Roseanne – Hedgecock (Bad Grrrl Records)
Roseanne is one of the most promising new bands to emerge out of Richmond’s underground in the last year, and they’ve just released their debut recording on local weird rock magnate Ben Miller’s label, Bad Grrrl Records.
Roseanne – Hedgecock (Bad Grrrl Records)
Roseanne is one of the most promising new bands to emerge out of Richmond’s underground in the last year, and they’ve just released their debut recording on local weird rock magnate Ben Miller’s label, Bad Grrrl Records. Fronted by dual guitarist/singer/songwriters Joey Demarco and Michael Glover, the group’s dark and subdued style is carried by the duo’s pervasively inventive lyricism, and their nostalgic yet noisy take on the shambling psychedelia of groups like the 13th Floor Elevators and Spaceman 3.
The music on Hedgecock moves with a hushed vintage rhythm, the drums and bass barely pulsing in the background, over which jagged and gloriously messy guitars intertwine in a sloppy heap of early rock riffing. Rosanne keeps their sound taut with tension, every note and moment understated and underplayed in a detached coolness that feels meticulously intentional and at once entirely organic. It’s clear that these lads have done their homework, as they experiment with sounds and styles lifted from some of the best and earliest artist in experimental rock music, while maintaining a voice that feels refreshingly new.
The two personalities of the group’s singer/songwriters are revealed throughout the album, alternating vocals and songwriting duties on nearly every other song on their release. Michael Glover’s deadpan melancholy and heavy-handed riffing shines on the record opener, “Foot is Long,” and the strident mid-record track “Monica,” which has all the rock n’ roll swing and swagger of Lou Reed’s finest early solo works. In contrast, Demarco’s songs float with a lightness and a bittersweet reverie that twists and slides with a delightful strangeness, as on back-to-back tracks “Power” and “You Came.” Demarco’s lyrical prowess is one of the most fascinating aspects of the band. He delivers witty and literary lines in long prose-like verses, performed with a melodic and languid flair that pair superbly with his adept vocal ability.
“A Possession” closes Hedgecock in a spectacular fashion, turning Roseanne’s retro fetishism up a notch for a rollicking closer of roots rocking and blues howling. Joey Demarco flirts with moments of genuine manic rock n’ roll possession as he delivers the feverish final verse, ranting about “some kind of romantic comedy Jesus Christ.” Roseanne’s debut record is another amazing local release in a year that has seen experimental rock music in Richmond take off with a renewed energy and purpose. With their standout songwriting and the amount of raw talent shown on their first record, they are definitely a band worth checking out.
