New Stuff: The James Low Western Front "Whiskey Farmer"

James Low grew up in the remote small town of John Day, Oregon, but for many years has lived in Portland where he is one of the stalwarts on the thriving local singer-songwriter circuit. His brand new 8 song CD presents some of the best work of his career.

Whiskey Farmer follows the sad trajectory of a character who, as Low explains on his web page: "Has always done things kind of right- did OK in school, went to a generic college, racked up a shitload of debt, and got a job to pay off the debt. He drinks to forget. He alienates the ones who love him best, and just cannot believe that this is all there is to life."

Low intends to make a film for all 8 songs on the CD, and here's the first, "Thinking California":

Much of Low's previous work is in a roots rock vein, while this is more of a singer-songwriter effort with a whole lot of old school country flavor. Low's highly capable band of 3 years, The Western Front serve the songs well. What I like best about this CD, on top of the outstanding songwriting, is the singing. Low is an experienced vocalist who has gotten far more intentional in his craft over the years. A young guy will throw down some drinks backstage and then just get up there and let it go. But Low is one of those singers who, like Elvis Costello and Joe Henry, as his career progresses, takes every note and tone seriously and brings some real craft to his vocals in tremendous service to the lyrics and emotional weight of the song.

And while the songs on Whiskey Farmer are sad and heavy, the melodies and warm musicianship make Whiskey Farmer a highly listenable and enjoyable CD. Producer Mike Coykendall (M Ward, Richmond Fontaine, Blitzen Trapper) gets a terrific sound here.

I find myself drawn to this "whiskey farmer" character, concerned about what will happen to him, intently turning the next page as it were to follow his story.

These songs will stick with you.

Listen here:

Artist web page: http://www.jameslowwesternfront.com/

Get to Know: Pink Films; San Francisco Water Cooler

I haven't found out much about San Francisco's Pink Films. Admittedly, I haven't gone into stalk mode, but I have some pride. Really, I do. I was able to learn that one of the members of the band is Andy Pastalaniec, who also is a member of a band called San Francisco Water Cooler. The sound is a garagey psychedelia, but has a poppy strain as well. It all sounds promising to me.



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San Francisco Water Cooler blasts us with chainsaw noise pop with hints of psychedelia. The band rose from the ashes of Santa Cruz's Residual Echoes, and has released three albums of varying length on Sun Sneeze Records. If you like their music, check out the Sun Sneeze Records link below. If you want to check out a few more songs, hit the Soundcloud link.

"Kool Shoes"
San Francisco Water Cooler- Kool Shoes by SunSneezeRecords

"Summer Sun"
San Francisco Water Cooler - Summer Sun by SunSneezeRecords

"Vacancy Sender"
San Francisco Water Cooler - Vacancy Sender by SunSneezeRecords

Sun Sneeze Records
Soundcloud

Get to Know: Neverever

Mash together power pop, indie pop and the Shangri Las, and you may get LA band Neverever. Jihae Meek, Wallace Meek, Shaun Puklavetz, Eric Fisher, and Sharif Dumani will have you moving your feet and wanting more. It is a bold and sunny California sound with lots of hooks and lyrics about teenagers growing up. The group is signed to Slumberland Records. (Note: Neverever should be distinguished from Australia's The Never Ever.)

In 2010 they released an LP named Angelic Swells. On January 17, the band is releasing a five-track EP called Shake-A-Baby. And if album track "Wedding Day" is any indication, it is a release to anticipate.
Neverever - Wedding Day by Slumberland Records

Neverever " Coconut Shampoo" from Slumberland Records on Vimeo.

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New EP from Fiction Faction

We profiled Glasgow band Fiction Faction earlier in the year. We liked their chiming guitars, and their fresh fusion of indie rock and electronic sounds. Some have likened their sound to a somewhat more pop version of The Cure. The gang is back in view with the October release of the Malenky Lizards EP on Glasgow's Saraseto Records. The stable four members of the group (they seem to be looking to add a keyboard player from time to time) are David (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals), Paul (Lead guitar, Vocals), John Paul (Bass, Backing Vocals), and Ellis (Drums, Backing Vocals).

The title track is the worthy centerpiece of the EP. Its fusion of pop and indie rock with a hint of blue-eyed soul evokes for me some of the finest moments of Joe Jackson. I've been playing it a couple of times a day for weeks.

