Ferdynand Straaf

It was not easy to find 2 songs. 2013 was not realy a year with highlights. My two favorite singers (Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen) released both a new album "recently" but both were at the end of 2012. So they don't count.

I ran through my collection and found some others, but more then 2. I had to make a decision. I chose for the first, a new Folk-Rock band and a collaboration of 2 musicians who  have been making music for a long time.

To start with the new band:

American Aquarium - Burn, Flicker, Die

A perfect song, great beat, a text that tells something, enough variation to prevent you getting bored, a singer with a voice which I as dutch can understand without have to think "what's he singing about". So in short; A perfect song.

My second choice is from the album "Black Pudding"

Mark Lanegan and Duke Garwood - Cold Molly

I became a fan of Lanegan's music when i heard him Sing "In the Pines". I don't know who Duke Garwood is but this was in the description by the YT video:
"For those who are unfamiliar with Garwood, he has been described in the UK press as Lanegan's 'spiritual cousin across the Atlantic waters'".

This is music in the tradition of the great (post) punk singers. Great arrangements, also a perfect song. Everything fits. No highlights just good music. I'm so happy it's still made these days.

Sean Rowe - Acoustic version of Jonathan

Very rich music..sometimes you hear Dylan then Cohen or Sprinsteen, also a understandable voice, and a great guitar player.

Soko - I'll kill her

My latest discovery, a female singer but coming with something so pure and direct, a relief after all the Adele's, Gaga, Lorde's etc. etc. Okay, a last one with a haunting video (warning!):

Soko - We might be dead by Tomorrow