Week of July 24, 2022

 What a change in direction this week. I was getting a little prog rock numb so I turned to Gnoosic to give me some ideas on a softer song set. Gnoosic is a great tool. It asks you to enter the names of three bands and it comes up with suggestions based on the three bands chosen. I chose R.E.M, Cracker, and The Loud Family, all three featuring excellent song writing from the 80’s. These ten releases came from that search. The vibe is more of a folk rock, psychedelic rock style featuring singer songwriters I’ve never listened to in the past.  

Best of the Week

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Salad Boys - This is Glue

This band hails from Christchurch New Zealand, which is awesome because it made me look up where Christchurch is and check out the weather (it’s dead of winter there, but it sounds Seattle like). Jangly guitars, harmonizing vocals, and easily accessible tunes make this an enjoyable band to listen to. 

Stormy Strong - Stormy Strong

Clearly this group wants to be the next Pixes right down to the easy tunes progressing into a fiery explosion. In fact, they do a cover of “Where Is My Mind” from Surfer Rosa. The good news is they are excellent at it and do honor to the original band.

The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

(2017)  10 tracks (1:06:20)

A Best Rock Album Grammy winner, it’s not hard to see why. Like Arcade Fire, they have big arrangements and well-written songs to draw in an audience. 

Interesting Finds

 

Courtney Barnett  Kurt Vile - Lotta Sea Lice

2017  9 tracks (44:33)

Two really dazzling singer songwriters combine to make this fine release of folk rock. Listen to “Over Everything”, ignoring the Lou Reed style vocals by Vile and Barnett and enjoy how it just rocks.

Kurt Vile - b’lieve i’m goin down…

2015  12 tracks (1:01:01)

A songwriter of note being one of the original War On Drugs group, he must be a very prolific writer of songs to support a group, his solo work, and other side adventures. The song writing is so strong, it’s easy to forgive the fading vocals that are a little tuneless. 

The Barbarellatones - Glam Rock Girl

2015 14 tracks (44:55)

If you like quirky funky songs with funny lyrics, this works for you. Fun, campy, enjoyable using standard rock tempos and rhythms. Check out “Mean Ass Girlfriend” and “Devil in Miss Jones” for the fun of it. 

Ultimate Painting - Green Lines

2015  12 tracks (31:19)

Maybe not sizzling, but I hear a lot of the Grateful Dead in their music. With all the tunes coming in at the 3 minute mark, I wonder if they had extended some of them into jams because it sure seems like it would have worked. 

Woods - With Light and with Love

2014  10 tracks (39:25)

Enjoyable straight forward pop rock ala Death Cab for Cutie. Lively arrangements with simple guitar-based twangy sounds and nice harmonies are featured. Hammond organ mixed with finger-picking guitar gives that Byrds early rock feel. Nicely done.

Ryley Walker - Primrose Green

2015  10 tracks (44:44)

Another relatively unknown voice with a prodigious amount of releases under his belt. Nicely put together and it is very evident a lot of work was put in to add depth and texture with many contributors. Listen to “All Kinds of You” and feel the jazz interplay that comes through despite the folk/pop vocals. 

 

Forgettable

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Low - HEY WHAT

2021  10 tracks (46:13)

Described as “slowcore” which is a slower moody version of hard rock with minimalist arrangements, it is interesting and different. A fair amount of industrial noise is thrown in, just so you know. Plus, a lot of induced distortion is intentionally integrated with the music. It isn’t pleasant. For some reason, several of the songs include this “feature” making a listenable song unlistenable. 

Week of July 17, 2022

 No Forgetables this week! 

Best of the Week

Tides From Nebula - From Voodoo to Zen

If Muse was an instrumental band, they would sound a lot like this. A lot of bombastic sounding rock coming from a variety of electronic generated music. 

Red Kite - Apophenian Bliss

There is probably little chance I’d ever see this band live, but I would do it in a heartbeat. Their blend of prog rock/jazz rock is intoxicating. 

Maybeshewill - No Feeling is Final

A clear takeoff of Radiohead is evident in this band from England. All instrumental post-rock music is in the style of God Is An Astronaut, Tides From Nebula, and 65daysofstatic. 

