folk rock

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When folk singer Bob Dylan shocked the world in the sixties by strapping on an electric guitar and making rock albums like Highway 61 Revisited, a funny thing happened. Well, actually, several funny things happened — but by far the biggest of them all was folk rock.

In Dylan's wake, several groups — most from California and many covering Dylan's songs — sprang up out of nowhere and began ruling the pop charts. Among the most noteworthy were the Byrds, the Mamas and the Papas, the Lovin' Spoonful, and Buffalo Springfield.

Although each sounded distinct from one another, what they shared were vocal harmonies and songs which melded elements of both folk as well as rock with often politically-charged lyrics. Soon the sound would morph into the psychedelic rock of bands like Jefferson Airplane.

Hence, folk rock.

By the seventies, folk rock had again evolved — this time into the mellow-rock of singer-songwriters like James Taylor, Carole King, and Harvest-era Neil Young. Today, folk rock endures in the form of modern-day artists like Conor Oberst and Seattle's Fleet Foxes.

You'll find folk-rockers blogging about it online at sites like Zero G Sound.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “folk rock”

  • Mumford & Sons Fly The Flag For British Folk Rock With “Winter Winds”


    Powerline A.D.Authority Authority: 132
    I’ve loved the song “Winter Winds” by the London-based folk-rock band Mumford & Sons since I first heard it about two weeks ago on XFM London. It’s just a beautiful piece of music, a song that really gets under the skin. It brings to mind the best work of The Pogues and The Waterboys. Mumford & Sons ...
    12 hours ago
  • Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska (1982)


    lucid mediaAuthority Authority: 127
    Im not a fan of everything The Boss has done but this album is pretty much perfect. This was intended to just be demos for an album with the E Street band he recorded on a 4 track in his home. No drums. No bass. Just The Boss, his guitar, a harmonica and him howling tales of personal loss, desperation, failure, family ...
    2 days ago
  • Today’s Vegetables: You Say That You’re Old, But Come On


    Hello VegetablesAuthority Authority: 130
    Double-stuffin’ it today with two artists on Partisan Records . Partisan sent six of their bands on tour together last month and released a sampler to go along. The shows may be over (you heard it here second!), but the sampler lives on, and there’s some good shtuff on it so gittit . Here are my two favorites: ...
    2 days ago
  • Ted Garber - American Rail


    The Ripple EffectAuthority Authority: 128
    The thing that I’ve always liked about the singer/songwriter has always been their ability to strip the music down to its barest form and move the soul with a vibrant array of lyrics. But the lyrics alone don’t do the work. Generally, the voice comes in and conveys the emotion with well phrased lines, slight ...
    2 days ago
  • The Pogues – Summer In Siam


    too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged dailyAuthority Authority: 152
    Andrew Ranken , drummer for The Pogues Tagged: alternative pop/rock, Andrew Ranken, Celtic rock, college rock, folk rock, November 13 birthdays, The Pogues
    2 days ago
  • Mumford & Sons


    SleepWalKingAuthority Authority: 120
    From the first mellow acoustic guitar sound heard on title track Sigh No More followed by the haunting Fleet Foxes style harmonies, you know that Mumford & Sons have you wrapped into their world of love, heartache and emotion. The song begins apologetically but builds into an uplifting, optimistic crescendo; ...
    3 days ago
  • Frank Turner added to Flogging Molly Green 17 tour


    ReadJunk.comAuthority Authority: 142
    Celtic punk band Flogging Molly has added British folk rocker Frank Turner as main support on most of their annual countdown to St Patrick’s Day – the 2010 Green 17 Tour. Turner has a new brilliant album out on Epitaph Records called “Poetry of the Deed.” In addition, Flogging Molly has announced a new date ...
    3 days ago
  • Neil Young – Harvest Moon


    too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged dailyAuthority Authority: 152
    Neil Young , Canadian singer and musician Tagged: Canadian Music Hall of Fame, classic rock, Crosby Still Nash and Young, folk rock, Juno winner, Neil Young, November 12 birthdays, rock, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
    3 days ago
  • Jesse Colin Young – Rye Whiskey


    too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged dailyAuthority Authority: 152
    Jesse Colin Young , American singer and songwriter ( The Youngbloods ) Tagged: folk, folk rock, Jesse Colin Young, November 11 birthdays, singer-songwriter, The Youngbloods
    4 days ago
  • My Morning Jacket gets animated on American Dad