The second track, "A Lot Can Happen On A Summers Day" has the tone and shading of a Cure song, but with a tempo built for the dance floor. The third track is a Miamoux Miamoux remix of a previously released track, "Apparations". I think it is well done, although I don't consider myself a connoisseur of remixes. The fourth and final track is "Harmonizing the Grateful", which favorably reminds this listener of David Bowie singing vocals for the Soft Boys.


You can stream the entire album here:


Malenky Lizards EP is worth your attention not only because it contains four good songs, but because it promises an exciting things for the future. The band is polished, the vocals are excellent, and the scope of the songs suggest a group willing to reach a bit to create music that means something to them.

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Get to Know: Dunes

Dunes are fond of dark pop songs, and are creating a full LP of them for our listening pleasure, to be released in 2012 on PPM. The members of this Los Angeles-based band are listed as Stephanie (aka Stoof), Mark, and Katelyn (aka Beato). They have released an EP on Mexican Summer and a 7" on Art Fag Recordings.

"Tied Together", a video made with help from the bands No Age, Vivian Girls, Abe Vigoda, High Places, Telepathe, Cold Showers, Nodzzz, Bleached, Pangea, Shannon and the Clams, and Devon Williams Band--

Dunes - "Tied Together" from stereogum on Vimeo.

"Handle", from their 2010 self-titled EP --


"Dream House" from the 2011 7" --
Dream House by dunesband

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New Discovery: Eww Yaboo - Yeah, What?

Get past the band name, and the title... get into this music, because it's a pretty arresting combination of punk and glam with some real sheen on some of the guitar sounds. First couple songs, "Make It Fast" and "I'm Not Afraid" are pretty aggressive and I will say that the guitar sounds remind me of Nirvana. The third cut "Don't Change Yr Mind" builds a little more slowly, and "So Many of the Kids" is, quite frankly, a masterpiece, showing that, while they're good at the sub-3:00 punk raver, they have the ability to sustain the energy over 4:15 if they want to.

Here's a video of that song in live performance - not the highest quality video, but I like the energy and you can hear a good recording of the song at the bandcamp link below.



If these guys have some more of this in them, I hope they'll put out a whole album soon.

New Videos: Wake the President; Tennis: Withered Hand

Wake the President offers this new video for "In Youth There Is Pleasure", one of the fine songs on their October 31 release, Zumutung!. The song will be available as a single the first week of January 2012.

Of course, if you'd read my review, you know that I think you all should have the album already.


Tennis has published a video for Deep in the Woods, which is the B-side to their new single Origins.


This is the video for "Real Snow", the new holiday song by Withered Hand, who is the Edinburgh-based Dan Willson.

The tune is released by Fence Records, which is a music collective in Scotland. They are offering a deal on their website by which a subscription for limited editions 7" releases by Fence artists with earn a Christmas card with a CD of "Real Snow". Check out the Fence Records link below to see if you like the artists in the collective.

Withered Hand
Fence Records

The Soul Corner - Fontella Bass - "Rescue Me"

Fontella Bass, from St. Louis, had a few R&B hits, but certainly none as memorable as her 1965 smash "Rescue Me".

Here's the recorded version featuring session drummer Maurice White (who later went on to form Earth, Wind and Fire) and a then unknown young singer, Minnie Ripperton, on backing vocals:

We like this song so much we'll also give you a live TV version where Ms. Bass looks a bit nervous yet fabulously stylish - especially that fine hat that you Soul Corner ladies out there should emulate and start wearing today.

REVIEW: The Bats - Free All the Monsters

Bear with me here. In MASH, Robert Altman's wonderful 1970 anti-Vietnam War movie told as a Korean War movie, our protagonists are ordered to fly from the front to Japan to perform an operation on the son of a congressman. In memorable cinematic fashion, Hawkeye and Trapper John roll into town in golf clothes, carrying clubs and announce that they are the 'pros from Dover'. In a few scenes, they turn the the established order upside down, save lives (including a son of a Japanese prostitute whom they treat in the US military hospital), defeat "the Man", and drop memorable one-liners. And we cheer them on the entire way, because they are highly skilled, smart, and honest at their core. So, here we are at the end of a year of good music and our hero, Rocksteady74, is ordering the albums for his year end list. Unexpectedly, the musical equivalent of the 'pros from Dover' roll into town in the form of The Bats' Free All the Monsters. And because the album is highly skilled, smart, and honest at its core, Rocksteady74 reorders his list.

