It’s no secret that we’re pretty huge fans of Portland-based singer/songwriter Josh Garrels here at NoiseTrade. Soulful, folksy, and experimental, Garrels is one of the most talented and consistent lyrical snipers of the heart in the game today. In case you missed his massive catalog giveaway earlier this year, Garrels is currently offering a 7-song career-spanning sampler of album highlights. From the acoustic sashay of “Fire By Night” from 2006’s Over Oceans to the Philly-International soul slink of “Born Again” from this year’s Home, Garrels fearless creativity and unparalleled sonic generosity knows no bounds.

“The Braver One” (single)

When he’s not helming the wheel of this here NoiseTrade ship, Nashville’s own Derek Webb has been known to write a heart-slaying song or two (or fifty, but who’s counting). His newest release, “The Braver One,” is no exception. Written for a friend whose wife recently passed away, Webb’s “The Braver One” is a beautifully brutal song that seeks to capture the equally unwieldy emotions of love and loss. All tips for “The Braver One” will go towards The Magnolia Foundation (a 501c3 foundation dedicated to the treatment of “below the belt” cancer).

At the risk of sounding a bit biased, I must say that you can really find some cool music digging around the ol’ NoiseTrade archives. Case in point: while looking around for some bands who listed Wilco in their “for fans of” section, I came across the Troy, NY trio known as Great Mutations. Creating a sound I’ve been referring to as “garage roots,” Great Mutations are offering a raw and rugged 6-track sampler called Cheap Stuff that includes “A-Sharp,” a brand new song from their forthcoming album.

I Repent: A Journey into the Heart (eBook)

After stints as a high school biology teacher and a youth minister, Caleb Gave Mathis is also adding “author” to his list of credentials. His first book is I Repent: A Journey into the Heart and he’s currently offering it on NoiseTrade. Described as “part travel memoir and part personal treatise of faith,” I Repent is an engaging read that chronicles Mathis’ journey and asks (and answers) the question: “How does a life change? One mile at a time.” For more of his writings check out www.gavewrites.com as well.