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ANDREW BIRD

ARMCHAIR APOCRYPHA

Chicago-based, Andrew Bird, is yet another über talented musician that has flown under my musical radar for far too long.  A classically trained violinist with eclectic personal musical tastes (e.g., Hungarian Gypsy music, jazz, south Indian, etc.), Bird defies categorization. His compositions (cuz they are so much more than songs) are complex, layered, and symphonic - all while being extremely accessible and hooky (a recipe Bird has been mastering in his past few recordings).  Lyrically, this collection is more imaginative and literate than 99.9% of what’s in the indie rock/pop world today.  In fact, some of the words that Bird uses are the ones you’d hear in the final round of the National Spelling Bee (a feature I just love).  It’s a mystery how Bird actually gets all those impressive words out in such a rhythmic manner.  I imagine it’s nearly impossible to cover a Bird song.

Bird’s creations seem more like familiar essays (beginning from personal experience and moving towards understanding) than songs. For example, he’s been somewhat obsessed with the Scythian Empire since he was an elementary school student. So why not write a song about it? But, instead of simply incorporating historical facts, Bird deftly draws parallels to our civilization’s political debacle in Iraq.  In the infectious ‘Imitosis,’ Bird examines how we try to understand our emotional nature through science to find that, in the end, “we were all basically alone.”

While there’s nothing wrong with wishing that “your girlfriend were hot like me,” I prefer to sing along with lyrics like, “his machinations and his palindromes.” How about you?

ANDREW KERR

SILVER SUITCASES

AQUALUNG

MEMORY MAN

Following the success of his debut CD, Strange and Beautiful, and the popularity of the single ‘Brighter Than Sunshine,’ Aqualung (a.k.a. Matt Hales), is back for a second go- around in the States with Memory Man.  As music listeners and critics know, there’s a lot of pressure on musicians to come up with a great sophomore effort when your freshman CD makes a huge buzz in the industry.  This was definitely the case for Hales, who makes it abundantly clear with this offering that he’s up to the challenge.

While Strange and Beautiful was a pretty straightforward piano- and lyric- based compilation, On Memory Man, Hales demonstrates that his level of creativity extends far beyond the confines of keyboards and catchy words.  As the guitars come crashing in on ‘Cinderella,’ it’s immediately apparent that this is a more in-your-face Aqualung, not relying on pretty ballads to grab the attention of listeners. The clanging guitars are just the beginning of the new sounds explored by Hales on this offering.  One look at the credits reveals electronic and technical gadgets that create fuller, more mature arrangements interwoven with the heartfelt lyrics Hales is known for. 

The rock vibe that emerges at the onset of the CD is consistent throughout, with  ‘Pressure Suit’ and ‘Vapour Trail’ leading the way.  Ditties like ‘Rolls So Deep’ and ‘Glimmer’ demonstrate that Hales hasn’t lost touch with the pop roots that brought initial success.  And tucked between heavy guitars and banging drums are gems like ‘The Lake’ and ‘Garden of Love’ that create an airy, almost ethereal feel in the midst of all that rock.

ARI HEST

SOMEONE TO TELL

Ari Hest is not a newcomer to the music scene. With two independently released CDs, Hest toured for years, gaining fans, and the attention of Columbia Records, who signed him and released Someone To Tell in 2004. Armed with a six-string percussive guitar and a resonating voice, Hest has managed to create a major label debut CD that showcases his talents as a singer and songwriter. The CD kicks off with 'They're On To Me,' a powerfully rocking tune that could easily be a radio hit. While many of the songs are somewhat formulaic, songs like 'Consistency' and 'Not For Long' display a funkier side of Hest and demonstrate his versatility.

Lyrically, Hest shines throughout the CD, crafting a number of lasting images. One of the best lyrical examples is, "Like clockwork the sun rises on this farm/Brightens the hills and wakes the trees, this town has its charm/But when you see it day in and day out for over twenty years/What once was a choice becomes obvious, now it's clear."

THE BEES (U.S.)

HIGH SOCIETY

Way Cool Music first happened upon The Bees (U.S.) as the opening act for Josh Rouse a couple of years back.  Of course we knew Daniel Tashian, frontman of The Bees, from his days as a multi-instrumentalist for Rouse, but we had no idea how far his talent actually reached.  It was immediately apparent that Tashian could hold his own in a crowd of extremely talented musicians.  The Bees’ 2004 release, Starry Gazey Pie, was well-received by critics, but didn’t find much exposure in the mainstream despite its pop appeal.  High Society, their sophomore effort, brings the Nashville-based team back together with Jason Lehning (Steve Forbert, Nickel Creek) taking the producer’s helm.  Laden with 1960’s inspired tunes, High Society happily marries Tashian’s silky vocals with the band’s thoughtful instrumentation.

