Record Reviews by Damaged Andy (DA) and Andrew Necci (AN)
Brother Bill – Brother Bill (self-released)
This melodic rock album has a familiar gravitas I find comforting. With bluegrass-like vocal harmonies and traveling guitar rhythms, this Warrenton, VA four-piece creates cozy background music great for car trips long and short. Their sound is uptempo, so if that’s your thing, you will like Brother Bill’s first album. (DA)
READ THE FULL VERSION OF RVA #8 HERE!
And check out the rest of the record reviews (all 23 of them!) from the new issue after the jump…
Record Reviews by Damaged Andy (DA) and Andrew Necci (AN)
Brother Bill – Brother Bill (self-released)
This melodic rock album has a familiar gravitas I find comforting. With bluegrass-like vocal harmonies and traveling guitar rhythms, this Warrenton, VA four-piece creates cozy background music great for car trips long and short. Their sound is uptempo, so if that’s your thing, you will like Brother Bill’s first album. (DA)
READ THE FULL VERSION OF RVA #8 HERE!
And check out the rest of the record reviews (all 23 of them!) from the new issue after the jump…
Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory (Carpark)
This Cleveland quartet stands at the boundaries between indie rock, power pop, and punk rock, adding toughness to their catchy, upbeat tunes. Their typical M.O. is strong and concise, but at times, they show versatility by stretching out, as on the 9-minute “Wasted Days.” Complex, multilayered, and irresistible. (AN)
The Compass Rose Orchestra – The Compass Rose Orchestra (compassroseorchestra.bandcamp.com)
This eight-piece ensemble of highly skilled Richmond musicians has a jazz-based sound, but incorporates a variety of other genres into these complex, precisely arranged tunes. Their sound shifts significantly from song to song, but there’s a rich, unique musical atmosphere here that is sustained throughout. (AN)
Dead Fame – Frontiers EP (deadfame.bandcamp.com)
Dark, gloomy, yet driven by melody, Dead Fame’s music harks back to the best guitar-driven postpunk bands of the early 80s–think first-LP New Order, early Cure, The Chameleons, and Echo And The Bunnymen. Their propulsive, uptempo tunes are impossible to shake, and this brief EP will have fans clamoring for more. (AN)
DigiPossum – Sampler (digipossum.bandcamp.com)
It’s been nearly a year since DigiPossum, a producer who uses beat machines and turntables to do live mixes, released this five song sampler. It’s electro/hip-hop/dubstep fusion appropriate for any setting where mind-altering drugs are being consumed. As an emcee, I could definitely pen some prose to a few of these. (DA)
Dirty Three – Towards The Low Sun (Thrill Jockey)
This long-running Australian instrumental trio (violin/guitar/drums) play a much more complex version of post-rock than groups like Mogwai or Mono. The busy drumming can be overwhelming, but the violin and guitar lines have a pleasant, pastoral feel. Given time, these songs eventually reveal themselves to be beautiful. (AN)
Drano – The Night Driver (drano1.bandcamp.com)
It’s easy to draw comparisons between Drano’s style and some of the greatest New York rappers to ever take a shot at the throne–but we’re not in NYC. The Night Driver is laced up with grimy street metaphors and punchlines that land like uppercuts. The beats are dope and the hooks are mostly well executed. (DA)
Ghost Owls – Ghost Owls (self-released)
This record features the vocal stylings of full-time Carl Sagan impersonator Doug Fuller. Doug’s lyrics and delivery are interesting, to say the least. Their sound is fresh and original. The downside of this record is the level of reverb on the vocals, but still, the album is very good. I highly recommend the song “Tachyacardia.” (DA)
Isaiah & Hovey – Dr. Hovey & Isaiah The Gentleman (isaiahandhovey.bandcamp.com)
If you’re looking for something different, you might find it in the beat selection here. Combined with Hovey’s production, Isaiah’s confidance and execution sell this project nicely. The album’s a few tracks too long, and Isaiah uses four-letter words more often than necessary, but on the whole, it’s well executed. I’m looking forward to their next installment. (DA)
Jad Fair + Hifiklub + kptmichigan – Bird House (Joyful Noise)
Jad Fair started out 30 years ago as the frontman for Half Japanese, a kind of outsider-art punk band. He’s still making music today, but now it’s even weirder. On this album, his warped vocals seem to have little to do with the quiet, ambient backing tracks. Its an odd pairing, one that, ultimately, doesn’t quite work. (AN)
Les La Britanica – Soft Swerve (leslabritanica.com)
This hedonistic RVA trio mix hip-hop and witch house in pursuit of the soundtrack to your next 5-day bender. Swagged-out lyrics about sex, drugs, and general debauchery laid over queasy synths that evoke both the tripped-out thuggery of ASAP Rocky and the dark, dragging nightmares of Salem. This is party music. (AN)
