Quick hits: Spring releases to be excited about

Spring is always an exciting time for upcoming music releases, and this year it looks like there are several new local albums to get excited about. Although this list is very brief, it will be the first in a series of "quick hits," in which I hope to introduce some of the new songs that are on my playlist. The three artists in this post will be releasing albums in the next few months and I am genuinely excited for all of these albums. Additionally, all of these artists have performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, so naturally I'm hooked to their music. Go ahead and give them a listen!

Tuck the Darkness In by Bowerbirds

In the Yard by Bowerbirds


Bowerbirds are one of my favorite local gems. The group is primarily a duo comprised of Beth Tacular and Phil Moore and their music is simply captivating. This track, "Tuck the Darkness," will be on the new album, The Clearing set to be released Mar. 6. They also play the Cat's Cradle on Mar. 17. And for those fans of Bon Iver, several songs on this album were recorded in the band's Wisconsin studio. What more do you need to know?

Bowerbirds' NPR Tiny Desk


Red by Lost In The Trees

Lost in the Trees have defined orchestral/chamber folk and have made the genre its own. This local band will be releasing A Church That Fits Our Needs on Mar. 20 and judging from this beautiful first track, the album is going to be quite a work of art. Ari Picker, singer/songwriter for the band has used music to tell an incredibly personal and painful story and this album will be the next installment in the healing process (for background on Picker's inspiration and experiences, read this from the Independent Weekly). Based on the band's other stunning work (including this Tiny Desk) A Church That Fits Our Needs will most certainly please.

Lost in the Trees' NPR Tiny Desk

Sharon Van Etten - Serpents by theartistree.fm

Finally, I've included a track from Sharon Van Etten, one of my favorite singer/songwriters. Although she isn't local, Brooklynite Van Etten is quite good friends with North Carolina outfit Megafaun and that's more than enough of a connection for me. Her debut album, Because I Was In Love and its follow-up, epic, are incredible soul-bearing works of art and I am very excited for her next release. The album comes out on Feb. 7 and she will be at the Cat's Cradle on Feb. 12 and I highly recommend you make it to the show. Whether it is her sincere voice, her bare-bones approach to songs or the message her lyrics convey, it is safe to say that SVE always grabs a hold of me.

Sharon Van Etten's NPR Tiny Desk