Machine Head

Dave Rawlings Machine (really Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch switching their traditional roles supporting one another) released one of the loveliest records we've heard in a long time recently in A Friend of a Friend.  The record highlights Rawlings subtle and hypnotic guitar styling and excellent taste in material.  Most of the work here is covers (typically of songs by artists in which he played on the original recordings).  Some of the tracks are revelatory (a hauntingly beautiful cover of Dylan's Bells of Harlem; a mash-up of Conor Oberst's Method Acting with Neil Young's Cortez the Killer) while others suggest the perfect sound track to an episode of A Prairie Home Companion.  this stuff sticks in your craw and you can't help but wistfully whistling and singing along with a treasure like Sweet Tooth!  seek this record out, you won't be disappointed.

Here's some video someone kindly posted from an instore down in Nashville at Grimey's on December 3, 2009.  The sound on this video is absolutely stunning.  Make sure to check out the other clips available from this appearance, well worth the dig!