REVIEW: Lowe Country - The Songs of Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe is a master artist - vocalist, musician, producer, tastemaker - one of the truly class acts in music.

But nowhere does this British gentleman shine more than as a songwriter.  Lowe consistently displays a great sense of melody, impeccable song structure, hooks galore, featuring clever wordplay to embellish a terrific story, a memorable character or a unique way of looking at a situation.

This CD Lowe Country - The Songs of Nick Lowe puts 13 songs in the hands of some of today's finest Americana singers with a focus on the more country side of Lowe's catalogue, or giving a more country arrangement to some of his better known rock songs -- "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass" (Amanda Shires), "Marie Provost" (JEFF the Brotherhood), "Heart of the City" (Chatham County Line).  



Listen to the entire CD here, and listen especially for some of my favorite moments:

Hayes Carll's "(I'm Gonna) Start Livin' Again If It Kills Me".

Griffin House's "Crackin Up".

Longtime WYMA favorites The Parson Red Heads version of "Don't Lose Your Grip on Love".

One of my very favorite singers, Canadian Ron Sexsmith's "Where's My Everything".

Caitlin Rose doing "Lately I've Let Things Slide", here.

Robert Ellis' "All Men are Liars". See Live version here:

Full list of songs and artists here: Fiesta Red Records

Purchase here: Music Millennium or at better independent record stores everywhere, especially in your town.

Lowe Country is a terrific collection of cover songs. Highly recommended.

Delightful Lo-Fi Guitar Rock Re-Discovery - Pear Traps EP

Chicago's Pear Traps are a very good lo-fi guitar rock band - we've featured them before and are delighted to do so again.

They've released a new EP, Elsewhere, with lots of jangle, reverb and plaintive vocals...

Check out the video for the lead track, "Santa Fe":



You can check it out, and buy, here:

Ridiculously, they are willing to let you have it for "name your price". If you like it, download it and pay 'em something... and stay tuned. Hopefully they'll have another full-length soon.

The Soul Corner - "Signed, Sealed and Delivered"

The re-election of President Obama was a monumental event this week.
The reasons behind the historic win be analyzed, dissected, and written about in articles, book, dissertations and treatises for many years.
But one key fact may be overlooked - President Obama's events featured much better music! In fact, his victory party on Tuesday sounded like it was sponsored by the Soul Corner,  especially when the President entered the hall to King Floyd's "Groove Me".
But the song that took center stage with the President at the height of the celebration certainly deserved the honor. Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed and Delivered" is an American classic by one of our most gifted and essential artists of all time.
Here's a terrific 1970 live version from the old Dick Cavett television show, especially fitting given that Mr. Cavett's show regularly featured the most progressive and thoughtful political discourse of its day, and in this case, some very cool clothes:

 
The song, released in 1970, was the first that Wonder self-produced and also his first ever nominated for a Grammy award. How's this for political trivia: it is also reported to be the ringtone on David Axelrod's cell phone when the President calls his senior advisor.
You got the future in your hands...

REVIEW: Jo Mango - Murmuration

Indie-folk encompasses a broad range of musical styles, from quiet and gentle to loud and energetic, sincere to sly, sad to humorous.  Murmuration, the first LP from Glasgow indie-folk artist Jo Mango in six years, arrives like a whisper on the sea breeze.  The pure tone of her vocals barely audible over the minimal arrangements, the phrasing deliberate and seemingly directed inward.  The listener has the sense that he is being permitted to overhear a musical diary.  And it is beautiful.

The first track is "The Black Sun", which also was included in the soundtrack for a feature film --



Jo wasn't idle in between albums.  She obtained her doctorate in musicology and collaborated with numerous other artists.

The first single from the album is "Cordelia", which is available at this link for "name your price".



The songwriting on Murmuration is excellent, but the things that stand out the most for this listener are the quality of Jo's vocals, and the tasteful restraint in the arrangements.  With respect to the former, the vocals are note-perfect and phrased to allow the words to sink in.  With respect to the latter, while this set of songs leave enough aural space to invite an artist and producer to experiment and gild, thankfully, they resist the urge and craft details in way that seem to be nothing less than essential.  And it may be this attribute of the album that pushes it ahead of many of the offerings available in indie-folk.

Murmeration is out now on Scotland's fine Olive Grove Records.

