COTV
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9.27.2009
September Mixtape
1. Miles Benjamin Robinson - The Sound
2. Old Canes - Little Bird Courage
3. Dan Mangan - Robots
4. Basia Bulat - Gold Rush
5. Monsters Of Folk - Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)
6. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Higher Than The Stars
7. Sandbox Astronomy - Lost Languages
SIDE B
1. Kurt Vile - Hunchback
2. Castanets - Worn From The Fight
3. Sea Wolf - Wicked Blood
4.Port O'Brien - Oslo Campfire
5. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
6. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster
7. Early Day Miners - So Slowly
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Grand Archives: Keep In Mind Frankenstein (2009)
New Wax
Grand Archives, a Seattle band led by Mat Brooke, who was formerly in the lesser-known yet notable Carissa's Wierd and indie it-band Band Of Horses, is back with a new album entitled Keep In Mind Frankenstein. While the mellow, harmony-driven pop aesthetic exhibited on their self-titled debut album is extended on the new album, Brooke and company take a notable step towards Americana on Keep In Mind. The gorgeous "Oslo Novelist" opens with a reverb-heavy guitar riff that is soon joined by intoxicating pedal steel, while the acoustic-based "Left For The Strays" incorporates harmonica. Another highlight is "Dig That Crazy Grave," which melds Grand Archives' pension for Beach Boys-esque harmonies with a jangly shuffle suitable for a bevy of folk artists. While the band's pool of influences seems vast, Keep In Mind Frankenstein harnesses a variety of seemingly incompatible genres into something that sounds, for the most part, fresh and new. There are some disjointed moments, like the unnecessary instrumental shuffle of "Siren Echo Valley Part 2," but that's just nitpicking. Whether you're keen on Americana or you prefer harmony-rich indie-pop, Keep In Mind Frankenstein has plenty to offer. -- Capt. Obvious
The Twilight Sad: Forget The Night Ahead (2009)
New Wax
I caught The Twilight Sad, along with labelmates We Were Promised Jetpacks and Frightened Rabbit, last night at The Bottletree in Birmingham, Alabama and would easily place it as one of the best shows I've been to. It'd be impossible to choose a favorite performance because I've worn out albums from all three and they each offer a very different experience, but when it comes down to an unadulterated, nerve-shattering aural onslaught, The Twilight Sad's set was unparalleled in its unbridled power. The band has an innate ability to evoke a raw emotional response, and trust me, the places they take you aren't very pretty. On the band's new album Forget The Night Ahead, singer James Graham and company may turn in their most accessible collection of songs, but they still force their listeners to face the ugliness dead-on. The arrangements are more intricate and more instruments have been introduced to the mix. The song structures even take a slight turn towards more traditional, but there's still enough chaos and noise to appease fans of their 2007 debut Fourteen Autumns, Fifteen Winters. The Twilight Sad is, after all, a band that relishes the battle between melody and dissonance, and Forget The Night Ahead offers conflicting energy in spades. Forget The Night Ahead extends Graham's vague yet image-driven lyricism, but this time around he's moved past reliving childhood traumas. On "I Became A Prostitute", Graham recites over thudding drums, shoegaze-inspired guitar, and a driving bass line: "Still believing what she sells/ Only girl in the town with her fingers in eyelids." It's not always clear what the meaning is behind Graham's songs, but the lack of lyrical transparency adds even more mystery to the band's already enigmatic sound. Forget The Night Ahead is a step in a more mature direction but it's still wrought with the intensity that made The Twilight Sad so damn intriguing in the first place. -- Capt. Obvious
9.24.2009
Englishman
You Should Know
Englishman is the songwriting vehicle for Lexington, Kentucky-based Andrew English. The songs on his new EP were recorded at his apartment home in Kentucky but his live shows employ the talents of members of The Scourge Of The Sea, of which he is also a part of, and These United States. On his EP Taxidermy, English composes mellow bedroom folk-pop with wistful lyrics. The 5-songs on Taxidermy are decidedly quirky, but something about English's delivery lends an undertone of melancholy to the material. "He-Man Dolls" is a tongue-in-cheek musing on growing up. English sings: "It's time to sell your he-man dolls/ Paint over your rock n' roll walls" and "Horseshoes" is about, well, not having anyone to play horseshoes with. It's a charming little album from English, who has recently shared the stage with the likes of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Deer Tick, and Clem Snide. Definitely an artist to keep an eye on. -- Capt. Obvious