Kirk Hammett - Portals

I awoke from a slumber during a blistering portion of  “Maiden and the Monster” was playing. What was that? Just Kirk Hammett, Metallica’s main axe man doing his thing. 

Lords of Form - Flying Chromium Society

Take a little Hawkwind, add some Ozric Tentacles and you have Lords of Form. Just listen to “It’s Revolution Time” if you don’t believe this.

Oh Hiroshima - Myriad

Unlike Freedom to Glide, this duo from Sweden knows how to kick it up a notch. Wonderful sense of tempo, dynamics, and presentation sets it apart from other post-rock type prog bands.

Interesting Finds

Kalandra - Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands

This could be movie music (maybe, it is?) and it contains the moody ethereal music one would expect. Using a soundscape of keyboards and soaring vocals, the soothing primal nature is relaxing and fulfilling. 

O.R.K. - Ramagehead

Another Italian prog rock band featuring artists from Porcupine Tree and later King Crimson.

Freedom To Glide - SEED

FTG is a UK duo playing simplified Floydian type music. The general thought that came to mind is this is a weak version of Flying Colors. Capable and decently recorded, it’s nothing to write home about but it doesn’t get in the way of a good day either. 

Guru Guru - Rotate!

Interesting krautrock that has endured over 50 years. Some of the retro sounds, like sitar sounding instruments and Indian flutes and drums peak through now and then.

 

Oksana Linde - Aquatic and Other Worlds

A fascinating story and person precludes this release. Linde was a pioneer of electronic music from the 70’s who developed her own studio and played Moog style keyboards but never released any of the work until now. The music continues to be full and rich nonetheless.

Hallas - Isle of Wisdom

More retro prog rock from Sweden. Though a current release, influences of Jethro Tull, Genesis, and Yes permeate the eight tracks on this album. 

 

 

Forgettable

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Week of July 10, 2022

 Definitely a Steven Wilson focus this week. First, a brand new Porcupine Tree album is on tap. That is news given the last release was 2010 before Wilson changed course. Second, a No-Man anthology in the form of a two record set of which Wilson plays an active part. Also he shows up as a part of the mixing in the North Atlantic Oscillation release (also a fellow KScope production), and finally, The Pineapple Thief which features fellow band member Gavin Harrison.  

Best of the Week

The Pineapple Thief - Give It Back (Rewired)

New outing consisting of older released material that has been engineered, re-recorded, and played by the current band, including Gavin Harrison who was never part of the original production. That’s a win. This isn’t a retread, it’s a revolution.   

God is an Astronaut - Ghost Tapes #10

GIAA plays dense, compelling music carved in such a way to maintain interest. Described as an Irish post-rock band, they have been around since 2002. They don't have the Irish signature of New Model Army, but more European style prog rock of an Airbag or RPWL. Good stuff.

Porcupine Tree - Closure/Continuation

They’re back! This isn’t the barn-burner of their heyday, but it’s still a solid effort. Rats seem to be a central theme, showing up in “Rats Return” (listing a veritable who’s who of despicableness like Stalin and Mao) and in “Walk the Plank”.

North Atlantic Oscillation - The Third Day

Strong outing by this eclectic group. Take “Wires” for example, a driving song track that just keeps mixing in different elements along a theme. It’s a Steven Wilson remix, too (does he ever rest???). Want creativity? Take “Dust”, a riveting mix of keyboards, tuneful vocals, and mixture of rhythms. 

Interesting Finds

No-Man - All The Blue Changes

No-Man consists of Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson. The ubiquitous Wilson shows once again that he is more than Porcupine Tree or his solo work, bringing to the table another dimension in musical production. The songs are more contemplative and ethereal, more closely linked to PT’s early space rock idea. Not too surprising considering this is said to be an anthology of work between 1988-2003. That said, it’s a little bit like a box of chocolates - you’re not sure what is going to pop up next.

