This month's SLUG has a few CD reviews I wrote which I'll post below.
Local Releases
Blue Sunshine Soul
In All of the World at Once
Gerontion/Beartalk
Street: 02.10
Blue Sunshine Soul = Rodriguez + The Rolling Stones
Diversity within the local scene isn’t always celebrated and is usually even harder to come across within the environs of a six-piece entity like Blue Sunshine Soul. Perhaps the fact that the majority of the members of this collective are professional musicians helps to keep egos in check and let the individual voices present come to the fore. With three, now four songwriters––and as many voices singing––what might be stale formulaic genre music evolves into an album that goes deep into your catalogue. Thanks to The Devil Whale, Calico and Band of Annuals for lending this group five members to make headway into a different style of music within the local scene. Lap steel, organ, just enough jangly guitar and the feminine influence of Jeremi Hansen’s amazing vocals (a great addition to any group) let us know that these locals can add more kick with their steel strings than just “alt-country” twang alone.
–JP
The Naked Eyes
Spell Talk EP
Self-Released
Street: 04.10
The Naked Eyes= Black Rebel Motorcycle Club + The Furs
Using their first release, Free and Easy, as a solid point to base jump off makes this local three-piece’s latest efforts a great follow-up to their previous grounded approach. As they continue to refine their signature style it seems they have no hinderance in the creative flow they’ve coddled––and are now unleashing it on The West. Further tours this summer along the coast up to Portland and down to LA mean that more will soon be hearing the word of The Eyes: free and easy. As with all their handmade merch, the EPs are being created in a unique manner, this time utilizing found-denim sleeves screen-printed by vocalist Andrew Milne (at Tony Damico’s Spilt Ink in Ogden). This mantra of respecting the old and forging with the new is not just something found in their physical wares, it is evident in their sonic efforts too, as they pay homage to their roots and infuse them with newly-applied handmade paint.
–JP
National Releases
Asa Ransom
An Asa Ransom Release
Self-released
Street: 04.10
Asa Ransom = David Bryne + Blondie + That Handsome Devil
Whistled birdcalls. It’s been too long since I heard a decent birdcall open a song, but Asa Ransom pull it off on “The Luck of Stoney Bowes” as some really low-pitched vocals underpin the pre-chorus and amp us up for the best chorus on the album: “If you are leaving, meet me on this highway/We can cut the cars off/We can do it our way/Vanish on the freeway burning with a grin/Darling, don’t you see, please just let us be” preceding some funhouse-inspired guitaritry. I do admit this quasi-full-length/EP is pretty good for some atmospheric background music—I’d say its tunes would fit a Friday night post-hipster/pre-scenester after-party at about 11 p.m. You can even pull off a hep shimmy or too; the majority of this album is high-tempo enough to bust out some Deborah Harry-inspired flourishes, ladies.
–JP
Spindrift
The West
Beat the World Records
Street: 11.02.08
Spindrift = Calexico + Darker My Love + Ennio Morricone score
The difference between great and merely good music is the ability of the medium to take you to other places. When one can come across bands like Spindrift, that conjure images in your head, it can be a bit of a modern miracle. Most music these days is happy enough to leave you with sore eardrums and a rattled noggin. But Spindrift assists the listener in transportation to an intriguing realm of melting clocks and silent, screaming figures on impressionist canvases with a twisting Spaghetti Western theme. There’s even reference to keeping a pistol close to your side on a later track. Prepare to go on a little trip, kemosabe. And listen to “La Noche Mas Oscura” for some Spanish-language education and further soundscaping of adobe structures and dirt-devil storms in the distance sprouting in your mind. (Spindrift play the The Urban Lounge 04.07.)
–JP
4.03.2009
Localized
by JP
April 2009 [View Issue]
Something is going on underground. Locals The Tiny Lights, Blue Sunshine Soul and The Naked Eyes have been recording and writing (respectively) in their basements for the last few years.
Come see what we’ve unearthed for April’s Localized at the Urban Lounge.
