Shakey Graves - Roll The Bones (2011)

Shakey Graves is the music project of Alejandro Rose-Garcia. The music is country-influenced lo-fi folk. Looking at his bandcamp page, which features several booking and publicity contacts from all over the world, I feel like Shakey Graves is a bit bigger than bands normally posted on Spacerockmountain. This Austin musician is also on an extensive tour of North America, and will soon be playing Portland's Crystal Ballroom in May - that's no small feet for someone I've never heard of, considering this is a venue where bigger names play while visiting the "Rose City".

I really enjoy the music on Roll The Bones. It's got an old-timey folk vibe throughout. It's his earliest post to bandcamp, though I imagine he's been writing and recording prior to 2011 judging by the quality of his musical abilities. The tunes are bold, but not overbearing. There's a good pace from song to song ... hills leading easily into valleys rhythmically, and the harmonies are minimal but lush. Roll The Bones is that rare record you could easily play while commuting or making dinner... anywhere where silence can be filled with a record that's easy on the ears.

I'm not one to quickly subscribe to this sort of music, either, a testament to the quality of this music. That said, I'm always a sucker for a good voice, and Alejandro definitely has one.

It's pay what you want for 10 songs, including a fantastic cover of Johnny Chash's "I'm On Fire", done with only an acoustic bass guitar and vocals.

Listen and download here: Shakey Graves - Roll The Bones

Buy the vinyl: HERE

Like him on Facebook: HERE