Tim Kasher - Adult Film

Tim Kasher's thinking about growing up. Well, about the process of growing up, or having grown up. His new solo album Adult Film is a collection of songs full of reflection, angst and anger - about the uselessness of an English Lit degree, the emptiness of a loveless relationship, and rainclouds. Sometimes they're just rainclouds - not to get too deep about it. But then again, he's not afraid to get deep. "I've got a story to tell/I'm not sure what it is/I'm sure it's funny as hell..." is the way he starts out. And if I had to put a theme to it, based merely on the cover art, it might be "growing up is a dirty business."

The hook is that on much of this album, Kasher rocks out. There are acoustic moments, especially in the intros to "A Raincloud Is a Raincloud" and "Where's Your Heart Lie", but even on those songs the sound swells up to include guitar riffs and aggressive keyboards, and the music suits the mood. It's heavy.

Here's "Truly Freaking Out", probably the most aggressive cut, with some cascading synths accompanying Kasher's ruminations on mortality:



And here's "Where's Your Heart Lie" - which, while moody and reflective, in places almost grows into a '70s power ballad:



"You Scare Me to Death" is a witty take on the idea of being scared of a good thing - even the bliss of having found "the one" is ruined by the fear that it could end (well, as with life itself, it will end) and the music features a ghostly zither or theremin (or the synthesized equivalent). The rockingest track is the penultimate "A Looping Distress Signal" - it even features some guitar feedback, and is therefore my favorite on the record.

People who like the music of Ben Folds or Rhett Miller will likely enjoy this record. It's smart, well-played and challenges the listener with some incisive lyrics and unique takes on the usual folk-rock song structures.

Kasher's on tour with Laura Stevenson (who supplied some of the backing vocals here) throughout the fall:

OCT. 6 DENVER, CO LARIMER LOUNGE
OCT. 8 SALT LAKE CITY, UT URBAN LOUNGE
OCT. 9 BOISE, ID NEUROLUX
OCT. 10 PORTLAND, OR DOUG FIR LOUNGE
OCT. 11 VANCOUVER, BC ELECTRIC OWL
OCT. 12 SEATTLE, WA BARBOZA
OCT. 15 SAN FRANCISCO, CA RICKSHAW STOP
OCT. 16 SANTA CRUZ, CA CREPE SHOP
OCT. 17 SANTA ANA, CA CONSTELLATION ROOM
OCT. 18 LOS ANGELES, CA THE ECHO
OCT. 19 LAS VEGAS, NV BACKSTAGE BAR
OCT. 21 SAN DIEGO, CA THE CASBAH
OCT. 22 PHOENIX, AZ CRESCENT BALLROOM
OCT. 23 TUCSON, AZ CLUB CONGRESS
OCT. 25 DALLAS, TX THREE LINKS
OCT. 26 AUSTIN, TX RED 7
OCT. 27 HOUSTON, TX FITZGERALDS
OCT. 29 TALLAHASSEE, FL CLUB DOWNUNDER
OCT. 30 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL
OCT. 31 GAINESVILLE, FL THE FEST 12
NOV. 1 TAMPA, FL CROWBAR
NOV. 2 ATLANTA, GA THE EARL
NOV. 3 RALEIGH, NC KINGS BARCADE
NOV. 4 CHARLOTTE, NC CASBAH @ TREMONT MUSIC HALL
NOV. 5 WASHINGTON, DC ROCK & ROLL HOTEL
NOV. 6 BROOKLYN, NY THE BELL HOUSE
NOV. 7 BOSTON, MA BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL
NOV. 8 PROVIDENCE, RI THE MET
NOV. 9 PHILADELPHIA, PA JOHNNY BRENDA'S
NOV. 11 CLEVELAND, OH GROG SHOP
NOV. 12 DETROIT, MI MAGIC STICK LOUNGE
NOV. 13 CHICAGO, IL THE EMPTY BOTTLE
NOV. 14 ST. LOUIS, MO FIREBIRD
NOV. 15 IOWA CITY, IA THE MILL
NOV. 16 MINNEAPOLIS, MN TRIPLE ROCK

You can learn more, or buy, at the Saddle Creek website.

Tim Kasher website
Tim Kasher at Saddle Creek Records