JARED PHELPS-BASS
ANDREW MILNE-VOCALS/GUITAR
SAMMY HARPER-DRUMS
“Our house is your house,” says The Naked Eyes bassist Phelps, and he promptly proves it by giving me a tour of their West Ogden squat. Noticing in their basement practice space a Fender Rhodes (the mythological-tined beast I’d only heard of) and a bar in the kitchen with Zig-Zags and many an MGD bottle, I realize these guys aren’t pretending. “I see some fake shit out there, and we’re not trying to be anybody or bite anything. We’re just fucking brother’s trying to do some shit,” drummer Harper says, sporting a badass few-day-old shiner. “It’s like drawing a picture,” vocalist/guitarist Milne continues. “A combination of reality and consciousness.”
Along those lines, Andrew lets out a stream-of-consciousness rant: “We’re sure as shit sick and tired of motherfuckers trying to tell us how to do shit,” referencing what would-be-managers/advisors have proffered, “And that’s the coolest thing about this band. If bullshit happens, WE get it together –– get it right again.”
Things seem to be looking up, no blinders interfering, as the band’s recent recording at The Great West Saloon with Justin Langford proves. “It’s the first half of a full album that will be out later in the summer.” Getting slightly modest, and maintaining humility in the face of the awesome EP [see Local CD reviews] they’ve created, Milne adds, in a self-deprecating tone, “It’s bullshit, it’s called Spell Talk.” Everybody laughs, including Langford and Toni Daniels, because the recording isn’t b.s. at all, quite the contrary.
The recurring theme in conversation with these gents is the enjoyment of their music and “the process,” a very organic one they’ve cultivated in house. This house does sit in an interesting part of Ogden, as the incisors of the old-swinging city creep from the failing tunnels and gnaw at the edges of their rehearsal space/domicile. Harper explains, “A car got Molotov cocktailed at three in the morning last week, and that house across the street got shot up at six in the morning.” The band has pretty unencumbered noise restrictions, leading to the ideal late night jam session with plenty of aural exploration.
The group is relocating to Salt Lake City for the ease of playing shows, though, and is excited by the prospect. “I love it up here, but I’m sick of settling for too little,” Harper says with a hunger in his gaze for more audiences to enrapture with their bluesy toe-crunching rock. “I want to inspire people,” Phelps adds. Their energy is subtly invigorating as it combines with Milne’s end point. “Since we started this my entire life has changed. I’ve met the coolest people. I’ve been hooked up with sweet books, music, friends and fun. I don’t think this band has one downside at all.” World: welcome to the house The Naked Eyes built, and be prepared to look upon them even more.
Seth Howe-Vocals/Guitar
Kris Taylor-Vocals/Guitar
Jeremi Hansen-Vocals
Jake Fish-Bass
Tyler Ford-Drums
The opening track of the new Blue Sunshine Soul album, In All of the World at Once, has strains of a street scene blending into the vocals as the track eventually slides into a comfortable ramble, a meditation on leaving and “the end.” But the end for Blue Sunshine Soul is not coming anytime soon. “It took us a while to get the band together. The actual people,” says vocalist/guitarist Dreiling. “Nobody’s going anywhere. We finally got our record out. That’s the next step where we’re at, anyway,” he concludes, referencing an upcoming tour for the local six-piece of scene mainstays and how hard it was to make such a diverse group of individuals get together in one place.
Terms such as “super group” seem to be a little trite, but what else do you call a group made up of well-known local groups Calico, Band of Annuals and The Devil Whale? Well, it’s certainly something different than what you might expect. The sound of the Blue Sunshine Soul collective taps different sides of those groups’ members and makes for a very different and unexpected sound. Although Blue Sunshine Soul has been working together for a few years, the new album is evidence that things are a little more directed now. “It only turned serious when we had to pay rent for band practice space,” vocalist and guitarist Howe says. “I feel obligated to use it. We’re spending money, so we have to show up,” he adds.
