posted by Susanna on February 23, 2012
If you’re looking for a unique mixture of rocking garage band and folk-like swing, here it is: the Heartless Bastards have released their fourth album, entitled Arrow. Based in Austin, Texas, the band embodies a sound that is as “weird” as the city itself. This record is all about trying to get home, to the security and the shelter, but the album is anything but safe, testing the limits of the genre the band has been labeled with. The first track, “Marathon,” eases you into the record with dark bluesy vocals and echoing guitar that set you to swaying. “Parted Ways” picks up the tempo a bit, and starts the shift towards the garage sound found on previous albums. “Skin and Bone,” my favorite song on this record, and quickly becoming my go-to driving song, has a smoother feel and swinging melodies, declaring “I want it to be like when I was young.” The album is rounded out with the pleading ballad, “Low Low Low,” which showcases lead vocalist Erika Wennerstrom’s deep blues voice. With so much variety on one album, it seems like it would come across as a weird, jumbled mess. But for the Heartless Bastards, “weird” is a lifestyle, and it definitely works.
Myspace || Official site
Heartless Bastards – Marathon (Downloaded 98 times)
Heartless Bastards – Parted Ways (Downloaded 72 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Bluesy • Dark • Downbeat • Female vocal
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posted by Patrick on February 19, 2012
Washington, D.C. was once a hotbed of indie music. Fugazi, Dismemberment Plan, Shudder To Think, and Jawbox are from the District. Henry Rollins and Dave Grohl grew up here, and Dischord Records is still chugging away. But as yuppification marched through D.C. like Sherman through Atlanta, the city started to price itself out of the indie scene. New bands sought cheaper rents and beer in Baltimore, while the old standard bearers got … old. So although I live here and love it, it’s been slim pickings for District-based music blogs.
Here’s hoping Pree is the start of something new. Formed by May Tabol, previously of D.C.’s Le Loup, Pree defies obvious labels. The band’s most recent E.P., “Folly,” includes lyrical, catchy folk like ‘Lemon Tree,’ and the more dischordant and psychedelic ‘Songs of Promise.’ A third track, ‘Fresh Paint’ is slowed-down bluegrass with a ghostly, warbling chorus in the background. Most of the band’s music combines high-register vocals with darker lyrics and weird sound effects. It’s an odd mix, but it works. Listen closely to the lyrics of ‘Lemon Tree’ and you’ll see how a band can subvert expectations, layering dark-dream ideas over sing-song sounds. Pree’s music is addictive and strangely fascinating, not unlike their hometown. As I said, here’s hoping for more of the same.
Band Camp || Official site
Pree – Lemon Tree (Downloaded 109 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Americana • Beautiful Lyrics • Catchy • Clever Lyrics • Female vocal • Folk • Psychedelic • Twee
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posted by Loren on February 17, 2012
There is beautiful solace to be found in nature, organic development and a sense of what life in its purest form is truly like. In Japanese heritage, plants and shrubbery are manipulated into ornate designs in an effort to control something man has never been able to. When I listen to Evenings and the elusive tone within each sample, the subtle diligence of each chord, I am reminded that despite nature, there is so much brilliance in the exactitude of what we can control. The sound (and yes when you listen to the lyrically absent endeavors of Evenings this is the only syllable that comes to mind) is enticing, on the tip of your tongue until he couples another keyboard or snap or snare and you are impressed all the same. Evenings art works are just that; lacking detail or background, instrumentations boldly named and that are held close to the heart. We reminisce in the artist’s voice, the music, and create dimensions of our own led along simply by a name (Chesapeake and Babe) and the intrigue of a sound.
The elements in Evenings’ repertoire design your pallet, not guide it. When I hear “Chesapeake” I envision Nathan in Charlottesville in a dorm behind a soundboard, lost in his headphones creating metaphors and myths. In college we all seem to be wondering who we are and what we’re doing, and North Dorm for me is that expression. It is putting life together, sound-by-sound, anecdote by tribulation, and coupling them into an appreciation. Evenings hires life to run its own trajectory, and make the poetry from this empiricism dance. After all, life is just one moment standing on the shoulders of the last. Just like the sound of Evenings.
I should mention that North Dorm EP is coming up on two years old and not the most recent work to date (Lately was released this past year). Although I do enjoy the rhythm and storytelling off the latest releases, “Lo-Vélo” is awesome; I just liked these tracks a little more. “Babe” was released on North Dorm and “Chesapeake” is a single release.
Myspace || Band Camp
Evenings – Chesapeake (Downloaded 91 times)
Evenings – Babe (Downloaded 96 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Chillwave • Instrumental • Synth • With Bleeps & Blips
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