  I hope you enjoy, listen, download and share below!

Contact

Electronic Press Kit:


Sonicbids EPK

The end of a ukulele project, a peak into the new year and a thank you!

Well it's finally been a year!  I've completed a challenge I gave myself, to cover a song a week for the span of 2013!  Here is the final week (week 52), I'll chat a bit more following...



That was fun.



I didn't know if I'd make it to the end or not, but it helped that you were all watching and commenting.  And these videos are still watchable at notmy52songs.tumblr.com !  Please feel free to view and share them.  Later in the year, I'll put together some of my favorites, plus I may have some good outtakes to show you soon as well.

People keep asking me what I'll be doing for 2014.  Well I won't be doing this kind of thing again, but I'll be doing something much more important.  I'll be recording my follow up to 2010's LP "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly"!  I have a great producer and some great musicians lined up, and I'll hopefully have more information for you soon  Another thing you may have already noticed, there's some rebranding for 2014, my stage name will now be my full name Shawn William Clarke.  Fits the music a bit better, no? 

Thanks to everyone who came out to gigs this year, everyone who bought merch, watched the ukulele videos and those who gave me kind words in 2013.  Next year should be great, so keep checking in here, or elsewhere.  Tomorrow, you can expect my yearly top 10 albums list, so come on back for that!

Good luck to you in 2014!  Happy new year!

Shawn.

Happy Holidays! And the final Ukulele video

Hey there friends!  I hope everyone's holidays are going well!  I had some very nice family time, received some good gifts including the new Arcade Fire, and David Bowie on vinyl!  Can't go wrong with that.

For those who don't know (Where have you been?) I was given a ukulele last year for X-mas, and to learn it I took on the project of learning a song a week for the entire year.  Well, the year is pretty much over.  Here is this week's (week 51)



That makes next week the final week!  The year went by pretty fast.  Check back here for an update, and in the meantime, why not check out some of the ones you missed?  Maybe one of your favorite bands were covered... or maybe you'd like to see a few of my guests?  You can watch all of them here at:  www.notmy52songs.tumblr.com

Anyways, I hope you enjoy.  More info next week!

Folk conferences, guitars, and ukulele videos!

Hi there!  I hope everyone is doing well!  I spent the last weekend at a very wonderful conference hosted by Folk Music Ontario.  It was my first conference, and although I was pretty nervous at first, I think I adapted admirably!  I played 2 showcases one on Friday and one on Saturday,  both at 2:30am.  Yup, 2:30am.  I'm not much of a night hawk, but when the adrenaline is pumping, it's amazing the things you're capable of.  The set up is this, from about 11pm to 3am, two hotel room floors open up to live music.  Every room is dressed up, and every room has great performers playing.  It's something to see, posters fill every available space in the halls and stairwells.  I was in a room with 3 great performers, Anthony Damaio, Sarah Beatty and Dan Belgue.  All three brought something different to the night; I was humbled to share the stage.

 photo by Sarah Beatty

You'll notice something a little different in that picture.  Yup, it's a new guitar!  Well a new old guitar.  It's a Kay from around 1964.  I got it at one of my favourite music stores in Ontario, Curries!  Yup, you have to go to Gravenhurst, but the prices, stock and service are great.

Ok, ukulele vids... so If you didn't know I've been learning a song a week on Ukulele for the entire year.  I'm up to week 42 now!  You can watch all of them at my tumblr Not My 52 Songs.  Here are the last 6, featuring Sarah Beatty, Dan Belgue, MJ Cyr, Jerry Leger, Dave Murray and Jami Lefebvre.  OH and one was filmed in Iceland! (yeah I was in Iceland... no time to talk about it, ask me later!)

"Kamera" by Wilco, featuring Dave Murray and Jami Lefebvre

"Why Don't You Love Me" by Hank Williams, featuring Jerry Leger

 

"New World Symphony 2nd Movement" by Dvorak, recorded in Iceland!

"Motion Picture Soundtrack" by Radiohead

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by the Beatles, featuring MJ Cyr

"Heart of Gold" by Neil Young, featuring Sarah Beatty and Dan Belgue

New EP art, and the work of Jessica Rae Gordon

So yesterday on my Facebook page I debuted the track list for my new EP "Sunday. Quiet.". 4 tracks, ukulele and voice, recorded by Ryan Warner and mastered by Shawn Jurek.  They are as follows:

1. Love Death and Other Ailments
2. Tranzac Club
3. Boxing Day
4. Sunday Quiet

Today is the day to debut the EP cover!  Designed by my long time artistic collaborator Jessica Rae Gordon!  But first here's some work we've done together in the past:




Green Room EP 2006

Like Birds Too Tired to Fly 2010

Stray Birds EP 2011

And finally, 


Sunday. Quiet. 2013

Well, what do you think?! 

Mudtown Fest, and Craft Beer Fest

Hey there, just wanted to let you know about a couple exciting shows coming up in the next few weeks.  First up, Mudtown Music Festival! 