Although there may be “better” reasons to push bands forward, that one seems as good as any for all these great songwriters to get together and finish their album ––one they recorded in vocalist/guitarist Taylor’s basement. “It made it very convenient,” Howe says. The songs are all very raw sounding, and Howe says turn the volume up: “In the red and you’ll be all good.” And when it is, a very good sense of how excellent this band sounds live coalesces.
When forced to pigeonhole that sound, the guys gets a little uncomfortable. “It’s hard to say––all the songs sound different,” Taylor insists. “They’re all fairly vintage sounding,” Howe affirms and continues, “I want to span categories. With four songwriters now, it’s easy to play a whole bunch of different categories.” And the album is very good evidence of that. The sounds swell at intros with occasional organ, great, driving, fuzzed-out, bluesy guitar, lap steel, multiple male vocal styles and continue into unexpected places as the fantastic glue of Hansen’s softer female touches add much-appreciated higher notes on some tracks––the best on the album. If you’ve enjoyed her sound on Band Of Annuals’ releases, then you will welcome her presence in this group.
Fortunately, Blue Sunshine Soul will be out on the road soon and have achieved their desire to finish their record, thanks to a little outside motivation. And they have just one recommendation: “Listen to it at full blast.” Howe says with a look in his eyes that says “You’ll like it.” And we do.
Watch Blue Sunshine Soul, The Naked Eyes (and openers The Tiny Lights) emerge from their cellars at The Urban Lounge April 17 at 9 p.m. As always, it’s super cheap ($5) and very accessible.
Jon Paxton internet PostScript:
The Naked Eyes will be debuting their new EP Spell Talk at this month's localized. IF you're not there you're square.
by JP
April 2009 [View Issue]
Something is going on underground. Locals The Tiny Lights, Blue Sunshine Soul and The Naked Eyes have been recording and writing (respectively) in their basements for the last few years.
Come see what we’ve unearthed for April’s Localized at the Urban Lounge.
JARED PHELPS-BASS
ANDREW MILNE-VOCALS/GUITAR
SAMMY HARPER-DRUMS
“Our house is your house,” says The Naked Eyes bassist Phelps, and he promptly proves it by giving me a tour of their West Ogden squat. Noticing in their basement practice space a Fender Rhodes (the mythological-tined beast I’d only heard of) and a bar in the kitchen with Zig-Zags and many an MGD bottle, I realize these guys aren’t pretending. “I see some fake shit out there, and we’re not trying to be anybody or bite anything. We’re just fucking brother’s trying to do some shit,” drummer Harper says, sporting a badass few-day-old shiner. “It’s like drawing a picture,” vocalist/guitarist Milne continues. “A combination of reality and consciousness.”
Along those lines, Andrew lets out a stream-of-consciousness rant: “We’re sure as shit sick and tired of motherfuckers trying to tell us how to do shit,” referencing what would-be-managers/advisors have proffered, “And that’s the coolest thing about this band. If bullshit happens, WE get it together –– get it right again.”
Things seem to be looking up, no blinders interfering, as the band’s recent recording at The Great West Saloon with Justin Langford proves. “It’s the first half of a full album that will be out later in the summer.” Getting slightly modest, and maintaining humility in the face of the awesome EP [see Local CD reviews] they’ve created, Milne adds, in a self-deprecating tone, “It’s bullshit, it’s called Spell Talk.” Everybody laughs, including Langford and Toni Daniels, because the recording isn’t b.s. at all, quite the contrary.
The recurring theme in conversation with these gents is the enjoyment of their music and “the process,” a very organic one they’ve cultivated in house. This house does sit in an interesting part of Ogden, as the incisors of the old-swinging city creep from the failing tunnels and gnaw at the edges of their rehearsal space/domicile. Harper explains, “A car got Molotov cocktailed at three in the morning last week, and that house across the street got shot up at six in the morning.” The band has pretty unencumbered noise restrictions, leading to the ideal late night jam session with plenty of aural exploration.
