Octomutt "Hot Stove" – Local group doing some arty/folky/jazzy/weirdness. All of the songs seem to have this laid back whimsical feeling to them. The strings often add a nice dark tone and the clarinets and sax make great accents. Vocals are all spoken/sung. Overall it's a really nice album that grows on you the more you hear it. Generally soft and quiet. Definitely recommended if you're looking for something that's a little folky, a little jazzy, and a little different. Nice.
My Picks: 4, 11, 13
Katie P. 4/12/05

1)Slow guitar plucking with quiet drones in the background. Slowly adds in brushed drums and more guitar. Lazy instrumental.
2)Fast midtempo with guitar and keyboards. Spoken male vocals on top. Music is fun and light.
3)Midtempo dragging guitar. Brushed drums and spoken/sung male vocals. Guitar is lighthearted. Drums sometimes get a little louder and have a solo of sorts in the middle.
4)Dark and menacing. Falsetto male vocals. Guitars are somewhat bell-like with droning strings in the background. Sounds like a distorted/muted horn (maybe sax) in there too.
5)Acoustic guitar starts it off. A little dark with some atonal sounds. Male vocals sung/spoken. Pretty minimal with acoustic guitar and drums, then electric guitar added.
6)Fast midtempo with acoustic guitar and some quiet bass/percussion keeping a good beat. Spoken/sung male vocals. Nice strings in there giving it a dark creeping feel.
7)A little jazzy feel (just a little) and a little drunk too. Laid back dragging midtempo. Sung/spoken male vocals.
8)Slower and dragging. Acoustic guitar and brushed drums with quiet male sung/spoken vocals on top. Some clarinet and other reed instruments in there too.
9)Midtempo walk that is a little off-kilter. Spoken/sung male vocals. Instruments keep layering in the mix. Acoustic guitars, keyboards, and percussion. Strangely whimsical.
10)Jazzy with a bit of a swing. Lowdown midtempo. Male vocals sung/spoken.
11)Dark solid midtempo. Nice guitar strumming with the occasional electric lick on top. Male vocals sung/spoken.
12)A little jazzy and little rockish. Start/stop play between vocalist and instruments.