Released in June of this year, Neil McSweeney's debut album, Postcards, offers up a collection of country-inspired folk songs powered by generally simple arrangements and McSweeney's clear, undeniably beautiful voice. Postcards sounds almost like alt-country without the twang: McSweeney hails from Sheffield and doesn't try to fake some sort of drawl, but you could easily imagine Ryan Adams (who, I gotta say, his voice reminds me a lot of) singing ballads like "Flowers." McSweeney's voice is very expressive, making everything he sings soung so genuine and deeply felt that it doesn't much matter that the album isn't anything that feels innovative (which is part of this genre of music's charm, anyhow). Neil and his backup bandmates can be found touring in Europe this month, along with Stoney and the Furze.
TOUR DATES:
10/09: Blues Cafe Bar (Harrogate)
10/15: The Leadmill (Sheffield)
10/21: Trof (IFC)
10/24: Day N Nite (Manchester)
10/25: Joseph's Well (Leeds)
10/26: The Arches (Barnesley)
10/27: Nice N Sleazy (Glasgow)
10/28: Junktion 7 (Nottingham)
10/29: The Plug (Sheffield)
10/30: Flapper and Firkin (Sheffield)
10/31: Fleece and Firkin (Sheffield)
11/01: Soho Revue Bar (London)
11/03: City Screen Basement (York)
11/15: The Lemon Tree (Aberdeen)
12/11: Tap and Spile (Hull)
LISTEN:
"Postcards" [MP3]
"Flowers" [MP3]
ON THE WEB:
Neil McSweeney's website