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REVIEW: Trainwreck Riders - Ghost Yards

Trainwreck Riders are a San Francisco band playing a fantastic blend of alternative country and alternative rock - bringing to mind influences as varied as The Meat Puppets, Drive-by Truckers and Pavement, in the process of creating something very enjoyable. Apparently all four members, rhythm guitarist/vocalist Pete Frauenfelder, drummer Steve Kerwin, lead guitarist/vocalist Andrew Kerwin, and bassist Shawn "Boof" Wyman, share backgrounds playing in various punk bands. Like some of the better alt/country acts, the punk influence is not terribly overt but definitely informs their approach, and yet does not limit their willingness to stretch out and play some guitars.

You can download the single "Gypsy Stealin'" and listen for yourself:




Somewhat typical of the album as a whole, the song changes three times - each includes some terrific rhythm and guitar work.

And here is a video for "Houses On The Hill":




This is my first exposure to this band - apparently they've been playing together for 10 years or so - and I look forward to exploring the back catalog. For now, you'd be well advised to give this thing a listen.

Here is their website, and you can buy it at the label site: 20-Sided Records:

REVIEW: Banana and Louie - Alphabet Soup

Seemingly taking inspiration from The Beach Boys and Belle and Sebastian, Matthew Stead and Sharon Leach of London indie pop band A Fine Day For Sailing (previous profile here) formed Banana and Louie to give life to their wide-ranging baroque/chamber pop conceptions.  The result is the excellent Alphabet Soup, a collection sweet, jangly, melodic pop songs with orchestral flourishes not often found in today's indie music.  It's distinct voice alone would make it welcome on today's scene, but the quality of the music speaks for itself.  Try out track "Hero of the Home Countries" --



The full line-up for the album is Matthew Stead (vocals, guitar, percussion), Sharon Leach (vocals, keys, glockenspiel, melodica), Jacob Chivers (drums), Simon Nelson (bass, guitar), Gareth Jones (bass), Kenny Lee (piano), Natalie Hudson (violin), Matthew Walker (violin), Claire Hadidjenar (violin), Jill Faure (viola), Helen Short (cello), Catherine Carr (flute), Keira Poland (flute), Nicola Burnett Smith (bass clarinet), and Alex Bilig (bassoon).

For those wondering about the somewhat unusual name of the group, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys owned dogs named Banana and Louie, and their barks appear on the Pet Sounds album.

One of my favorite songs on the album is the sweet and lovely "I Have Your Melodica (You Have My Heart)".  Hearing it reminds me that we haven't had a Camera Obscura album for a while.  And that is no put down for Banana and Louie -- if you remind me of Camera Obscura you are on the inside track to my musical heart.



The album is available on CD, digital download and pink vinyl.  The label is Vollwert-Records in Berlin, a fine label devoted to indie pop music.

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New single from September Girls

Today's news is the first official US release from Ireland's September Girls.  Out soon on Matinee Recordings, the Wanting More 7" features the title track A-side and two B-sides.  These ladies have graced our pages before, and I expect that they will continue to do so.   Their music is excellent, and the vinyl versions always sell out (their April release for Scotland's Soft Power sold out in a week), but this record is available in both vinyl (with a digital download included) and digital-only.

"Wanting More" may cause you vinyl purchasers to wear out the A-side -- girl-group vocals soaring on a retro melody, all swathed in reverb and distortion.  The Ronettes never fronted The Jesus and Mary Chain in a recording produced by Phil Spector, but this might give you an idea of what it would have sounded like if they had.



Here is B-side, "Hells Bells" presented in a fun video --


September Girls - Hells Bells from jessie ward on Vimeo.

Someone cleverer than I one described the sound of this five-piece as that of a transistor radio abandoned in a rural cinema.  After listening to several releases, I think it is a fair and evocative description.  In the second B-Side, September Girls showcase their ability to deliver the noise.  This isn't a sweet collection of female singers, this is a rock band.



We look forward to more from Sarah, Lauren, Jessie, Caoimhe, and Paula.

