From the very first seconds of Becoming a Jackal, the vivid narratives, gripping poetry and melodic depth of Conor J. O’Brien –- or as he likes to call himself and his cohorts, Villagers -- becomes obvious. Over the course of 11 varied, subtle, complex and plain gorgeous songs, the Dubliner shows just why he is Domino’s latest signing, while defying any easy categorization of his influences or peers. O’Brien namechecks David Axelrod, Jens Lekman, Robert Wyatt and Rufus Wainwright but you could equally add Paddy McAloon, Paul Simon and Randy Newman to the possible roots of this record. And its creator is just as captivating in person.

"Music lovers were mystified when songwriter Conor O'Brien chose to dissolve The Immediate in 2007 after releasing one of the most critically lauded Irish albums in years, In Towers And Clouds, the year before. However, Conor returned last year with a new project, Villagers, who released a hauntingly intimate and brooding four-track EP, The Hollow Kind, that called to mind the likes of Sparklehorse and Bright Eyes." --The Independent Ireland

He can sell you a bill of love that from anyone else would seem corny and make you believe again - in the long summers of blissful youth, in dancing the night away. Bart Davenport is from Oakland California. You may have seen him fronting the electro future-funk trio called Honeycut. Perhaps you caught his one-man soft-rock show between the trees and beards of Big Sur or way over yonder in England or Germany. Or you've devoured his many bands, with the Loved Ones, Persephone's Bees, or under his own name. Released in Fall 2008, Bart's 4th solo disc, Palaces, is clearly the result of a lifetime of music making. With production help from psychedelic main man Kelley Stoltz, Palaces has all the trappings of a classic Bart record: West Coast Pop with shades of Philly Soul, Folk, Bossa Nova and 70s AM Gold. These elements however, are merely the backdrop for a poignant and sincere voice of today, what Sylvie Simmons of MOJO calls “a fine example of San Fran’s vinyl and thrift shop culture, turning stuff people throw out into something new."

The former Gris Gris leader, gone solo acoustic! Like fellow Texan-bred Roky Erickson and Mayo Thomson, with a little infused Syd Barrett and Skip Spence (and maybe even a little Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel), Ashley creates atmospheric pop meanderings that are filled with sentimental purpose and dark fuzzy edges. "Greg Ashley is a troubled young man and that's the good news. He writes and sings like he's felt it ten times harder than you hear it. Listen the second time and the avalanche catches up to you quickly. This kid's a star and recognition begins right now." --Greg Dulli (Twilight Singers)