Nick Jaina

Pod This.

Whoa, look at that dinosaur! Do those still even exist? So 2003.

Despite us all knowing what that “clunky” white thing over there is, many folks have not really ever understood what a podcast is. Raise your hand if you can explain “podcast”.

Friends, it doesn’t matter what it is. All you need to know is that it’s FREE (no, not file-sharing FREE, the other, older kind.) And because we are very modern and crafty here at HUSH we’ve taken all the guesswork out. Just click this mysterious symbol for the ride of your life: §

On the other side of the veil you will find a world of free album sampler mixes via our HUSHcast. These borrow the very primitive concept of “abridged and condensed” made famous by Readers Digest a long time ago before you were born, probably. Well we’re bringing it back!It’s nifty. These mixes sew together long song samples of many of our releases to aid you in discovering what nice music we’ve helped bring into the world. And they all have photos and links that come up while you’re listening in iTunes that can take you deeper: Total immersion therapy. Even if you never joined the pod-age you can still listen with the same device you’re reading this on. That’s right, podcasts don’t require iPods. In fact ours work better when played via iTunes on your mac or PC. (Just turn on the album art in the corner for more fun.)

Right now we’re pleased to bring you the HUSHcast of Nick Jaina’s Wool, which is a must-experience, even if you must first do so in abridged form. While you’re there, consider picking up the digital release in the iTunes store as well, if you shun gorgeous packaging, that is. (;

ps. For a few hours on Tuesday there were some mis-linked links on our podcast. All is set right presently. If you downloaded Nick Jaina only to find you were listening to Tooththfairy’s twee-lectric beats, just give it another go. And, yikes, sorry!

Checking in With Nick Jaina

in Pendleton, Or.

Nick Jaina’s stock is up.

The band reports 90% “great to amazing” shows, 10% “okay”. Perusing past tour journals might give one the impression he’s payed his dues for it. Good show lads. Godspeed.

Before Nick left he played a solo set and answered some questions as a guest of Willamette Week’s Portland Lounge Series. Unfortunately the recording is decidedly lo-fi and the audio for the interview segment was tossed due to technical difficulites. Nonetheless, if you’re feeling curious have a listen. There’s some nice performances of rarely-played songs beneath that hiss.

For the hi-fi experience we would again draw your attention to the OPBmusic set. A must!

Meanwhile the accolades mount:

“Nick Jaina’s incredible new album Wool leads me, with every new listen, deeper into a strange, insular spell. From the stately, ornate piano line that opens the recording, to the final sounds of creaking oars, restless crows and hazy radio transmissions, the blues-based songs are eerie, dreamlike, and demand repeated listen. ” – Redeviva Magazine

“His slow-burn tempos speed up my pulse waiting for the shoe to drop on almost every song.” – Perfect Porridge

“The cumulative effect of the staged/natural ambience, lo/mid/hi-fi recording styles, New Orleans, Tom Waits and Chopin is Tim Burtonesque in its magic: strange, moving, and oddly serene.” – The Inlander

“From the opening dark piano chords of “Maryanne” to the rock-you-to-sleep melody of the “Lonesome Blues” Wool is a stunningly impressive achievement. Ranging emotions from loss to love, sweetly innocent but still achingly distant, the album flows with rare grace. ” – OU Daily

“A piano heavy album that feels almost like watching a movie to hear.” – Fifty Foot Shadows

Wool & Jason Leonard

First order of business. Wool is now shipping from the HUSHshop. Go there now and buy it. Gauranteed to kill you softly or your money back.

Next, let’s take a moment to take in the visual splendor of this release and give artist/musician/poster restoration expert Jason Leonard a proper shout out.

Not only does he play glass and steel bowls, wine glass harp, pitchforks, glockenspiel, resonator bells, leaves, belleplates, percussion, vibraphone and the like, but he turned in some delightful illustrations, including the cover for Wool. Who knew this mild-mannered multi-instrumentalist was so multi-disciplinary?

It doesn’t stop at illustration. Check out his myspace for animations and more music!

ps.

Rumor has it a collaboration with Laura Gibson may be in the works. Keep your browser trained on this here (new, did you notice?) site for developments!

Nick Jaina on OPB

The earlybirds are singing about Nick Jaina’s Wool. Nick and co. are starting to sing back.

As heard on OPBmusic’s In House.

Peruse the flickr set while listening, perhaps.

And read the blurbs if you’re curious:

“A beautifully interwoven effort… depicting elements of human loss, He perhaps puts it best by stating that the lyrics are “as economical as the words in children’s stories, as emotional as journal entries, and as deep as the Bible”…Wool will certainly appeal to a niche that recognizes quality as a form of emotional sincerity, regardless of volume or tempo.” – Obscure Sound

“But the very thing that causes many classical aficionados to stiff at the simplicity of pop music is, I would contend, pop’s very strength–what Proust, of all people, referred to as “the magic appeal to the imagination” found in things that those interested only in “intellectual weightiness” would condemn as “frivolous.” Or maybe it’s compelling simply because Jaina–itinerant, whimsical, a former archaeology student–is himself compelling, in a quirky sort of way. – Fingertips

“A collection of lush, intimate, piano-driven “ballads and lullabies,” Wool has been on repeat in my house for two days straight, with no end in sight.” – Fabulist

“Jaina actually started the album writing songs on Elliott Smith’s old piano, and there’s a hint of Smith’s “Baby Britain” swing to the wordless “la da da da da da dum” chorus, [from “Maryanne”] – Local Cut

“Rather than try to control his music, Jaina seems to allow his songs to guide him, as if he is but the vessel.” – Berkely Place