The group is relocating to Salt Lake City for the ease of playing shows, though, and is excited by the prospect. “I love it up here, but I’m sick of settling for too little,” Harper says with a hunger in his gaze for more audiences to enrapture with their bluesy toe-crunching rock. “I want to inspire people,” Phelps adds. Their energy is subtly invigorating as it combines with Milne’s end point. “Since we started this my entire life has changed. I’ve met the coolest people. I’ve been hooked up with sweet books, music, friends and fun. I don’t think this band has one downside at all.” World: welcome to the house The Naked Eyes built, and be prepared to look upon them even more.
Seth Howe-Vocals/Guitar
Kris Taylor-Vocals/Guitar
Jeremi Hansen-Vocals
Jake Fish-Bass
Tyler Ford-Drums
The opening track of the new Blue Sunshine Soul album, In All of the World at Once, has strains of a street scene blending into the vocals as the track eventually slides into a comfortable ramble, a meditation on leaving and “the end.” But the end for Blue Sunshine Soul is not coming anytime soon. “It took us a while to get the band together. The actual people,” says vocalist/guitarist Dreiling. “Nobody’s going anywhere. We finally got our record out. That’s the next step where we’re at, anyway,” he concludes, referencing an upcoming tour for the local six-piece of scene mainstays and how hard it was to make such a diverse group of individuals get together in one place.
Terms such as “super group” seem to be a little trite, but what else do you call a group made up of well-known local groups Calico, Band of Annuals and The Devil Whale? Well, it’s certainly something different than what you might expect. The sound of the Blue Sunshine Soul collective taps different sides of those groups’ members and makes for a very different and unexpected sound. Although Blue Sunshine Soul has been working together for a few years, the new album is evidence that things are a little more directed now. “It only turned serious when we had to pay rent for band practice space,” vocalist and guitarist Howe says. “I feel obligated to use it. We’re spending money, so we have to show up,” he adds.
Although there may be “better” reasons to push bands forward, that one seems as good as any for all these great songwriters to get together and finish their album ––one they recorded in vocalist/guitarist Taylor’s basement. “It made it very convenient,” Howe says. The songs are all very raw sounding, and Howe says turn the volume up: “In the red and you’ll be all good.” And when it is, a very good sense of how excellent this band sounds live coalesces.
When forced to pigeonhole that sound, the guys gets a little uncomfortable. “It’s hard to say––all the songs sound different,” Taylor insists. “They’re all fairly vintage sounding,” Howe affirms and continues, “I want to span categories. With four songwriters now, it’s easy to play a whole bunch of different categories.” And the album is very good evidence of that. The sounds swell at intros with occasional organ, great, driving, fuzzed-out, bluesy guitar, lap steel, multiple male vocal styles and continue into unexpected places as the fantastic glue of Hansen’s softer female touches add much-appreciated higher notes on some tracks––the best on the album. If you’ve enjoyed her sound on Band Of Annuals’ releases, then you will welcome her presence in this group.
Fortunately, Blue Sunshine Soul will be out on the road soon and have achieved their desire to finish their record, thanks to a little outside motivation. And they have just one recommendation: “Listen to it at full blast.” Howe says with a look in his eyes that says “You’ll like it.” And we do.
Watch Blue Sunshine Soul, The Naked Eyes (and openers The Tiny Lights) emerge from their cellars at The Urban Lounge April 17 at 9 p.m. As always, it’s super cheap ($5) and very accessible.
Jon Paxton internet PostScript:
The Naked Eyes will be debuting their new EP Spell Talk at this month's localized. IF you're not there you're square.
3.30.2009
What an awesome bunch of media I’ve been rapidly consuming of late. Take my advice and gobble it up as well:
The Silversun Pickups new LP Swoon may rival its predecessor....
The Bird and the Bee’s Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future...
and the Golden Globe Award Best Foreign Language winner (2008) Waltz With Bashir is almost indescribably good, as well.
First things first:
I am an enormously obese fan of The Silversun Pickups (SSPU) and really enjoyed their set at In the Venue when they came to town last. I can see this group progressing in the same positive direction that their 90’s counterparts The Smashing Pumpkins did if they keep their momentum going correctly.
