Jam of the Day | Strand of Oaks - JM

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Having given us "Shut In" just last week, and the excellent, J Mascis-fueled "Goshen '97"before that, Strand of Oak's Heal is shaping up to be album of the year material. On "JM" Timothy Showalter pays tribute to the late Jason Molina (a.k.a. Songs: Ohia) with seven and a half minutes of brooding fuzz rock catharsis. The track starts out delicately, with Showalter reminiscing about having Molina's "Sweet tunes to play," but it soon explodes into fuzzed-out electric guitar jams that almost make you forget J Mascis isn't on this track.

Listen over at NPR.

Heal is out 6/24 on Dead Oceans

Jam of the Day | Gauntlet Hair - Keep Time

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Denver Duo Gauntlet Hair (Andy R. and Craig Nice) just released their self titled debut LP last week (via Dead Oceans). The release of Gauntlet Hair builds on a foundation of web buzz fueled by the release of singles "I Was Thinking" and "Top Bunk." "Keep Time" is a cacophonous jam featured on the newly released record (the lead track, in fact) that showcases Gauntlet Hair's winning blend of echoed vocals, choppy beats, jarring percussion, and jangly guitar. Turbulent, resonant, and expansive in all the right ways, "Keep Time" will be spending some extended time in our headphones to be sure.

Listen to and download "Keep Time" below (for free). Buy Gauntlet Hair here.

Free EP of the Day | John Vanderslice - Green Grow The Rushes

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Native Floridian singer-songwriter John Vanderslice (now based in California), has chased his latest LP, Romanian Names, with a lovely (and $FREE.99) six song EP entitled Green Grow The Rushes. Since starting his solo career about eleven years ago, Mr. Vanderslice has consistently carved out expertly crafted, somewhat "lo-fi" tunes that tend to be characterized lyrically by seemingly raw honesty and strong narratives. See in particular, 2005's dazzling Pixel Revolt (video for single "Dance Dance Revolution" below) and the 2007 follow up Emerald City, both somewhat inspired by the artist's reaction to 9/11, the 2000 election, and the war on terror.

Download Green Grow the Rushes HERE.

If you enjoy the generous freebie, and we think you will, buy yourself some more Vanderslices HERE and HERE.