Hope For Agoldensummer I Bought a Heart Made of Art in the Deep, Deep South (Daemon Records) The ethereal, eloquent songs of Hope For Agoldensummer are as promising and wonderful as the bands moniker. Built around majestic melodies and strong storytelling, the songs of these classically trained out musicians make the perfect soundtrack to a golden summer. The hip folk-rock quintets latest EP was recorded in friends backyards and basements in and around Athens and Atlantaand, for better not worse, thats exactly what it sounds like: lush, intoxicating, and heart-rending. And above the excellent musicianship lies one of the most powerful, beautiful voices and seamless harmonies to surface since Indigo Girls. Its not everyday youre invited to share a private moment with a group of jaw-droppingly talented musicians sitting around jamming on a lazy summer afternoon. Surf over to their Web site for a sample and enjoy one of the simple, uncompromising pleasures that come with life in a small town. HopeForAgoldensummer.com Heidi Hensley Band Right About You (Heidi Hensley Band Records) Growing up in a small Southern city in an area deep-rooted in Baptist beliefs, out singer-songwriter Heidi Hensley was often at conflict with her inner emotions and the spiritual beliefs of those around her. She exorcises some of those suppressed emotions in beautiful, emotive, and undeniably contagious pop-rock songs on her first self-distributed full-length release, a supreme collection of original tunes about life and love and earning to own each on your own terms. If music is a tonic for the soul, Right About You and Hensleys angelic voice harbor the strength to right everything thats wrong in the world. HeidiHensley .com Now Its Overhead Dark Light Daybreak (Saddle Creek Records) Following 2005s national jaunt as Bright Eyes tour guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Andy LeMaster follows up his groups fantastic 2004 release, Fall Back Open, with his own arena-worthy emo-rock songs on Now Its Overheads third full-length release, Dark Light Daybreak. Channeling early R.E.M. (but with less murmuring and a stronger pop sensibility), Now Its Overhead put forth what is easily one of the best new releases to hit bins this year. Moody and magnetic, Dark Light Daybreak simply must be heard to be believed. One of the bands true believers is none other than queer alterna-rock god himself, Michael Stipe, who has called Now Its Overheads 2001 self-titled debut hands down one of the most brilliant albums that Ive heard in forever. Dark Light Daybreak lives up to Stipes hype, combining eloquent, introspective rock songs with guitar hooks that would make Peter Buck proud and pop sensibilities that would inspire Stipe to do that shirtless shimmy thing he does so well. NowItsOverhead.com
