April, 2012 CD of the Month

Few bands have the natural chemistry that you’ll find on Come Back As Rain, the new album from XPN Artist To Watch, Good Old War. The latest album from the Philadelphia trio is all at once a comfortable, feel good collection and a fresh step forward. Keith Goodwin, Tim Arnold and Daniel Schwartz capture liveliness on Come Back As Rain that they’ve been applauded for onstage and translate it somewhat effortlessly in the studio.

Few bands have the natural chemistry that you’ll find on Come Back As Rain, the new album from XPN Artist To Watch, Good Old War. The latest album from the Philadelphia trio is all at once a comfortable, feel good collection and a fresh step forward. Keith Goodwin, Tim Arnold and Daniel Schwartz capture liveliness on Come Back As Rain that they’ve been applauded for onstage and translate it somewhat effortlessly in the studio.

Good Old War is an indie-folk trio consisting of three Philly natives. Pulling from each of their surnames to create the band's moniker, these three friends and collaborators have created a great chemistry on stage and a knack for mesmerizing three-part harmonies.

Hear a Live Friday XPN Free At Noon Concert at 12noon ET from WXPN and NPR Music
Broadcast live Fridays from the stage at World Cafe Live

Philadelphia's own, Good Old War, has a new album, Come Back As Rain, out next week. These Philly natives and indie-folk trio, consist of Keith Goodwin (vocals, guitar, keys), Tim Arnold (drums, keys, accordion, cocals), and Daniel Schwartz (guitar, vocals). Pulling from each of their surnames to create the band's moniker, these three friends and collaborators have created a great chemistry on stage and a knack for mesmerizing three-part harmonies. Playing at festivals such as SXSW and the XPoNential Music Festival, collaborating with Anthony Green, and cultivating a reputation that's reached beyond the Philly music scene to the rest of the nation, Good Old War have started out their first few years in a successful fashion.

Now on their third release, Good Old War is injecting a bit of wistful pop into their normal infectious, folksy melodies. Their new album, Come Back As Rain out March 6 on Sargent House, is full of signature Good Old War acoustic pep, but it also conveys some of the band's "longing for home that happens when you're away all the time," as put by Goodwin. Also embedded in in the album is an expanding list of influences--electronic, classic rock, and '60s folk all play a part in creating the upbeat and smart folk of Good Old War.

Known for their lively and inspiring on-stage performances, Good Old War will be at World Cafe Live for this week's Free at Noon. Come here from their latest, "Come Back As Rain," and start the weekend with some great live music.

Gold Old War returns to Philly on April 27 to play Union Transfer.

Website: goodoldwar.com/
Myspace: myspace.com/goodoldwar
Facebook: facebook.com/GoodOldWar
Recent Release: Come Back As Rain
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Label: Sargent House
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Born in Jersey and now based in Nashville, folk songstress Jessie Baylin has roots in classic pop, jazz, and even the blues. Growing up on a steady diet of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday, Baylin also acquired an affinity for the intimacy and wildness of bar performances--by the time she was 13, she was singing at the local jazz bar herself. She later moved to Los Angeles and became enamored with the Laurel Canyon brand of rootsy folk, and later debuted with an album entitled You and produced by Grammy winner Jesse Harris. Since then, she's toured with likes of Marc Broussard, James Morrison, and Brett Dennen. She also released "Firesight", a deeply personal and soulful album that showcased her budding creativity. She's now back with a follow up, the rich and powerful Little Spark.

Released just this past January, Little Spark is deeply influenced by Dusty Springfield and other such soul queens. Yet Baylin doesn't spend too much time looking for nostalgia--she's inventing her own expansive, modern take on classic pop. Given the orchestral components and the choral passages, the sound of Little Spark certainly does conjure a time of living room radios and big bands, but Baylin's sultry, expansive, and gorgeous vocals carry home the freshness of her music.

Be sure not to miss out on hearing the talented Jessie Baylin live--it's the weekly Live Friday XPN Free At Noon performance, and there's no better way to start the weekend. You can also catch Jessie, with The Watson Twins for a full show on March 3 at World Cafe Live.

Website: jessiebaylin.com/
MySpace: myspace.com/jessiebaylin
Facebook: facebook.com/jessiebaylin Recent Release: Little Spark
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Label: Blonde Rat
Origin: Nashville, TN