Review: Longview - Deep In The Mountains
Posted on 26 April 2008 | 1 Comment
Deep In The Mountains is the new album from bluegrass super-group Longview. I won’t even pretend to know much about the members’ other bands, but I’ll be doing some digging after hearing this record. A simply amazing record that has that high, lonesome sound like it really was recorded deep in the mountains. It is a record that is full of stellar banjo and fiddle playing and captivating three-part vocal harmonies that come together in perfect unison on these traditional old-school bluegrass tunes and is available now from Rounder Records.
MP3 | Longview – Cotton Eye Joe Deep In The Mountains
MP3 | Longview – Eating Out Of Your Hand Deep In The Mountains
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Saw Wheel - The Next Train
Posted on 16 April 2008 | No Comments
RJ is a guy from Austin, Texas who records as Saw Wheel. His debut full-length The Next Train sounds like the combination of acoustic guitars, beards, harmonicas, dead-end jobs, whiskey, endless roads, and gruff but warm vocals. It is full of rough-edged Southern-tinged folk-punk that reminds me of Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry and their heartfelt working-class anthems. These songs from Saw Wheel have a genuine gritty quality that sounds like a dude sitting on his front porch playing a guitar. Oh yeah, the album also includes a cover of Avail’s “Lombardy St.” Good stuff.
MP3 | Saw Wheel – The Obvious Hit The Next Train
MP3 | Saw Wheel – Train Wreck The Next Trade
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Glossary - The Better Angels Of Our Nature
Posted on 10 April 2008 | 1 Comment
While I generally provide a track or two to entice you to go pick up whatever album I’m talking about, Glossary has taken it one step further and offered up their latest album The Better Angels Of Our Nature in its entirety as a free download from their site. It’s slow-burning Southern rock that just feels like a warm, breezy summer afternoon; a little Allman Brothers twang with the soul of Iron & Wine. The Better Angels Of Our Nature sounds (at many moments) like it could simply erupt into searing blues-laden guitar histrionics, but doesn’t. The band holds back (if only ever so slightly) and gets fervent but never outpaces themselves. These ten songs are brilliant and make me long for the happiness that comes with warmer days. Follow the link above and download this now.
MP3 | Glossary – Only Time Will Tell The Better Angels Of Our Nature
MP3 | Glossary – Little Caney The Bette Angels Of Our Nature
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Monitor and the Merrimac - Grandma's Old Couch
Posted on 6 April 2008 | 2 Comments
David Grazynski is a guy who (with the help of his friends) makes music as Monitor and the Merrimac and (though it might sound so) he ain’t a bearded mountain man from the hills of West Virginia. Based around his banjo playing and warbly drawl and augmented with percussion, harmonica, pedal steel, and other assorted instrumentation, Grazynski’s debut album Grandma’s Old Couch builds on traditional folk and old-timey roots music to become something all his own. Imagine Modest Mouse meets Woody Guthrie (but with banjos) and you might be close.
I don’t know where the stories told in the songs of Monitor and the Merrimac came from or where they are going, but they are both striking and easily enjoyable. Grandma’s Old Couch isn’t truly lo-fi but it sounds a bit tattered and timeless; it sounds like a new spin on something old. It’s a recipe mixing something bluegrassish with a little straight-up folk-rock music.
When I was a kid we used to visit a little cabin up in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. There was no indoor plumbing and only a wood burning stove to heat the place. We’d play cards late into the night and listen to the sounds of the FM radio static and the crickets. Grandma’s Old Couch wouldn’t have sounded out of place up there.
MP3 | Monitor And The Merrimac – Grandma’s Old Couch Grandma’s Old Couch
MP3 | Monitor And The Merrimac – Sally, Where’d You Get Your Liquor From Grandma’s Old Couch
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Folk
Review: Drag The River - You Can't Live This Way
Posted on 31 March 2008 | 1 Comment
I loved Drag The River’s 2006 album, It’s Crazy, so I was more than a little saddened when I learned that the band was breaking up last year, but was even more thrilled to find out that the band was releasing one final album. You Can’t Live This Way was recorded before but released after the band’s official split last year and it kinda feels just like a break-up album should. Sure, Drag The River still dishes out punk-influenced country tunes, but the overall pace is a bit slower and a bit strained.
In all actuality, I was trying to write a longer review of this record, but (instead) thought I’d direct you to the excellent review of You Can’t Live This Way over at Sound As Language. It expresses everything I would have tried to about this album. For all intents and purposes (in my eyes at least) Drag The River was a supergroup of ex-punks (featuring current or former members of All, Armchair Martian, Hot Rod Circuit, The Nobodys, and Pinhead Circus) and was destined to split at some point. It was inevitable. You Can’t Live This Way is available now from Suburban Home Records. Do yourself a favor and get it (and a pint glass) today.
MP3 | Drag The River – Rangement You Can’t Live This Way
MP3 | Drag The River – Brookfield You Can’t Live This Way
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: The Felice Brothers - Tonight At The Arizona
Posted on 27 March 2008 | No Comments
I’ve been hearing about The Felice Brothers for a few months now and finally got my hands on a copy of Tonight At The Arizona; a magical album. The band is comprised of brothers Simone, Ian, and James Felice, and a buddy named Christmas and they play some truly threadbare country-folk that sounds so honest (at times) it almost makes me cringe. Most of the songs are stark and unadorned with a haunting realism permeating through them. Sure, drums, bass, and a shaker here or a harmonica there augment what is basically acoustic guitar and voice, but nothing is embellished; nothing is over-the-top.
Now every single review you read of Tonight At The Arizona will undoubtedly compare The Felice Brothers to The Band and Bob Dylan, but those comparisons are absolutely warranted. The album sounds old, tired, well-traveled but also pulls in other influences ranging from Woody Guthrie to Neil Young; you know, the backbone of simple and earnest Americana. The thing that The Felice Brothers have going for them is that they do this so much better than most. In fact, this album (while being of modern compositions) could hold its own against many of the so-called classics.
With their dusty shoes and tattered hats, on Tonight At The Arizona The Felice Brothers have made a rough-edged and flawed masterpiece. It is the imperfections (however) that make the album shine so much brighter than what any amount of studio production gloss could do. Easily one of the best new albums I’ve heard in a long time.
