'Shipwreck' : Thom Donovan ft. Ruby Amanfu

Just a quick dispatch today. While driving to work the other day, I caught the end of a song I knew I'd want to hear again. Luckily, I'm a ninja with Shazam and managed to get an ID just after I'd parked. It was "Shipwreck" by Thom Donovan ft. Ruby Amanfu, off his 2013 album Love Out Loud. Amanfu lives in Nashville, so it seems the song is getting some decent local play on Lightning 100.

The way the song starts reminds me of a sparser version of "Holland" by Sufjan Stevens, but that's really not the song's main vibe– it's a lot hooky-ier. If you're low on patience, scrub about a 1:30 forward. Take it for a spin.  

Get to Know the 'Charm' of Brazos

Brazos' Martin Crane. Photo: Ben Sklar; Dead Oceans

It's not too late to discover one last album to love as 2013 winds down. I recently came across one such record called Saltwater by Brooklyn band Brazos, released this summer. If you're local and have been keeping up with things here at the blog, you'll know what I mean when I say Brazos could be cousins with Nashville's Casa Castile– if you're into warm tones and dreamy pop with plenty of soundscapes to wander, you'll dig this.

To get an idea of Brazos' range, which can tip the scale from Mikal Cronin to Andrew Bird, check out the two videos below. "Longshot" is a tune both serene and honeyed with finer guitar and piano work.



For something a bit bolder, there's "Charm."



What really sold me, though, was the ebbing, shimmering melancholy of "Deeper Feelings." By the end of the track, it's ceased being a song and grown into a mood you won't want to shake.



Brazos will be performing at The End here in Nashville on Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. Check 'em out if you can.

Music from 'Parenthood' : 'My My Love' by Joshua Radin

If you watch NBC's Parenthood with any regularity, you probably find yourself often wondering what is that breathy, acoustic song they're playing over this sentimental montage? I'm going to start trying to answer that question every week. On tonight's premiere the indie-fabulous song of choice was "My My Love" by singer songwriter Joshua Radin. Radin happens to be well thought of by Zach Braff and I remain unsurprised. "My My Love" is from his latest album Wax Wings, which came out in May of this year.

Now go listen to Iron and Wine or something.