HOME OF THE MUSIC ECOSYSTEM
When I think about David Stith the word “prodigy” comes to mind. DM’s father, mother, and grandfather were all talented musicians in their own right. This beautifully layered track starts off on a rather sad note, only to find redemption as the song builds and builds.
“Just Once“ (play/download mp3)
Good God. In his harrowing tale, alone in bad neighborhoods with termites in the floorboards, Ezra Furman’s shredded pleas for the Lord’s mercy remain unheeded. The Harpoons’ dirty bashing goes unanswered. What, is it The Big Kahuna’s day off? Out of town for the National Association of Dieties convention in Scottsdale? Or is it just that this little thumper is too much for even the Big G to handle? A voice, howling naked in the darkness. Good stuff.
Ezra Furman & The Harpoons
“Hard Time in a Terrible Land” (download mp3)
from “Mysterious Power”
“Hard Time In A Terrible Land” (play)
(Red Parlor Records)
I WANT MORE!
It took me a few tries before I could trust this song enough to get past the first minute. As soon as someone starts “la-la-la”-ing I get suspicious. I’m really glad I tried again, because this is a real gem. Threads of George Martin-y Beatle-isms and soft-rock 70′s silliness weave a tapestry that is so damn pretty I must wrap myself in it. Brandon Schott made this record via the Internets with friends in various locations far and wide, recording drums here, another bit there. It’s a 21st century recording in that regard, while the musical style is mid-late 20th century (OMGawd I can say that now!), so much that you can almost hear the warm crackling and popping of a needle on vinyl. As for the lyric, and the sincerity of the vocal, those parts are timeless.
Brandon Schott
“Satellite” (download mp3)
from “13 Satellites”
“Satellite” (play)
(Golden State Music)
More Satellites Please!
If there were a reverb effect preset called “blissfully gloomy English fog,” it would be this. Here is some dreampoppin’ sadvergnügen from the sub-strata of life viewed with sunglasses in winter. That made sense to me. Which is worrisome. But don’t worry about your Superfan, I just need to Get A Grip.
Spectrals
“Get A Grip” (download mp3)
from “Bad Penny”
“Get A Grip” (play)
(Slumberland Records)
More
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UK folk rockers Merry Hell use 80′s big rock post punk gloriousness as a parchment on which to scrawl their indictment of humanity. It couldn’t be more serious, and I’d dismiss it with an “oh, please!” if it weren’t so fully realized. “The War Between Ourselves” is a perfectly naive, hopeful, desperate plea for us all to do things better. We need to hear things like that some time. After what I saw here in Oakland last night, I’m all ears!
Merry Hell
“The War Between Ourselves” (download mp3)
from “Blink…and you miss it”
“The War Between Ourselves” (play)
(Mrs Casey Records)
More more more!