Scott the Hoople - Anything Is Better Than You EP

When we featured an album by Scott McCaughey, aka Scott the Hoople (link) we didn't expect him to be back here this soon. But America is in crisis, and Scott has penned three timely songs for an EP titled Anything Is Better Than You. I think most of us can guess to whom the "you" in the title refers, but we aren't featuring this album just because of the target. We are featuring it because all of the proceeds will be donated to a racial justice organization Color of Change ( Color of Change). The first and second tracks are aggressive, slashing indie rock. "Things Are Going To Get Better", the third track, is our favorite -- perhaps because we are optimistic types and perhaps because it has a Mott the Hoople vibe that just sits well with us as we end a horrific week.




Bandcamp for EP
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Review: The Parson Red Heads - Orb Weaver

WYMA has been in love with the Parson Red Heads and their intelligent and tuneful West Coast pop for some time. Their brand new CD Orb Weaver (release date October 1 on Fiesta Red Records) is a step forward for the band and a good progression from their last CD Yearling, one of our favorites of 2011. Where Yearling was carefully put together over a long period of time in various studios with different producers, Orb Weaver was banged out fairly quickly with Scott McCaughey (Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, The Baseball Project) producing and getting a much grittier spontaneous sound closer to the Parsons' live shows.

The band settled on a steady 4 person lineup, eschewing the extra members they tended to earlier, and toured a great deal following Yearling, which lead to a more confident and muscular sound here, while still very much with the harmonies and winsome pop sensibilities that define the Parson Red Heads.

Here's a standout track "Every Mile":



The band shows a more experimental flair here as well, dipping into some trippy psychedelic folk on "Lost Again" and the slow building 6 minute "Beginning".

While Evan Way continues to be the principal singer and songwriter here, guitarist Sam Fowles continues to grow as a singer-songwriter, contributing two terrific Beatles-Big Star influenced tracks. Here's Fowles in the studio, with one of Orb Weaver's standout songs, "Borrow Your Car" coming in at the 1:16 mark:



 Fowle and Way's guitar interplay remains the foundation of this band's sound. Never flashy or overpowering, they use space very well and know what notes not to play. A great example of that is "Times", another slow building track. This one has grown on me tremendously:

 

 There's an intangible to this band that defines them. These are good people and their thoughtfulness seems only further enhanced by drummer Brette Marie Way giving birth to her and Evan Way's first child last year.  They not only strive to be a better band, but to be better people, and somehow that comes through the music, the live shows, how they interact with their fans and treat each other. In such a cynical, manipulative, 150 characters, superficial world, The Parson Red Heads stand for something better, something deeper. They manage to wear it on their sleeves without the slightest hint of preciousness or pretension. It's all real. And I love them for that.

 Orb Weaver will please your ears and your soul.

Parson Red Heads Facebook page

REVIEW: The Parson Red Heads "6" (EP)

We've been all in for the Parson Red Heads for quite some time, and did a feature piece on their outstanding 2011 LP Yearling.

Following a bit of a break after the birth of a baby to Brette Marie Way (far left above; drums) and Evan Way (principal songwriter, guitars, lead vocals; far right above), The Parson Red Heads are back with a new EP and a tour.

6 is a step forward for the band, though still rooted in their well crafted West coast pop sensibility.  Though 6 was recorded quickly in Portland with Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, The Minus 5, The Baseball Project) producing most of the tracks, it has a careful and at the same time looser and more rockin' feel than Yearling. The Parsons' extensive touring in 2011-12 has helped them play with a great deal more confidence.

Evan Way continues to develop as both a songwriter and lyricist. And the song contributed by guitarist Sam Fowles (3rd from left above), "Wedding in the Round" is terrific as well, beautiful melody, with some especially fine guitar lines.

This video shows the band in the studio recording "Times":





Fans of the Scottish pop we cover so extensively here should be sure to check this band out, especially "Christine" and "Crying Days Are Over" from this EP, either one of which would do both the Teenage Fanclub and the current Glasgow scene proud. These are the sort of sunny, perfect pop songs that made us fall in love with the Parson Red Heads to begin with.



