The Soulsavers – Broken – The follow up to 2007′s It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land again features Mark Lanegan on lead vocals and behind him is some dark brooding music that in some hellbent universe would serve for spiritual and gospel songs hymned in a church of fellow heathen worshipers. Pensive and moody as only Laegan could serve up and with song titles such as Death Bells and You Will Miss Me When I Burn which prove it. Will Oldham, Richard Hawley, Jason Pierce, Mike Patton and Gibby Haynes also add vocals.
A.A. Bondy – When The Devil’s Loose - If you’ve bought any dour singer-songwriter stuff with a bit of Americana in the early 2000′s that may have been reviewed in No Depression than this may be up your ally but then again you may have no need for it then. Like the Soulsavers album this has a downward ambience to it which makes the songs more interesting and the album is enjoyable to listen to.
The Twilight Sad – Forget The Night Ahead – Their self titled E.P. was a huge favorite of mine in 2006 when it first came out (and the track That Summer, At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy was a force). Like the prior reviews, this is more intensity but with a Scottish accent leading the way. These guys maximize on the impact that vocals and heavily pounded drums can have when they mingle with a cacophony of guitars rising up. This is their second full length.
Tom Russell – Blood and Candle Smoke – I remember seeing his colorful album artwork way before ever listening to his records but once I listened I was sold. Russell’s voice is distinct like Johnny Cash, though not as distinct. His music weaves folk, americana, native american sounds and some other American action and he’s got a tendency to use noticeable backing vocals behind him from the lovely Gretchen Peters. Joey Burns, David Henry and John Convertino are some of the backers here. On the first track Russell drops the names of some cool books along the way.
Castanets – Texas Rose, The Thaw & The Beats – This has to win for best album title. Vic Chesnutt type vocals with spooky folk backing. Come on, you know that’s what you’ve been missing in your record collection. No seriously, maybe this is what’s been missing in your record collection.
September 4, 2009 at 4:20 pm |
i dig this aa bondy too. i’d never even heard of him until recently. i saw tom russell a few years ago when i had to work one of his shows. pleasantly surprised at the time. good shit. keep the reviews coming sir