Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros-Here (Album Review)

Hard to believe that the first time Ed Sharpe and his merry band graced these pages was two and a half years ago. Ever since then they released their debut Up From Below, toured every nook and cranny in the States as well as at least one European tour, and today are releasing their sophomore album Here. Been a busy couple of years for the multitudinous crew, two years which has taken them from indie obscurity to national recognition.

Here, however, is by no means Up From Below 2. Folktales have been traded in for folklore, mysticism for a tad more down home cooking. Rather than trying to explore the other, the group seems to be firmly entrenching themselves into explaining where they are. A current of simplicity runs through the tracks, and while it perhaps has fewer awe inspiring moments than their debut, Here is probably a more complete and sustained album. Alex Ebert and Jade do their best "Home" impression on "That's What's Up" while on "I Don't Wanna Pray" is about as honkytonk as a song can get and the album in general is full of sounds that would sound just as good around as a campfire as your neighborhood venue. Make sure you see them when they're around. Here clocks in at only 38 minutes. Far from a full meal, it instead is the equivalent of eating some Basque pintxos-whetting the appetite yet fulfilling the soul. Check out the ethereal "Mayla" below and buy the album Here (only $5!)

Click here to download "Mayla"


Download Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Mayla

Jorge & Alexa Narvaez-Home (Cover)

Anyone who has read this blog knows our love for Ed Sharpe and his merry band, and we have written about the original, a remix, and as a bonus, a great track off of their newer iTunes sessions. Well add another cover to that list.

This father/daughter combo is too cute. The original went viral overnight, and now has almost 4 million hits leading to an invite to the Ellen DeGeneres show where they performed/melted icy hearts in the audience and worldwide. What I loved was that the little girl was way more interested in hugging and saying hi to the audience rather than the Barbie car. For such a young kid, she can also belt it, and the dad clearly has a black belt in whistling. The two sound great but most importantly look like they're having fun. The original jam is so touching and warm that I'm glad its gotten the recognition it deserves leading to more exposure and people around the world whistling (and singing) away.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros-Fire & Water

©Beaudenon Florian

Ever since I saw Ed Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros at Coachella I've had a mini-crush on Jade Castrinos, my favorite of the "Magnetic Zeros" (although the trumpet guy puts up a mean fight sometimes for the spot). She was just so alive on stage, bouncing around with the biggest smile of the entire polo grounds on her face. Even more than the other Zeros, she just seemed to be ecstatic to be a part of something that had found such a devoted following. That was over sixth months ago, and the group seems to be buckling a little under their growing popularity (breakup rumors are floating around). With Alexander (aka Ed Sharpe) pursuing side projects left and right, one has to wonder, is the motley crew just a flash in the pan band? Are they an almost too good to be true medley of different artists and sounds that happened to come together to make music that has really struck a chord with people the world over?

On their "itunes Sessions" album (released yesterday), The Zeros rework a couple of tracks from their debut while also dropping the studio version of their previously unreleased concert favorite, "Fire & Water." For the first time featuring Jade as the main vocalist, "Fire & Water" proves that the group isn't Alex (Ed Sharpe) +9, that the band is full of extremely talented artists who shine when it is their time. Jade's powerful voice is featured on this track and has a commanding sway on the listener. Her voice has a depth to it which is tough to describe. Laced with soul and gospel, and alternating between triumphant wailing and tender cooing, Jade proves she's got it. This could be a great thing for the Zeros, and might be a signal that their next album will that more rich because of the growth of artists like Jade. Or it could prove that the stage is too small to fit just one Edward and nine Zeros. Only time will tell, but in the meantime enjoy this great jam by my favorite band of the last year and a half. 

Download Here

 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros-Fire & Water (iTunes Session) (Jamandahalf.com) by jamand1/2 

Bonus Video:

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

WebsiteandaHalf-Tiny Desk Concerts

Thanks for sticking with us guys. The past few days typing in JamandaHalf.com probably did not bring you the soothing site of an elephant wearing headphones, but instead brought up an ugly GoDaddy screen or a load error. Moose always calls me a hacker, but this time the hacking got the best of the site, and it took five calls to GoDaddy to get all the pipes of the internet back in order. But, gone forever is any mention of blogspot and also now you should see our logo appearing as your favicon. Cool, eh? To make up for it, here are two posts...

This newest WebsiteandaHalf looks like the ultimate job perk. Every three days or so, a dope artist or band comes through the offices of NPR Music, and plays a live show on the desk of All Songs Considered Host Bob Boilen. Workers and friends crowd the room, aching to hear their old and new favorites play in probably the smallest venue they will ever see them in. I'm not sure how I found out about this great site, but man, I've heard everything from awesome go-go to rugged folk on there. And all the concerts have a video of the show and some of them even have a downloadable mp3 of the songs. The series started in April 2008, and was sporadic at first, featuring mainly artists I have never heard of. But the series began to pick up steam, especially this year, and has featured personal favorites The Tallest Man on Earth, Ed Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Jimmy Cliff, along with other big names like Phoenix. It's a great way to find new music and see artists you love, or discover the next contender to dominate your Ipod, in an intimate and stripped down environment. With no flashy lights, crazy stages, or smoke to hide behind, you see the artists as they really are. When they sound good playing on a desk, it's probably because they are good. Enjoy and welcome back.

Download the Ed Sharpe Show

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros-Home (Party Supplies Remix)

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have gone from being a tiny little indie band to now being on a nonstop tour that is seemingly intent on reaching every town in the US by the end of this year. If they come anywhere near you, see them. The joy of living that appears in their songs can not hold a candle to the sight of the new-age hippies dancing and singing on stage. The seemingly countless Zeros put everything they can into a show that was my favorite of Coachella 2010, and one of the most fun concerts I've ever been to.

But you will likely only see the merry band once, maybe twice, in your life. And no matter how good "Up From Below" was, songs get old with time and relentless replays on the ipod. My favorite memories to the album have been on road trips with friends, funky dance parties, and listening to it in my room, big smile on my face. Good times. Because that's the type of music Eddy Sharpe and the Zeros make. Music that makes you feel good.

This remix by Party Supplies should make you feel good. Make you wanna dance. Make you wanna walk down the street with a little more bounce in your step.The bass line remains the same, the whistling is there, the trumpet, but other than that, this remix is a complete flip of the original, breaking the original into a fragmented kaleidescope of a song. But somehow, it manages to completely capture the essential essence to "Home" which has made it so popular. Although many remixes want to drown out the original, this remix lets the original shine. And although it's impossible to top the original, this jamandahalf doesn't try to, but glistens regardless.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros- Home (Party Supplies Remix) (http://jamandahalf.com) by jamsfordays

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes-Home

Sometimes a song is so unexpected, so original, that it locks you in its grip; an iron claw that wont let you go until its play count is ridiculously high. My man Moose and I are always on the lookout for new music, always on the search for jams, and friends have shown us the light throughout college, with our Colombian buddy passing on Rodrigo y Gabriela to us, and this jam and a half here was also passed along by a friend. And what a Jam and a Half it is. “Home” mixes traditional call and response and country western, but spices it up with a high cheese factor and bounces along with infectious energy. 

A stark departure from most music out there, Ed Sharpe and his merry band created a jam that begs to be listened to over and over again. Born in LA, the band was founded by Alex Ebert, who created Edward Sharpe as a character who "was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind...but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love." Jade and Alexander, through their story about falling out of windows and last cigarettes, remind us of what’s important, and what home really is. Home is not a fancy hotel, home is about being around the people you love, the one you love, and not having a care in the world. Hopefully we all get to go home soon. 

Download Here