Formerly OtherFolk, this wonderful fest looks like it'll be one of the highlights of the year!  They asked me to specifically play an all Ukulele set, so it'll be a first!  It's the weekend of Aug 9-10 in Owen Sound, and you can get tickets here: http://mudtownrecords.com/mudtown/2013/tickets

Also playing are Stars, Hannah Georges, Daniel Romano, Weather Station, EON's, Zues, Young Galazy, Del Bel, Wax Mannequin, Legato Vipers, Megan Hamilton and more!  I'm in good company.

On Aug 11th, I'll be back in Toronto for the Craft Beer Festival being held at Steam Whistle Brewery!  I've been to this as a beer lover and it's a great time.  Some of Ontario's finest breweries all in one place, and to top it up, live music!  Not sure the set times, but I'll keep you posted.  You can get tickets for that right here: http://www.craftbeerfest.ca/#tickets

Oh one more thing, keep your eyes out, because this weekend I plan on filming a couple videos with a certain popular music video site.  More info soon.  Bye.

Top Ten Fan Favourites! (So Far)

Well, I'm just over half way through these Ukulele videos!  I honestly didn't think I'd get this far, in general, I'm a really lazy man.  But I'm really enjoying it, and apparently, so are you!  I asked around and compiled some of the fan favourites.  There were a lot of ties, so in those cases I just went ahead and put them in an arbitrary order (remember that laziness thing I mentioned earlier?).   Here we go!  Let me know if you agree with everyone else!

10. "Fish And Bird"  by Tom Waits
    
    Featuring the wonderful Sara Ciantar on Accordion, this is a nice little Tom Waits tune we performed for week 6





11. "If I Could Only Win Your Love" by the Louvin Brothers
    
    This one is a lot of fun, we really did this last minute out in the cold in front of Habits Bistro! the first of 3 appearances by Melissa Dalton! Week 13
    



12. "Love Song" by The Cure
    
    A song for Valentines day!  Week 5 with the Cure!
    
    



13. "Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan
    
    Week 21 was the end of my Bob Dylan tribute month.  I decided to cover this beautiful little song from "Time Out of Mind".
    
    



14. "Crying" by Roy Orbison
    
    For some reason I thought I'd start this whole project off with this Roy Orbison song.  A tough one on the pipes, hopefully my voice has improved a bit.



15. "Happiness is a Warm Gun" by The Beatles
    
    I'd been hoping to get together with Olenka for a while, I finally cornered her in the back room of the Rivoli and recorded this for week 25!



16. "Mushaboom" by Feist
    
    Inspired by the Arts and Crafts X show earlier this summer, I tackled this Feist tune! 



17. "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" by Tears for Fears
    
    Week 15, this is one of my favorites to play, I was surprised how adaptable this was to the Ukulele! I also fell in love with Tears for Fears after this.



18. "Teach Your Children" by Crosby Stills Nash and Young
    
    One of my favourites as well!  Getting together with Graydon and Laura was amazing.  We ran this a couple times, and we have a wonderful outtake from this session that I will have to put up soon! It's also the only hug recorded... so far.



19.  "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan
    
    This was a really great session.  Mellisa made her second appearance, and this time we added Lara Martin to the mix!  Love these girls, their voices are perfect!!

Well, thanks for watching! And keep checking back for more at my blog:

Mudtown Music Festival

Hey there, some great news, I've been asked to play the Mudtown Music Festival in August!  Formerly known as OtherFolk this wonderful festival takes place in Owen Sound on the weekend of August 9th, 10th.

I'll be performing at the Bleeding Carrot on the 10th at 5:30pm.  There are almost 50 bands playing through out those 2 days, including a few of my favorites Daniel Romano, Weather Station, Stars, Zeus, Hannah Georges and more!  You can see and downlod the whole schedule at this link right here!

They have been following my Ukulele blog and asked me to perform an all Uke set!  So get ready for that!

Here are some of the new videos in case you've missed any.  Please paruse my blog www.notmy52songs.tumblr.com !


 Teach Your Children by CSNY featuring Laura and Graydon from Graydon James and the Young Novelists  
Mushaboom by Feist        Trouble Weighs a Ton by Dan Auerbach

New Album plans.

Hey guys, quick note. After seeing Hayden, Timber Timbre, Dan Mangan, Broken Social Scene, etc last night, I found myself inspired to get working on this next album. As you know, albums cost a bit of money to do right, so I've been thinking of a few ways to try and raise the funds. One thing I've done is from now until the next album is out, my full length debut album and EP are both a pay what you can model. So if you want to chip in a buck that's cool, but if you want to give me 100 bucks that's even cooler. Anyways, albums can be bought in person (NXNE maybe?) or digitally at my Bandcamp site: http://shawnclarke.bandcamp.com/

That's it! Thanks for your time, please share with friends if you think they'd dig the music! And trust me, the next album is going to be great.