Weekend Music Roundup

The weekend has arrived! My music ramblings this week span quite a few genres. Most of what is listed here are new releases, though there are two albums from the past represented as they were new listens/ acquisitions to the collection. There's some folk, some garage rock, Americana, dream pop, and hard rock to check out. A couple of nice surprises here that I just stumbled across. Hopefully you'll have some time in these dog days of summer to find new music too. Enjoy.

Jim James - Uniform Distortion: The newest solo album from My Morning Jacket singer is his third and follows 2016's fantastic Eternally Even. Having loved his previous solo records, I was eagerly looking forward to this album. I had hoped for another neo-psych voyage as unforgettable as his last record, but this one is different. Certainly more in-line with My Morning Jacket's link to Americana roots, this has more of blues inspired country feel. Once I got over it not being what I'd hoped for, this album really grew on me. "Throwback," "Yes to Everything," and "Over and Over" are standouts for me. 

Dead Moon - Trash and Burn: Throughout the '90s, this Oregon garage rock band was steadily releasing albums, all of which unnoticed by me and those in the circles I ran with. Over the past eight months, I've become a huge fan and am still astounded as to how this band never crossed my path. This is one of the band's last albums, there was one released after, and being from 2000, takes on more a garage rock feel, a sound which would dominate the indie scene in the coming years. It once again shows this band was a good 5-10 years ahead of the trend. I can't recommend this band enough. They are one that certainly deserved and deserves a larger audience. 

Suburban Dirts - I Want Blood: The third album from the UK Americana band is one that really grew on me during the course of the album. The opening tracks were pretty standard alt-country, though well-done, but as the album progresses, it continues to get deeper and more unique. There is a great mix of strings and guitar, and some wonderfully darker tunes like "The Hunt." Other great tracks of "This Ain't No Place Like Home," "The Sadness," and "Where There's a Will." There are two great children's choir tracks that really add to the album. 

Rain Devil - The Joyful Apocalypse: The debut album from the Washington state heavy rock band is a solid effort. Taking influence from other bands of the north west like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, this is post-grunge stoner rock that hits all the right notes. This is angry heavy metal that is based in blues. A great debut and I can't wait to hear more from them. "Caravan of the Dead," "Drag Me Away," "My Own Hell" and the title track are standouts.

Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill: Released in 2008, this is my first taste of the ambient dream pop artist from Oregon. It borrows heavily from the sound that developed a decade before, blending ambient with shoegaze to create a dreamscape atmosphere that is ethereal yet engaging. All of the songs kind of blend together, which isn't surprising given that this genre has always been about mood and not about individual songs. This is the kind of eerie album that I think makes a great soundtrack for a grey autumn day. "Heavy Water/ I'd Rather Be Sleeping," and "A Cover Over" are my personal favorites. 

Fiction Friday (71)

Having a week long vacation two weeks ago, gave me some time to do some recreational reading and I took advantage of the time to read Colin Meloy's newest novel, which I've been wanting to read for several months. I was expecting another fantasy themed story like he Wildwood trilogy, but was treated with a realistic, if somewhat magical, tale of a boy trying to find his place in the world.

The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid by Colin Meloy
(Balzer + Bray, 2017)

After the display of brilliant imagination that is the Wildwood Chronicles, I couldn't wait to read Colin Meloy's newest novel. Shockingly, I had a hard time tracking this one down. I hate buying books online, and would much rather support a small store...though I also had ordering. I like discovering it. Finally I couldn't wait any longer and had to borrow it from the library (on Inter-Library Loan, since my library didn't have it either...I know, I checked).

This is a very different type of book than Wildwood. It's realistic and not fantasy, though wondrous at times. It's set in a distinct time period, 1960's France. It follows a likable, budding young writer, named Charlie who has had trouble finding his place in the world, being left by his eccentric mother only to be moved around often with his diplomat father. It isn't until he meets a bang of child pickpockets that he begins to discover himself. But is his discovery simply another illusion of  the Whiz Mob?

A fast pace story that meanders a bit in the first half and middle. It didn't truly grab me until just past the half way point, and from there on, it is incredibly rewarding. There's enough intrigue and plot twists to keep this from being predictable or formulaic. The last 30 pages or so are remarkable, and to be honest, I which the story had spent more time at the School of the Seven Bells, and less on the coast of France.

Weekend Music Roundup

The weekend has arrived! This week I put together a selection of new releases, but included an older album that I recently discovered. I've been in an exploratory period of late, trying to rediscover some things that I've loved in the past, and seeing what direction those sounds have taken recently. There's some quality stuff on here, but keep in mind that it was an exploration and sometimes you find treasure, and sometimes less so. Hope you find some treasure on here. Enjoy.

The Charlatans - Totally Eclipsing: The new EP from the 90s Britpop band continues their comeback which dates of the previous two years. These four songs come closer to capturing their hey day, with jangle guitars and sugary vocals that come together to create a sound that is retro, but not boring. The title track is fantastic, and one of their best songs. It's always nice to hear a band being able to keep their sound and style going strong so long after the world has seemed to stop caring. Fans should collect this one, it's a keeper.

Bang - Mother/ Bow to the King: The second album from the Philadelphia heavy psych band was released in 1972 and is a powerhouse of the genre. The emergence of metal can be heard on this album, which falls somewhere between Zeppelin and Sabbath, with Gilmour-esqe guitar work. "Humble," "Keep On," "Tomorrow," and "Bow to the King" are standout tracks on this great lost album. Definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre. If you ever come across it, you won't be disappointed if you chose to pick it up. 

Woodwolf - Golden Road: The debut album from the Quebec rock duo is straight blues based hard rock. On their Bandcamp site, they list Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors as influences, and you can certainly hear all three of those bands on this record. It's a respectable tribute to those bands, though I must say it lacks the kind of magic those three bands had, but there are glimpses of greatness on tracks like "Desperate Way," "Flower of Life," and "Coldest Days." 