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New video: Our Lost Infantry -- All the Streetlights of My Hometown

Deep Elm Records is responsible for some of the most consistently excellent new music coming through our speakers these days and the Maui-based label has delivered again with the release of a new video for the song "All the Streets of My Hometown" by Aldershot, England's Our Lost Infantry. The band's name evokes thoughts of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, and a turn through the video makes the idea of these dead men being influences seem not farfetched. It was filmed in Norway's Blefell Mountains, and the austere setting and color, coupled with the recurrent image of a tin hat and gas mask, give it a WWI patina. It's a compelling video even with the mute button on.

But don't watch it that way, because there are some terrific things happening in this song you need to hear. The first two minutes build tension with chiming guitars and slow vocals, reminiscent of some of the Scottish bands on the Fat Cat label, but at about 2.30, instead of the crashing wall of sound you might expect, the band shift to a really nice prog-riff, like something Robert Fripp might have done on "Larks Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 23". Oh yeah, and then the wall of sound with the beautiful chorus, followed by a bigger wall of sound pounding out the last 30 seconds. Exhilarating.

If you'd like to hear more, you'll have to wait -- but not long. Our Lost Infantry's debut album, The New Art History, will be released by Deep Elm in the US on 14 November. Start saving now.

Our Lost Infantry band page.

Deep Elm Records.

The Soul Corner - Gladys Knight "If I Was Your Woman"

I've written here on the Soul Corner about Gladys Knight before. Her voice, real as a heart attack, is one of my favorites in the Motown pantheon.
This vocal on her 1970 hit "If I Was Your Woman" is so striking, so powerful, so utterly convincing, I mean really, what man could resist this:

And let's praise the Pips. Honored and teased a bit in the Doonesbury comic strip, their silky smooth dance moves are legendary. But did you know they were family?  The Pips were Gladys' older brother Merald "Bubba" Knight, who also served as her business manager, and their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest. Chuckle if you want, but those are some great backup vocals.

REVIEW: Epsilon One - Spirals EP

Taut, dark, sludgy, and lo-fi, with aggressive bass and a dose of distortion, the Spirals EP from Edinburgh's Epsilon One says "pay attention to me" from the opening notes of the title track.  At times it seems late-night industrial indie rock, and at times a grimy nugget of electro-rock.  This is one of those new and almost unknown artists that is worth getting to know before every social music site proclaims that Epsilon One is their new discovery.

The guitar, synths, bass, drums, programming and vocals are all the work of  Dicky Lorin.  The Spirals EP is out on Dog Got A Bone Records, and we understand that Dicky is planning a full length release in 2013.

Stream all for tracks here.  Source it at the Bandcamp or the links below for Dog Got A Bone Records.



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REVIEW: Sam Russell - The Year of the Cow

The Americana soul and doo-wop folk of Sam Russell and his collaborators, The Harborrats, have featured on this pages several times, but this appearance represents a little change of pace.  In The Year of the Cow, Sam has pared down the contributing musicians and recorded an album of folk music.  In essence, this is the first solo album in Sam's Blue Moon Bible project, in which he intends to record eight albums consisting of eight songs each with recurring characters.  The Year of The Cow is the sixth in the series, by my count (although, as a former history major, I disclaim any responsibility for counting accurately).

This approach emphasizes Sam's warm,  comfortably worn vocal delivery and the sincerity of the compositions.  And both the delivery and the quality of the songs are capable of the burden of carrying the album.  As the rainy season reaches the Pacific Northwest, and I look for musical accompaniment for my late night reflection, my choice these days is The Year of the Cow.  The overall effect is that Sam is singing his stories just for you.  And that is a very good way to spend some time.

Here are two of my favorites, "Monkey Trap" and "Mirage" --





If you would like to evaluate the entire album, you can stream it in its entirety at the Bandcamp site linked below.

The Year of the Cow was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered in Seattle.  All songs are written by Sam except for the closing track, "Whatever's Left", which was composed by Zoe Muth.  The credits are Sam Russell (vocals and guitar), Ken Nottingham (upright bass and harmonica), Michael Spaly (fiddle, mandolin, banjo and percussion), and Daniel Walker (piano on "Whatever's Left").

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Duck Migrations, Part II - The Mallard flies East

San Francisco's psych/surf rockers The Mallard are on the move again.  Apparently rested after their summer west coast and Midwest swing, they are gracing the east in November.  It appears that they'll be done in time for The Mallard to eat turkey at home.  We made our feelings about the band's debut album, Yes On Blood, know earlier this year (review).  But in case you need a refresher, here is one of my favorite tracks from that album.



