Salim Nourallah has performed, in most cases, with his brother, Faris, but last year he released his first record under his own name. Stylus writer Gentry Boeckel said that “An artist is not only as good as his influences, but is only as good as himself. And Salim is doing just fine.” Which isn’t to mention his work in the band Happiness Factor either. We asked Salim to let us what he’s been listening to lately…

Isidore– Refused on Temple St.

I picked up the Isidore record a couple of weeks ago. Although I haven’t been blown away by much of anything that Steve Kilbey has done in the last ten years, this record has some great moments. Especially “Refused on Temple St.,” which is just about as cool a song as Kilbey’s ever done solo or in the church. Isidore is a two man collaboration between him and ex-Remy Zero guitarist Jeffrey Cain. “Refused”’s dreamy imagery, drum loops and wonderful, melancholic melody has got me playing it over and over and over again. It’s especially nice while driving at sunset or on rainy days.

[visit Isidore’s website here, buy their new album here]

Billy Harvey– Like A Boy

This song sounds a lot like something off of Wilco’s Summerteeth. I don’t care so much because a great song is a great song and this is A GREAT SONG with an amazing wordless chorus. Billy also happens to record all of his music himself (which makes this recording even more impressive to me). I’d like to say he has a big mansion in the hills and currently resides on a gigantic label but, the truth is, he lives in a hole somewhere in Austin and self-released the CD this song belongs to. It’s called Pie and if you want a copy, you can go here.

Straw– Tomorrow Is Promised To No One

Mattie Bennett, the man who wrote and sang this song, now works in a bank somewhere in England. It was recorded as part of an album called Keepsakes that was never released. The reason? Because a corporation called Sony funded its recording and then, with its infinite knack for crassness and poor taste, never allowed the record to actually be released. So Mattie swore off the music biz and got a real job. Who can blame him? His band recorded one of the best records of the last five years and no one will ever hear it.