MP3 | The Felice Brothers – Ballad Of Lou The Welterweight Tonight At The Arizona
MP3 | The Felice Brothers – Rockefeller Druglaw Blues Tonight At The Arizona
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Folk
Review: Tift Merritt - Another Country
Posted on 24 March 2008 | No Comments
If you’d like radio-friendly country pop that sounds a little bit like Sheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams, you’ll almost certainly enjoy Tift Merritt’s latest Another Country. It is subtle, introspective, and with Merritt’s graceful vocals as the focal point, it is the perfect counter to Miranda Lambert’s brash and boisterous country affectations. Another Country goes down easy and fills the spot on my shelf next to Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris’ All The Roadrunning. It is a nice calming break from punk rock even if only for a minute or two.
MP3 | Tift Merritt – Keep You Happy Another Country
MP3 | Tift Merritt – Broken Another Country
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Pop
Review: The Sugar Oaks - Red Grapes In The City EP
Posted on 12 March 2008 | No Comments
Just imagine the purple orange sky setting above you as a languid summer breeze blows through your evening backyard barbecue. This chilled out vibe is kinda how Red Grapes In The City sounds. It is the new EP from The Sugar Oaks from Florida. The EP is brief but clamors with softly swelling folk rock hat is graced with a touch of charming country twang and hint of sultry blues. Something like Iron & Wine covering The Eagles and even a little like Sky Blue Sky. Don’t complain; just kick back, relax, and enjoy the sounds. Red Grapes In The City is available now.
MP3 | The Sugar Oaks – Dark Dark Leaves Red Grapes In The City
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Posted on 6 March 2008 | No Comments
It might be hard to believe that before getting their latest album Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (on a friend’s recommendation no less) I had never listened to anything from Georgia’s southern-fried country-rock superstars Drive-By Truckers. Actually, it might not be hard to believe since now (more so than ever before) there is so damn much good music to listen to and so much more access to it.
Years ago kids could rely on major magazines like Rolling Stone, MTV, small fanzines, and word of mouth for info about new music. Now you have the Internet, myspace, and blogs like this as well. I’m sure I would say that the proliferation of new bands and the deluge of associated media coverage has over-saturated things, but it’s close. I spend most days listening to new music and passing judgment on that rather than spending time with old favorites and getting to know new records.
Back when I was in high school, I remember spending hours listening to new albums and pouring over the lyrics and liner notes. Now it is a digital download from eMusic or ripping a promo CD to my iPod. It is as if we have sacrificed everything for convenience. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. For example, having 60GB of music available to choose from on road trips is a much better alternative to loading up 30 of your favorite CD’s into a CD wallet and stuffing them into the glove compartment. With a few “D” batteries and a portable speaker system, you can also have your entire music library available almost everywhere, and what could be better than that?
Ok. Back to the Drive-By Truckers. Their latest album Brighter Than Creation’s Dark was recently released and if you like bands like Centro-matic, Lucero, Skynyrd, or The Allman Brothers, you should definitely check this (and the rest of their catalog) out. Since hearing this album, I’ve gotten two other Truckers albums. Listen to the songs below and then go get this record. “Do it!” They will also be on Late Night With Conan next week (March 11th).
MP3 | Drive-By Truckers – Two Daughters And A Beautiful Wife Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
MP3 | Drive-By Truckers – The Righteous Path Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Just Plain Rock
Review: Andy Swan's Ottawa
Posted on 4 March 2008 | No Comments
I was born and spent my formative years in Ottawa. Not the capital city of Canada but (rather) a small town in central Illinois at the confluence of the Illinois and Fox rivers. Even still, I feel a bit of a connection to Ottawa, Canada despite never having been there. That might have been an unnecessary and long-winded introduction, but I think it ties nicely into my review of Canadian singer-songwriter Andy Swan’s latest album Andy Swan’s Ottawa. It is a bit country and a bit folk; a little stomping and a lot subdued. At times Andy Swan’s Ottawa even recalls a little Jeff Tweedy and old-school Wilco-isms.
It is a charming and low-key affair from a great songwriter that no one (yet) seems to know about. His twangy country pop is sentimental and languid but also playful and spirited. Andy Swan certainly surprised me with this heartfelt album that also reminds me of destinations much further south such as Nashville or North Carolina (the Avett Brothers come to mind as does john Strohm). Andy Swan’s Ottawa is a fitting soundtrack to the lengthening days and the approaching thaw.
MP3 | Andy Swan – The Truth About Thieves Andy Swan’s Ottawa
MP3 | Andy Swan – The Sound Of Snowflakes Falling Andy Swan’s Ottawa
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Folk
Review: Kittens Ablaze - Hot Litter EP
Posted on 25 February 2008 | 1 Comment
Okay. How great (or at least amusing) is it that Kittens Ablaze titled their EP Hot Litter? Am I the only one who finds that totally hilarious? Anyhow, Kittens Ablaze is a band that calls Brooklyn, New York home and (well) their music is combustible! It is a manic clusterfuck of dance-punk-folk that sounds like what might happen if Defiance, Ohio moved to New York City and started gettin’ busy in the club scene and also a little like Ra Ra Riot. Acoustic guitars ramble and roll, and as a mournful violin provides additional accompaniment. Hot Litter is a highly enjoyable and welcome addition to my collection (or yours) and (if you care) Kittens Ablaze was also recently named MTV U’s band of the week. Killer.
MP3 | Kittens Ablaze – Government Romance Hot Litter EP
MP3 | Kittens Ablaze – Strobelight Hot Litter EP
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Indie Rock, New Wave
Review: Finian McKean - Monsters Of The Deep Woods
Posted on 10 February 2008 | 1 Comment
We here at Can You See the Sunset? have been fans of Finian McKean since we first heard his 2005 album Shades Are Drawn. His latest album Monsters Of The Deep Woods is (again) full of varied and ragged influences but easily one-ups its predecessor. On …Deep Woods McKean is like a snake in the long summer grass. He’s begging for the lurking farmer not to catch him but also just waiting for his moment to strike. His songs are simultaneously comforting and alarming. McKean’s simple but haunting songs come in many shapes and sizes; psychedelic blues tunes, swampy electrified garage rock, and psych-folk and they all have an unsettling and almost spiritual quality about them as if McKean is harnessing (or harnessed by) some higher power.
