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The Heartbreak Retailer, Lizzie No (from the Thirty Tigers / Miss Freedomland launch Halfsies)
Lizzie No’s exceptional Halfsies is warmly fulfilling, even because it explores the depth of heartbreak. No units the tone with the highly effective and percussive title observe, declaring:
Even your love is a one lane street
It’s honor amongst thieves
Dive in head first, come up for air alone
Shoulda gone halfsies
Shoulda gone halfsies
The main focus of “Sleeping within the Subsequent Room” is clear from the title alone. An a capella opening verse offers solution to a gently insistent association as No describes a disintegrating relationship. “You’re sleeping within the subsequent room,” she reveals, “I’m falling out of affection”.
“Heartbreak Retailer” is a superb dose of indie folks. The music is ethereal and light-weight, the lyrics much less so:
The cashier is aware of the drill
I got here to promote all of the damage I couldn’t preserve
And she or he offers me that field to fill
Don’t know who’s shopping for what I’m promoting low cost
If I can’t fall out of affection, a minimum of I’ll set it down
“Accomplished”, because the title suggests, is a brutally trustworthy break-up music. In opposition to a easy musical backdrop of acoustic guitar and piano, No sings:
Half of all my goals are braided nonetheless
Into your black hair
It took greater than time to tug them free
Together with myself
Lest anybody assume that the album is quiet and restrained, No cranks up the electrical guitars on “Lagunita” and “Getaway Automotive”. The latter of which is especially rousing and, because the title suggests, is an ideal roadtrip anthem.
Halfsies is an amazing showcase of No’s musical vary and depth. The album resonates with its mixture of lyrical depth and musical attract.
Independence Day, The FBR (from the self-released Ghost)
This 12 months is already off to an awesome begin by way of new artists and Tennessee’s The FBR are excessive on the record. The group, anchored by Malarie McConaha and Tim Hunter, have simply launched their debut album, an intense and brooding assortment of songs that’s rooted in Southern rock.
They open the album heavy with “Earlier than I Drown”, a darkish story of combating loneliness with alcohol. “Typically religion simply ain’t sufficient, the ache is deep and I want my crutch,” sings McConaha in opposition to a foreboding musical backdrop.
The darkness continues on “Empty Room”, this time reflecting on a misplaced relationship and the will to beat the sorrow:
I’m only a ghost and not using a voice
Encased in a cracked and damaged tomb
Like a sundown gaze in opposition to the break
or hope that after lit an empty room
They kick up the tempo on “Bottle of Blues” and “Deadman’s Freeway”, each properly rooted in Southern rock. “Bottle of Blues” is a selected spotlight, a rollicking ingesting music anchored by a tasty slide guitar. “Deadman’s Freeway” is most actually a driving music, fueled by chugging guitar and harmonica.
“Independence Day” and “Nonetheless On the Run” are each superb anthems with rousing melodies. The previous chronicles a pair who’ve drifted aside. McConaha sings concerning the couple attending the celebration collectively but declaring “I may need properly have been all on my own, I would as properly have been someplace else”. The latter tells a really completely different story, the singer admitting that she wasn’t prepared for the connection however needs to rekindle it. “ I’m hoping you don’t thoughts if I mild one other fireplace,” she declares, “This time I’m able to burn”.
The shut the album with a bruising tackle “Hurricane”, a music notably coated by Levon Helm (amongst others), that segues into the basic folks music “Home of the Rising Solar”. Their fiery model, led by McConaha’s highly effective vocals, is nasty in all the suitable methods.
Nothing However a Shadow, The HawtThorns (from the Purple Parlor Information launch Zero Gravity)
The HawtThorns actually shine on their newest album. It’d be straightforward to speak concerning the group’s Nashville residence and Americana leanings, however that wouldn’t do the album justice. From the songwriting to the performances it’s bold and accessible, a generally powerful stability to make.
They set the tone early with “Nothing However a Shadow”, the heat of KP Hawthorn’s voice contrasting with the tremelo of Johnny Hawthorn’s guitar. The title observe, which follows, describes the eager for a departed beloved one. Heavy percussion and the crescendo of a guitar solo giving the music a bristling depth. “I allow you to go in zero gravity,” sings KP, “I’m awake now and in my goals you’re coming again.”
