Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore “Dear Companion” – out Feb 16

Dear Companion is a collaboration between Daniel Martin Moore, Ben Sollee and Yim Yames to draw attention to the practice of Mountaintop Removal in the Tennessee mountains; the album benefits Appalachian Voices. Recorded in the first half of 2009, Daniel and Ben trade lead vocal duties, while Yim produces. Daniel and Ben will tour together in early 2010. Daniel’s debut album, Stray Age, came out in October 2008 on Sub Pop. Ben’s debut album, Learning to Bend, was released February 2008.

This release has a lovely natural sounding production.  Congrats to Mr. James on that, the rest of the album features almost pedestrian readings of songs and feels like leftovers from open note night at Borders. Barfy warmed over alterna-folk.