Liar’s Club – Come and Go (2013)
Liar’s Club was one of the rare Seattle and Tacoma bands in the late 1980s and early 1990s that focused on intricate studio production, the best example being the excellent “Drop Dead” album with the XTC like “Cinnamon Smiles” and a variety of hard rock and pastoral melodies.
Skip ahead two decades and we’ve got Come and Go. The title track feels like they never left the 80′s with big angular rhythms and staccato riffs. And a bit of Partridge-like fun is displayed on “Big Bastard” including organ and horn flourishes. Slowly the stylistic excesses give way to some great songs, “Gonna Get Yours Yet” is a perfect example of this. “Emily” is a another smart mid-tempo gem, mixing Queen and Beatles in equal measure. Fans of Jellyfish are sure to flip over this track. The baroque “As Soon As Impossible” is a light forlorn 60′s melody, then the band rocks out on “Ever The Optimist” complete with cynical lyric and kick-ass guitar solo. There are 15 tracks total, and most of them are great including a sweet cover of George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass.” The slide guitar pysche-pop harmonies of “You Suffer” and “Forgiven” round out this excellent return to greatness from The Lair’s Club. Let’s hope the next album isn’t as long a wait.
Hamell on Trial – Songs For Parents Who Enjoy Drugs (2006)
If there’s anything to say about Ed Hamell (aka Hamell on Trial), it’s that he’s certainly not shy about voicing his opinion. On his fifth solo record, Songs for Parents Who Enjoy Drugs, the anti-folk acoustic punk singer presents his most politically charged album to date. Inspired by the birth of his son, Detroit, Hamell searches to answer some of the questions that plague all parents in the 21st century (what to do when he asks if you’ve ever done “anything bad” — the response: “lie” — in “Inquiring Minds” or how to justify picking up toys when “We’re over in Iraq/And there’s no sign of turning back” in “Values”) while keeping everything very tongue-in-cheek. Hamell’s not concerned about dispelling stereotypes or about showing “compassion” (“That would take a bigger person than me,” he admits in “Coulter’s Snatch,” which is everything you’d think it would be, only probably more graphic); in fact, he doesn’t even seem to mind perpetuating them (the Southern-accented voice in “Maddy’s Pt. 1” and “Pt. 2”). He’s just angry and wants to say what he feels, and doesn’t care who he offends in the meantime. While Hamell’s nasally, sneering voice can be more than a little grating — not to mention the fact that his delivery as a “rapper” is pretty bad — his intentions are, in an odd way, very sincere. Maybe this can be seen in his less political songs, like in “Jerkin’,” an atypical ode to monogamy, or the early-U2-esque “Father’s Advice” (“You’d better love/’Til you die”), everything played over fuzzed-out acoustic and electric guitars and random synths. It’s lo-fi music that sounds like it’s played on broken strings and blown-out amps, and while perhaps Johnny Rotten would never be caught singing “The Wheels on the Bus” (albeit a more modern, and disturbing, version of it that features Detroit on background vocals), he might appreciate the D.I.Y. ethic that Hamell pursues. As an album, Songs for Parents Who Enjoy Drugs is kind of hit-or-miss, but as a statement, he’s spot-on.
Matthew Grimm – Songs in the Key of Your Face (2013)
An experimental project combining new works borne of Grimm’s razor-edged wit, dark poetry and radical populism with a ferociously rendered miniset of some of his favorite songs by the likes of Mark Knopfler, Steven Van Zandt, Billy Bragg and Woody Guthrie.
