A POSTCARD I MAY OR MAY NOT SEND

A GROWN SO UGLY COMPILATION

The music on these three discs is an abridged survey of some of the artists active today who we think are among the best at what they do. The oldest track here is from 2003 -- with most being released this year -- and many of the performers featured are themselves under 30. It's quite possible that they'll be among the artists enthusiastically shared between fans 35 years hence.

With the exception of one rather successful artist and two or three others who have managed some exposure and slight recognition, the vast majority of these artists are almost completely unknown outside of the contemporary underground, and many of the albums from which these songs came were released by the bands themselves on very small CDR runs.

We've deliberately left off most of the bigger names -- the Banharts, the Newsoms, the Valentines, Chasnys, and Wooden Wands... we even left off Espers. Since you likely know much of that anyway, we really wanted to shine a light on some of the lesser-knowns.

It's folk, to be sure, but each artist's style differs from the next to a greater or lesser degree: English traditional, sea shanties, psychedelic rock, noise, bluegrass -- they all inform this work. If you have a favorite (or favorites), please leave a request in the comments if you're interested in the specific release info. We'd be happy to oblige.

Printable artwork is included in the files.

DISC ONE
1. Pictures of Katia - United Bible Studies
2. Winding Tree - Nick Castro & the Young Elders
3. Yellow Lights - Marissa Nadler
4. Seamstress in a Suitcase - Tan or Boil
5. St.Leonard - Cursillistas
6. Jesus Is a Dying Bed-Maker - Liz Janes
7. Mona Rider - Greg Ashley
8. Green Grows the Laurel - The Memory Band
9. Finch on Saturday - Horse Feathers
10. Link in Your Chain - Larkin Grimm
11. In a Way - Paul Duncan
12. Crossing by Your Star - Flying Canyon
13. Kings - Shoreline
14. Onna Is My Love...Mada & Mary My Faith - Wovoka
15. The Strangest Sound - Mountaineer
16. To Earth His Own - Feathers
17. Dance to Your Daddy - Colin Meloy
18. Nihil, As in Nihilism - Kiss the Anus of a Black Cat
19. A World in Your Belly - Mi and L'au
Total time: 1:01:50

DISC TWO
20. Om Agar - Brothers of the Occult Sisterhood
21. Run for Cover (It's Going to Rain) - Matinee Orchestra
22. When the Angels Lift Our Eyelids in the Morning - Devin Davis
23. The Pirate's Gospel - Alela Diane
24. Salt Shaker - The Weird Weeds
25. Sleepwalking I - Currituck Co.
26. Dream About Flying - Alexi Murdoch
27. The Radiant Sheen - Ignatz
28. Urban Conurban - Scatter
29. Part of the Sky - Adam Arcuragi
30. Midnight on the Nile - Spider
31. You Showed Me - Spectre Folk
32. Passing Song - Jens
33. Marguerita Red - King Creosote
34. Dreadful Heart - OCS
35. The Burning Man - Songs of Green Pheasant
Total time: 58:41

DISC THREE
36. Backseat/Frontseat - Children Eating Birds
37. Olos - Johanna Kunin
38. The Patron Saint of Troubled Men - Alexander Tucker
39. Wave and a Smile - Women & Children
40. Fireplace Road - Agitated Radio Pilot
41. Alleluia 2 - The Lamb Called Light
42. Fields and Strings - Jerusalem & the Starbaskets
43. Country at Night - Greg Weeks
44. 016-013 - Starless & Bible Black
45. Steady As She Goes - James Yorkston
46. Wizard Flurry Home - Mariee Sioux
47. Moving Just Fine - Plastic Crimewave Sound
48. The Valley - Valerie Webb & Paul Labrecque
49. Taken In - Red Favorite
50. Backdoor - Theo Angell
51. Seba - Leafcutter John
Total time: 56:54

part one

part two

part three

Your comments are always appreciated.