Much of …Deep Woods is sparse and (at times) dirge-like even when it gets loud and raucous. If McKean’s from porch is a sidewalk curb, his songs echo and reverberate not only in McKean’s (and the listener’s) head, but also throughout New York City’s vast chrome canyons, past the street lights, and into some dark back alley. It makes you question your own inner thoughts. …Deep Woods is a great album and is so because there is a sinister feel to it that is really really unsettling (I think that’s the perfect word). Sure, he uses piano, guitars, banjos, and other typical instrumentation, but McKean is anything but typical.
It is almost as if Finian McKean is confronting his own inner demons on …Deep Woods and begging you to do the same. It’s the perfect soundtrack for killing a man, digging a hole, and…well you know the rest. Monsters Of The Deep Woods is out now is available through And Each For Only Recordings.
MP3 | Finian McKean – I Could Drink All Nite Monsters…
MP3 | Finian McKean – Dropping Roses Monsters…
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Folk
Review: The Everybodyfields - Nothing Is Okay
Posted on 9 February 2008 | No Comments
Would you like a little quiet and relaxed from Americana that isn’t in any hurry to get where its going. Meandering just like the rivers through the hills of their home state of Tennessee, the latest from The Everybodyfields is is a great little bluegrassish record that isn’t really at bluegrass at all even with steel guitar and fiddle. Country folk might be a better description. On Nothing Is Okay the desperate songwriting and male/female vocal arrangements from Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews is wonderfully and beautifully bitter.
The twelve songs that make up Nothing Is Okay are filled with lonely fiddle sad wandering melodies; sad like how you felt when your love just up and left you. The lonely fiddle lifts much of that heavy weight. At other times Nothing Is Okay feels like a soft Tennessee breeze under the bright blue midday sky. I’d recommend this record to fans of both Ryan Adams and Gillian Welch and everyone in between. Nothing Is Okay is out now on Ramseur Records (home of The Avett Brothers).
MP3 | The Everybodyfields – Be Miner Nothing Is Okay
MP3 | The Everybodyfields – Lonely Anywhere Nothing Is Okay
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Southeast Engine - A Wheel Within A Wheel
Posted on 3 February 2008 | No Comments
Another album that I really really like is Southeast Engine’s new album A Wheel Within A Wheel. I do (however) have a confession to make. This record was (very unfortunately) sitting in my “to listen to” pile for far too long before I pulled it out and digitized it for my portable consumption and I’m very glad I finally did so. The first, striking thing that entered my mind only moments into the album opener “Taking the Fall,” was, “I don’t remember Southeast Engine rocking this much on their last album.” And indeed they didn’t.
Southeast Engine’s last album Coming To Terms With Gravity was a pretty good record in its own right, but I don’t recall liking it nearly as much as this new one. Sure, the band still doles out the same sort of alt-country/roots rock that graced their last album, but there is something more aggressive and fervent about A Wheel Within A Wheel. Southeast Engine hasn’t abandoned their sound but they have certainly tweaked it. The pianos, guitars, drums, bass, and other instruments are packed tighter even if the playing is loose and organic.
Singer/songwriter Adam Remnant’s lyrics are literate, raggedly spiritual, and (obviously) influenced by the band’s Athens, Ohio home. Its almost as if he’s desperately grasping for something to help him make sense of the things that surround him. There is a palpable weight and a dense noisiness to the album that (when coupled with singer Remnant’s vocals) often recalls Wilco before they started twiddling knobs and listening to Krautrock. So what does that mean?
It all adds up to the fact that A Wheel Within A Wheel is a really good album that I would recommend to fans of Wilco, Okkervil River, and Red Red Meat. And while you are enjoying the latest from Southeast Engine, I’ll add another one to my list of great records from 2007 that I missed the boat on. Get it now from Misra Records.
MP3 | Southeast Engine – Pursuit Of Happiness, Pt. 1 A Wheel Within A Wheel
MP3 | Southeast Engine – Taking The Fall A Wheel Within A Wheel
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Attack In Black - Marriage
Posted on 30 January 2008 | No Comments
My favorite album of the moment (in addition to the new Chris Walla and Ida albums) has got to be Attack In Black’s 2007 album Marriage. It beautifully fuses rough and tumble punk with delicate and yearning alt-country melodies shaded with a hint of Springsteen-esqe rock n’ roll and sounds like the pulse of the American heartland. Except that these guys are from Canada.
On Marriage Attack In Black incorporates tons of different stylistic elements (saxophones, banjo, steel guitar, gentle piano codas, snarling vocals, etc…) together into a cohesive whole that couldn’t sound more natural. The music is effortless and relaxed but (at times) has an urgency that could fuel a revolution. Contradictions and juxtapositions are the foundation of Marriage and what keeps it interesting, engaging, and exciting from start to finish. They can erupt from quiet and almost minimal verses into huge swelling sing-a-long choruses that could fill a stadium or just blaze straight ahead.
Even though Grubbs might take offense at this description, just imagine a cross between the honest Richmond punk of Smoke Or Fire, On A Wire-era Get Up Kids, and the anthemic rock qualities of The Boss. Rarely have I been as immediately smitten with an album as I was upon hearing Marriage for the first time. And maybe only because both bands are from Canada and some hardcore punk history, I’ll toss Attack In Back into the same category as The Weakerthans; and rightly so since Marriage is right up there with Reunion Tour as one of 2007’s best records.
MP3 | Attack In Black – Young Leaves Marriage
MP3 | Attack In Black – Marriage Marriage
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Emo, Punk
Review: Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Posted on 27 December 2007 | 2 Comments
I‘ve been reading a lot of critical praise for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the latest from country singer (and former Nashville Star contestant) Miranda Lambert. It is rare that a true country has widespread commercial appeal and also get nods from traditionally “indie” outlets like LAS, Stylus, and more. As someone who is not only a fan of alt-country like Uncle Tupelo, Lucero, etc… but also someone whose iPod contains songs from artists like Toby Keith, Phil Vassar, and Brad Paisley, I thought I should probably give Crazy Ex-Girlfriend a good listen.
It is definitely twangy, a little bit rockin’, and full of Lambert’s engaging and melodic vocals. (On the record at least) Lambert is a fiery and tough country girl that you wouldn’t want to piss off or cheat on. She also shows her versatility and presents a softer and more playful side on much of the record as well. You can find other reviews that will give you track-by-track details of the album or go more in depth about Lambert’s songwriting prowess, but I’m not going to bother you all that extra information.
In my estimation, if you are reading this, you’ve probably followed a link from The Hype Machine or are a regular reader and more interested in punk or indie music than what’s burning up the Billboard Hot Country charts. Give the songs below a listen and find out why so many hipster types are counting Crazy Ex-Girlfriend as one of their favorite albums of 2007. I’m sure it would have been on my list if I’d had a chance to give this a few more listens.