Cloud Control – Dream Cave (2013)
Australian quartet Cloud Control are no strangers to taking risky chances, having uprooted themselves from half way around the world to pursue a career in music is no decision for the cowardly. However, their second album Dream Cave feels lacking of almost any sense of ambition or adventure. Rather than further seizing opportunities, the band […]
Chris Cacavas – Love’s Been Re-Discontinued (2013)
Chris Cacavas has been kicking around the music business since the early ’80s and has served as a sideman for such artists as Green on Red, Steve Wynn, and Giant Sand.Love’s Been Re-Discontinued contains 10 previously unreleased songs from the 2009 Love’s Been Discontinued session. mp3 320 kbps | 105 MB | UL | CL
Tallahassee – Old Ways (2013)
Before he formed the roots-rock band Tallahassee, Brian Barthelmes was an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots, using his 300-pound frame to strike down players from the other team. Nowadays, he’s throwing his weight behind his band’s second album, which mixes down-tempo Americana with sweeping, guitar-based rockers. Don’t be confused by the group’s name. […]
The Handsome Family – Last Days of Wonder (2006)
“There was mystery singing from everything,” says Brett Sparks on “White Lights”. It’s a tender love song from the Handsome Family’s seventh studio album, Last Days of Wonder, that’s set, characteristically enough, within a graveyard beside a stripmall– a theme and place that should be recognizable to anyone familiar with the Handsome Family and their […]
Joe Sun – Storms Of Life (1981)
James Joseph Paulsen (born September 25, 1943, Rochester, Minnesota) is an American country music singer, songwriter of Danish descent, known rofessionally as Joe Sun. Tracks: 1.Folsom Prison Blues 2.Ella B 3.Break My Mind 4.Endless Sleep 5.Little Old Winde Drinker Me 6.What’s Left Of Me Will Never Be Right 7.Rock Salt And Nails 8.Kansas City 9.Storms […]
Old Bear Mountain – Northwest Hymnal (2013)
Northwest Hymnal, the latest album by Spokane, Washington’s Old Bear Mountain, is the gorgeous follow-up to the band’s 2011 debut On The Run. The quartet of Wade Muncey (vocals, banjo), Derek McFaul (guitar, harmonica, kick drum), Mackie Hockett (vocals, piano), and Brett Didier (bass, tambourine) return with their magnificent patchwork of banjo-driven bluegrass interwoven with […]
Scud Mountain Boys – Do You Love the Sun [Special Edition] (2013)
Do You Love the Sun, the first new collection of songs to appear from Massachusetts-based alt-country/Northern gothic folk quartet Scud Mountain Boys since 1996, pretty much picks up where things left off. Warm, weary, and congenially intimate, Joe Pernice, Stephen Desaulniers, Bruce Tull, and Tim Shea have crafted a fine new set of understated anthems […]
Brendan Monaghan – Never Too Late To Come Home (2013)
“Brendan Monaghan’s music evokes the best elements of classic folk rock, singer songwriter artistry and Irish folk sensibilities in an attractive, listenable package” John O’ Regan. (Irish journalist/radio presenter) mp3 320 kbps | 133 MB | UL | CL
Tom Rush – Merrimack County / Ladies Love Outlaws (2000)
BGO released Merrimack County/Ladies Love Outlaws, which compiled two albums — Merrimack County (1972, originally released on Columbia) and Ladies Love Outlaws (1974, also originally on Columbia) — by Tom Rush on one compact disc. mp3 320 kbps | 174 MB | UL | CL
CC Coletti – Bring It On Home (2013)
CC Coletti is back with a new album, Bring It On Home. The album was recorded by Chesky Records.Her powerful, warm voice combined with the well respected guitarist/producer Anthony Krizan brings a new and modern play on songs like, Led Zeppelin’s “Rock And Roll”, Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor” and many more. Tracks: 01 In My […]
Poor Man’s Whiskey – A Tribute To Kate Wolf: Like A River (2012)
1. Like a River 2. Here in California 3. Everybody’s Looking for the Same Thing 4. You’re Not Standing Like You Used To 5. Eyes of a Painter 6. Across the Great Divide 7. Hurry Home 8. Picture Puzzle Jason Beard-Guitar, Mandolin Josh Brough-Banjo, Keyboards Eli Jebidiah-Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Theremin George Smeltz-Drums Aspen Stevenson-Bass mp3 […]
Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis – Dos Divas (2013)
Dos Divas is the new release (July 23, 2013) from two of country music’s most talented singers, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis on Red River Entertainment label. They are currently touring as “Grits and Glamour”, an appropriate name for the spunky duet that between the two of them, have amassed a large collection of Top […]
King Creosote – That Might Well Be It, Darling (2013)
Initially released in 2010 as a series of EPs only available at King Creosote live shows, That Might Well Be It, Darling is being given a limited release for Record Store Day. As such, it’s more than welcome: it may well be Kenny Anderson’s best album. mp3 320 kbps | 119 MB | UL | […]
David Munyon and Mary’s Band – Meanwhile, Back in Japan (2010)
With his new 2010 album “Meanwhile back in Japan” David Munyon sets up his second one with “Mary’s Band” from the UK, on his own Record-Label “Mobile Home Records”.Most of the featured talented musicians can also be found on his “Some Songs for Mary” album from 2008. All in all fourteen diverse musical tracks, vary […]
Michael Martin Murphey – Red River Drifter (2013)
New release from the Country singer/songwriter.Murphey has been exploring the similarities between Bluegrass and American cowboy music. But for Red River Drifter, he brought in some very eclectic and unexpected elements to the writing process. ”I wrote songs that drew from what is inspiring me at this point in my life,” he says. ”Every style […]
Kevin Fennell – Bustin’ Out Blues (2013)
Tracklist: 01. Broke Down Train 02. Blue Cloud 03. Run Highway Run 04. Rollin’ Stone 05. Hard Luck Town 06. Texas Dance Hall Blues 07. Dust Devil 08. Takin’ Betts 09. Burger Baby 10. Home Made Whiskey 11. Storm Is Gonna Blow mp3 320 kbps | 110 MB | UL | CL
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