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The Handsome Family – Honey Moon

The Handsome Family – Honey Moon

Coming straight from the mid- to late-90s alt country scene, The Handsome Family have a reputation for solid laid-back country styles woven with sparse, effective harmonies and gritty, tearing lyrics. Brett’s nasal delivery has enough boom to carry the weight of the lyrics and scratches enough to transfuse the pain directly to the listener, and Ronnie’s harmonies lift the lyrics into stark, empty, starless space. The feeling is truly a grounded, earthly feeling… while stretched hopelessly upward to the heavens.

In a slight change of pace, however, the new album “Honey Moon” treads into a slightly more pop-influenced sound. That is to say, a more regressive-country-pop sound, rather than the realm of modern-country-pop. The songs are lighter on Honey Moon – they are more uplifting and heartworn than on previous albums, but still generally drifting and grounded overall. Of course, the album has been advertised as a celebration of the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary, which certainly accounts for the gentle shift in the content of the lyrics. On the other hand, it might also forecast a shift in what’s to come in future releases. The very idea that the Handsome Family could be moving toward a more commercially-viable theme is not something I necessarily look down upon – “goth-country” is becoming sparse as a genre (I prefer “regressive-country”), and bands are still able to stick to roots Americana by writing love songs instead of murder ballads. I stand by murder ballads at the basis of country music, but there is certainly room for more sweet than bitter in bittersweet. In short, the album contains more of the Everly Brothers’ “Songs Our Daddy Taught Us” than the darker “American” series by Johnny Cash.

Songs like “Little Sparrows,” “A Thousand Diamond RIngs” and “Wild Wood” have a positively upbeat and country-rock feel, which is complimented by the drifting “The Winding Corn Maze” and light-waltz “Darling, My Darling.” My favorite track from the album, “When …

Concert Forecast: Saturday, 6/7 – Pela, Static of the Gods, The Motion Sick, Shawn Fogel

I’ve been waiting on this show for a long time, because it puts a lot of bands in one place and makes them a little easier to keep track of, at least for one night. Hopefully this won’t run too long, but I would like to give my full attention to the last three bands, which I haven’t written about before. Following: upsides, downsides, past concert reviews!

Static of the Gods
I originally wrote about Static of the Gods in reference to their first full-length CD Cycles Follow Signs, which I was initially unimpressed with. Talent and songwriting aside, the album just didn’t do it for me. Several months later I was able to see them in concert, and was given their newly-released EP to check out. Vast improvements in sound and production propelled Static of the Gods from a formerly written-off state into a new band-to-watch category. Tarnished Cities is a good example of where the band is headed – hard, driving beat, almost syth-like bass (it’s actually a guitar on an octave pedal), and firm vocals. I’ve grown to like the band’s sound and uniqueness among emo-metal, and the Peluche EP provided the hooks that were lacking on Cycles Follow Signs. I hope they keep on this road for a while.

Static of the Gods – Tarnished Cities Peluche EP
[audio:/stu/2008/06/05/Static of the Gods - Tarnished Cities.mp3]

The Motion Sick
I originally heard about The Motion Sick from a friend that worked at the AI: International in Boston. She heard the CD right after it was recorded, and immediately alerted me. They definitely stand apart from the other bands in this lineup, and adhere to a more “post new-wave” sound (”new-new-wave,” “post-second-wave?” It’s not really post-punk…) than the other bands. Their sound isn’t full and continuous – it’s broken up, with the empty space invoking the Talking Heads and other new-wave and second-wave bands.

They will be celebrating their 100th show on Saturday.

The Motion Sick – 30 Lives
[audio:/stu/2008/06/05/The Motion Sick - 30 Lives.mp3]
The Motion Sick – Love Will Tear Us …

Concert Forecast: Hayden & Haley Bonar

Hayden & Haley Bonar
Wednesday, 6/4 – Great Scott Boston

The previous blog I contributed to, Aural Fitness, was transferred from a blogspot blog called Trees-Lounge. The owner of the previous two blogs has been a huge Hayden fan since the late 90s, or slightly longer. Because of this fact, I tried to get into Hayden as much as I could. Just listening to a few of his albums, you can tell he doesn’t prescribe to a particular genre, except possibly the genre of loneliness, aimlessness, and emptiness. His website, wasteyourdaysaway.com is testament to this. I love it.

Hayden has been around for quite a while, and it was horribly surprising to see him touring with Feist earlier this spring. My fears of him becoming a huge pop star are completely unfounded, but it did worry me. If you’ve picked up his earlier albums, you can hear a definite grunge influence – a sound that has diminished but never gone away over the last few albums. His most popular album to date Skyscraper National Park is lighter sounding than the earlier recordings, but it still carries the drawn-out loneliness that characterizes his songwriting. Accompanied by better production and sound, it is still the most accomodating album for new listeners.

The best advice to get into Hayden was given to me by the owner of Aural Fitness – “Get Skyscraper National Park and listen to Dynamite Walls. Then listen to the entire album from beginning to end. After you do that, and only after that, get Everything I Long For and listen to it until you get it.” That’s what I did, and I’m a fan. I’m not sure I “got it,” but it’s hooked me.

This is bound to be a great show. Stand at the bar, sway to the music, and cry into your beer.

Hayden – Where and When from In Field & Town, Fat Possum Records
[audio:/stu/2008/06/02/Hayden - Where and When.mp3]
Hayden – Home by Saturday …

This Weekend: 5/30-6/1

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
05/31/2008 – TT Bears Place

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.

Here’s to a good show!

This Weekend: 5/23-5/26 (Memorial Day ‘08)

This weekend in Boston/Cambridge. Slim pickins.

Saturday, 5/24/08 – The Mary Onettes (fr. Sweden), Age Rings, The Painted Lights, Blacklist (fr. NYC) – 18+ $9adv/$10dos NOTE: 9pm doors

By the way, since when have myspace links been preferred over the band’s actual website?

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club!

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
[audio:/stu/2008/05/21/Slim Cessnas Auto Club - Americadio.mp3]
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – This Land is Our Land (Redux)
[audio:/stu/2008/05/21/Slim Cessnas Auto Club - This Land is Our Lands (Redux).mp3]

Jesus Let Me Down (2005)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – He, Roger Williams
[audio:/stu/2008/05/21/Slim Cessnas Auto Club - He Roger Williams.mp3]

Always …

Show Forecast: Bishop Allen, War On Drugs, The Self Righteous Brothers

Where: Middle East Downstairs
When: Thursday, 5/15/2008, doors@8:00.
How Much: $12.00

Who – Bishop Allen, War On Drugs, The Self Righteous Brothers

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)
[audio:/stu/2008/05/14/Bishop Allen - Psycho Killer.mp3]

War On Drugs – Arms Like Boulders
[audio:/stu/2008/05/14/War On Drugs - Arms Like Boulders.mp3]

Self Righteous Brothers – My Antfarm, Pet Rock, and Me
[audio:/stu/2008/05/14/Self Righteous Brothers - My Antfarm Pet Rock And Me.mp3]