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs - Clippety Clop: It's been 10 years since this alt country outfits debut, so it's fitting that their 10th album comes near that anniversary. I've followed Holly's work ever since her duet on the The White Stripes "Elephant" album 15 years ago. This is another fine release of country inspired indie rock. Nothing earth shattering on this album of horse themed songs, but certainly capable for the genre. "Mule Skinner," "Horses in the Mines," "Pinto Pony," and "Kill Grey Mule" are standouts. 

Nas - Nasir: The Queensbridge legend returns with his first album in six years. As has always been the case, Nas doesn't shy away from telling things as he sees them. Sure, he's full of bravado, but somewhat rightfully so given his accomplishments and skills. But despite a level of arrogance, there exists a level of humility on these verses that is absent from other rappers like Kayne. Like a lot of hip-hop I've been hearing these days, there seems to be a return to the 90's east coast sound, which suits me just find. "Everything," "Cops," "Not for Radio" and "Adam and Eve" are standouts on a fine album. 

Vandoliers - The Native: This debut from the Texas alt country band was just released and it is similar to other alt country bands like Lucero and a little bit of early Melloncamp. There's definitely a blue grass influence to their uptempo country music and a nice scratchy drawl to the vocals that I enjoy. It has the innocence of a debut record that I always enjoy. "Rain Dance," "Bluebonnet Highway," and the title track are my personal favorites.

Cape Cod Getaway

I spent last week on Cape Cod with my missus, her parents, and the little one. Having never been there before, I found it to be a kind of magical place. We spend most of our time on the bay side beaches, which were incredibly affected by the tide, so that at low tide, you could walk out forever. It was very calming and got to spend a lot of time with my three-year old. She was such a little explorer on the beach and I'm constantly in awe of her wide-eyed curiosity and imagination. 

One day on the beach, I decided to tell her a story that I made up as I went along. A story about an underwater vacation that I took with two hermit crabs to a castle on the ocean floor made of sand and shells, where we could ride seahorses and discovered a huge octopus. She was enthralled. 

The entire trip was a kind of jolt to the imagination, as visits to unfamiliar places often are. One of the craziest things that happened, was that there was a pony unicorn in my dream. That was a first.

Weekend Music Roundup

The weekend is here! I missed last weekend due to a hectic schedule, but I'm back now with more music ramblings. There's a lot of recent releases on this list that I've been into lately. There's also some 90's throwbacks that I've picked up in the past few months, as well as some jazz. One weekend soon will focus solely on obscure late '60s and early '70s psych rock, so stay tuned for that. Hopefully there's something on here that perks your interest. Enjoy.

T. Hardy Morris - Dude, the Obscure: The third solo album from the Dead Confederate frontman is another wonderful lo-fi indie album with folk roots. I've followed his career since the first DC release and have really grown to appreciate his song writing on the previous two solo albums. This one is no different, as he continues to show maturity and depth. There's something genuine about his music and it reminds me of John Frusciante in that way. "The Night Everything Changed," "Cheating Life, Living Death," "When the Record Skips," and "Purple House Blues" are standouts on another fantastic record.

Gorillaz - The Now Now: This is the sixth album from Damon Albarn's cartoon band project which has always been a hit or miss outfit for me. Perhaps because this is less a parade of guest appearances (which some previous albums fell victim to), this is the most consistent album they've released. It's also the first one which doesn't have a bunch of "skip" tracks on it. An incredibly groovy record with standouts such as "Humility," "Hollywood," "Idaho," and "Fire Flies." 

Beat Happening - Black Candy: Released in 1989, this is the third album from the influential Olympia indie band. This is a band that never crossed my path during my youth, but one I'd been meaning to check out for a long time. This has the kind of lo-fi post punk sound that reminds me of Violent Femmes and a sound you don't hear any more. It's a very 80's sound that went on to influence the huge explosion of indie music in the decade that followed. Lots to appreciate on here. "Gravedigging Blues," "The Other Side," "Bonfire," and "T.V. Girl" are my personal favorites. 

Radiohead - OK Computer (OKNOTOK 1997-2017): Released for the 20th anniversary of the landmark album, this triple vinyl includes the whole album as well as another whole album of B-Sides and unreleased tracks from the era. I held off on this for about a year, partly because I've really grown to dislike this band over the last decade, and partially because of the price tag. But OK Computer remains a 5 star album and one of the most influential in my life, so I went for it and was rewarded with a wonderful product. The entire package is perfect and the extra songs flow seamlessly with the originals. 

The Dentists - Naked: In the late '80s and early '90s all signs pointed to this jangle pop band hitting it big time. And while they did achieve some success in the UK, they never made it stateside. I was really into this band during their third album, "Powdered Lobster Fiasco" when it came out in '93 but haven't listened to them in over a decade. I was excited to come across this self-issued EP from '91 and snatched it up. I now have No. 0544 of 1000 of this lo-fi 10" of raw songs that is even more compelling then the jangle production of their albums. "Reading the News," "Naked," and "We Thought We'd Got to Heaven" are my personal favorites. 

King Curtis - King Soul!: Released in 1970, a reissue of 1960's "The New Scene of King Curtis", this is a companion album to "Soul Meeting" and together they demonstrate the innovation of the Texas saxman. While definitely hard bop (my personal favorite sub-genre of jazz), this also shows Curtis developing the soul sound that would later sweep the decade. The two long tracks on here, "Have You Heard?," and "In a Funky Groove" are dynamite. Wonderful record. 

Happy Birthday America!

Given the current state and backwards progression of this nation that I love, I choose to celebrate a fictional rendition this year...here's hoping for a better year ahead.