Lightfoot – Scarlet Sails (lightfoot.bandcamp.com)
This EP mixes rock n’ roll, old-time country, and jazzy pop to create a somewhat retro feel, accented by Lightfoot’s warm tube-amp guitar sound. The real star of this show, though, is Jessica Louise Dye’s strong, clear voice, which demands your attention, and will win you over long before these six brief tunes have come to an end. (AN)
Marionette – Facing You (marionettemusic.bandcamp.com)
Marionette released Facing You in 2009. Why am I reviewing it now? Because this project has yet to receive the attention it I think it deserves. Kevin Cornell is arguably one of the best songwriters Richmond has produced. Marionette is inow working on their third album. Watch for it. (DA)
The Men – Open Your Heart (Sacred Bones)
These muscular riffmasters have been earning a lot of buzz lately with their heavy mixture of midtempo hardcore and noisy grunge. On this, their potential-fulfilling third album, they’ve discovered melody and dynamics, but the greater sonic variety does nothing to derail their momentum. An instant classic. (AN)
Mouse On Mars – Parastrophics (Monkeytown)
This is the first album in over half a decade from these IDM/glitch pioneers, but they’ve still got plenty left in the tank, as Parastrophics proves from the beginning. Peppered with jarring samples and bursts of noise, these tracks are a bit too weird for the dance floor, but fascinating nonetheless. (AN)
Neal Morgan – In The Yard (Drag City)
You might expect a drummer’s solo project to incorporate other instruments, but Morgan sticks to what he knows, constructing strange but pleasant lo-fi indie tunes out of beats, voices, and tape loops. If you like the artists he’s previously worked with (Joanna Newsom, Bill Callahan), you’ll probably enjoy this as well. (AN)
Nekromantheon – Rise Vulcan Spectre (Indie Recordings)
These Norwegian thrashers display an admirable singlemindedness of purpose on their latest album. The influence of classic European thrash metal groups (Sodom, Kreator) obviously looms large, but there are unmistakable touches of modernity integrated into their sound as well. It all combines into an unstoppable slab of brutality. (AN)
Night Idea – Ocho The Cat (nightidea.bandcamp.com)
This local four-piece has produced a very tight ten-song release. Littered with interesting breakdowns, buildups, and bass, it’s hard to lose interest at any point from start to finish. “Colored Dream” in particular is a cool song that might have something for everyone. Solid record. (DA)
Octavion Xcellence & Just Plain Ant – No Cool Points For Dying (Suburban District)
Mixed by DJ Shermski, Just Plain Ant’s production melds well with Octavion’s lyrical delivery. This nostalgic-sounding eight-song EP brings me back to the mid-nineties East Coast hip-hop era I’m so fond of. “Multiple Choice,” feat. Cane and ItsJustBobby, is one of my favorite selections from this record. (DA)
Pontiak – Echo Ono (Thrill Jockey)
A significant improvement over their previous EP, Comecrudos, this album trades the droning experimentation of the EP for a solid set of heavy rockers. VA’s own Pontiak cover the spectrum from plodding proto-metal to jammed-out biker rock and sun-drenched psychedelia, which should satisfy many earthbound space travelers. (AN)
The Randy Hawks – Meridian (self-released)
Don’t let the fact that they label their music “psychedelic gospel” fool you–this is some good old-fashioned devil music right here. This RVA quartet adds touches of jazz, bluegrass, and old-time country to a fundamental rock n’roll sensibility, creating an album of fun tunes to dance to on Saturday nights. Hell yeah! (AN)
Rebel Inc. – Rebel Inc. (self-released)
This sociopolitically oriented EP lacks the punch I can imagine fans finding in their live performances. The lyrics are too far forward in the mix, and the 4/4 time signatures get redundant. I do see potential here if the lyricist is willing to take more risks. A live recording would favor their next record over the sterility of a studio setting. (DA)
Tear Jerker – Rare (tearjerker.bandcamp.com)
This Toronto based three-piece put a lot of work into the details of the appearance of this album, to the point that some might call it pretentious. However, their ambient sound, which is reminiscent of Boards Of Canada, makes excellent background music. Great album, great band. (DA)
Wrist Rocket – Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt (wristxrocket.com)
This RVA duo plays upbeat, energetic pop-punk with a clear foundation in hardcore, which shows through in their quick tempos and chunky guitar sound. Vocals aren’t technically perfect, but make up for any limitations with a passionate, heartfelt delivery. My only complaint is that it’s so short. Give us more! (AN)
