THE WOOL THAT HIDES INSIDES SHEEP’S CLOTHING COULD BE SO SOFT
NAP EYES – Thought Rock Fish Scale (Paradise for Bachelors)
“The time comes for action, but the action is a hurried motion” is a sentiment shared on the magnificent Nap Eyes album, Thought Rock Fish Scale. It is laid back affair, guitars layer, sometimes together, sometimes in counter melody, basslines roll along, the drums plod and shuffle, it is a mellow affair. “At the sink, I wait for the cold water, I’ve burned myself here one too many times,” these are songs of the everyday, the surveying of memories while walking along the streets of what would’ve been if it were not for, or because of, but it is not a somber affair…always, “Don’t Be Right” speaks of the burden of being correct, “You play the game and you wish that you didn’t win,” because in being wrong are we not disappointed but surprised? The album is motivational, the lack of expectation as expectation, the not being fooled by knowing you will be fooled so doing away with the foolishness of it all within the decorum of immaculately played rock music, guitar solos not for the sake of, but with purpose, a brisk wind on an otherwise calm day.
SHEER MAG – lll (self released)
Sheer Mag are what some would call the business, the shit in a crasser arena of terms that indicate admiration or complement. If you think of the term “rockin” their music would be the most apt embodiment of that idea. The guitar lines are from every pop song you’ve ever loved played by a punk band, so the sheen is colored with grit. Tina Halladay will kick your ass and serenade your wedding simultaneously, it is being kicked in the mouth by a pink stiletto “Worth The Tears” is a kiss off, but a kiss nonetheless. Like their previous releases lll is pure gold, you will air guitar and kick, you will bounce around your living space and damage items in a close vicinity. It is that moment where you think of that past lover or enemy and think, “Fuck them,” and then you dance triumphantly with tears streaming down your face and scream “Fuck them!!!” and then you get in your car and drive to where they are and hopefully don’t get arrested.
LIONLIMB – Shoo (Bayonet)
There was a period during Prince’s career, the Purple Rain era, where he had this sort instantly recognizable guitar tone; in a way, it was like another vocal tone in his music. Lionlimb has a similar thing on this album, the guitar tone is distinct and gives these songs a sort of connection to one another. Shoo is kind like a Motown album, it has soul, obviously there are other influences at work, but nothing sacrifices the groove, “Lemonade” could be cited in this instance. “Domino” balls so hard that that shit cray, “Hung” is the song that plays as the character drives away in the rain, looking in the rearview mirror, scene flashes back to the good times and some arguments, split screen of the other lover — maybe on a bed looking out of an apartment window at the city, fade back into person in car camera pans out, night time street, one car of many in the city of sorrow, scene fades to black. This album has life, something else the more it sets in, to be returned to like the lasagna that tastes better the second day– let the those seasonings settle.
GLENN JONES – Fleeting (Thrill Jockey)
Glenn Jones is consistently able with only assistance of a guitar or banjo to make music that is colorful and emotive and humorous sans words or cinematic interludes. In a way, the bareness in that is the cinema, the landscape and dialog. “In Durance Vile” carries with it mystery, suspense, “Close to the Ground” carries a similar suggestion, the air of something sinister or maybe that is me, or maybe it this episode of Snapped that I have on mute while listening to this album. “Mother’s Day” an ode to mothers perhaps, beautiful and soulful like my mother was as she yelled at me for not cleaning my plate or stealing the car, “Spokane” is a swamp or an enchanted forest, there is a sound that fades in the end like the ghost either inhabiting or leaving your body. Glenn Jones manages to be lyrical, the songs are narratives of the best kind as the stories tend to change with whatever the listener brings to the songs. These songs carry with them all that makes music wonderful and also continue the tradition of the guitar as a voice that speaks directly to the soul even amidst the waves and signals.