It is only fair at this point to admit that I do have a soft spot for The Bats. Whenever I've played the musical geek "desert island albums" game, the New Zealand foursome's debut full-length album, Daddy's Highway, is on my list. But such high esteem carries a danger as well, because it isn't easy for a band to live up to a masterpiece created a quarter of a century closer to the apex of youthful confidence and creative energy. Fortunately, The Bats seem unburdened by the expectations of fans and the weight of their own history, and continue to earn their high esteem by turning out the highest quality music. Consider what is perhaps my favorite track from this album, the driving "In the Subway" --


The sound of The Bats is distinctive and engaging, if not overly complicated. The guitars provide a delightful jangle over warm lower-register chords, and the rhythm section is first class. The band is so tight that it all sounds effortless. The melodies are memorable. The tone of the songs are immediate and, while not usually dark, they can be plaintive, winsome or hinting at discontent. But the group does well with optimistic sentiments as well. The title track pointedly addresses letting go of fears: "Free All the Monsters" --


As a bit of background for those who aren't familiar with The Bats, the group was formed in 1982 in Christchurch, NZ. The members then, as now, are: Former bassist for the Clean, Robert Scott, who is a guitarist, vocalist and primary songwriter; Former Toy Love bassist Paul Kean; Singer, guitarist and sometimes songwriter Kaye Woodward; and Drummer Malcolm Grant. In 29 years, the group has released eight albums, but the members also have taken time to pursue other projects (e.g. reunions of the Clean, Minisap (who released a very good album a couple of years ago), solo work). Their original label was New Zealand's Flying Nun Records, and after releasing albums on a few other labels, The Bats and Flying Nun Records are reunited.

For me, the remarkable thing about The Bats is that at a time when other groups of their vintage are selling compilations and staring at the walls for inspiration, The Bats are on a six-year creative spurt that has produced 2005's At the National Grid, 2009's The Guilty Office, the new Free All the Monsters. I think that this album is the best of the three. And thus, the question arises, is it as good as Daddy's Highway? The answer is, perhaps not, but I'm not sure. I haven't had enough time with this album to be certain, and that uncertainty alone is a major endorsement in my mind. The first nine songs of the album comprise a definitive musical essay in indie pop, and "In the Subway", "Free All the Monsters", "Spacejunk" and "Long Halls" are good enough to improve any album in any band's discography. This is an album I can confidently recommend not just because it is a great album now, but because it is an album you will enjoy in a decade--probably along with the just-then released 11th album from The Bats.

"Spacejunk"


"Long Halls"


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Flying Nun Records

RIP - Hubert Sumlin, guitar great

We must recognize the death earlier this week of the great blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin. Best known for his groundbreaking work as lead guitar player in Howlin' Wolf's band, Sumlin had a huge influence on nearly every great guitar player of the generation that followed him - Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Steve Kropper, Robbie Robertson, Jimmy Page, etc.

Sumlin was truly one of the principal architects of the guitar sound of not only modern electric Chicago blues, but R&B, funk and the best soul music.

Here's Hubert Sumlin playing on the 1956 Howlin' Wolf classic "Smokestack Lightnin":

Sumlin also did significant work with Willie Dixon including the lead guitar work on the classic "Spoonful":

Sumlin may be the greatest guitar player you'd never heard of until he died this week at the age of 80.

REVIEW: Dot Dash - Spark>Flame>Ember>Ash

Washington, DC's Dot Dash was only formed in 2010, but it has excellent bloodlines, as discussed below. More importantly, the foursome of Terry Banks, Hunter Bennett, Jim Crandall and Danny Ingram has a great sound--evoking Creation Records/Postcard Records/C86 jangle as well as the southern alternative guitar rock of the dB's and early REM. Evoking, but not imitating, as Dot Dash puts their own robust delivery on the post-punk genre, making songs that are fresh and immediate, grabbing the listener from the opening chords. And the proof is in Spark>Flame>Ember>Ash, their fine debut album which was released in November on Ottawa, Canada's The Beautiful Music label.