“Fingers on a Clock” is foot-tappin’ pop at its most interesting whereas “Lengthy Sport” has echoes of 1970’s California nation, albeit with an alluring sheen. Equally smile-inducing is the Johnny sung Americana romp “Don’t Wait By the Cellphone”.
“Don’t Plan to Lose” begins with some R&B aptitude earlier than bringing in some roadhouse boogie. There’s anlso some gospel testifying with lyrics that, properly, don’t fairly match the gospel spirit: “I didn’t come right here as a witness, I got here to get in on the crime”.
They shut the album with a tasty cowl of The Everly Brothers’ “When Will I Be Cherished”, giving the music a Nashville taste and injecting the music with their very own attraction. The proverbial icing on the cake.
Contemporary Dew Drippin, The Northern Belle (from the Die With Your Boots On Information launch Bats within the Attic)
Norway’s The Northern Belle create their very own model of Americana. The songs are folky, singer-songwriter at their core however are delivered with effervescent pop melodies and sheen. “Service provider Navy Resort”, which we premiered final fall, and the folksy “Japanese” draw their inspiration from letters that songwriter Stine Andreassen’s grandfather wrote her grandmother whereas he was on a ship touring the world.
The pop gem “Hell and Again” is a kinda back-handed love music. “I can’t look away you’re too good to take a look at,” Andreassen declares earlier than admitting “I attempt to keep cool however I’m prepared for fight” and confessing “I don’t know how you can act round you.” The equally catchy album opener “Deal with You Higher” takes a special perspective, the singer encouraging somebody to stroll away from a troubled relationship, “stand your floor, belief your voice, he’ll allow you to down like he did earlier than.”
They rock out in their very own approach on “Contemporary Dew Drippin’”, electrical guitars and insistent percussion offering a backdrop for the group’s superb harmonies. About half approach by way of the music the harmonies give solution to an prolonged guitar solo with some Southern rock aptitude.
They name it Noridicana; we’ll name it refreshingly good.
Proper Phrases, Improper Track, James Mastro (from the MPress Information launch Daybreak of a New Error)
Early in his profession, James Mastro gained notoriety because the musical drive behind New Jersey’s beloved The Bongos and the Well being & Happiness Present within the 1980’s and 1990’s. He then went on to grow to be an in-demand guitarist for Ian Hunter and Alejandro Escovedo, to not point out a producer and session musician for numerous others.
2024 finds him making a welcome returning to the studio together with his personal songs and rising with the amusingly titled – and rocking – Daybreak of a New Error. He kicks it off with the catchy and jangly love music “Three Phrases”. You possibly can undoubtedly guess the three phrases of be aware.
Mastro digs into the tumultuous world we stay in at present on the rocking “Proper Phrases, Improper Track”. “Some declare to stroll on the water, then lead the lambs to the slaughter,” he decries, “they sing the suitable phrases to the fallacious music”.
Perseverance is a recurring theme on Daybreak of a New Error. On “Bother”, a music that Mastro says was impressed by each Levon Helm and Dr. Seuss, he sings “in the future my hassle’s gonna have hassle with me”. “Face of the Solar” and the gospel-tinged “Sometime Somebody Will Flip Your Head” each deal with the glory of discovering somebody who conjures up fortitude and companionship.
Not surprisingly, Mastro’s masterful guitar-playing performs a distinguished position on the album. But the true star here’s a songwriter who demonstrates that he nonetheless has a lot to say. Daybreak of a New Error is a welcome return and, hopefully, a harbinger of extra music to come back.
Saturday Evening Comes As soon as a Week, John Baumann (from the Terlingua Spring Information launch Border Radio)
I lastly bought round to listening to Texas singer-songwriter John Baumann’s October 2023 launch on the finish of the 12 months. It’s caught with me ever since.
Baumann arguably writes about what he is aware of – discovering love and good instances in South Texas. The title observe speaks to the fantastic thing about music as Baumann recollects being captivated by a music on the radio though it’s being sung in a language he doesn’t perceive. “I can’t inform what she’s singing, it’s a language I don’t know,” he shares, “but when she’s singing of her homeland, that’s the place I wanna go.”
Baumann goes honky-tonk in a number of songs concerning the quest for good instances, Texas fashion. “Saturday Evening” describes it in basic fashion – “You bought a field of chilly Budweiser, two cans of Cope snuff” – concluding with a comical nod to the Sunday morning after results, “Oh, to hell with Sunday morning, you ain’t going to church,” he declares, “You haven’t been in a decade, I feel they referred to as off the search.”
