Welcome back to the musical journey folks. It’s been awhile since I brought you my take on the albums and tracks that have been moving this music lover. Despite all the so-called doom and gloom of the music industry, the releases are fast and furious from the likes of new bands and some appearances from veteran rockers continuing their craft. Remember with me, I am not here to bash, while you will see a lot of similar scores on albums. 4 Stars are solid albums with that 5th or 6th star being used on really special listens.
Cults- Cults 4 out of 6
This Manhattan Indie Pop outfit like so many other newer bands is full of reverb laden synths and strong melodies as exhibited on a the opening track “Abducted”, which is by far one of my favorite infectious grooves of this year. Madelin Follin the strong lead vocalist takes cues from great girls group singers of yesteryear like Ronny Spector and other Motown legends like Miss Ross. The third track called “You Know What I Mean” is a smooth and spacey tribute to the Motown sound, as I can’t help but notice the borrowing of the tune of the Supreme’s “Where Did Our Love Go” The tune remains quite creative and solid despite the derivative cue of this number. “Walk at Night” and “Oh My God” are sweet little tunes with a kid piano punctuation that permeates the cults sound. The song “Bumper” has a nice little boy girl call and response nature to it, that feels a bit like Jesus and Mary Chain track “Sometimes Always” but again does not feel like theft here, just an influence wearing itself on the Cults Sleeves. The Cults are a very promising band and have produced an extremely enjoyable album.
WU LYF – Go Tell Fire to the Mountain 4.5 out of 6
Manchester England outfit is a heavier brand of Indie Rock, which some would call Post-Rock. To me the closest musical DNA seems to be a primal vocal nature of earlier Modest Mouse with the rich texture of the great band The Walkmen. Songs “LYF” and “Cave Song” start this album off quite well as it oozes anxiousness and urgency. Lead vocalist Ellery Roberts has a very raspy Tom Waits quality to his delivery, but has the tuneful qualities of Modest Mouse front man Isaac Brock. The rich vibrant guitar work as displayed on tracks like “Such a Sad Puppy Dog” have that Walkmen feel to them. The band has received some strong praise in Indie music press, yet have been a bit of a mystery as to who these guys are and what makes them tick. Song “Summas Bliss” is a really strongly performed track and good example of their work. The last 2 tracks are really superb ones called “Concrete Gold” and the aptly titled and Moody closer called “Heavy Pop.” This is a solid album that almost scored 5 for me and could be in many critics’ year-end top ten lists.
Royal Bangs – Flux Outside 5 out of 6
This Knoxville TN 3 piece indie rock band was discovered by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys and signed to his label for this very entertaining release. Emotionally charged vocals paired with bombastic drumming, and abundant synth use creates a quick paced and sometime chaotic delivery that feels like Black Keys on speed. Singer and Multi-instrumentalist Ryan Schaefer has a strong voice that reminds me of emotive Indie leaders such as Tim Kasher from Cursive and Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav. Second track in “Fireball” is the so-called single and a great example of their talent with a strong beat, spiraling progressively styled keyboards and strong hooks. “Back Then it Was Different” is song that would appeal to those Black Keys fans out there as long as they like them a dose of these higher register vocals a-la Modest Mouse. Great piano drive helps punctuate this fine song in the similar vein to the way the Cold War Kids can get additional percussion from the black and white keys. I think my favorite track is one called “Bad News, Strange Luck” which is a creatively delivered and structured song meandering slowly at first in an almost Syd Barrett style then at the 2:30 minute mark it kicks it with a anxious and jerky synth section for a minute and again transitions into a fantastically paced payoff that is in the more classic rock style for it’s final chorus. 3 songs in one here is a great example of what these creative fellows can do. The Cities of Tennessee in recent years have been doing a fine job producing indie bands that are oozing with wonderful influences. This example is no different. “Loosely Truthing” is a short and to the point garage rocker that feels a bit like the prolific Memphis born Jay Reatard who we tragically lost just 2 years ago. “Silver Steps” is downright classic as well as the guitar hooks are there too. This 5 star track is a soulful groove that would be appreciated by the My Morning Jacket and King of Leon fans out there. This album is getting better with repeated listens and could be on my short lists at years end.