David Bazan: Curse Your Branches (2009)
New Wax
David Bazan, most commonly lauded for his work in Pedro The Lion, has always appealed to me because while he was often labeled as a Christian artist, his lyrics never shied away from posing questions of faith that plague believers and non-believers alike. I'm not sure how Bazan would label his own beliefs at this juncture, but on his new album Curse Your Branches, he's still asking the tough questions. On the astounding album opener "Hard To Be," Bazan recounts the story of Adam and Even then injects a sentiment of doubt: "Wait just a minute, you expect me to believe that all this misbehaving grew from one enchanted tree?/ Helpless to fight it, we should all be satisfied/ With this magical explanation for why the living die." Sentiments of agnosticism run rampant on Curse Your Branches. "When We Fell" sounds like an outright attack on the concept of God. Bazan sings "If my mother cries when I tll her what I have uncovered/ Then I hope she remembers she taught me to follow my heart/ And if you bully her like you've done me with fear of damnation/ Then I hope she sees you for who you are." This is some outright heady material that displays all of Bazan's fears and doubts, and Curse Your Branches should strike a chord with anyone who's wrestled with questions of existence and religion. Musically, the album is a bit more orchestrated than past material. I'd even venture to call it poppier, but the newfound airyness in sound comes without sacrificing any of the emotional heft Bazan fans have come to expect. Highly recommended listening. -- Capt. Obvious
9.11.2009
The Duke & The King: Nothing Gold Can Stay (2009)
New Wax
The Duke & The King, besides referencing "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," is a roots-folk duo consisting of Simone Felice, who used to play drums in The Felice Brothers and has also written a few novels, and Robert "Chicken" Burke, a multi-instrumentalist who has worked with, among others, George Clinton. No worries, the duo's new album Nothing Gold Can Stay doesn't sound very P-funk, not that it would be a bad thing. Taking a page out of the "how to record a folk album" handbook, the duo recorded the 10 songs on Nothing Gold Can Stay in a makeshift cabin studio near Woodstock. Whereas The Felice Brothers albums have a jangly sing-a-long feel, Simone's voice is more soothing and while the songs here aren't necessarily complex, they exhibit surprising polish. The album cover is a fitting representation of the songs contained within: a sepia-tinted American flag stretched out on a vintage television. Felice's lyrics are decidedly reminiscent, but while he touches on some heady subject matter such as substance-abuse, dysfunctional childhoods, and homeless war veterans, there's plenty of hopefulness on Nothing Gold Can Stay. Some of the album's sweetest moments are its strongest. For example, the simplistic yet gorgeous "Water Spider" is an outright highlight on an album with many to spare. Fans of no-frills, top-notch songwriting will find much to fall in love with here. -- Capt. Obvious
9.09.2009
9.08.2009
Daytrotter Mixtape II
1. A.A. Bondy - The Mightiest Of Guns
2. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Barnesyard
3. Phosphorescent - A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise
4. Joe Pug - Hymn 101
5. J. Tillman - Master's House
6. Tyler Ramsey - Long Dream
7. Bon Iver - Flume
SIDE B
1. The Avett Brothers - Laundry Room
2. Bowerbirds - Beneath Your Tree
3. Matthew Ryan - They Were Wrong
4. Adam Arcuragi - She Comes To Me
5. Frightened Rabbit - My Backwards Walk
6. Weinland - Sick As A Gun
7. Andy Hull - Badges And Badges
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Ah Holly Fam'ly
You Should Know
Originally from Idaho, Portland transplants Ah Holly Fam'ly create a rustic brand of folk laced with infectious melodies and organic instrumentation. While the Sufjan-ish pastoral folk arrangements on their new album Reservoir are surely lovely, the band's true strength is in its dueling girl/guy harmonies. It's surprising that a band that creates such lushly sparse music is actually an eight-piece, but if you listen closely you'll notice all those tiny details. The album is full of subtle layers and textures that enhance Ah Holly Fam'ly's sound without becoming distracting. Married couple Becky Dawson and Jeremy Faulkner share the vocal duties. While Dawson's vocals are just plain pretty, Faulkner's is intriguingly brittle. It waivers and cracks and provides a wonderful contrast in comparison to Dawson's sultry lull. What makes Reservoir so good is its worn-in feel. It's like your favorite blanket on an overcast day or an old thrift-store photograph you've never seen but feels so familiar. -- Capt. Obvious
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