Favorites: Steve Salett's Poison Tree

As folks start to think about their favorite records of the year, I wanted to shine the spotlight again on one of my own favorites which has unfortunately flown a bit under the radar: Steve Salett's project The Poison Tree. Salett—who also wrote one of the year's best tracks in The Bandana Splits' "Sometimes"—quietly released an intimate treasure last winter sparsely colored with bits of acoustic guitar, upright bass, and jazz-flavored horns. Here's what I wrote back in January:

"The songs on Steve Salett's debut as The Poison Tree are in no hurry to get anywhere. Slow burning and endlessly pondering—like a late night candlelit conversation over a bottle of whiskey—the former frontman of The King of France delivers a collection of stories with his gently emotive and seductive baritone that recalls fellow singer-songwriter greats Leonard Cohen and Bill Callahan. Salett (or, as he refers to himself, Salad) enlisted several excellent New York musicians for the recording process, including Dawn Landes and Thomas Bartlett, and their combined expert execution is evident through each carefully constructed track. Look out for the official release in March on Embarque."

The Poison Tree - "Never Know Me" 
The Poison Tree - "Come On, Come On"
The Poison Tree - "My Only Friend"

The Bandana Splits - "Sometimes"

Apparently, it's Sam Cohen week on the ole blog. Tuesday, I posted about the former Apollo Sunshine musician's psychedelic-infused solo project Yellowbirds. Now today, we have The Bandana Splits: a doo-wop flavored girl-group project produced by Cohen. The trio of singers is comprised of Brooklynites Lauren Balthrop, Annie Nero, and one of Everybody Taste's favorite folkies, Dawn Landes. Try a single serving of the fabulous debut via "Sometimes"—an irresistibly upbeat harmony and tambourine smothered gem that immediately lifts the spirits. The album, Mr. Sam Presents The Bandana Splits, is out now and you can snag your digital copy right here. After the jump, check out the  1950s diner and pharmacy set video for "Sometimes."

The Bandana Splits - "Sometimes" (from Mr. Sam Presents The Bandana Splits)