Weekend Music Roundup

 

 

Welcome to the unofficial last weekend of summer! As most of us, myself included, get ready to send our children "off" to school on the computer next week, it's worth a little effort to unwind and listen to some music. So naturally, I've chosen mostly albums that anything but relaxing. There's mostly rock on here, some new releases, one new and one past Record Store Day release, and lastly, a relaxing album from 1970. Hopefully there's something of interest here for you. Enjoy.

Delta Shade - Low: The second album from Cali based hard blues rock band was released back in March. It has a 70s hard rock vibe to it. A bit psychedelic and bit stoner rock, the playing is solid even if it doesn't break any new ground. I found this album to be sort of uneven, not widely uneven, but there are certainly songs that are more intriguing than others. However, people who love this genre will certainly find this release appealing. "Fire," and "Hollow" were the real standouts for me. 

JARV IS... - Beyond the Pale: This is the debut album from Jarvis Cocker's (Pulp) new band. Jarvis has always been esoteric, and more than a bit pretentious, but that's always been part of his charm. Both qualities come through simply with the title of the band. The art pop, electro style is not far off from what Pulp was setting the groundwork for back in the day. It reminds of the kind of work Luke Haines has been doing. It also reminds me of Leonard Cohen's The Future, but infused with uppers. "Must I Evolve?," "Am I Missing Something," and "House Music All Night Long" are personal favorites on a surprisingly refreshing album. 

Tones on Tail - 'Pop': The one and only album from the short lived goth rock band from 1984. The band is Daniel Ash's post Bauhaus and pre Love and Rockets band. A re-issue for Record Store Day was not to be missed as this is an exceptional album that keeps the darkness of Bauhaus yet includes the more melodic nature of Love and Rockets. "Lions," "War," "The Never Never (Is Forever)," "Movement of Fear," and "Real Life" are personal favorites on this stellar album.

The Flaming Lips - The Mushroom Tapes: This archival compilation of demos recorded in '89 for the In a Priest Driven Ambulance was much bootlegged and finally released for Record Store Day two years ago and had been sitting in my digital bin to listen to for about that long. The Oklahoma experimental psych band has had a pretty brilliant career as a whole, but there are certainly pieces that are far too esoteric that show up. I was worried this would be one of those everybody-is-on-acid-and-isn't-oh-so-far-out kind of albums. And while there certainly is some of that going on here, for the most part it's pretty coherent lo-fi noise rock. "Take Meta Mars," "Five Stop Mother Superior Rain," "Stand in Line," "Cold Day," "God's a Wheeler Dealer," and "One Shot" are standouts.

 

Bob Brown - The Wall I Built Myself: This is the 1970 debut from the D.C. singer songwriter was produced by Richie Havens, which kind of shows the promise this artist showed. He only released two albums in his career, this and the '71 follow-up Willoughby's Lament, but his two stellar albums leave a lasting imprint. Though I prefer the follow-up, this one is also quite brilliant. Part Paul Simon, part Tim Buckley, and part Nick Drake, Brown's songwriting, arrangements, and voice are mature beyond his youthful years on this record. "Monday Virus," "First Light," "Winds of Change," and "Icarus" are all exceptional tracks on this wonderful debut.