We're still a few months away from the physical release of the new album from Chicago's Scattered Trees, but we do have a taste of what to expect (if you haven't already bought it digitally) that we can share with you. "Four Days Straight" has been in heavy rotation and powering us through the last few weeks, keeping us aloft even as we continued to doubt warm weather would ever arrive. The songs hopeful buoyancy was just the tonic our souls thirsted for and now that the summer has finally (and oh-so forcefully) arrived we find the song continues to resonate. So does tat make it a song for all seasons? You tell us. more ›

Scattered Trees are in the midst of a resurgence. The band grew up just outside Chicago, playing music together casually before forming Scattered Trees and garnering attention locally for their warm, upbeat harmonies about love and life. But progress tapered and the band almost broke up in ‘09, as members started drifting apart to pursue their own endeavors. It was the death of lead singer Nate Eiesland’s father that pulled them back together - Eiesland’s mourning took the form of songwriting, and the rest of the band flew in last February to record the tracks, which would become the bulk of their upcoming album Sympathy. more ›

A bit of tasty localvore fare for you this week. more ›