On Horehound, The Dead Weather injected their own warped blues into 70’s style doom rock with oomph. On the groups second release Sea of Cowards all shackles seem to be have been discarded, allowing the band to experiment with different sounds, styles, and substances.
It’s ironic that both The New Pornographers and Broken Social Scene released their new albums on the same day: two Canadian collectives with both old and young members now fighting the unavoidable “super-group” tag. However Together, the fifth album from The New Pornographers, sticks to their now well versed formula: AC Newman and his compadres playing the sunny and dark along with very special guests Neko Case and Destroyer's Dan Bejar. Together melds the pop flawlessness of 2005’s Twin Cinema with the eccentric flair of 2007’s Challengers into one cool carton of high-powered indie rock (if we can still consider Matador indie).
There is nothing wrong with a little back up. And by “back up,” I mean a bass guitar and a set of drums. I have listened to Jake Nannery’s voice, accompanied by nothing but an acoustic guitar. The added sounds provided by bassist, Ramon Salumbides, and drummer, Mike West was excellent. The slap of the bass and the solid percussion was the perfect touch to Nannery’s signature bluesy, rock style. The three have been playing and creating music for three to four years, and the opportunity to tour as a group was an exciting and fulfilling experience. Between April 16 and April 20, they traveled down America’s west coast, and camped in beach towns between shows.
