Catching Up w/ Califone

Not much to catch up with really. Things have been quiet on the Califone front as of late. The band just finished a European tour late last year, and hopefully will find their way into the studio in 2008 to record the follow up to one of my favorite albums of 2006, Roots & Crowns. That’s probably the best place to start exploring the band, as it is easily their most accessible record to date. 2003’s Quicksand/Cradlesnakes is another fine starting point.

Califone is a hard band to keep up with sometimes, because between every “major” release usually comes a handful of experimental albums, soundtracks, and side projects. Often these releases are tour only CDs. Their website has an interesting assortment of free mp3s of just such material, as well as highlights from their studio albums. Here’s your chance to catch up with the avant-garde roots music of Tim Rutili and company.

Proper Albums:

MP3 :: Spider’s House
MP3 :: The Orchids
(from Roots & Crowns. Buy here)

MP3 :: Wingbone
(from Heron King Blues. Buy here)

MP3 :: One
MP3 :: Horoscopic.Amputation.Honey
(from Quicksand/Cradlesnakes. Buy here)

MP3 :: Pastry Sharp
MP3 :: Electric Fence
(from Sometimes Bad Weather Follows Good People. Buy here)

MP3 :: Trout Silk
(from Roomsound. Buy here)
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Rarities:

MP3 :: No Expectations (live - Rolling Stones cover)
MP3 :: For The Turnstiles (live - Neil Young cover)

MP3 :: Quarter Horses (B-Slow)
(from Everybody’s Mother, Vol. 1. Buy here)

MP3 :: Slowness
(from Homesleep Singles Club 7. Buy here)

MP3 :: Ventilator Blues (Rolling Stones cover)
(from Amos House Collection, #3. Buy here)

MP3 :: Francis
(from Deceleration Two. Buy here)

MP3 :: Handpainted Halo/Ceiling
(from Deceleration One)

MP3 :: Mittens
(from The New Year’s Resolutions. Hup! Records, Italy)

MP3 :: Slower Twin (alt. ending)
(from Goodfellas Sampler)

MP3 :: Silver And Gold
(from Happy Holidays. Perishable Records)
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