The HUE – Aurora (RIK/Peace Uv Mine)
What an album can provide when done well is atmosphere, a sort of environment from which individual songs stand out, but also there is the beautiful whole as well. Aurora, the latest by The HUE does a magnificent job in respect to an album, it works as a body of work, you are traveling in the world of The HUE, you are taking the twists and turns, arcs and dissolutions, it is a journey through music filtered through a hip hop spectrum. There is the old school party vibe of “Tron,” the reggae of “6 2 6,” the soul rock “Magic City” the laid back bap of “Copters” it is all good and wonderful. Producers E. Classic, King Midas, and Cozmos do a superb job of sound-tracking the world that Savi, Scottie Spitten, Spacebunny Jefferson, and EQuality fill with tales of the streets, the travails and downfalls, knowledge and wisdom, humor, and a multifaceted view of maintaining humanity in a volatile environment. It is a great listen and a recalls great albums such as Aquemini or even something like Innervisions. I can dig it.
HERON OBLIVION – s/t (Sub Pop)
Meg Baird is wonderful spirit of voice and song so let us start there. Baird’s voice in any setting appears as a setting sun or an illuminant moon in the darkness and through much of Heron Oblivion’s debut, this is the function that it serves. Ethan Miller and Noel Von Harmonson were both in the magical flaming unicorn that was Comets of Fire, so that thunderous beam from a mountaintop exists here, as well, with songs going from calm still waters to wind and storm within a transition. Album opener “Beneath Fields” lowers the drawbridge and allows us into this castle, from there treasures abound. “Faro” is a groove, guitars wail and moan throughout its spinning disco ball, “Rama” is a psychedelic ballad, it is the standing fog over the wide open field, there is a beauty and a sense of danger. Heron Oblivion’s album convinces me of that magical world, something beyond this place of diggeridoos and hooligans, and one must travel deep within to transcend these evils and wicked drones and designer phones and in that place you will be free and at peace and White Nacho flavored Doritos will reward the emptiness of your belly.
BITCHIN BAJAS & BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY – Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties (Drag City)
The Howling Hex had a song called “Out, Out, Out,” I think; this is what I think of when listening to this album, not because it sounds like that song but because it is out there, and I absolutely LOVE out there, because in here is ugly and in debt to the “luxuries” of cable and home ownership. Bitchin Bajas have made many wonderful meditations , landscapes of sound allowing the listener to look within and beyond. Bonnie “Prince” Billy is one of our greatest living talents, together they have combined to rescue our souls. “Nature Makes Us For Ourselves” has one main mantra — “Nature makes us for ourselves to be, not to see” which means smash all the mirrors in your house and abandon your Instagram accounts, walk down the street, yes, all the way down the street. The songs follow this formula with titles like “Your Whole Family Are Well,” “Your Hard Work Is About to Payoff,” or “Your Heart Is Pure, Your Mind Is Clear,” and these are things you need to hear along this journey so that you are reassured, which I needed because, many times, I had gone too far out and who will wash the dishes while I’m gone or pick up that sock, yes, that same sock, or wipe that table or whatever. The cover of the album is a series of fortune cookie messages, perhaps inspiration? “Show Your Love and Your Love Will Be Returned” is beautiful in sentiment and form.
You need this album in your life, it is gospel, it is meditative, it is out Drag City and available through Drag City and other entities of legal music exchange.
TREVOR SENSOR – Texas Girls and Jesus Christ (Jagjagguwar)
The cover of this EP is a picture of man yelling at the ocean or a river or a large body of water, this makes sense within an understanding of this EP which poses those questions of the world, the girl, and the Lord as a metaphor. “Every night I have to think of the things I have done because I drink too much….I sing to a man whose mother was dying and to my own who was lost and crying” go lyrics in the song “Swallows Sing Their Song” an attempt to find purpose and reason while seemingly bound by responsibility to do well. Add to this Sensor’s broken wail of a voice that seems to embody the weight of these struggles. It is a folksy affair, it speaks the common language of man against or looking for, whether that be a Bob Dylan or an Isaac Brock. “Nothing Is Fair” is the anthem of this EP, the shotgun fire into the air, the last sip of the raised beer damning or celebrating the moment.