If you require a modern touchstone for Dot Dash it probably would be Army Navy. But rather than blather on trying to describe their sound, I'll let your listen to one of the album tracks here: "Tragedy Destiny" --
Tragedy Destiny - Dot Dash by thebeautifulmusic

Here is a live version of that song:


Terry Banks (guitar and vocals) and Hunter Bennett (bass) were in the beloved guitar pop group Julie Ocean (taking its name from and Undertones song). Terry also was in Tree Fort Angst and Saturday People, while Hunter also was with Weatherhead. Bill Crandall (guitar) was formerly in Modest Proposal (among others), and Danny Ingram (drums) formerly was in Swervedriver, Strange Boutique, Youth Brigade (among others). Given that background, it is no surprise that Dot Dash understands what they do well, and knows how to deliver it. There aren't any slow ballads or long jams. But while the band eschews diversity, they fully deliver on energy and swagger, with a live feel that suggests a real time, one or two take recording process. The album delivers fourteen songs in a bit over a half hour, and I think the songs are just the right length for this brand of guitar pop. My favorites are "That was Now, This is Then", "There and Back Again Lane", "No Reverie", "Alright, Alright" and the shadowy chugger "Dissolve". But the album is full of delightful songs and has no tracks that I would consider filler. Planning for skiing this weekend, I loaded the entire album into my skiing playlist on my iPod.

And here is the aforementioned "There and Back Again Lane" --
There And Back Again Lane - Dot Dash by thebeautifulmusic

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REVIEW: Weekend - Red EP

Been on a bit of a noise pop binge lately, and along with the Chambermaids, part of the blame goes to Weekend, whose song "Hazel" (download available below) really caught my ear recently:



Giving the whole thing a listen, it's clear that "Hazel" is the most accessible song - opening track "Sweet Sixteen" is a bit more brooding, menacing and very slow building, with a lot of echos and guitar effects... a bit of a trip back to Bauhaus, maybe. But things pick up with "Hazel", and the rhythm section on "The One You Want" is downright peppy. The six-plus minute closer "Golfers" is hypnotic yet rocking, reminiscent of what I've always liked about Swervedriver.

For a brief, five-song EP there is a decent amount of sonic variety... but for the most part, it revolves around super-catchy fuzzy guitars. Weekend are well worth checking out, and I'm looking forward to a full-length sometime soon.

They're on Slumberland Records, a label you'll be familiar with via Rocksteady's earlier explorations of Terry Malts and Veronica Falls.

Weekend at Slumberland Records

Get to Know: Catwalk

Catwalk is a project started by Nick Hessler in Oxnard, California in 2005, when he was in junior high school. His demos led to the release of two singles on local label YAY! Records. The band has endured some line up changes, but not consists of Nick Hessler and Arin Fazio, and they are signed to Captured Tracks. The band is working on a debut LP, which they hope to release in Spring 2012.

The music is a brand of indie pop that manages to be very engaging, while maintaining a bit of mystery. Based on what I've heard, I think these guys are very good at what they do, and I'm very interested in hearing the album. Try a few tracks below--

"Please Don't Break Me"


"One By Words"


"Home"


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New Single from The Chambermaids - "Whirlpool"

Happy to hear from this Minneapolis noise pop foursome, with news of a new single on Guilt Ridden Pop, recorded at The Old Blackberry Way:



They continue to mine that terrific sound commonly described as "shoegaze", and bring back fond memories of Wire and Jesus & Mary Chain (to me, at least). Here's hoping they are making some progress toward a full album.

The Chambermaids Website

Midnight World Pop Scout-33: The Mokkers; Tom Fool

The Mokkers are an all female garage band from Berlin. They have a five-track EP, The Mokkers out on Holy's Hit Records. Catch the infectious sound on this instrumental--


Actually, all the clips I have are of live performances. But I think that's a good thing when were talking about garage bands.


Here's one in English--


"Dead Pigeons", live--


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Tom Fool is the solo project of Rick Webster, the vocalist for the recently disbanded Unkle Bob. The songs were written by Webster and Andy Gill of Gang of Four.
The Photograph EP


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REVIEW: Gauntlet Hair – Gauntlet Hair

I know a thing or two about bad band names. In college I played in a band called In My Shrubbery. In high school I played in a ‘metal’ band with such an unintentionally bad name that, even though I had nothing to do with thinking it up, I’m still too embarrassed to divulge it here. Sometimes a band name becomes bad passively, simply through the incessant unfolding of human events. It was thus that my current band’s name, Jerry Sandusky’s Army, suddenly went from totally great to decidedly not great. We are trying to rename the band right now, and I have thrown out the idea of calling it Grim Carnes, as a nod to our death metal cover of “Bette Davis Eyes”, which is a crowd fave. You have to admit that’s a pretty great band name. Yeah, I think so too.

