January 10, 2010

Ben Sollee & Jim James

ben sollee

Speaking of Jim James (or Yim Yames, as he seems to be going by fulltime these days), the My Morning Jacket frontman is producing the newest record from classically-trained cellist Ben Sollee and hushed folkie Daniel Martin Moore. The collaboration will be the follow-up to Sollee’s Learning to Bend and Moore’s pensive Sub Pop debut Stray Age (both in 2008).

Reinforcing my love of Kentucky lately, all these fellas know each other from the Louisville music scene and recorded this album early last year in their home state. On the resulting album, the songs are written and performed by Sollee and Moore, produced by and featuring Yim Yames. Sounds like an excellent idea to me.

PrintDear Companion is out on Sub Pop on February 16th, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Appalachian Voices, an organization devoted to ending mountaintop removal coal mining in central Appalachia.

And if I wounded you, I’m sorry
I had good intentions
If I wounded you, I’m sorry — it happens all the time

Something, Somewhere, Sometime – Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore

You may also recall that the James/Sollee pair already recorded a fantastic, political folk duet “Only A Song” in 2008, full of hope and optimism, released on Election Day. And although I missed Sollee’s recent swing through Colorado, I loved seeing him last winter with Abigail Washburn and her Appalachian-Chinese folk music blend.



BONUS: I also so adore this one. His voice is distinctive, and almost haunting here.

Panning for Gold (Computer vs. Banjo remix) – Ben Sollee



BEN SOLLEE “PEDALING AGAINST POVERTY” TOUR
Jan 20 – Iron Horse Music Hall, Northhampton, MA *
Jan 21 – Ifinity Hall, Norfolk, CT *
Jan 22 – Fairfield Theater, Fairfield, CT *
Jan 24 – Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ *
Jan 26 – One Longfellow Square, Portland, ME *
Jan 27 – Club Passim, Cambridge, MA *
Jan 29 – IOTA, Arlington, VA *
Jan 30 – Arden Concert Guild, Arden, DE *
Jan 31 – The Southern, Charlottesville, VA *
Feb 2 – Rex Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA #
Feb 3 – Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids, MI #
Feb 4 – Callahan’s, Auburn Hills, MI #
Feb 5 – The Livery, Benton Harbor, MI #
Feb 6 – Kent Stage, Kent, OH #

*with Carrie Rodriguez
# with Erin McKeown and Carrie Rodriguez

5 Comments

  • when you take a 2nd home here in the Bluegrass, we’ll have a 24 hour party to welcome ya.

    i’m enjoying Kentucky month on Fuel Friends. :-)

    Kyle Meredith — January 11, 2010 @ 8:32 am

  • kentucky month! 24-hour party to welcome me!
    i have an uncle outside of louisville, so i’m due.

    browneheather — January 11, 2010 @ 8:49 am

  • http://todiebyyourside.blogspot.com/2010/01/were-dancing-in-midnight-sky.html

    Heather different subject – but you urgently need to check out Frightened Rabbit’s cover of the Aled Jones standard from the animated film the Snowman “Walking in the air”. Its on the “To die by your side” blog and is stunning.

    steve — January 11, 2010 @ 1:22 pm

  • Bloody hell the same British blog also has superb cover version of the Beatles “Golden Slumbers” and “Carry that Weight” by Mumford and Sons. A veritable gold mine has been struck and in snowy Wales tonight someone has died and gone to heaven!

    Steve

    steve — January 11, 2010 @ 1:32 pm

  • Wow. I’m officially converted to Ben Solleeism. His is a gorgeous brand of music. Thanks!

    Ariel — January 12, 2010 @ 7:11 pm

Comments RSS

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Subscribe to this tasty feed.
I tweet things. It's amazing.

Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

View all Interviews → View all Shows I've Seen →