Cass McCombs is a self-proclaimed vagabond. Originally from California, Cass spent many of his formative years honing his song writing skills on the East Coast and couch surfing the greater United States. His extensive travels likely account for his eclectic style of song writing, which is apparent in his latest song “Three Men Sitting On A Hollow Log.” A departure from the punk and rock genres which he traditionally occupies, this track embodies Deep South folksiness and brings to mind simpler times. Stream it below.

STREAM: Cass McCombs – “Three Men Sitting On A Hollow Log” 

New Desert Blues continue to win the West with their video for “Adam.” The piece fits the band’s bleak alt-folk just nicely, featuring a man suffering from a fatal case of mistaken identity in the middle of the desert. Watch it above and study up on these UK up-and-comers.

STREAM: New Desert Blues – “Adam”

I was first introduced to Cosmo Sheldrake when I caught a video of him playing live in a pig sty. Yes, you heard me correctly – a pig sty. Cosmo is part of a new generation of one-man shows with his expertise as a master looper, vocalist, beatboxer and multi instrumentalist (I can barely recognize half the instruments that make up his live arsenal). He regularly performs on his loop station, banjo, keyboards, double bass, drums, didgeridoo, penny whistle, sousaphone and more. Growing up playing piano from the age of 4, Cosmo has taken massive strides towards crafting a truly signature sound that is a blend of blues, folk and classical, all at the ripe young age of 22.

Cosmo’s latest effort, “The Fly,” is another step in the right direction. With exotic sounding vocals that walk us through life as a fly and an old school bluesy beat, I can confidently say you’ve never heard anything like Cosmo before. Stream it below.

STREAM: Cosmo Sheldrake – “The Fly”

Every morning, after I shower and get dressed, I take a moment, just for myself, where I stare into the mirror and wonder, longingly: “Is this the day an up-and-coming American folk artist will finally give Sixpence None the Richer‘s seminal 1998 hit “Kiss Me” the cover treatment it deserves?” And at the end of the every day, as I brush my teeth before bed, I have to stare back in that same mirror and come to grips with the fact that no, today was not that day.

IT ALL CHANGES NOW. Mikal Cronin, he of the solo career and also the bands Okie Dokie, Epsilons and Ty Segall, has gone and done the world a god damn favor. That’s right: he’s taken on the holiest of holies, and he’s done a quite soothing job of it if I do say so myself. I dare you to listen to the track below and not get instantly transported back to your first awkward 8th grade makeout/fumble session. I DARE YOU.

We’ve reached out to Rachel Leigh Cook for comment and will report back when we hear something. Freddie Prinze Jr. told us he’d say the song was great but only if we paid him “50 dollars cash,” so do with that information what you will.

STREAM: Mikal Cronin — “Kiss Me (Sixpence None The Richer Cover)”

Just to be clear: It’s Oliver Wilde. Not Olivia. Although we welcome those of you looking for celebrity news to stick around and listen to “Flutter,” the latest track from this Bristol artist. “Flutter” is a downtempo alt-folk track — or in the words of Mr. Wilde, “lo-fi glitch tinsel” — that’ll hit the spot if you’re looking for a strange, soothing break to your day. Fans of Deer Hunter and Atlas Sound should take notice. Stream “Flutter” below.

STREAM: Oliver Wilde – “Flutter”

Former War on Drugs frontman Kurt Vile will be making his way to the 9:30 Club on July 20th to make his first live appearance in DC since the release of his latest album, Wakin On A Pretty Daze. We’ve got a pair of tickets to give away for this special show. What do you have to do to win?

Kurt said that Wakin On A Pretty Daze is “just about [his] life, without thinking too much about it.” We want to know what album just feels like it represents your life. Like, it just gets you, man. You dig? Leave your comments in the answer below. Have at it!

MP3: Kurt Vile – “Wakin On A Pretty Day”

Did you know that Iron & Wine‘s name comes from a dietary supplement called “Beef Iron & Wine” that Sam Beam found in a general store while shooting a film in Georgia in 2001? In the intervening 12 years, Mr. Beam has stopped shooting movies about what I assume must be the Oregon Trail, and started consistently turning out solicitous, simple and melodic folk songs that have grown more lush and impressionistic over time.

Iron & Wine’s new album, Ghost on Ghost, came out today on Nonesuch Records, and if your musical tastes are trending anti-subtle these days (I think I spent yesterday listening to dub remixes and Drake exclusively) try their video for “Joy” out as a reintroduction. It is detailed and mesmerizing – director Hayley Morris projects hand-painted watercolor animations onto stop-motion assemblages of paper, wood and bone – and “Joy” emerges as an love song of ambivalence and shaky promise. Watch it above.

Fossil Collective is the kind of band that wears its influences on its sleeves. The Leeds duo, comprised of multi-instrumentalists David Fendick and Jonny Hooker, may sound similar to established acts like Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses or Neil Young, but their style is well-honed enough to separate them from the imitators.

“Wolves,” which comes off their debut LP, Tell Where I Lie, is a fine example of their craft. It’s a smooth, harmonious folk track driven by solid piano/guitar instrumentals and pristine vocal chorales. The music video for the track depicts a bearded man in a bathtub imagining getting lost in the snowy woodlands. It plays out more beautifully than the description might lead on. Watch it above.

Fossil Collective’s Tell Where I Lie comes out April 8th via Dirty Hit.

STREAM: Fossil Collective – “Wolves”

It might as well be The 1975 week here on ATG with all our talk this week about the band’s upcoming NYC/DC shows. The fever continues with this lovely folk cover of their single “Chocolate” from Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt. Nesbitt’s enchanting voice fits right at home in this acoustic pop take on the original. Stream it below.

The 1975′s Music For Cars EP is out now on Vagrant. Expect a fourth EP from the band this May.

MP3: Nina Nesbitt – “Chocolate (The 1975 Cover)”

For a generation of messenger bag-toting college kids clad in black-rimmed glasses, Rilo Kiley were a first indie crush. We watched Jenny Lewis progress from the girl that could do the Frug to the woman singing about porn stars and their Moneymakers. We heard as Blake Sennett evolved from Joey the Rat into a soft-voiced singer-songwriter elegizing Elliott Smith. Through this journey we had plenty of (mis)adventures. We were reckless and young. Predictably, the members of Rilo Kiley were too, and thanks to the video for “Let Me Back In,” which comes off their RKives B-sides/rarities collection, we can see that first hand. Compiled from tour videos over the years we see the band being silly and impetuous and every bit the band we loved. It’s achingly nostalgic, filled with bittersweet memories of smiles long past. In other words, it’s perfectly Rilo Kiley.

Rilo Kiley’s RKives comes out April 2nd via The Little Record Company.

STREAM: Rilo Kiley – Let Me Back In