And then there are bands with names that are so randomly, yet cleverly, bad that they are actually awesome. At the top of this list is Gauntlet Hair, from Denver by way of Chicago. In October, this band with the awesomely bad name released an awesomely good self-titled debut. The band records as a twosome – Andy R. on vocals, guitars, bass and keyboards, and Craig Nice on drums and drum effects – and tours as a foursome. Forced to hybridize, I’d call them a cross of Wu Lyf and Abe Vigoda (both cool band names). That comparison might stem mainly from all three bands’ heavy use of delay pedals, creating that beautiful spacey, chiming guitar sound. Check it out on the brand new video for the second track, “Top Bunk”, featuring ze govanatah:

Gauntlet Hair - Top Bunk. from Neighborhood Watch on Vimeo.

The CD’s liner notes say the album was recorded in Andy’s grandmother’s basement. The acoustics of the production suggest Andy’s grandma lives above an airplane hangar. I mean that in the best way possible. Anyway, there’s really not anything close to a throwaway track on this album. Here’s the official video of the album opener, “Keep Time.” The last break in the song (at around the 3.00 mark of this video – where it looks like the bearded mime or goth hippie is about to get killed) is pretty close to musical brilliance.

As if they needed more of a seal of approval than plaudits from this blog, it’s worth noting that they’re signed to Dead Oceans, which is without question one of the best indie labels out there (Destroyer, Citay, Tallest Man on Earth, many more). And it’s worth noting that Dead Oceans is based in Bloomington, Indiana, the same town that gave us one of the best band names ever, John Wilkes Booze. Is this mere coincidence? If you said yes, consider that the mayor of Bloomington’s last name is “Kruzan”, which has exactly the same number of letters as the name “Oswald”. And Arnold Schwartzenegger, star of the video "Top Bunk", was married to a Kennedy. If that makes you nervous, and it should, you can just chill out and listen to this:

Gauntlet Hair's Dead Oceans page

Gauntlet Hair's very own band site which is not all that current (the sign of an in-demand touring band).

Gauntlet Hair on Facebook

Check out all the great bands at Dead Oceans

Get to Know: Radar Eyes

Many years ago I lived in Chicago, but I've spend much of the intervening years ignoring its music scene. I'm being roused from my neglect of late, because it seems that the city of big shoulders has a good indie label or two, and a number of interesting bands. One of those bands is psychedelic/garage outfit Radar Eyes. Radar Eyes consists of Anthony on guitar and vocals, Shelly on drums, Lucas on bass, Nathan on guitar and Russ on guitar and organ. They are releasing an LP on Chicago's HoZac Records early in 2012, but you can get a taste of their sound on this previously released single below. I think you'll understand why I'm expecting the LP to be a Rocksteady74 favorite next year.




Radar Eyes also released a two track 7", Miracle on HoZac Records last month. A site at which you can stream both tracks is here. You won't regret listening.

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New Video from Wax Idols

As regular readers of this blog know, No Future from Wax Idols was one of my favorite albums this year. I you want to catch up on the review, it is here. But the reason for posting is to share this new video for album track "Gold Sneakers"--

WAX IDOLS - GOLD SNEAKERS from Hayden Shiebler on Vimeo.

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The Soul Corner - Ike and Tina Turner, "A Fool in Love" -

One of my all-time favorites, from 1960, "A Fool In Love", Tina Turner's very first record:

Here's a live performance from the Shindig! TV show in 1964, with Tina and the Ikettes dressed uncharacteristically conservatively, no doubt to please the uptight TV network dons:

New Country Rock Discovery: Lydia Loveless - Indestructible Machine

The emphasis is on the "country" and the "indestructible", I think. She's got a huge voice and a ton of talent, and fits squarely in the tradition of great female country rock vocalists like Neko Case and Maria McKee... I don't normally spend a lot of time with lyrics, but holy hell, check this out:

cos my daddy was a preacher but he was a junkie, too /
i grew up on whiskey and God so i’m a little bit confused /
i didn’t know it was so easy to let this world get its hooks into you

And here's an acoustic in-store of her performing "More Like Them", the song that caught my ear on a KEXP Song of the Day podcast:



Folks, she's 21. And the best part, she's hooked up with the great alt country label Bloodshot Records. You can download an MP3 for "Can't Change Me" and check it out for yourself.

Lydia Loveless at Bloodshot Records