The Mallard also participated in a Velvet Underground tribute album curated by their label, Castle Face Records.  The limited run vinyl album was sold out at the pre-order stage, but individual songs are available for download.  The Mallard's contribution this smashing version of VU's "There She Goes Again".  Ahem ... note the download button.

I've seen these guys live, and it is worth your effort.

1/07 DC Comet Pizza and Ping Pong
11/10 Toronto Parts and Labour

11/11 Detroit Lager House
11/12 8ball Ann Arbor
11/13 Chicago Empty Bottle
11/14 Cleveland Case University
11/15 Cleveland Now That’s Class
11/16 Pittsburgh Garfield Arts
11/17 New York Cake Shop
11/18 Brooklyn Death By Audio

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REVIEW: The Ampersands - This Is Your Adventure Too

The Ampersands are a New York-based rock band playing power pop - really good power pop, smart and catchy a la Fountains of Wayne. On This Is Your Adventure Too, you will hear echoes of all kinds of indie rock you have enjoyed, and there's plenty of creativity and smarts on this record... name me the last rock record you heard with two 5-syllable words in the lead track?

Opening track "Exoskeleton" (one of the big words - the other is "photosynthesize", because, hey, why not challenge your listeners to think if you're talented enough to write this stuff?) is a very good example of the quiet/loud indie aesthetic, and of the creativity in their approach. This is a song about a guy who's decided that the way to keep himself from getting hurt is to construct a protective outer shell (and no spine!) The first verse is intoned quietly, nearly whispered, until the guitars ramp up and it's off to the races. The second track, "Try This", is a very good song - bouncy, catchy - a real delight, with lyrics that intersperse encouragement and mythological imagery, another example of these guys' pretty unique approach. And they're happy for you to have a copy of this song for your very own - click here to download.




And you can listen, read their thoughts, stream and buy the whole thing at their website. It's as good an album website as I've seen - like I said, these guys are smart, creative and imaginative. If you like your music catchy, but with a brain, this will be something for you to enjoy.

On the website, it's set up as Side One and Two, and there does seem to be a split - Side Two's songs are mostly ballads, except for the last song. It's a short instrumental that doesn't really sound much like the rest of the record. Not surprisingly to me, these cats named it "Outlier". Like I said, smart. Lead men Aaron McQuade and Jim Pace have the voices to carry the ballads, too - and you know that isn't always the case with power pop bands.

All told, this is a very entertaining record - a welcome development and one of my favorites of the year so far.

REVIEW: Plateaus - Plateaus LP

Marrying the harder-edged punk side of power pop with the better produced end of garage pop, and garnished with a dose of punk attitude and surf-rock riffs, San Diego's Plateaus have recorded one my favorite garage pop albums of the year.  The songs are brief, hook-filled, energetic and noisy.  The drums pound, the heavy bass fuzzes and the dominating guitars bring the distortion and reverb.  Try them out with one of the album tracks that previously was released as a single.



Plateaus are Kevin Gist Chris Rosi, Jon Greene and Elliot Moeller.  They have been building buzz on the west coast via their energetic shows and some well received 7" for Art Fag Records, which also is the label for this record.  This fall they toured with Colleen Green, and the hard-working guys both played their own set and served as Colleen's back up band.


Plateaus "Do It For You" (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) from Dusty Dirtweed on Vimeo.

So, if you want to beef up your fall playlist with some muscle with hooks, this record is fully loaded with what you're looking for.



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Check out this cool video from Jamaica's Courtney John Project

When you update to the next version of ITunes and see that the genre list has been expanded to include "Rootstronic," you're going to thank us for having kept you ahead of the curve. That's what the cool kids are calling this startlingly unique blend of Kingston mashup and dubstep electronica you'll hear in the video below from the Courtney John Project. The sound may be new, but the creators are far from rookies. Courtney John, on the right in the photo, is becoming well known in his home country and the US for his Lovers Rock reggae, including 2009's critically acclaimed Made in Jamaica, released by Jamaican label FiWi Music. Steven "Lenky" Marsden (left) is is a Grammy-winning dancehall producer and multi-instrumentalist, while producer Nastasia "The Wizard" Hammond (center) recently teamed up with Nelly Furtado to do a dancehall remix of a song from the latter's brand new record. So check out this excellent song, "Soul of a Man," which will be on their debut album, The Future, to be released by FiWi at the end of January, '13.