MP3 | Miranda Lambert – Famous In A Small Town Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
MP3 | Miranda Lambert – Gunpowder And Lead Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Centro-matic - Operation Motorcide
Posted on 13 November 2007 | 2 Comments
Centro-matic has a great new EP out now called Operation Motorcide whose 8 songs are non-album tracks from the recording sessions that produced the band’s stellar 2006 album Fort Recovery. Leftovers (however), these are not. I’m thoroughly convinced that Will Johnson and company are unable to make music that doesn’t tug at your heartstrings a little and leave you yearning for more. Centro-matic’s music is can plaintive and honest but also raw and powerful. The songs on Operation Motorcide (despite their greatness) were left off Fort Recovery because they wouldn’t have worked as well on that album as they do here; a perfect companion piece to Fort Recovery as well as something to tide us fans over until the next record.
MP3 | Centro-matic – Atlanta Operation Motorcide
MP3 | Centro-matic – Circuits To Circuses Operation Motorcide
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
Posted on 3 November 2007 | 2 Comments
No new computer yet, but I’m trying to give y’all at least a little something. Now, I’ve ventured into Canada before, but I’ve never been to Winnipeg, Manitoba. From what I know of geography and John K. Samson’s lyrics, I imagine it to be a broke-down but beautiful place. Samson is the singer/songwriter behind the critically acclaimed Canadian indie rock band The Weakerthans, whose brilliant new album Reunion Tour is out now.
Like other releases from The Weakerthans, Reunion Tour wraps punk, folk, and country around captivating stories told with highly literate and poetic lyrics that (when combined with Samson’s earnest no-frills vocal delivery) feel more real than just about anything else I’ve heard in awhile. The music is urgent but reflective and sounds loose; like four guys just playing together in a wood paneled living room.
Reunion Tour sounds like the golden sun peeking out from behind a darkly clouded sky for a moment. It sounds like standing on the doorstep of greatness only to turn around and walk away without looking back. The music is not sad; it is not joyful. The music is contentedly smiling a half smile like things aren’t really as bad as they may seem.
MP3 | The Weakerthans – Night Windows Reunion Tour
MP3 | The Weakerthans – Sun In An Empty Room Reunion Tour
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Just Plain Rock, Punk
Review: Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin
Posted on 11 October 2007 | 1 Comment
Last year, Seattle-based Band of Horses released a gem of an album called Everything All The Time that was brimming with spacious Southern-tinged indie-rock. Since then (however) the band lost founding member Mat Brooke and headed South to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. The resulting album is Cease To Begin and, while not radically different from its predecessor, the band has made subtle changes.
Cease To Begin still has the band’s driving guitars, but less of them. And Ben Bridwell’s vocals still ring out with an endless reverb that infuses their music with an almost ghostly atmosphere. It is grand, anthemic, and huge at times. It is even better on your front porch on a brisk and sunny autumn day. Less bombastic than Everything All The Time, Cease To Begin has its moments of fury, but focuses on the more sprawling and quieter moments.
Gorgeous melodies about and the golden-throated drawl of Ben Bridwell seems to coax them right out of the moonlight sky. Cease To Begin is an amazing and ridiculously catchy album that may be too close to Dad-rock for some, but being a father, that’s fine by me. The record is out now on Sub Pop.
MP3 | Band Of Horses – Is There A Ghost Cease To Begin
MP3 | Band Of Horses – No One’s Gonna Love You Cease To Begin
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
John Bustine - Waltzes & Pleas
Posted on 9 October 2007 | No Comments
Yet another record that I’ve been pleasantly surprised by is the debut album from Washington DC’s John Bustine. Aptly titled Waltzes And Pleas, his outstanding debut is filled with earnest and rootsy folk-rock that finds him battling his inner demons and reconciling with the lord for the things he’s done. Bustine’s tales are captivating and well-crafted, and ragged from his days on the lam. Although occasionally supplemented by fuller arrangements, most of Waltzes And Pleas revolves around Bustine’s acoustic guitar and desperate vocals for an overall tone that is reminiscent (at least a little bit) of Rocky Votolato.
Bustine himself described Waltzes And Pleas as an album full of “drinking songs for children.” And while I don’t think my two year old daughter would necessarily want to listen to this (nor would I really want her to), it is tailor-made for the bar-room and its emotionally wounded patrons full of regrets and what if’s. I can remain hopeful and live (or rather not live) vicariously through the songs on Waltzes And Pleas from the relative safety of my living room. A great album and promising debut from this talented singer/songwriter. The record is out now on Gypsy Eyes Records.
MP3 | John Bustine – This Guitar Says I’m Drunk Waltzes & Pleas
MP3 | John Bustine – Miss Amputee West Culver County Waltzes & Pleas
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: No River City - Wolves And Fishes
Posted on 6 October 2007 | 1 Comment
The band No River City plays bluesy alt-country rock that is more country than it is rock. Just imagine the likes of Old 97’s without the sweet crooning of Rhett Miller and you might be close. And not that singer/songwriter Drew de Man is some kind of slouch, but Rhett is de man. Anyhow, this Georgia-based outfit’s latest Wolves And Fishes is full standard twangy honky-tonk rock that is full of bluesy yearning and sorrow as well as upbeat paeans about love gone wrong. It is just the sort of thing that would sound perfect as you’re perched atop a barstool on a lonely Friday evening. Definitely more country than rock, but with just enough rockin’ down-home Southern-fried guitar riffing to keep it lively. Wolves And Fishes is as fantastic a country rock album as I’ve heard all year.
MP3 | No River City – Two Sad Horses Wolves & Fishes
MP3 | No River City – Jacy Farrow Wolves & Fishes
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Okkervil River - The Stage Names
Posted on 29 September 2007 | 2 Comments
It really doesn’t matter what you think or what you think of what I think, but I am of the opinion that Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff is a lyrical genius with a voice that can break your heart with just one line. It is vulnerable but powerful; fragile yet full of conviction. He is a masterful lyricist with an almost conversational narrative style that makes listening to his songs like reading intimate and soul-baring diary entries. Okkervil River’s 2005 album Black Sheep Boy was among my favorite from that year and has only gotten better with time. Their latest The Stage Names will most likely fare no differently this year.