"The Moon Is In Your Eyes" is a change of pace for the band, a more smoky sound, closer to VU than any of the Parsons previous work.

6 features six terrific new pop songs, plus a short instrumental interlude. It's a limited pressing so be sure to pick one up when you see it or purchase in MP3 format here.

Here is the band's note about their upcoming West coast tour dates:
Hi, y'all! We are hitting the road in June, along with our pals Desert Noises, and Vancouver's wonderful Said The Whale! See below for dates, and pick up a ticket when you can! We can't wait to see you, hang out, play whiffle ball, drink some brews, give some hugs ... oh and play some songs for you, too.

6/2 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA *#
6/4 - Doug Fir - Portland, OR *+
6/6 - Sam Bonds Garage - Eugene, OR *+
6/7 - Sophia's - Davis, CA *+
6/8 - Partisan - Merced, CA *+
6/9 - Brick & Mortar - San Francisco, CA *+^
6/11 - Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA *
6/12 - Casbah - San Diego, Ca *+
6/13 - Bootleg - LA, CA *+
6/14 - Beauty Bar - Las Vegas, NV *+
6/15 - Pub Rocks Live - Phoenix, AZ *+
6/16 - Zoey's - Ventura, CA w/ The Spires & Tall Tales
6/17 - Don Quixote's - Felton, CA
6/18 - Cafe Coda - Chico, CA

* w/ Desert Noises
+ w/ Said The Whale
# w/ The Wayfinders
^ w/ Big Tree

Facebook page - Parson Red Heads

REVIEW: Shimmering Stars - Violent Hearts

Sometimes genius is found in a number of little things done right. A case in point is Vancouver, B.C.'s Shimmering Stars and their debut release, Violent Hearts. Shimmering Stars have taken the simple, stripped down melodic approach to pop employed in the 50s and 60s, crafted songs with timeless themes (with a few twists), and performed them with full-on reverb, three part vocals and Phil Spector-style wall of sound. The result is a sound that feels both engagingly fresh and yet, familiar. There probably is no better way to dive into the album than to listen to its best track, "I'm Gonna Try", showcased in the fine video below. The song begins "Walking down the street / and I wanna kill everyone I see / how come I don't like anyone I meet?". A bit later the song gives us what to me is the best line -- "I've lost my mind / I'm losing you / It's just as well". "I'm Gonna Try" is two minutes of pop bliss:

Shimmering Stars - I'm Gonna Try from Salazar on Vimeo.

The members of Shimmering Stars, Rory McClure (guitar, vocals), Andrew Dergousoff (drums, vocals), and Brent Sasaki (bass, vocals), all grew up near Kamloops, B.C. and have played in previous bands, but they formed this band only 18 months ago. The genesis for the songs on Violent Hearts was Rory's fascination with old Everly Brothers footage. He wrote the songs using the Everly Brothers approach as a platform, giving the songs a modern indie spin and penning lyrics focusing on relationships and the failure that is endemic to them. In one interview he noted that there may be some ex-girlfriends portrayed in the songs, but they probably wouldn't be flattered. Yes, you will be reminded of the music of an earlier generation, but that generation didn't tend to feature lyrics with the same level of violence and anxiety.

My second favorite song on Violent Hearts is the bouncy "East Van Girls" (note to those unfamiliar with Vancouver, "East Van" refers to East Vancouver).
"East Van Girls"

Shimmering Stars - East Van Girls from MAGIC CHILL on Vimeo.

Violent Hearts was recorded at the Garage Mahal in Kamloops, which I understand is otherwise referred to as Rory's parent's garage. The album is released on Seattle's Hardly Art label in North America and Almost Musique in Europe. If you like the kind of music I like, you owe it to yourself to check out this album. Go ahead--you deserve it; you know you do.

"Dancing to Music I Hate"


Facebook
Bandcamp (Demos)
Hardly Art