The Valley of Smoke is what Native Americans called the area now known as Los Angeles. Geographically predisposed toward fires, dusty air, and an apocalyptic feeling in general, it didn’t help in the 80′s that we let the smog get so bad that on some days kids weren’t allowed to play outside due to it being a health hazard. Smog and traffic. Thats what LA is known for. Although after 2 decades of increasingly strict pollution regulations the smog is essentially gone. Traffic, on the other hand is worse than ever. Worse due to the internet actually! Telecommuting just means that anyone might decide to get in their car and drive somewhere at any point in the day. At least in the 80s people were stuck at work during the day!

And yet, this is the home of glamor. And when you put the two together, the pain and fun, you get that sweet brand of poppy noise rock that LA is known for right now. But you also get a particular brand on folk music that is sadly overlooked by most Smell-savvy journalists. As much a part of the “smell scene” as anyone else are awesome dudes like John Thill.

John Thill- Broken Freeways

Most proudly hailing from the Riverside/Pamona area east of LA (and decidedly more method out/wasteland fucked),  John Thill’s geography based mostly-acoustic song writing hits home for any LA resident and is much more worthy of being exported than Spelling neighborhood prime-time soap. Having toured the US with Abe Vigoda, having an album out on seminal cassette label Shrimper (yes, of Sebadoh fame), and being an all around great guy, I just keep wondering, “When will the world know?”

In the meantime, John bailed on LA for northern pastures in librarian land. Life is full of exceptions, isn’t it?

E&E- Exodus

Speaking of exceptions, I more than realize that this track by E & E hardly sounds like acoustic/folk music. Despite being an incredible example of Prince-esque light jazz, lo-fi in all the right ways, and just waiting for Chuck Mangione to scream copyright infringement, these two dudes are most often a accapella group! True! It is a mindblowing act to see live. On bills with screaming guitars and pounding beats, to have these two guys step up and just rely on their vulnerable naked voices is one of the most powerful and fun things to see around LA. But as all creative people are, they are unrestrained and when I asked them for a track this equally sich track is what I got. So let your imagination do the work and enjoy the softness in the meantime!

Just in case you do like acoustic guitars though

Nicole Kidman- Life Really Sucks

It is best to leave you with true lo-fi singer songwriter madness. Sung falsetto ala Child Pornography (the band, ok), and with simple, to the point, pseudo suicide lyrics, this endearing piece is the real Juno for LA. I can only hope the future of cinema is not far behind.

Nicole Kidman at Myspace