After calling it a day with Guided By Voices, then releasing a ton of material, then reforming Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard still has time to keep releasing material. As meticulous as some artists are in tossing their songs out into the general public, Pollard’s workmanlike approach has meant some misses but more often than not delectable, infectious hits.
There is a collaborative, one for all spirit on Top Hat and if you like the new wave of Americana acts like Deer Tick and Dawes you will have a soft spot for Band of Heathens. Its not a perfect album, there are lulls in the generic country rock of opener “Medicine Man” and the blues bounce of “Enough” but it is abundantly clear this is a group of focused songwriters and tour hounds, a unit to be reckoned with. “Gris Gris Satchel” ends the album solemnly with each vocalist taking a turn on the slow cooking chorus. Feel this.
The electropunk gets shifted to overload with Parts & Labor’s newest release Constant Future. Out of the gate the first two tracks amp the art-rock keyboard blasts beyond the sonic limits, frying speakers with electricity overloads. “Fake Names” and “Outnumbered” are chaotic pieces that seem like a Technicolor installation, opening the ears for the catchier fare to follow.
Jason Robert Quever's friends and former teammate Beach House has made a massive splash with their version of modern dream pop and the genre continues to gain steam in the mainstream. While Fading Parade is artfully constructed its power does not last, literally wilting from a lack of punch as the album plays on as perfectly fine background music for a rainy day. This is lush vicodin pop but it’s a little gloomy, a little hollow.
With the passing of their father the Dickinson boys, Luther and Cody teamed back up with bassist Chris Chew and released this heartfelt collection of southern rock that they “Produced for Jim Dickinson”.
Greg Dulli is a very talented singer-songwriter. From his days in Afghan Whigs to his more recent collaboration with Mark Lanegan in The Gutter Twins, he has continued to make passionate, purposeful music. And Dynamite Steps, his latest offering under The Twilight Singers comes extremely close to matching the beauty of 2003’s Blackberry Belle.
This Austin four piece has released its fourth full length self titled album and it opens with rising guitar lines and vocals just as high on “Angel-ess”. The group is fronted by twin brothers Nathan Campbell on vocals/guitar and Aaron Campbell on lead guitar; think of them as a humor removed Dean and Gene Ween.
For a band that features three uniquely talented songwriters, it’s no surprise that the members would find themselves stepping out for a diversion or two in the form of a solo record. And so it is that we find Ben Ottewell following the lead of bandmate Ian Ball’s 2007 sojourn with the release of Shapes and Shadows, a charming and impressionistic assemblage of tunes t dothan’t reinvent the Gomez sound, but serve as a nice addendum to their sturdy catalog.
This is a collection that blends together so seamlessly it sounds as if the whole album was birthed in one torrential, tropical downpour. There seems to be a vague island/ocean theme to the record that ties the mood together in a strangely epic way. The songs themselves don’t sound particularly tropical or influenced by any notable oceanic culture but there is a wondrous, hazy feel that sprawls across the album.
The Philadelphia five-piece has created a hazy indie-pop gem with See Through. Pete Stewart, Justin Seitz, Chris Wirtalla. Kate Stewart and Cara Stewart have managed to sprinkle parts of major artists throughout the 11 tracks but never overpower any of them with mimicry.