Swoon swells and swoops at all the right times with transcendent bits of orchestration (yes, slightly reminiscent of Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness––but not in a bad way).
If you liked the last SSPU album Carnavass don’t sleep on this one. Its official release date is 4.14.09.
The Bird and The Bee (TBTB) are back with their most recent LP and I am very, very excited. I dropped the ball on this one because it was released back in January! Fortunately, Craig, soon to be a new co-owner of Positively 4th Street in Salt Lake City (and I couldn’t be more proud of the guy) tipped me to it last weekend at the Zuriick sample sale; been listening to it ever since.
The singer of TBTB was doing the Lilly Allen thing before Lilly Allen even knew what she was doing. I recommend going to my myspace playlist (while the song is still there) and checking out the Peaches remix of one of TBTB’s best song “F*ckin Boyfriend” (from their 2007 S/T) for a primer on their old stuff before you dive into Ray Guns.... You won’t be sorry.
And I recently caught Waltz with Bashir at the Salt Lake Film Society’s Broadway theater. It was moving in so many ways that one must view it to really feel its power. The film, in an animated style––a bold choice for this subject matter but one that works well––covers the devastating Sabra and Shatila massacre of Palestinians in Lebanon. Don’t worry, I didn’t understand much of the event until I saw the film myself.
But as I was watching I realized, yet again, that is the point of really good cinema––to elevate the audience above their normal state of mind and take them to a place of new experience and knowledge. An approach far different from the normal fare you’ll catch at modern American cinemas. Thank the gods for quality venues like Broadway and the Tower for, literally, keeping it real when other places are too busy playing uninspired sh*t like The Fast and Furious/Cranky Transporter IV.”
See what I mean by watching the trailer below. And local residents catch it in theaters for the full cinematic experience.
The End
by Jon Paxton
The Silversun Pickups new LP Swoon may rival its predecessor....
The Bird and the Bee’s Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future...
and the Golden Globe Award Best Foreign Language winner (2008) Waltz With Bashir is almost indescribably good, as well.
First things first:
I am an enormously obese fan of The Silversun Pickups (SSPU) and really enjoyed their set at In the Venue when they came to town last. I can see this group progressing in the same positive direction that their 90’s counterparts The Smashing Pumpkins did if they keep their momentum going correctly.
Swoon swells and swoops at all the right times with transcendent bits of orchestration (yes, slightly reminiscent of Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness––but not in a bad way).If you liked the last SSPU album Carnavass don’t sleep on this one. Its official release date is 4.14.09.
The Bird and The Bee (TBTB) are back with their most recent LP and I am very, very excited. I dropped the ball on this one because it was released back in January! Fortunately, Craig, soon to be a new co-owner of Positively 4th Street in Salt Lake City (and I couldn’t be more proud of the guy) tipped me to it last weekend at the Zuriick sample sale; been listening to it ever since.
The singer of TBTB was doing the Lilly Allen thing before Lilly Allen even knew what she was doing. I recommend going to my myspace playlist (while the song is still there) and checking out the Peaches remix of one of TBTB’s best song “F*ckin Boyfriend” (from their 2007 S/T) for a primer on their old stuff before you dive into Ray Guns.... You won’t be sorry.
And I recently caught Waltz with Bashir at the Salt Lake Film Society’s Broadway theater. It was moving in so many ways that one must view it to really feel its power. The film, in an animated style––a bold choice for this subject matter but one that works well––covers the devastating Sabra and Shatila massacre of Palestinians in Lebanon. Don’t worry, I didn’t understand much of the event until I saw the film myself.
But as I was watching I realized, yet again, that is the point of really good cinema––to elevate the audience above their normal state of mind and take them to a place of new experience and knowledge. An approach far different from the normal fare you’ll catch at modern American cinemas. Thank the gods for quality venues like Broadway and the Tower for, literally, keeping it real when other places are too busy playing uninspired sh*t like The Fast and Furious/Cranky Transporter IV.”
See what I mean by watching the trailer below. And local residents catch it in theaters for the full cinematic experience.
The End
by Jon Paxton
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