Musically The Stage Names is a powerful melding of accessible pop-rock hooks and subtle alt-country instrumentation. Strings sing out in all the right places and melodic brass flourishes also appear now and again to great effect. It is (overall) a tighter album full of more standard rock conventions that Black Sheep Boy. Where that album’s frayed edges seemed likely to unravel with just about every crescendo, this one is a bit more controlled. And while the music is fantastic, it is Sheff’s vocals and lyrics that take center stage. Nowhere on The Stage Names is that more apparent than on “Savannah Smiles.” Maybe it is only because with a 2 year old daughter I can picture this exact scene in my mind many years ahead, but this song got me a little teary eyed. Or maybe it is just the realization that my daughter will unknowingly break my heart for the rest of my life.
The nine songs on The Stage Names play out almost like little vignettes or movie scenes and make direct reference to terms like “camera close-ups,” the various “scenes” of a film, and (obviously) the conflict of hiding behind “stage names” when the actors’ own fractured lives are much more desperate and “real” than anything a “movie” could convey. It is this acute awareness and separation in Sheff’s lyrics that (as previously stated) make it more like reading a diary than watching actors. No matter how “real” the film is, the diary entries it is based off of are that much more sobering.
The Stage Names is full of dark and melancholy subject matter that is fabulously juxtaposed against a brighter musical backdrop that includes finishing off the album by working the Beach Boys classic “Sloop John B.” into the closing track. It is a brilliant move that only solidifies its place as one of the year’s best and truly essential releases. It is out now on the ridiculously awesome Jagjaguwar label.
MP3 | Okkervil River – Our Life Is Not A Movie… The Stage Names
MP3 | Okkervil River – Savannah Smiles The Stage Names
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Indie Rock
Review: Nothington - All In
Posted on 14 September 2007 | 1 Comment
Wow! I’ve been finding out about so many great new bands that I’ve felt like a kid in a candy store lately. One of those bands is San Francisco’s Nothington. They have a new album called All In that is out now and full of what I’d like to describe as roots rock core. It is a sound that might be akin to Social Distortion meets Hot Water Music or (additionally) like Lucero on steroids. Gruff raspy coarse abrasive vocals atop a bed of leafy crunchy guitars and melodic basslines. While not as twangy as some of their peers, Nothington doesn’t force it and try to be something they aren’t. Their songs still ring out (in true Southern-tinged punk fashion) like a hammer smashing on the Liberty bell.
Nothington was formed in 2006 from the ashes of the Bay Area pop-punk outfit Tsunami Bomb by drummer Gabe Lindeman and guitarist/vocalist Jay Nothington. Along with bassist Mike Hicks and guitarist/vocalist Chris Matulich (formerly of Enemy You), the lineup was set and they headed into the studio to record their debut album for BYO Records. All In is that record and is ferociously raw, unpretentious, and often anthemic. The songs are also varied enough to keep the album from becoming repetitive. I’m a big fan of both punk and roots rock, so when a band like Nothington comes along, I’m all ears.
The only thing that would make All In a more enjoyable listen would be a few beers, a bottle of whiskey, and some good friends to sing along with. All In is out now on BYO Records.
MP3 | Nothington – Where I Stand All In
MP3 | Nothington – The Last Time All In
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Punk
Review: Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
Posted on 29 August 2007 | 5 Comments
Sam Beam and company are back with a great new Iron & Wine record called The Shepherd’s Dog just in time for the dog days of summer. About a year ago when I saw Iron & Wine’s set at Lollapalooza, something was missing. The crowd was too frantic and the setting not at all right. This is music that would best be enjoyed from a front-porch rocking chair while sipping sweet tea or any cold beverage of your choice. Beam’s hushed vocals and gentle acoustic guitar strums evoke images of the rural South straight out of a William Faulkner novel. I can almost see the grand white columns of a plantation house and hear the crickets in the background.
Naturally, The Shepherd’s Dog picks up right where the Woman King EP left off. It is full of the same loose and lazy swamp folk that that we’ve known since the band’s early days, but with more instrumentation and (at times) a more primal and rhythmic feel. It blossoms into an organic and almost timeless record that is one of the best I’ve heard all year. Between Beam’s breathy drawl and a few subtly raucous stomps, The Shepherd’s Dog has an enveloping sound that just gets into your pores and makes you sweat before ultimately cooling you down through the the graceful exit of “Flightless Bird, American Mouth”. And even though the air conditioning is on I can just about feel the humid Florida heat pumping through my speakers when the credits finally roll.
MP3 | Iron & Wine – Boy With A Coin The Shepherd’s Dog
MP3 | Iron & Wine – Lovesong Of The Buzzard The Shepherd’s Dog
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Folk
Review: The Gunshy - There's No Love In This War
Posted on 28 August 2007 | 1 Comment
After being part of the Chicago Blogapalooza, I was really really excited to hear the new record from Matt Arbogast’s alter-ego The Gunshy. It is titled There’s No Love In This War and although it isn’t officially released for another six weeks (on Latest Flame Records), we’ve been playing it a ton ‘round these parts. It is something of a concept album which (according to Matt) is based on the following true story.
From 1943 until 1945, Paul Arbogast spent his days preparing for, fighting, recovering from, and again fighting a war. The songs that comprise The Gunshy’s There’s No Love In This War are based on the 17 letters Paul wrote to the girl he met at the Ukranian Club at home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the year before he left.
Paul and Julia were married six months after he returned and in 1947 she gave birth to their first child, my father Mark. Paul passed away at the age of 39 of a heart attack, attested mainly to the shrapnel still in his chest from wounds received at Anzio in 1944.
Though she never spoke in detail of Paul, to this day there has not been another man in Julia’s life. These songs are his, though they may not do him justice. I’ve never fought in a war and hope to always be able to say that. – Matt ArbogastThere’s No Love In This War is an elaborate album that features myriads of instruments like violins, banjos, mandolins, guitars, brass, organs, and more. IT also features Matt’s unmistakable gravelly Tom Waits-esqe vocals. It is a superb album with a sentiment that is as true today as it was back during WWII: There’s no love in this war.
MP3 | The Gunshy – May 14, 1943 There’s No Love In This War
MP3 | The Gunshy – March 7, 1945 There’s No Love In This War
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Golden City - 1 EP
Posted on 16 August 2007 | 5 Comments
Former Christie Front Drive and Antarctica member Eric Richter has a new band called Golden City and the band has a new EP simply called 1 which is out and also available for download from the band’s myspace page. Eric’s songs are sunny and his vocals are airy. The music combines the shimmering melodic emo of Christie Front Drive with a slight hint of golden heartland Americana. It is absolutely perfect driving music. Have a listen for yourself below.
