Weekend Music Roundup

Welcome to the weekend and this will probably be the last of my roundups featuring all 2019 albums, though there are still plenty more that I want to get through. In the next two weeks, I'll be putting together my Best of 2019 list before we ring in a new decade. Most of these are new albums from artists that I've been following for a long time, but there are few artists new to me. Hopefully there's something here worth checking out. Enjoy.

Kadvar - For the Dead Travel Fast: The fifth album from the German stoner rock bands. This is a band that I've been following since their first release nine years ago. This one, as with the last album, sees them venture even further into the heavy psych realm, which is nothing that I'd ever complain about. The album opens with a mood setting track before delving into the masterfully dark "The Devil's Master." It reminds me of a heavier Uncle Acid, one with more stoner rock riffs. "Evil Forces," "Dancing with the Dead," and "Long Forgotten Song" are my personal favorites.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Colorado: This is Neil's first album in six years with long-time back-up band Crazy Horse. Though it lacks the traditional sound the pairing has brought, and doesn't have the revival appeal of their last collaboration Psychedelic Pill, this is still a solid Neil album that fits more with his roots sound than his grandfather of grunge sound, though their are some wonderful guitar heavy moments. "Think of Me," "Help Me Loose My Mind," and "Shut It Down" are my personal favorites. 

Velvet Negroni - NEON BROWN: This is the second album from the member of Pony Bwoy. It's one of the albums that redefines a genre. Classified as alternative RnB, it's the kind of art pop album that is very much a product of this past decade. It's richly layered and maintains a consistent groove from start to finish.  The closest comparison for me would be Prince, or rather, Prince would be a clear influence. It's more electronic, more dance, more trip-hop, but it has that Prince passion to it. "Wine Green," "Kurt Kobain," "Confetti," "Scratchers," and "Ectodub" are standouts on this pleasant surprise of an album.  

Goblin Hovel - Nothing Like Our Fantasy: This is a project that began six years ago and has included a long list of people coming and going to make the 10 albums released in that time. I first got into them because their music sounded like a kind of soundtrack to a book I wrote (still unpublished). They play a gothic neo-folk type of acoustic death metal that truly feels like goblin music, but in the most wonderful way. I highly recommend checking them out on Bandcamp. Sadly, they claim this will be their last album, but they have a wonderful catalog to explore. 

Calaxico / Iron and Wine - Years to Burn: This is the second collaboration between the two indie bands, the first being an EP released 14 years ago. Both artists have grown in that time, but they've grown in parallel ways that makes the pairing still relevant. They have both moved toward a more layered sound in the decade and a half since they last got together, and while this is still pure indie folk, it has a rich sound. Another fine collection of songs with "Midnight Sun" and "The Bitter Suite" are standouts. 

Simon Joyner - Pocket Moon: For more than 25 years, Simon has been releasing wonderful lo-fi indie folk albums. He was one of the early figures on the Omaha scene that launched Bright Eyes among others and I've been a fan of his music for nearly 20 years. His newest album is another in a long string of poetic Americana folk, but this one reminds me a little of Leonard Cohen. It's deep and moving and bleak and wonderful. "Tongue of a Child," "The Last Time I Saw You, Billy," "Yellow Jacket Blues," and the title track are standouts on this solid record.

Oreyeon - Ode to Oblivion: The second album from the heavy psych outfit out of Italy was released back in April. (Their first album was released three years ago under the name Orion). The riffs tend to veer toward the sludge sound, while the vocals are pure heavy psych, and the combination is quite nice. There's nothing earth shattering here, it's just solid heavy rock. "The Ones," and "Starship Pusher" are my personal favorites, a great double punch to end the album.