The festivities proceed on the restrained “South Texas Custom”, which chronicles a weekend looking journey the place the revelry as essential because the said goal. “My spouse is aware of me finest, she simply sends a textual content,” he sings, “Says, ‘See you on Sunday, my love’”.
After which there’s his colourful tribute to El Caminos, the basic utility car manufactured from the 1960’s by way of the 1980’s. “ I bought a cross ‘tween a pickup and a Chevrolet coupe, flatbed within the again and a chrome hood scoop,” he sings, later including, “Purchased it up in Houston, paid for in money; got here with a bobblehead of Jesus on the sprint”.
Border Radio overflows with attraction, crammed with catchy melodies and entertaining lyrics, to not point out loads of Texas twang.
Metropolis The place Summer time By no means Ends, Phil Hurley (from the self-released Keep Gold)
Phil Hurley has traversed geography as a lot as musical kinds. He minimize his tooth as co-founder of Buffalo to Boston (through the upstate NY city Potsdam) energy poppers Gigolo Aunts earlier than de-camping to LA the place he co-founded harmony-drenched Americana rockers Stonehoney. Stonehoney relocated to Austin the place Hurley later co-founded Texas-flavored rockers South Austin Moonlighters. Fairly a musical journey, one which continues as he steps out on his personal.
“Metropolis The place Summer time By no means Ends” – written about his former residence in LA – contrasts the gorgeous climate with the cruel realities of pursuing an inventive profession there. “When you’re right here you’ll see the sunshine every single day; one other 12 months, one other dream simply slips away.”
A slide guitar punctuates the resolute tell-off “I Don’t Want Your Love” whereas Hurley veers in the direction of the blues with the relaxed love music “Responsible”. He presents up a pleasant mix of pop and Americana on “Rising Up” and “Sarah’s Too Dumb to Die”, the latter of options an prolonged electrical guitar solo that showcases his bonafides with the instrument.
Misplaced within the Flood, Jon Dee Graham (from the Strolling Bones Information launch Solely Useless For a Little Whereas)
It’s been a tough a number of years for Austin’s Jon Dee Graham – the album’s title isn’t a joke – however his newest album reveals that his musical coronary heart is thrashing sturdy. He opens with the growling “The place It All Went Improper”, admitting “fairly hazy on the shouldn’ts and the shoulds”. A slide guitar provides a mournful texture to his lament of misplaced pals on “See You By the Fireplace”
He will get sentimental, gruff voice and all, on the ambling “Introduced Me Right here To You”. The music closes with a flash of his wit as he sings, “all of the errors that I’ve made, all the numerous errors I’ve made, I repeat each single mistake I’ve made it introduced me right here to you sure, it introduced me right here to you.” The repartee will get even stronger on “Goin’ Again to Sweden”, a love music to that nation that covers lyrical floor that ranges from Stockholm Syndrome to Lee Hazelwood.
Graham will get critical on the acoustic “Courageous As Her (Marie Colvin)”, a tribute to the late journalist that mediates on the which means of freedom and, in Colvin’s case, somebody who was fiercely dedicated to exposing the realities of violent conflicts world wide.
A relentless throughout the album is Graham’s electrical guitar, an instrument that’s as soiled as it’s melodic. There are even a number of moments the place he can’t assist himself from expressing the enjoyment it brings, extending the solo on “Goin’ Again to Sweden”, declaring “we’ll go round once more” and exclaiming “woo, sure… sure, sure, sure… let’s do that one other time whereas I’m feeling this fashion now” on the conclusion of “The place It All Went Improper”.
So glad you’re nonetheless right here with us, Jon Dee. See you at SXSW this week.
Nothing At All, Clay Parker and Jodi James (from the self-released Your Very Personal Dream)
There’s one thing particular about Your Very Personal Dream, the newest album from New Orleans duo Parker and James. Possibly it’s the stripped down preparations constructed round their restrained electrical guitars, sometimes accompanied by a rhythm part. Or the way in which that voices weave round each other with a rootsy attraction. Or perhaps it’s the considerate storytelling of their writing. No matter it’s, the songs come collectively as a set that’s as intoxicating as is it earnest.
Concerning the creator: Delicate-mannered company govt by day, excitable Twangville denizen by evening.
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