Airbag - Identity

An early outing from 2009 shows how little this group has changed over the last ten plus years. I enjoy the Pink Floydian “Steal My Soul” and “How I Wanna Be”, both taking a simple idea and expanding it, twisting it into a relaxing vibe. The one knock on Airbag that is more evident here is their propensity to use the barest of song structures. 

   

Nick Drummond Band - Eye of the Storm

A local group with some outstanding musicians and a lead vocalist with passion and power. Literally caught them at the Washington Beer Festival and heard them play and asking people around me, “Who ARE these guys?” The song “Moonrise” caught my ear because it had an unusual picking instrument and I saw why. He uses an electric banjo without the usual banjo keying. Maybe a little balladsie, but Drummond is an excellent vocalist, he has a way with crafting interesting tunes, and the other band members are solid. Hopefully, they can get beyond the bar band circuit.

Anna von Hausswolff - All Thoughts Fly

I made a pledge to myself to go back and listen to any and all von Hausswolff recordings simply because anything she does is fascinating. One of my favorite songs is “Persephone”, a funeral dirge sounding solo air pump organ (hey, this is the queen of the underworld in the title) that is soulful anguish, beautifully done. 

Forgettable

Month of June 2022

 What happened? My usual weekly posts all of a sudden dried up and became a monthly edition. The plan was at the end of May to pack a whole bunch of new stuff to take with me on vacation and then put a post up in the two weeks or so the vacation was swallowing up. The vacation listening time turned out to be a nothin’ burger and other stuff involving rental properties and home sales just kabashed the whole plan. So here it is. It seems like a whole lifetime has passed - well, okay, just a couple of months. For the most part, this is brand new material for the past year. A lot of material here.

Best of the Week Month

Gazpacho - Fireworking at St. Croix 2022

Brand new album is another outstanding effort. As far as I’m concerned, these guys are the prog rock gods of Europe. I have yet to be disappointed by their work. This was a little unusual in that they were intending to piece this together and tour, but Covid ruined their plans (like, who didn’t have plans ruined by Covid?). So they did a remote concert with long multi-segment passages.

The Pineapple Thief - Dissolution 2018

Gavin Harrison climbed on board to join The Pineapple Thief (from one PT to another???) and one has to wonder if the additional spark in this album is partly due to his influence. It’s delicious stuff.

Von Hertzen Brothers - Red Alert in the Blue Forest 2022

Yeah, they are actually three brothers. They may be Finnish, but they have elements of Irish folk along with a Renaissance twist. This release after a five-year gap seems to be worth the wait. Like Flying Colors and Spock’s Beard, the music is allowed to develop and flow.

Envy Of None - Envy Of None 2022

A new band formed by Rush veteran Alex Lifeson sounds nothing like Rush. More in the electro pop vein featuring outstanding female vocalist Maiah Wynne. “Never Said I Love You” is a catchy infectious pop tune. Lots of other good stuff.

Hayden Thorpe - Moondust For My Diamond 2021

Capable of Brian Ferry-esque songs, most are on the shoegaze side featuring his distinctive voice. His vocals are nearly the only sounds not created electronically. Bass, drums, chords are all electronically sourced. Fortunately, it is put together well and most of the work is excellent.

Interesting Finds

Kalle Wallner Blind Ego - Voices 2022

The “W” in  RPWL on his own in a new release. He didn’t put a lot of effort in naming the tracks (Track 1 is “ONE”, Track 2 is TWO, etc.) but the music is another matter.

Rosalie Cunningham - Two Piece Puzzle 2022

Multi-instrumentalist and stylish vocalist Cunningham and her partner Rosco Levee have produced a captivating album. “Duet” sounds like Camper Van Beethoven meets 10CC. It’s “fun” rock.

Public Service Broadcasting - Every Valley 2017

Okay, the vocals are voice snippets instead of actual musical warbling. Think of it as an instrumental album with voiced lyrics. There are advantages to this. The messaging may be less aesthetically pleasing, but the meaning is clear. “They Gave Me a Lamp” has a woman talking about how she did things typically done by men because that is what she was taught and that made her more motivated to do that work. Musically terrific too.