MP3 | Golden City – Gray 1 EP
MP3 | Golden City – Diamond Suits 1 EP
MP3 | Golden City – Cars In Space 1 EP
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Emo
Review: Sonny Harlan - High Hell Reckoning
Posted on 7 August 2007 | 1 Comment
Because of guys like Francis “Sonny” Harlan, rock n roll will never die. He has previously done time in bands like The Nobodys, The Murder Junkies, and The Gotohells, and currently plays drums for The Rebel Pride Band. More importantly (though) Sonny has just released his solo debut called Sonny Harlan’s High Hell Reckoning. It is full of punk influenced Southern rock n roll. You know, in-your-face attitude, trashy riffs, and searing guitar solos. We love it and you will too. In fact, you can get it free just by messaging Sonny at his myspace page.
MP3 | Sonny Harlan – Have Fun Suckers High Hell Reckoning
MP3 | Sonny Harlan – Back In Town High Hell Reckoning
More MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy from Insound | eMusic
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Just Plain Rock, Punk
Review: St. James Inc. - 8 Hours EP
Posted on 5 August 2007 | No Comments
So last year at about this time I managed to catch the LA based band St. James Inc. on the BMI stage at Lollapalooza and I was impressed with the warm alt-country melodies and breezy arrangements. Their set was a little island of tranquility in the bustling sea of humanity that was Lollapalooza. Maybe something like a smoother and more polished rendering of Rocky Votolato or Lucero.
Anyhow, the band was great when I saw them last year and I finally got a copy of their self-released 8 Hours EP. It is 5 great songs that were recorded in eight hours and comes highly recommended from yours truly. Cheers!
MP3 | St. James Inc. – Busy 8 Hours EP
MP3 | St. James Inc. – The Waves 8 Hours EP
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Hot Rod Circuit - The Underground Is A Dying Breed
Posted on 1 August 2007 | 1 Comment
One of the bands that I had the pleasure of seeing over the weekend at the Warped Tour was New Haven, Connecticut’s Hot Rod Circuit. The band played old favorites as well as a number of songs from their stellar last album The Underground Is A Dying Breed as the crowd gladly soaked in the sun and the sound.
Hot Rod Circuit’s sound is an unlikely combination of alternative-pop and post-hardcore punk that is tied together with a bit of country twang that comes together like rootsy emo and sounds not unlike Blackpool Lights, Brand New, or even Midtown at times. However you want to describe their sound, Hot Rod Circuit’s The Underground Is A Dying Breed is full-on rock assault that has more hooks than a tackle box. Melodies are carried by the jagged punk guitars and yearning vocals of frontman Andrew Jackson as well as the warm melodic tones of “Spacey” Casey Prestwood’s pedal steel. It is an unusual genre-defying sound that really separates the band from the pack, but also perfectly illustrates why many of the teenage fans in the Warped Tour demographic may be confused by the band.
Picture the front porch swing of a house in a small town on a warm and sunny summer afternoon. Instead of an old man in a straw hat listening to the ballgame on transistor radio, a kid wearing black jeans and Buddy Holly emo glasses is listening to Hot Rod Circuit. HRC’s stylistic convergence is unique. It as a sound that is honest and unpretentious and is permeated by Midwestern and Southern warmth. It is emo before it became all fashion and Fall Out Boy.
The Underground Is A Dying Breed is amazing and it is out now on Immortal Records.
MP3 | Hot Rod Circuit – Stateside The Underground Is A Dying Breed
MP3 | Hot Rod Circuit – U.S. Royalty The Underground Is A Dying Breed
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Emo, Punk
Review: Tim Barry - Rivanna Junction
Posted on 14 July 2007 | 3 Comments
I know that I’ve mentioned it before, but there seems to be an increasing trend for more and more musical artists to blend punk rock and country or other roots music, and I’m loving every minute of it. Perhaps it started with Old 97’s and soaked in enough for bands like Drag The River and Lucero to carry the torch, but (to me) it all just seems natural. I grew up on a steady diet of punk rock and have for the past few years become increasingly fond of roots and alt-country music, so whenever I find a melding of the two genres I’m generally pretty pleased.
One such album that I recently came across was the solo debut of Avail frontman Tim Barry. His album is called Rivanna Junction it sounds almost as if every last drop of hardcore was removed from Avail’s sound leaving only twangy Southern rock influences behind. The tunes that make up Rivanna Junction are anchored by Barry’s gritty vocals and vivid tale-telling lyrics that paint a picture of the hard life that faces many within the working class; a modern Steve Earle perhaps? I especially like “Dog Bumped” where Barry carries on about killing a guy that beat up his little sister.
Some songs are about wandering and finding your place in the world and most songs (like all good country songs) reference alcohol, women, or both. It is a masterful album that shows a little bit of a softer side to Tim Barry, but in a way that (despite the drastic change in instrumentation and overall sound) isn’t really that much of a departure from his work with Avail. I’d highly recommend this for fans of John Mellencamp, Steve Earle, and (well, duh) Avail. Rivanna Junction is out now on Suburban Home Records.
MP3 | Tim Barry – Trash Inspirations Rivanna Junction
MP3 | Tim Barry – Dog Bumped Rivanna Junction
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: John P. Strohm - Everyday Life
Posted on 13 July 2007 | 2 Comments
Most of you will recognize John Strohm from bands like Blake Babies, Antenna, The Lemonheads, and the short-lived Velo-Deluxe (a favorite of mine). Even though this Bloomington, IN born and (currently) Birmingham, Alabama-based musician’s day job is that of an entertainment lawyer, he still writes and records and has got a great new album called Everyday Life that was just released on Superphonic Records. It is full of gentle and melodic rootsy pop-rock just that just lingers in the summer breeze and reminds me of places much slower and relaxed than my suburban Chicago setting. It is not a complicated album by any means. The songs are straightforward and the lyrics and rhyme-schemes are almost (at times) too predictable, but somehow that doesn’t matter at all. When listening to Everyday Life time just sorta fades away. Highlights include “Sha-la” and “Driving On 95” as well as the rest of the record.