    ReadJunk.comAuthority Authority: 142
    American Dad is going the way of the Simpsons. Pretty soon Family Guy, and all the other Seth MacFarlane shows will be filled with guest stars each week that the gimmick will quickly fade out. But anyway, FOX’s American Dad” is going to air a My Morning Jacket themed episode! The episode will feature 6 [...]
    5 days ago
  • Today’s Vegetable: Come On Up Here Where I Can See You


    Hello VegetablesAuthority Authority: 130
    New Favorite Band alert! I know I tend to throw the word “adorable” around this joint a lot, but really, look at this photo — what else could I say? But the Middle Ones are more than just adorable — they’ve got the depth and bite that run throughout all of my favorite at-first-glance-gentle British pop. ...
    5 days ago
  • THE CLOUDWALKERS - Sunglasses


    FLOWER BOMB SONGSAuthority Authority: 122
    THE CLOUDWALKERS - Sunglasses/Never Told Me So (Capco Records 106) July 1965 The Cloudwalkers were from Brooklyn, NY and recorded this sole 45 for Capco Records. Sunglasses is an energetic RnB shaker with plenty of harmonica and tambourine. I suppose 64 era Rolling Stones are a positive comparison. A ...
    6 days ago
  • Viya - Greetings From The Land of Toys! ( rock - folk - psyche - フォーク - ロック - サイケ )


    .Authority Authority: 134
    ENG : Viya is a live performance band which frequently takes to the stage in clubs across Taksim / İstanbul and a lot of festivals in Turkey. Viya means body surfing in the Laz language.My opinion : dont hesitate, please, download this album... FREE DWNLD--->>> http://www.archive.org/details/ca329_v ...
    6 days ago
  • Deer Lady: Sonya Cottons Red River


    SFBG: NoiseAuthority Authority: 424
    SONYA COTTON Red River (self-released) By Kimberly Chun San Francisco-by-way-of-Connecticut singer-songwriter Sonya Cotton hails from the halcyon peaks of Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Judee Sill: she’s a songbird of a soprano, given to praise though drawn to the dark side of folk song. She contemplates the ...
    1 week ago
  • The winning grin and other tales from the O, Morning Records Showcase @ Funk N Waffles 11/6/09


    20 WattsAuthority Authority: 139
    Sarah Aument and the rest of O, Morning Records rocked Funk n Waffles on Friday, 11/6 You never know what to expect while stumbling down the stairs of Syracuse’s Funk ‘n Waffles on the night of a show. Acts can alternate between amateurs and professionals, hip-hop and folk-rock. Lucky for the college crowd ...
    1 week ago
  • MUSTACHE WAX - Im Gonna Get You


    FLOWER BOMB SONGSAuthority Authority: 122
    MUSTACHE WAX - Im Gonna Get You/On My Mind (Inner 501/2) Nov 1965 Its a shame that the label to my Mustache Wax slab of genius is torn and crudely coloured in with orange felt tip but its the music that counts at the end of the day for me. Mustache Wax hailed from the Bronx area of New York although I have read ...
    1 week ago
  • Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now (Live 1970)


    too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged dailyAuthority Authority: 152
    Joni Mitchell , singer-songwriter Tagged: art rock, Canadian Music Hall of Fame, folk, folk rock, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Grammy winner, jazz, Joni Mitchell, Juno winner, November 7 birthdays, rock, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame
    1 week ago
  • JEREMY


    THE POWER OF POPAuthority Authority: 122
    JEREMY Journey to the Center of the Heart (Jam) Jeremy Morris is another powerpop stalwart that Power of Pop has had the honor of reviewing for close to a decade and I must admit that this latest release from the ever prolific Mr Morris may be his best yet! Sure, Jeremy never quite strays from the formula viz. ...
    1 week ago
  • Charlotte NC Live Music Events Calendar, Band News & more 11/4/09 - 11/11/09


    Charlotte NC Live Music, Events, Band News, Calendar & MoreAuthority Authority: 107
    CHARLOTTE EVENTS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER November 4, 2009 - November 11, 2009 "Music is only love looking for words." ~ Lawrence Durrell ~ (Be sure to read/scroll to the end of the newsletter for special announcements and band news. ) Sign up for your own weekly ...
    1 week ago
  • Loggins & Messina Set To Perform on Maui & Oahu


    Aloha Update Hawaii News and Travel GuideAuthority Authority: 476
    Many musicians blaze across the scene like a comet only to flame out or fade away but a few continue to tour with the same verve & gusto that first ignited the passion of their fans.  Through the passing of thirty-five years Kenny Loggins and Jimmy Messina have enjoyed solo as well as duo success and though they ...
    1 week ago

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