Acoustic

(Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Dashboard Confession)

Trench Town Oddities: Days & Nights

There are times when all you need is good old acoustic pop rock to help make your day right. Trench Town Oddities is a five piece crew than can provide you with some feel-good, relaxing folk pop music you'll enjoy. This 5 piece crew have been together since 2006; releasing several EPs so far, one of which is a Christmas EP. This Cornwall band not only record their own songs, they are also a party band. Playing cover songs from various artists like Jack Johnson, Sublime and even fellow Canadian, Alanis Morissette; the band is slowly gaining ground on their local hometown. Days & Nights is a 6-track EP of the band's own songs. The cuts are light and fun to listen to if you simply don't want to think about anything else other than having a good time.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith: A Collector’s Guidebook

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is not a spy duo making music on the side, it's actually the pet project of model and songwriter, Hollis Smith. The album is a very low key folk record that's perfect for bundling up beside the fireplace on a cold, winter day. This 10 track album is only one of several compilations already released by the artist. Although the songs are quite simple, there's a certain mysterious aura that circles most of the tracks. It's this beauty that makes the album worth listening to over and over again. Play it as background music as you read or as you work, it's certainly a wonderful piece to complement your day.

Gunther Brown: Gunther Brown

Gunther Brown and his songs belong to some indie coming-of-age movie or television series soundtrack. It's not just the expressive voice but the acoustic electro sound as well as the melodic vibe definitely makes this one an A++ indie folk pop record. More often than not, you'll see Gunther Brown as a duo comprised of Pete Dubuc and Evan Chase. Occasionally, they do transform into a 5 piece crew, with Eric Heintz, Ethan Gamage, Derek Mills and Chris Devlin as additional members. This self-titled compilation is a collection of EPs and singles the band has released in their previous records.

Daniel Wyckoff: The Quadrature

The Quadrature by Daniel Wyckoff is an acoustic instrumental progressive haven. It's not everyday that we cover instrumentals here in Frostclick, so here's one to feast your ears on. Daniel Wyckoff is a guitar aficionado that has just released his second record of nothing but sweet acoustic guitar goodness for free. His second album, A Shift, is available as a free download on Jamendo. Before that though, he released The Quadrature which feature a lite-prog and math rock sound. The recording quality isn't perfect but you have to admire this guy's skill and what he can do with his guitar.

EllusBellus: Sticks, Stones & My Bones

Combining folk, acoustic and pop in a beautiful, melodic album takes a lot. However, EllusBellus manages to breeze through it without much trouble. The Chicago duo have been around for a couple of years; carefully crafting their brand of fun, folk pop music that brings to mind wonderful summertime afternoons. Sticks, Stones & My Bones is their latest offering. It features 6 tracks that range from slow, melodic goodness to upbeat and fun pop beats. It's one of those records you could play as a summer soundtrack as you frolic on the beach with friends, go biking around the neighborhood or simply relax in the park.

Emerald Park: For Tomorrow (2010 Edition)

For Tomorrow is one of those records that you find online and you think to yourself, "is this really free?" Listening to the quality of the recording as well as the music might make you think twice but it is available as a free download so listeners can enjoy this amazing folk pop compilation from this Swedish group. Emerald Park is made up of Tobias Borelius, Martina Johansson, Frans af Schmidt, Mats Andreasson, and Mikael Eskilsson. The band formed back in 2001 and started off as a seven piece crew. Things didn't go according to plan and lineups were changed. Now, the group is back as a five piece along with a new netlabel, 23 Seconds. They re-released For Tomorrow; an album filled with lush melodies and catchy choruses that will certainly brighten up your day.

My Foolish Heart: Sootiness, Sonsy Girl

My Foolish Heart is a beautiful acoustic, alternative pop rock duo that was initially formed back in 2007. They started out doing covers of anything from Buddy Holly to Britney's Toxic and now they've finally branched out to release their own tracks. Sootiness, Sonsy Girl is their latest compilation. It's a beautiful mixture of melodies, acoustic guitars, vocal harmonies that's intertwined with a reflective, laid-back mood. Most of the songs were recorded with as minimal use of technology as possible. Opting instead for a cleaner, more raw performance by playing instruments that resound with an orchestra feel rather than electronics. Certainly, a nice album to retreat to.

Gepel: Moducué

Gepel is a jazz trio from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Founded in 2006 they released their first album, Moducué (meaning 'thanks' in Lucumí, a Yoruba dialect), the very same year. The album, released under the Dharmasound Netlabel, is a collection of six wonderful tracks, each showcasing the great musical talents of its members. So if you are in the mood for original compositions with some excellent deep sounds of bass, heart piercing percussion, and rich piano - Gepel is definitely for you!