MP3 | John P. Strohm – Sha La Everyday Life
MP3 | John P. Strohm – Driving On 95 Everyday Life
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Just Plain Rock
Review: Nees and Vos - EP
Posted on 30 June 2007 | No Comments
Only a few days ago I got the latest self-released EP from Nees and Vos and it has already made its way into our rotation and the t-shirt which accompanied it has already made it through the wash at least once. On the EP, the duo of Andrew Neesley (keys/trumpet/production) and Chris Vos (vocals/guitar) lay down a handful of catchy and soulful tunes that come across as a fusion of 60’s/70’s soul, rootsy rock, and hip-hop inspired beats. Like RJD2 backing the Black Crowes or even Lenny Kravitz playing the blues (if he actually had some soul) with a killer horn section, Nees and Vos make music that is perfect for chillin’ out and having a good time. Every song on the EP is good and I guarantee that you’ll be tapping your toes or nodding your head before its all over.
MP3 | Nees and Vos – (I Ain’t) Going Back to Georgia EP
More music at The Hype Machine or buy here
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Just Plain Rock
Someday somebody's gonna ask you
Posted on 9 June 2007 | 2 Comments
Last fall my brother got married and the first song that he and his new bride danced to was the Rhett Miller tune “Question.” It was the perfect song for the perfect moment. They played the version that appeared on his excellent 2006 album The Believer. The new version has keys and synths in all the right places and is a little more polished than the Old 97’s version (which is just Rhett and an acoustic guitar) that was on their 2001 album Satellite Rides.
“Question” is (without question) a perfect little love song. All this is only fitting since we are back in Pennsylvania for Amy’s brother’s wedding. These songs are for Kenny and Sarah on their big day today.
MP3 | Rhett Miller – Question The Believer
MP3 | Old 97’s – Question Satellite Rides
Review: Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger (or) picture of Jesus on the dashboard
Posted on 27 May 2007 | 6 Comments
The polarizing alt-country pretty boy Ryan Adams is set to release his 9th album Easy Tiger on June 26th via Lost Highway Records. The Cardinals (again) joined him as a backing band which is good since I liked Jacksonville City Nights more than virtually all of his post-Heartbreaker output. Easy Tiger (however) sounds like it could be a return to form.
MP3 | Ryan Adams – Two Easy Tiger
MP3 | Ryan Adams – Everybody Knows Easy Tiger
Even though what I’ve heard of Easy Tiger sounds promising, my favorite Ryan Adams stuff is still probably Whiskeytown. Way back in 1996 before he went solo, Ryan Adams and drummer Skillet Gilmore (both of Whiskeytown at that point) formed the short-lived indie alt-country band Freightwhaler and (to the best of my knowledge) the songs below (known as The Freightwhaler Sessions) are all that was documented.
MP3 | Freightwhaler – At The Drive-In The Freightwhaler Sessions
MP3 | Freightwhaler – Bar Lights The Freightwhaler Sessions
MP3 | Freightwhaler – The Ghosts Are Out Tonight The Freightwhaler Sessions
MP3 | Freightwhaler – Sometimes That’s Hard To Do The Freightwhaler Sessions
MP3 | Freightwhaler – Picture Of Jesus On The Dashboard The Freightwhaler Sessions
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Axton Kincaid - Songs From The Pine Room (or) who is gonna pour my whiskey
Posted on 21 May 2007 | 1 Comment
Q: What happens when indie rock kids decide to play country and bluegrass music?
A: Axton Kincaid
Axton Kincaid is a band (not a person) that calls San Francisco, CA home. Armed with gritty female vocal harmonies, soaring pedal-steel guitar, and a sassy mandolin, their songs about love, loss, and drinking drip ever so sweetly into your ears. They serve as a perfect accompaniment for beer, whiskey, or whatever you prefer.
The band’s wonderful “indiegrass” sound begs me to ask the questions that I’ve been asking for a few years now: “Why am I drawn to roots music in the same way that I am to punk rock? What do they have in common?” Whatever the answer, Axton Kincaid’s recently released debut album Songs From The Pine Room is definitely worth your time. It is out now on Free Dirt Records.
MP3 | Axton Kincaid – Red Lights Songs From The Pine Room
MP3 | Axton Kincaid – Who’s Gonna Pour My Whiskey When You’re Gone Songs From The Pine Room
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism (or) these sheets are made of fire
Posted on 18 May 2007 | 6 Comments
A few days ago I saw The Avett Brothers on late night TV and totally dug it. Comprised of two actual brothers and a bass player, the Avett’s new album is called Emotionalism and it is infectious. The band is a trio consisting of acoustic guitar, banjo, and upright bass that (despite the instrumentation) is only slightly bluegrassish. It is more like bittersweet rootsy pop alt-country pop-rock that touches references like The Beatles and the Burrito Bros.
Emotionalism at times sounds like it could have been written 60+ years ago and at other times sounds like it could have been last week. The Greenville, NC trio’s classic ragtime inspired acoustic pop wears its heart on its sleeve and somewhere deep inside has a little punk in it. RIYL: Pernice Brothers, Ryan Adams, Soggy Bottom Boys, etc…
Emotionalism is out now and those of you in Chicago should catch ‘em at the House of Blues on 5/30. Cheers.
MP3 | The Avett Brothers – Die Die Die Emotionalism
MP3 | The Avett Brothers – Paranoia In Bb Major Emotionalism
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Roll me under New Madrid
Posted on 17 May 2007 | 12 Comments
So a little over a month ago Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy (as he does from time to time) played a sold-out solo show at Chicago’s Vic Theater. I unfortunately didn’t make it to the show (thanks to the $100 ticket price) but it was for a good cause (a benefit for the Montessori school his kids attend) and I still have my memories from his solo outing at the Vic back in March 2005.
With Sky Blue Sky out this past Tuesday, this offers a few of those songs presented in a different and stripped-down fashion as well as older Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, and Golden Smog material along with a few covers. Plus his stage banter is hilarious. Grab all the songs in a .zip file or pick your poison below. Enjoy.
