Episode 102

Subscribe to the ASC podcast

Listen to the entire show

A Portland tribute to the late Elliott Smith
Remembering guitarist John Fahey
A cool compilation from Asthmatic Kitty
An intimate recording from Rosanne Cash
Guided by Voices frontman Robert Pollard
A new single from Yeah Yeah Yeahs

E-mail this page to a friend

Two years after Elliott Smith's tragic death comes a new tribute CD featuring artists from Portland performing some of his best work. The album includes tracks by The Decemberists, Sexton Blake and Amelia. The featured track, "Ballad of Big Nothing," performed by The Thermals, originally appeared on the 1997 Elliott Smith album Either/Or.

The Thermals

CD: To Elliott From Portland
Song: "Ballad of Big Nothing"
Label: Expunge Records

Listen to "Ballad of Big Nothing"

John Fahey was a gifted acoustic guitarist whose work influenced artists like Leo Kottke, Will Oldham and Jim O'Rourke. Guitarist and singer M. Ward, another Fahey follower, has put together a new tribute album celebrating Fahey's music. The CD features performances by new-folk artists like Devendra Banhart and Calexico.

Fruit Bats

CD: I Am the Resurrection
Song: "Death of the Clayton Peacock"
Label: Vanguard

Listen to "Death of the Clayton Peacock"

Asthmatic Kitty is one of the more popular independent labels, known in no small part for releasing the work of Sufjan Stevens. A new compilation CD highlights other artists featured on the label in recent years, including Lifestyles & Vistas and Jason Brouwer.

Lifestyles & Vistas

CD: Mews Too
Song: "Go to the Crossroads"
Label: Asthmatic Kitty

Listen to "Go to the Crossroads"

Jason Brouwer

CD: Mews Too
Song: "Up On Top of the Hill"
Label: Vanguard

Listen to "Up On Top of the Hill"

Rosanne Cash, the daughter of Johnny Cash, has released her most personal recording in a career spanning 25 years. She recently lost her father, mother and step mother June Carter Cash. Her reflections on her life and loves make up the songs on her new CD, Black Cadillac.

Rosanne Cash

CD: Black Cadillac
Song: "Black Cadillac"
Label: Capitol

Listen to "Black Cadillac"

For nearly 20 years Robert Pollard, a former schoolteacher was the frontman for the artful rock group Guided by Voices. The group recently split up in 2004 and Pollard, a prolific songwriter, has just released a new solo album. Pollard had completed the album when Guided By Voices was still together, but held the 26 new tracks until this year.

Robert Pollard

CD: From A Compound Eye
Song: "U.S. Mustard Company"
Label: Merge

Listen to "U.S. Mustard Company"

The 2003 Yeah Yeah Yeahs CD Fever To Tell was one of the year's biggest surprise hits. The playful, quirky art rock group will soon release a much-anticipated follow up titled Show Your Bones. In the meantime, the band has given fans an idea of what to expect with this new single, "Gold Lion."

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

CD: Gold Lion (single)
Song: "Gold Lion"
Label: Interscope

Listen to "Gold Lion"

      Copyright , NPR