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Have you ever heard of Darren Jessee? No? Maybe you heard of Ben Folds Five!
Darren was/is the drummer of Ben Folds Five. Already through Phil Collins we know that drummers can be successful as solo artists. And no, Darren does NOT sound like Phil at all. He also does not sound like Ben Folds Five.


After the split of Ben Folds Five not only Folds continued as solo artist, also Darren. His first self-titled album Hotel Lights was released in 2004. The even better Goodnightgoodmorning EP and his standout albums Firecracker People, Girl Graffiti and Get Your Hand in My Hand followed.
To describe his music: it's melancholic, intense and may be a good soundtrack for cold, windy autumn days.

Discography:

• Hotel Lights (2004)
• Goodnightgoodmorning EP (2006)
• Firecracker People (2008)
• Girl Graffiti (2011) 
• Get Your Hand in My Hand (2016)

Air Traffic Controller - Black Box (Release: March 11, 2016)



Johnson & McAuley - Illuminated Dream (Release: April 8, 2016)



Hotel Lights - Get Your Hand in My Hand (Out Now)



Teddy Thompson & Kelly Jones - Little Windows (Release: April 1, 2016)



Kerosene Stars - A Million Little Trees EP



Linda Perhacs - The Dancer (Release: TBA)



The Honeydogs - Love & Cannibalism (Release: April 16, 2016)



Travis - Everything at Once (Release: April 9, 2016)

Maybe it's a bit early this year, but here they are - My Top Ten Records of 2011:

1. Mike Viola - Electro de Perfecto 
The long awaited follow up to Lurch: 10 songs. No filler. Fab.
More info here.


2. Bleu - Besides
It's still not released, hopefully it will in 2011. Most of the songs are known to the fans - it's great compilation. More info here.


3. David Mead - Dudes
The kickstarter - crowd funded record from Mr. Mead. More info here and here.


4. Brandon Schott - 13 Satellites 
Brandon Schott's new, indiegogo - crowd funded record, filled with beautiful songs! More info here.


5. Teitur - Let The Dog Drive Home
A strong album, breathtaking melodies and lyrics. More info here.


6. Jeremy Messersmith - The Reluctant Graveyard
Though the record was out in 2010, I discovered it not until this year. More info here.



7. Jay Clifford - Silver Tomb For The Kingfisher
More info here.


8. Feist - Metals 
Darker tunes than on The Reminder. More info here.


9. Hotel Lights - Girl Graffiti 
More info here.


10. Ivy - All Hours
Released 6 years after their last record - finally. More info here.


Special award: Ben Folds - Best Imitation Of Myself 
It's a Best Of, so it doesn't really count. But the compilation has three new Ben Folds Five songs - and there's probably a whole new record coming in 2012! More info here.

The next few weeks will have a bunch of exciting record releases:

The Nines - Polarities (unreleased songs and demos - out now!) - Homepage

Gomez - Whatever's On Your Mind (out now!) - Homepage

Ivy - Distant Lights (Single, out now!) - Listen To Distant Lights Here
Ivy - All Hours (September 20) - Homepage

Fountains of Wayne - Sky Full Of Holes (August 2) - Listen To The New Single Here

Hotel Lights - Girl Graffiti (August 16) - Homepage - Download The New Single Here

Ben Folds Five - Box Set
(probably 3 CDs: Best Of, Live and Rare - Ben even talked about a fourth Ben Folds Five record that was never finished! - November)

Bleu - Besides (B-Sides, on vinyl and digital - tba) - Homepage

Mike Viola - Electro De Perfecto (summer) - Homepage

The Shins - New Album (tba) - Homepage

Brandon Schott - ‎13 Songs (a collaboration with Billy Hawn) (summer) - Homepage

David Mead - Dudes (tba) - David's Blog

So, lots of new stuff! Being exited :-)