Empire Springs - The Luminescence 2022

Another 2022 album by the legions of bands out there pounding out hard driving rock with mediocre tunes. It wasn’t like I didn’t like it, but more it didn’t raise more than a casual interest. Put it this way, if one of their songs came on the radio, I wouldn’t change the station because of it. I’d just wait for the next song.

Jomo Tuun - One Tuun 2021

A Tool knockoff, and not a bad one at that. Song structures are reminiscent of Gentle Giant, using abrupt atonal shifts and funky rhythms. Not the most relaxing music to listen to but it is sure interesting.

Flicknife Records - Flipside Freaks 2021

A various artist release from Flicknife Records showcasing bands steeped in psychedelic rock. The recording quality is low, often sounding like demo tapes done from a bedroom using a 4-track recorder. Some of the artists worth checking out are Che Macello, Nick Potter, Mr Dibs

Harkoan - Traveler 2021

EP by an unknown artist is mildly interesting. Not riveting, but it doesn’t make you switch to the next track in search of a better song.

Haken - Virus 2020

Power metal rock (Pain of Salvation, Soen, etc.) has a lot going for it. A steady diet of it could dull the senses but interspersed with other varied work is good for boosting the energy of a playlist.

New Model Army - Between Dog and Wolf 2013

An older (2013) release by this Irish band capable of delivering quality time in and time out. “Pull the Sun” has a relentless drumming and percussion thread that keeps your head bobbing.

Archive - Call To Arms & Angels 2021

Industrial art rock with dark tones heavy with walls of electronica. As with most art rock groups, there are some excellent moments and tracks that fall flat on their face. For example, the 14-minute “Daytime Coma” track is quite enjoyable, using sultry vocals and a variety of synth-based segments.

Alcest - Spiritual Instinct 2019

Interesting somber industrial prog rock. Often using simple guitar rhythms with deep echo as a backdrop, the melodies are ethereal and haunting. Worthy of a listen.

Blood Incantation - Timewave Zero 2020

Spacy rock, a little more tuneful than Tangerine Dream. When you have those moments where simple soundscapes and textures are desired, this music is a welcome relief to the staccato of metal rock.

Nosound - Afterthoughts (Remastered) 2018

Enjoyable prog rock similar to RPWL I do like the restrained pace and layered instruments of “In My Fears”

Meri - Something Out Of Place 2021

Finding information about this act (group, individual?) is tough. Meri may be the lead vocalists’ name or could be the name of the band or none of the above. Whatever it is, it is intriguing and likable enough to keep checking in for future releases. The one deficiency is how a song will start out with a good vibe and then the air is let out of it. It happens frequently.

Bjorn Riis - Everything To Everyone 2022

Founding member and guitarist for Airbag, Riis knows how to craft interesting songs. Not quite the same as Airbag, he uses more simple arrangements. That is not a bad thing. In fact, a few songs made the playlist and nothing stunk. That’s a win.

Pattern-Seeking Animals - Prehensile Tales 2020

More solid prog rock along the lines of Big Big Train and The Flower Kings. While their roots stemmed from Spock’s Beard, their music is more theme based. The longer songs (“Soon but Not Today”) have multiple movements.

Omega Point - Omega Point 2021

A little electronic dance music, a little Tangerine Dream-ish synth band music. There is little information on where this band is from or who is in it. It appears to be a new group and has limited following.

Forgettable

Silent Skies - Nectar 2022

Dreamy rock (“Taper”), it’s a little too dreary for my tastes. Vocals are the centerpiece with musicianship taking a back seat.

Tapio Ylinen - Nuoruus 2018

Easy going generic rock reminds me of Al Stewart. Nothing is really wrong with the music, it just doesn’t inspire or sizzle. Plus, the songs depend heavily on the vocals which are all sung in Finnish. Pass.

Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum 2009

Art rock (“West Ryder Silver Bullet”). My memory doesn’t match up with their current form. The earlier times of well written rock ballads has morphed into extensive production and cagey patterns without a sufficient musical path to enjoy. They seem to know what they are doing but missing a key element of successful prog rock - a melody you will remember.