Yes, it’s time to drink whiskey and dance like a fool. The last time I saw Slim Cessna’s was at the Middle East Upstairs, and it was worth the trip. They have been touring quite a bit, so if you miss them this time, there is always a good chance they’ll be back. Also, if you missed my post about their new CD (released in March) check that out here (mp3s included).
They are playing with The Dirty Truckers, The Wrong Reasons, and the Tony The Booker Orchestra. The Dirty Truckers describe their influences as “Cheap Trick, Steve Earle and the Replacements.” I haven’t seen them live yet, but a statement like that has a lot of living up to do. Here’s hoping. I remember The Wrong Reasons from the last show, however, I don’t actually remember their set. Could it be that I was already too drunk? Impossible. It’s a little dirtier - roots country/hillbilly music with a pseudo-rockabilly feel similar to Slim Cessna’s Auto Club. They were a good match last time, and I’m sure it will work again. I haven’t seen Tony The Booker before, so I’m looking forward to that as well.
Yes, nearly two years after the Southern Manners EP, the Watson Twins have signed with Vanguard Records and will release their new album Fire Songs. In contrast to the Southern Manners EP, Fire Songs retains some of the whimsy and carefree sounds of Rabbit Fur Coat (with Jenny Lewis, 2006). The song lyrics (as on Rabbit Fur Coat) are not necessarily as light as the accompanying melodies, but that reads more to the success of Rabbit Fur Coat than the seriousness of Southern Manners. The Twins strike a fine balance in lyrical balance, and can turn the heaviest topic into lighter pop song - as seen in How Am I To Be and the not-quite-bluesy Bar Woman Blues.
What I’m really digging in this album is the stronger turn to the country sound (see: Sky Open Up and Old Ways). If Rabbit Fur Coat can be seen as mostly bluegrass-influenced, then Fire Songs has to be looked at as significantly country-influenced. This seems a little peculiar to me, as the sound doesn’t really reflect Los Angeles or Bakersfield country. This is definitely a more southern sound, but saturated in pop and folk goodness. Of course, the Silverlake bands are known for great pop sound, but not necessarily for anything within the aforementioned genre. There is a great balance of genres happening on Fire Songs, and with any luck it is a sound that will become more prominent.
Alternative Tentacles released the last Slim Cessna’s Auto Club CD, titled Cipher, back in March. If you want to see them, come to TT The Bear’s Place on May 31st to see Slim Cessna’s Auto Club with Dirty Truckers, The Wrong Reasons, and the Tony The Bookie Orchestra. It’s bound to be a whiskey-induced shitstorm of massive proportions.
Hailing from Denver, CO Slim Cessna’s Auto Club is one of my favorite bands over the past few years. In the vein of 16 Horsepower (also from Denver) and the Denver Gentlemen (der..), SCAC hits hard in the rockabilly/country/punk alley, with some possibly disingenuous preaching mixed in there. They’re loud, fast, and energetic, which makes them outcasts in this particular brand of music they are playing.
On the previous blog I did a fairly substantial article on “Goth Country” and the Denver music scene’s influence on the creation and spreading popularity of this genre. Bands like 16 Horsepower and the Denver Gentlemen have really popularized the movement, but if you want the good nitty-gritty from Denver, you really have to look no further than Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, and the individual members that make up “The Auto Club.”
Slim Cessna, of course is the leader of this group. His solo stuff is worth looking into, if you’re a fan of this genre. Munly is one of the guitarists/vocalists in the group, and brings a whole new meaning to “creepy.” I originally picked up Slim Cessna’s Auto Club through Munly’s solo release Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots in 2004. Also worth a look is the Denver Broncos USA. Gritty hillbilly music at it’s best.
Check it out:
Cipher (2008) Slim Cessna’s Auto Club - Americadio
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club - This Land is Our Land (Redux)
Jesus Let Me Down (2005) Slim Cessna’s Auto Club - He, Roger Williams
I feel it necessary to post my impressions of the War On Drugs Barrel of Batteries EP in anticipation for the soon-to-be released Wagonwheel Blues album. The new album will be available from Secretly Canadian on June 19. I am really looking forward to this release, and blame my obsession on the free download of the Barrel of Batteries EP. There is not a better business model in existence - once I get a taste of something I like, I am hooked. So far I haven’t seen any information about a pre-release, but I’ll keep you informed.
