Diamond Rugs' self-titled debut, out on Partisan Records, is a 14-song gem lined with country-rock wailing, Replacements’ punk stomping, and bluesy jazz riffs reminiscent of Exile-era Stones. The sum of its’ parts, Diamond Rugs’ song-craft will also remind listeners of the various members’ main projects.
Herzog are a new band (much like Surfer Blood) that swims in the same waters of late 90’s indie guitar rock made popular by Modest Mouse and Built To Spill. The guitars are layered and textured at times reaching arena ready levels while the grooves always seem incredibly bouncy. The lyrics are secondary and at times buried to deep but focus on heartbreak or distance without ever becoming bitter.
Ultimately, New Wild Everywhere just doesn’t go many places that the band hasn’t already gone, and instead gives glimpses into the exciting styles of other bands and influences without elevating those for Great Lake Swimmers.
With the Disco Biscuits existing in something of a musical purgatory these days, playing only large scale events like Camp Bisco and Mayan Holidaze, founding members Marc Brownstein (bass) and Aron Magner (keys) are focused squarely on Conspirator, the side project they developed in 2004. Enfolding guitarist Chris Michetti into a permanent guitar slot and calling on a rotating cast of talented livetronica drummers, the band just released Unlocked: Live from the Georgia Theater on SCI Fidelity.
Even though Young Hines might easily be presumed as just a clever stage name, it is in fact this band leader’s own name, given to him on account of him being the youngest of seven children. After listening to Give Me My Change and hearing the striking range of Hines' voice, it comes as no surprise to learn that he was once John Lennon in a Beatles cover band called The Roaches.
The emotional rock and roll comes back to close things as “Be Mine” and “On Your Way” both burn in the vein of a textured, rich Southern style. Boys & Girls is a song focused effort from Alabama Shakes, showing off their talent as writers excellently; those searching for blissful blues/soul/rock in 2012 need look no further.
M. Ward is one of a few remaining artists whose music still sounds best on vinyl. The crackles and pops from a record on a turntable provide a fitting ambiance for the singer-songwriter’s timeless sound. A Wasteland Companion, Ward’s latest release, is no different.
Kurt Wagner and company have always operated on a different plane than others, making many beautiful albums worth of strange bedfellows, marrying rock, country, folk, and orchestral sounds into a conglomerate of tunes so distinct and intriguing that classification seems a pointless exercise. Mr. M is no exception as again the traits that make Lambchop one of a kind are on full display.
Simone Felice’s first true solo work upon departing from The Felice Brothers consists of ten vivid tales recounting people in places not just obscured by shadows, but also lost in them, searching search for enlightenment to erase the sense of dislocation that afflicts such characters as the principle of “Hey Bobby Ray,”
The New Brunswick, NJ punk/power trio Screaming Females have continually produced some of the most kick ass music in this country over the last few years, now they release their newest effort that keeps the bar high, Ugly. The disk has a lot in common with the band’s 2010 Castle Talk but also steers a bit darker, especially when it comes to the lyrics/vocal theatrics from front female, Marissa Paternoster.