REVIEW: Falling Trees - The Memories that Hold Us Together

I'm very fond of this kind of record.  What kind of record is that, you might ask.  It is a record that on the most immediate level dwells in the musical world of the past -- the Postcard, Sarah and Creation labels, the C86 sound, and production that is tasteful and competent by devoid of gloss.  But at a deeper level, it is a record made by musicians that are making the record that they want to make because that is the sound they want and their mates are the guys they want to play with.  Current musical tastes and charts just don't enter the picture.  So The Memories That Hold Us Together by Falling Trees is an album that takes you back to a wonderful era of guitar driven pop music.  And given that introduction, it is perfectly appropriate that the album is released on Exeter, UK's Pastime Records.



The members of the band are Andrew Padfield (lead vocals), Paul Stolworthy (rhythm guitar), Andy Botterill (lead guitar, bass, keyboards) and Chris Head (drums) and Andy Ward (additional drums).  The production duties were handled by Andy Fonda, drummer from C86 favorites, June Brides.

Track 3, "November Rain", boasts a bubbling bass line and has a relaxing vibe.


There is plenty of genuine emotions in The Memories That Hold Us Together, but it never beats you over the head, and it is all adroitly dress in hooks and professional craftsmanship.  The result is an album to savor and explore.

The closing track --


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The Soul Corner - Happy Birthday Bootsy Collins

Bootsy Collins of Cincinnati Ohio was born on this day in 1951. Funky doesn't begin to describe this unique character and monster musician.
Bootsy's bass playing is the blueprint of funk music.
Digging around on YouTube for Bootsy clips is a lot of fun and I recommend it.  Here's three I like a lot.
Bootsy out front "Stretchin' Out":

"Do That Stuff" by Parliament-Funkadelic on their legendary 1976 tour; keep your eyes peeled for Bootsy looking good on Halloween night:

And here is a young Bootsy backing up James Brown on an amazing live performance in 1971 of a great song featured earlier here at the Soul Corner:

Peter Buck Thursday

We here are big big fans of Peter Buck. And garage rock. And noisy guitars.
So we offer you this with great pleasure:

That's the great Lenny Kaye too.
From Peter's solo album, available on vinyl only, very limited edition. (yet another excuse to visit Portland where the record was released).
This isn't, um, fancy pants R.E.M. stuff.
For the live shows. he's calling this band Richard M. Nixon, which I find both hilarious and perfect for reasons I don't know how to articulate. Funny is funny.  And rock is rock.
And this is great fun.

Here is what Peter has to say about the record, James Brown and popcorn:
Peter flying solo

Single "Broken Minded" from the The Jar Family

The Jar Family are a seven-member "industrial folk" group from Hartpool.  The sound is a mix of folk, blues and roots, and has plenty of energy and passion.  They have released an EP and LP in previous years, and recently returned with the "Broken Minded"  and "Getting Better" -




Here is "Getting Better" -



The band is Max Bianco, Dali, Al Devon, Richie Docherty, Chris Hooks and Keith Wilkinson.  Their second full length album is scheduled for release in 2013.  Meanwhile, "Broken Minded" is available from iTunes.

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Baffin Island - Baffin Island EP

A few years ago the members of Boise, Idaho band The Very Most and Glasgow's The Hermit Crabs collaborated on a song for a collection.  Simply because the centerpoint of a line between Boise and Glasgow resides on Baffin Island, the group also was named Baffin Island.  Although their original bands are on-going (we covered a fine EP by the Hermit Crabs last month) they combined again in 2011 to release an EP on EardrumsPop, and have just released a four-track self titled EP on WeePOP!. It is fine, sweet music that will remind you of Camera Obscura and Belle and Sebastian.  Suggested use: Background for getting close with someone else.

Stream "We Were Meant to Meet" here.

Baffin Island is Meanie Whittle (vocals, recorder, songwriting), Jeremy Jensen (guitar, bass, keys, vocals, songwriting), Jake Hite (drums), Chris Gilles (bass), and Jo Bunyan (keys).

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