Hailey and I were just listening to the newest record from Matthew Houck’s Phosphorescent. This, his third full-length, is a strange, haunting, and imperfectly beautiful album that could easily be lumped into the category of alt-country, but to do that would miss the point. The songs move forward at a languid pace that suggests they themselves are unfolding before Houck (and revealing their true nature) only when they are good and ready. Decorated with flourishes of pedal-steel guitar, horns, organs, and choir-like vocals, Houck’s cracking vocals and meandering piano spill out the raw emotions of melancholy. Aw Come Aw Wry is a sparse and woeful album that doesn’t so much sound it, but rather feels it (or makes you feel it). It is out now on Misra Records.
Another band that I’ve been listening to a lot lately that also makes you feel it is Lightning Bolt. They (however) do it by bludgeoning the listener with a thunderous cacophony of bass and drums. This Rhode Island noise-rock duo has been getting some attention of late and you can also find another track off their latest album over at Black Balloon. Definitely recommended if you like Wolf Eyes, DFA 1979, or Christina Aguilera.
MP3 | Phosphorescent – South (Of America) Aw Come Aw Wry
MP3 | Lightning Bolt – 2 Morro Morro Land Hypermagic Mountain
I love Aguilera. Well, not Christine, but maligned pitcher Rick. He sure was something, wasn’t he?
Oh, and thanks for the bludgeoning. That Lightning Bolt song shook the cold right out of my sinuses.
Eric, I don’t believe you actually like Lighting Bolt. You are lying. But since everybody needs at least 1 noise-rock album on their year-end top ten, and it’s nearing the end of the year, and the Locust is out… Just admit it.
hey eric -
I just realized that I havent added you to my blog listings. I will l correct that immediately.
JT – You should hear the rest of the Lightning Bolt album. I posted the most “melodic” of all them.
Kurt – It is a good record, but probably won’t end up on my top ten list.
Peter – Thanks. Right back atcha!