Americana/folk artist Jake Klar (who we’re big fans of) has recently announced that he plans on releasing a new album, entitled Crescent St. Blues, in 2015. Today, Klar has unveiled the first single from the album, the title track to be precise. Check it out in the player below, it’s really good.

Heres what the man himself has to say about Crescent St. Blues:

“Crescent St. Blues is a collection of songs inspired by a four-year journey through the contemporary American landscape. It explores the inner emotions of everyday characters trying to find their way in an ever-changing world. It speaks of humanity and hardships, love and happiness, and searching for the good within the bad. It’s a record about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and getting right back in the fight.”

If that sounds like your kind of thing, then donate via Indiegogo. The rewards range from a pre-order of the album, an illustrated songbook, covers-on-demand, show tickets and even personalized EPs (for those with lots of £££s).

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Ice Dragon – Born On A Heavy Morning

(RIYL: experimental, psychedelic, stoner rock)

If Thousands – For

(RIYL: drone, ambient, Low, Sigur Ros)

Ings – Dog Physics

(RIYL: bedroom pop, lullabies, Plaid Dragon)

Inlet Sound – The Romantics (Special Edition)

(RIYL: indie pop, folk, Cataldo)

Jake Klar – Rocks & Gravel EP

(RIYL: blues, country, folk, whiskey, Justin Townes Earle)

Jason Anderson – Omaha

(RIYL: folk, rock, Americana)

Julia Brown – To Be Close To You

(RIYL: bedroom pop, Teen Suicide, Coma Cinema)

Killer Whale – Giant Waves EP

(RIYL: experimental folk, ambient, summer)

Lace Bows – Bows of Summer

(RIYL: experimental, noise, field recordings)

Malpas – Where the River Runs EP (Technically 2012 but whatever)

(RIYL: electronic, folk, Tunng)

Matthew Bailey – Tendrils

(RIYL: folk, country, Bry Webb, Zachary Lucky)

Matthew Fowler – Beginning

(RIYL: acoustic, folk, Damien Rice, Dan Mangan)

Matthew Lee Cothran – Failure

(RIYL: lo-fi, downer pop, Coma Cinema)

Monster Rally – Return To Paradise

(RIYL: tropical, exotic hip hop, chillwave)

Mouca/Cartouche – MN°5 (Compilation)

(RIYL: indie rock, dream pop,summer)

Nathan K. – Dishes

(RIYL: folk, joy, family, ‘grower’ albums)

Nick Everett & Everybody – Elsethings

(RIYL: experimental folk, weird folk, Canada)

Old Amica – The Burning Dot Part 2

(RIYL: electronic folk, experimental, slowcore)

Old Earth – Live on WMSE

(RIYL: experimental, rock, folk, live recordings)

Old Haunt – 空

(RIYL: ambient folk, Townes van Zandt, Tim Hecker)

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Rocks & Gravel sees a continuation of Klar’s brand of folk music, although he’s stepped it up a bit in terms of volume and dynamism. ‘Devil’s Bread’ is more blues-rock than folk, the gravelly vocals growling with a barely-restrained force. The title track is another bluesy rock affair, a bar room brawl compared to some of Klar’s more reserved moments, “Somebody tell my woman!” he yells during the chorus.

Speaking of reserved moments, the next track, ‘Can’t Help Thinkin It Was Easy’ is reminiscent of the self-titled EP, a quintessential folk song, with shades of Dylan, van Zandt et al. It’s a matter of personal preference but I prefer Klar in this mode. The lyrics are the ramblings of of a wandering man:

“Now I’m watching the road running under the wheels
And I’ll daydream the next hundred miles

Rolling down with the night
the hills and these eastern pines”

‘Ride On’ is another lovely folk song, with a strong The Tallest Man On Earth vibe, and closer ‘Ham & Eggs’ is as bluesy as they come, a foot-tapping shuffle backed by Klar’s signature whiskey-soaked vocals.

The EP is available for $10 and comes in handmade, one of a kind packaging. You can also download it for however much you feel like paying. Get it via the Jake Klar Bandcamp. If you’re a fan of Klar’s previous work, or of folk/blues/rock then I’d highly suggest giving it a shot.

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Earth Person – Summer Recordings

(RIYL – Experimental, New Age Ideologies, Peace)

Eat Your Birthday Cake – For Alex (Single)

(RIYL – Indie Rock, Friendship, The Eels)

Eef Barzelay – Songs We Made: Part One

(RIYL – Clem Snide, Will Johnson, John Vanderslice)

Elvis Depressedly – Mickey’s Dead

(RIYL – Bedroom Pop, Coma Cinema, The ill will of the world)

Flight Tonight – Flight Tonight

(RIYL – Post-Dubstep, R&B, Mount Kimbie, Jamie XX)

Fog Lake – inference (iii)

(RIYL – Bedroom Pop, Coma Cinema, Youth Lagoon)

Ghibli – Rare Pleasures

(RIYL – Experimental, Dance, Samples)

Gorgeous Bully – The Young Obese

(RIYL – DIY Rock, Fluffy Lumbers, ARMS)

GSJF –MONDAYMARCH26TH2012

(RIYL – Graham Wright,Spencer MacEachren and the Fabulous Yawn, Travelling Willburys)

Hanetration – Tenth Oar EP / Torn Heat EP

(RIYL – Ambient, Electronic, Drone, IDM)

Hazy Memories – Out Of Place EP

(RIYL – Hip Hop, Electronic, Ambient, Spoken Word)

High Pop – Hip Hip Hooray

(RIYL – Garage Rock, fuzz, Wavves)

Ice Dragon – Dream Dragon

(RIYL – Psychedelic, Doom, Rock).

Jacob Augustine – Bikini Island

(RIYL – David Bazan, Shearwater, Bon Iver)

Jake Klar – Jake Klar

(RIYL – Bob Dylan, Joe Pug, Tallest Man On Earth)

Jeannot – Turner Street EP

(RIYL – Folk, young summers, nostalgia)

Jonny Kates – Groombridge

(RIYL – Ambient, drone, Tim Hecker, Loscil)

Kissed Her Little Sister – Sailor

(RIYL – Lo-Fi, Indie pop, Throw Me The Statue, ARMS, Why?)

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