Tam Lin

I recently met Paul Weinfield through a friend. Musically, he is Tam Lin, a New York City-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist who blends folk, rock, and soul music. His lyrics are philosophical, literary, and poetic, a nice escape from cheesy and pedestrian lyrics that pass for music these days. He is also a great live performer. I recently saw him play at The Bitter End in New York City and really enjoyed the show.

Our encounters were brief, but as a I am a music fanatic, I was excited about meeting someone whose music I enjoyed. I love to find out about new talents (at least new to me) and I wish I had more pull to help promote all the talented musicians I have met here in NYC. So, I write about them in my blog and hope my readers (ahem, that would be you) will check out their music and support them as I do.

Tam Lin’s most recent EP Begin Again is available now, and includes: The Age of Ignorance, In The Twilight, Anne Lee, and the powerful title track.

Ship of Light is his newest composition. Check it out below:

Here are a few more Tam Lin tunes:

Adam’s Garden

The Queen of Sheba

Soldier Called Uriah

Siddhartha

Visit Tam Lin’s Web site for more on this artist: TamLinMusic

Church Bell Blues

Catherine MacLellan’s second album Church Bell Blues is a mix between folk and country music. It’s folk, because of the minimal instrumentation, and country, because it’s quite melancholy and MacLellan’s voice fits nicely in the genre. Her songwriting skills, husky and compelling voice, and guitar talent shine through on this album.

The twelve-song collection begins with “Dreams Dissolve.” The guitar sounds almost purposely out of tune, making this tune dark and sad. “Emily’s Song” is a happier song; MacLellan’s acoustic guitar and James Phillip’s electric guitar make it lively. The title track is bluesy, and a bit more uplifting than its title would suggest. “The Long Way Home” is reminiscent of Emmylou Harris. It has a beautiful melody, male and female voices blending, poetic lyrics and a country twang. “Brave Love” has heavier guitars, and is probably the most fast-paced song on the album. “River Valley Plains” speaks of the environmental problems our earth is facing with powerful lyrics like: One hundred fifty years we’ll throw our garbage, shed our tears into the river that once ran clear through this land. “Brave Love” and “Too Easy” are standout songs on this album.

All the songs on Church Bell Blues are worth a listen. The album is low-key, and will take a couple of plays for the listener to realize how good it is. Catherine MacLellan is a skilled songwriter and vocalist, and Church Bell Blues is a solid album that showcases her talents.

Watch the video for Too Easy, by clicking here.