Today's the day when Bandcamp waives its revenue share and all the money (bar an amount that payment processors take) goes directly to the artists. I cannot overstate how much this helps musicians, not just in the sense of passing along revenue, but as a monthly focus on sharing and buying music you love. There is so much good music out there and today I'm going to tell you about some of it.
Dragonchaser, by Fog Lake
https://foglake.bandcamp.com/album/dragonchaser
Dreamy, beautiful shoegaze with a real sense of loss and melancholy. Fog Lake's discography is huge and it's all great. Hearing Spectrogram snapped a lot of stuff together in my head and I'm not going to say any more than that. Listen to Bluff City.
The King, by Anjimile (pre-order)
https://anjimile.bandcamp.com/album/the-king
Anjimile's first album, Giver Taker, was an absolute standout for me in 2020 - deeply thoughtful, faintly baroque folk/pop music filled with well drawn images of growth and faith and terror. I'm so excited for his followup.
Live in Seattle, by Etran De L'Aïr
https://etrandelair.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-seattle
Etran De L'Aïr (Stars of the Aïr Region) have been playing in Agadez, the "capital of Saharan rock" for 25 years. This year saw their first tour in the US, and this album is two 7 minute tracks from their Seattle show. Glittering, intricate guitar music - all buzzing amps and beautiful ringing lines.
helleborus. by queenjazz
https://queenjazz.bandcamp.com/album/helleborus
Any new queenjazz record is a cause for celebration. This one compiles a few previously unreleased songs from her youtube channel as well as what I THINK are some brand new ones? Listening to music by Jazz is being constantly surprised by whatever bizarre, brilliantly executed new thing she's trying is.
Jenny from Thebes, by The Mountain Goats (pre-order)
https://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/album/jenny-from-thebes
On one level I don't need to tell you to pick up a Mountain Goats album. It's a new joint by a band I love, weaving elements of Greek history into a concept album about a woman from West Texas called Jenny. But on another level, you might not know about this - you might not have heard a Mountain Goats album before - and sometimes it's just good to share things you're excited about.