MP3 | 01 – Remember The Mountain Bed
MP3 | 02 – Radio King
MP3 | 03 – The Community Song
MP3 | 04 – John Wesley Harding
MP3 | 05 – The Ruling Class
MP3 | 06 – New Madrid
MP3 | 07 – The Auld Triangle (Pogues Cover)
MP3 | 08 – You Are My Face
MP3 | 09 – Hummingbird
MP3 | 10 – Camera
MP3 | 11 – What Light
MP3 | 12 – Airline To Heaven
MP3 | 13 – Pot Kettle Black
MP3 | 14 – When The Roses Bloom Again
MP3 | 15 – Either Way
MP3 | 16 – Love And Mercy (Brian Wilson Cover)
MP3 | 17 – The Community Song
MP3 | 18 – Shot In The Arm
MP3 | 19 – The Good Part
MP3 | 20 – Impossible Germany
MP3 | 21 – The Lonely 1
MP3 | 22 – Cars Can’t Escape
MP3 | 23 – Pecan Pie
MP3 | 24 – Less Than You Think
MP3 | 25 – Hell Is Chrome
MP3 | 26 – Gun
MP3 | 27 – I’m The Man That Loves You
MP3 | 28 – Jesus, Etc.
MP3 | 29 – Passenger Side
MP3 | 30 – Acuff-Rose (No Mic)
Review: Cracklin Moth - Redbird EP (or) like a moth to a citronella flame
Posted on 16 May 2007 | No Comments
Chicago’s excellent Cracklin Moth has an excellent new EP titled My Heart Is Leaking out now. The band seems to fly a little under the radar here in Chicago, but (I can only guess) probably not for long. Led by singer/guitarist Matt Ammerman’s gravelly voice and some incredibly weightless pedal steel guitar, the band is back with another batch of sun-soaked tunes. This is (however) less twangy that their Red Bird EP and is a bit more sprightly. I’d still probably call it urban alt-country, but with a big classic golden pop influence. Recommended for fans of The Jayhawks and Summerteeth-era Wilco, Brendan Benson, etc…
MP3 | Cracklin Moth – Car Wreck My Heart Is Leaking EP
MP3 | Cracklin Moth – My Heart Is Leaking My Heart Is Leaking EP
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Rocky Votolato - The Brag & Cuss (or) keep your eyes on the road
Posted on 16 May 2007 | 3 Comments
My wife and I have been big Rocky Votolato fans from the first time we saw him perform at Chicago’s Fireside Bowl back in 2003 when we were instantly drawn to his earnest working-class brand of country-tinged acoustic rock. Now about to release his fifth solo album ,The Brag & Cuss, Votolato has (if anything) added a little more twang what was already a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.
Now recently Dodge from My Old Kentucky Blog referred to Votolato’s music as “Whiskeytown light” and “diet Ryan Adams.” I don’t think that anything could be farther from the truth. Where Ryan Adams has embraced his celebrity (and his music suffered as a result) Votolato is the guy living in the shadows who is making a living but barely scraping by. He is a hard-working father of two whose earnest and whiskey-soaked voice has the ability to tear right through you. It is also hard to imagine that his words (which can cut straight to the bone) can be so poetic.
On The Brag & Cuss, Rocky Votolato’s acoustic guitar and vocals are joined by harmonica, organ, and banjos in what is a fuller sounding album than his last. The additional instrumentation doesn’t detract from the sincerity and honesty of his music. He still plays with the attitude and heart of a punk-rocker. Before going it alone, Votolato honed his skills fronting the Seattle post-hardcore band Waxwing in which his brother Cody also played until he joined The Blood Brothers.
I highly recommend picking up any Rocky Votolato albums you can get your hands on including The Brag & Cuss. It is due out June 19th on Barsuk Records.
MP3 | Rocky Votolato – Postcard From Kentucky The Brag & Cuss
MP3 | Rocky Votolato – Red Dragon Wishes The Brag & Cuss
And a sampling of some of his earlier material…
MP3 | Rocky Votolato – Suicide Medicine Suicide Medicine
MP3 | Rocky Votolato – One Day You Won’t be Here Makers (Bonus)
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana
Review: Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (or) mama your boys will find a home
Posted on 14 May 2007 | 2 Comments
So the new Wilco album Sky Blue Sky comes out on Tuesday (that’s tomorrow for those who are still asleep) and I expect that all of you will be making a stop to pick up a copy. I’ll see you there.
A few weeks ago I had a brief conversation with Ryan from the (Wilco-inspired) Muzzle of Bees blog and we both agreed that initially neither of us was really all that impressed with Sky Blue Sky and its warm 70’s rock sound. We both commented that while the bands sounds tighter and more together than ever, most of the songs don’t have those “reel you in” hooks that much (ok all) of Jeff Tweedy and Wilco’s previous material had.
I’m not sure about Ryan, but I have had a change of heart. After listening to Sky Blue Sky a number of times since then, I’ve come to the conclusion that it might be the biggest leap forward that Wilco has made yet. It is an subtly adventurous album that eschews many of the alt-country and pop-rock tendencies that made Wilco the band we all love. They throw so much of sound that fans know right out the window and (for that reason) have made a bold statement.
For example, my wife Amy is a huge Wilco fan and (while she hasn’t listened to Sky Blue Sky all that many times) her cursory reaction to the record was a negative one. I think many people will react just as she did.
Think about it carefully though and don’t be so quick to judge. From A.M. to Being There to Summerteeth to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot to A Ghost Is Born to Sky Blue Sky Tweedy and company haven’t been afraid to take chances and make the music they want to make. I really respect that. Yes, the songs and hooks on Sky Blue Sky are less-obvious than “She’s A Jar” or “Misunderstood,” but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good.
Sky Blue Sky is out tomorrow on Nonesuch Records.
MP3 | Wilco – Impossible Germany Sky Blue Sky
MP3 | Wilco – Walken Sky Blue Sky
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Just Plain Rock
Review: The Gaslight Anthem - Sink Or Swim (or) three thousand steps and glory bound
Posted on 10 May 2007 | 2 Comments
The Gaslight Anthem is a band from New Jersey and their new album is called Sink Or Swim. Open it up and you’ll find raw and ragged punk rock with a slightly rootsy feel. Lucero meets Good Riddance if you will. Gruff like a cheap bottle of whiskey but catchy enough to warrant a second shot. It makes you warm inside but might leave you regretting it in the morning.
I’m going to classify it as a brand new genre called honky-tonk hardcore. The guitars ferociously rip and shred but retain just enough twang and jangle that you can envision dusty old boots kicking open a saloon door somewhere while the gritty vocals reek of cigarettes and alcohol. It sounded perfect during my 3 mile sunset jog this evening. I’ve got a feeling that you might like it too.
RIYL: Against Me!, Murder By Death, The Forecast, etc…
MP3 |