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? 5.5 out of 6
One of the bigger selling Indie rock bands from the UK this year is this Post Punk revival outfit from outside of London. Aptly named for their sound is simply infectious for fans of The Ramones, Jesus & Mary Chain, and newer bands of this ilk like The Strokes, and Artic Monkeys. Short and to the point tracks with a reverb underbelly straight from the Jesus & MC playbook. These songs have a simplicity and drive that the Ramones executed so well. Influences from the 50’s and 60’s a washed throughout these quickly paced tracks. “Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)” starts off showing exactly what I speak of. “If You Wanna” is another hot rocker that exhibits an interestingly tuneful yet understated vocal approach by lead singer and guitarist Justin Young. Young, who has since the albums release undergone 3 surgeries on his voice, is a cross between Joey Ramone, and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis from a tonality standpoint. “Lack of Understanding” the next track slows it down a bit with influences as diverse as The Righteous Brothers and the prevalent surf guitar sound of Dick Dale. “Blow it Up” is yet another fun track that is a complete throwback to other great times in music. Some may call these sounds derivative and dated but I believe they are very respectful and creative interpretations of so many great influences. I have a hard time not checking these songs all off as five star ones. “Norgaard” and “Post Break-Up Sex” get into the juvenility that has always prevailed in great rock music. “Under Your Thumb” has my favorite vocal hooks and melodies on the album that is downright full of them. “All in White” and “Family Friend” also notch strong scores as this blast of hooks winds down to a close. The album clocking in at just 33 Minutes and change is a great listen for heading into work on a similarly times commute as it has served this music lover quite well.
Lindsey Buckingham - Seeds We Sow 4 out of 6
One of the veterans back for more I speak of sounds refreshed and still chock full of beautifully crafted tracks that exhibit his continued virtuosity on the acoustic guitar. While Fleetwood Mac has a huge a successful following, his solo work remains a bit underground at least from a buzz standpoint, but his solo work is dynamic and emotional and full of more creative and challenging melodies maybe not quite as obvious as those with Fleetwood. The album starts off with a soft and sweet title track “Seeds We Sow” which sets a reflective tempo for this 62 year old that only had his first child in 1998 and more recently added a second and third child in 2000 and 2004 respectively. “In Out Own Time” has him dialing it up a notch with the vibrant choruses he dialed up so well in Tusk era Fleetwood Mac and in his early solo work. His fretwork is still so masterful and profoundly relevant. “That The Way Love Goes” is a sweet song that’s payoff lies in the choruses and the plugged in guitar work that wraps up the song that is so reminiscent of the ‘Mac sound. “When She Comes Down” slithers along at a more subdued pace but is maybe the most gratifying vocal work of his on this solid album. It feels a bit like it would fit nicely on Go Insane for those who are fully entrenched in even his solo works. “End of Time” is another fine example of what a beautiful vocalist Lindsey continues to be as well. Simply put, LB is one of the finest rock musicians of our time and is still got more to give as delivered here.
Blitzen Trapper – American Goldwing 4 out of 6
This Portland band has become a real favorite of mine in the last 5 years as they have a brand of country alternative rock that is as tuneful as greats from the genre such as The Jayhawks, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and Ryan Adams. These guys also have some Dead to them. The album starts off really strong with some charming fuzz rockers names “Might Find it Cheap” and the American Beauty-esque “Fletcher.” A campfire and some cheap suds would perfectly accompany these sounds as they so adeptly represent their hometown of Portland. Check out the video for their track “Love the Way You Walk Away.” Sweet melodies, some banjo, piano, and harmonica deliver a really pretty track that is every bit as good as the finest in alt country. For me this is a track that could garner a 6th star, as it is so tuneful. Great road songs abound in this perfectly autumnal offering. The album is a bit top heavy with the greatest hooks in the first few songs or it might have garnered a 5th star. “Take it Easy Too Long” has a Wilco nature about it and would certainly appeal to the Dead crowd out there.
Some other really solid offerings of late include
May review some of these after more absorption
Try ‘em in your Spotify
The Rosebuds- Loud Planes Fly Low
The Feelies- Here Before
Iceage- New Brigade
Handsome Furs- Sound Kapital
The War on Drugs- Slave Ambient
Washed Out- Within and Without
Hooray For Earth- True Loves
Stephen Malkmus- Mirror Traffic
Mates of State- Mountaintops
St Vincent- Strange Mercy
Wilco- The Whole Love
The Mekons- Ancient & Modern
Crooked Fingers- Breaks in the Armor
Real Estate- Days
M83- Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Van Hunt- What Were You Hoping For
Girls- Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Ryan Adams- Ashes and Fire
Mutemath- Odd Soul
Feist- Metals
Wild Flag- Wild Flag
Deertick- Divine Providence
Justice- Audio, Video, Disco
Grouplove- Grouplove