The Barrel of Batteries EP starts off with a quick and light ambient diddy called Set Yr Sights. It provides a quick bit of foreshadowing for the rest of the EP, but doesn’t really give out any clues to the second track, Arms Like Boulders, which initially caught me off-guard. I was expecting something a little more relaxing (ambient!), but the song reads more like a rocked-out bandstand Bob Dylan with the Byrds backing him up. The song builds on it’s own riffs in true ambient fashion, but plays down the electronic side of the band’s repertoire.
The EP continues in this feel for the remaining songs, giving a more electric feel to Pushing Corn and the more carefree Buenos Aires Beach. The little instrumental tracks are a nice interlude, and definitely makes me curious to hear what the upcoming album might sound like in its entirety.
Secretly Canadian has made one track available for download off of the upcoming album, so I am also posting it here in the hopes you will also check it out. It is definitely a little heavier in the bottom-end than the EP, with better overall sound quality. Keep your eye out for this one!
And again, you can download the Barrel of Batteries EP in its entirety here.
I began writing this review for the last site I contributed to, but then our server crashed and we lost all of our files. This had the unfortunate timing to correspond with the site administrators own hard drive crash, as well as my own laptop failure. All of these things happened within a week-and-a-half period or so. So, now I have my own website, a new server, and a place to post this review. Thank jebus.
Kid Dakota has been a favorite of mine since I picked up the So Pretty EP from mp3.com back in 2001 or so. Its darkness haunted me, and begrudgingly drug me through the depths of snow, lightless days, and emotional doldrums of the Minnesota winter. When I feel depressed I listen to So Pretty from beginning to end, and even though it puts me in a very dark place, I know that things could be much worse. It’s grungy, grinding, and powerful.
In 2005 Kid Dakota followed on So Pretty with The West Is The Future which didn’t immediately live up to my expectations. A more open sound, cleaner production, and a more positive lyrical base (only slightly) were characteristic of this album, although the drug allusions were still everywhere. Ten Thousand Lakes brought back the raw rehab-induced power of So Pretty, with my favorite Minnesota reference:
but I’m optimistic, but I’m off to Mystic
cause I’m feelin lucky
I grew to love this album, and anxiously waited for news about the next album.
As soon as I heard that A Winner’s Shadow was going to be available on pre-order, I ordered it immediately. It has been a few years in the making, and truth be told, it hasn’t quite made the best impression on me. The album still contains everything I like about Kid Dakota, with some major changes. Although not necessarily brighter or more positive, it has moved into a vein of emo-saturated rock so typical of the …
I have been gearing up for this show for quite a while, until the untimely news that the original middle placeholder for the show (The Teeth, from Philly) had broken up. Now, I haven’t been able to confirm that news, but by the looks of their website it hasn’t become entirely official. The tour section of the their site still lists dates, but as far as I know they’ve all been canceled - including tomorrow’s show. I’m not a huge Bishop Allen fan, so the headliners really didn’t hold much pull for me. However, I was excited to hear that War On Drugs (also from Philly) had replaced The Teeth.
The co-proprietor of this newly established site has a tighter connection to the Philadelphia music scene than I do, and through him I was able to hear The Teeth for the first time. I was surprised to hear that there was another band from Philly along the same veins through Berkeley Place a few weeks ago. After checking out their free “Barrel of Batteries” EP from Secretly Canadian (also available from Apollo Audio for $4 download), I was once again excited for the upcoming show. If only the REAL War on Drugs was this popular.
Check it out: Bishop Allen - Psycho Killer (Talking Heads cover)
War On Drugs - Arms Like Boulders
Self Righteous Brothers - My Antfarm, Pet Rock, and Me
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Perhaps more than 3500 years old, the tangelo is a citrus fruit resembling an orange, but is in fact a product of crossing a grapefruit with a tangerine. A tangelo is characterized by a slightly dark rind than an orange, and a sweeter taste than a grapefruit. They are, like this blog, thin-skinned and juiceaaaay.
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