From the opening track ‘The Country Life’ through ‘The Broadway Lights,’ listeners are transported back to a time when the radio waves were filled with airy pop tunes from the likes of The Beach Boys and Neil Young.  While it might seem out of place in today’s mainstream radio, packed with chunky guitars and pounding drums, these stripped down tunes highlight the strong songwriting, and show that ‘pop’ does not have to be a dirty word.   High Society gives a peak at the rare gems in the indie music realm that are worthy of discovery.

BEAU STAPLETON

WILL I SHINE FOR YOU STILL

When it was first announced that the band Blue Merle was parting ways, fans of the group were stunned.  It seemed like a sudden move for this up-and-coming ensemble, which was coming off of successful tours across the U.S., including dates at some of the biggest festivals, like Lollapalooza and Milwaukee’s Summerfest.  Thrilling listeners with their unique instrumentation including mandolin and upright bass, they were on the brink of big-time success.  Their split was unexpected to say the least.

Luckily for fans, the end of the band has not meant the end of their unique sounds as the members venture into solo careers.  Lead singer, Lucas Reynolds, released a well-received solo EP in early 2006.  With the release of his first EP, mandolinist, Beau Stapleton shows what he has been up to since the band called it quits.

As the EP opens, listeners will wonder if the group really did break up, as ‘Diamonds’ could be a Blue Merle song.  It just has that feel... the vibe, the instruments, the tempo … it’s got it all.  There’s just a different person on lead vocals.  But, as the EP continues, Stapleton breaks away from the “Blue Merle” model, demonstrating that he has something different to offer.  The bottle clanking on ‘Maid Behind the Bar’ and the electronica-esque hidden track show there’s more to this guy than just radio-friendly pop tunes.  Rather, Stapleton constructs rich songs with intriguing lyrics, beautiful harmonies, and his signature mandolin.  Not to mention all the other instruments he plays on this compilation… guitar, banjo, bass, and violin just to name a few.

BEN KWELLER

ON MY WAY

BOBBY BARE JR.

FROM THE END OF YOUR LEASH

Son of country music legend, Bobby Bare, family friend of Shel Silverstein and the Cashes (Johnny & June, that is), Bobby Bare Jr. has quite a history to either embrace or overcome.

It seems as if he’s chosen to marry his childhood influences with his professed love of the dark melancholy of Brit Pop, making for some very intriguing and refreshing music.  Bare’s honky tonk voice sings about fun little subjects such as rejection, desolation and dysfunctional relationships.  The arrangements serve his off kilter lyrics quite effectively with a steel guitar and harmonica providing a country vibe and electric guitar, piano, drums, violin, sax and dulcimer rounding out the sonic background.  Somehow, Bare manages this menagerie of instruments without sounding indulgent.

Bare’s songs are dripping with sardonic wit, especially his tongue-in-cheek homage to his hometown of Nashville entitled, ‘Visit Me In Music City.’  The entire song is worthy of quoting, but my favorite verse is, “Record deals fly in and out/Like happy bumblebees/The cops carry capos in case you want to change your key/In Nashville Tennessee.”  This fusion of indie – country might not be for everyone.  But, if you consider yourself to have a good sense of humor, it’s a pretty safe bet that these songs will stay with you for quite a while.

BRENDAN BENSON

THE ALTERNATIVE TO LOVE

BRETT DENNEN

SELF-TITLED

At 6’5” with a voice that hovers between that of man and boy, Brett Dennen is quite a unique figure in today’s folk/singer/songwriter crowd. Setting him further apart is his musical styling, which is, at the very least, a blend of folk, reggae, and world music. Dennen has dedicated his debut album to “the consciousness of truth, global and spiritual mindedness,” and he means it.  He songs are full of self-actualized messages of gratitude, love, and the power of compassion. When the opening lyrics are, “ I welcome the sun, the clouds and rain/The wind that sweeps the sky clean and let’s the sun shine again/This is the most magnificent life has ever been,” you know this guy is seriously positive.  Dennen writes and sings as if he’s seen his share of sadness (and possibly illness) in his relatively short life, and has come out the other side.

At first listen, the purity of lyrics, voice, and intention was, actually, kind of unnerving.  To someone on a steady diet of cynical singer/songwriter fare, I wasn’t prepared for such unabashedly positive songs.  The music and style of playing are simultaneously uplifting and extremely intimate.  Not a great collection of songs to inspire your next work out session, but it might remind you to stop and smell the roses…and recycle.

BRIGHT EYES

DIGITAL ASH IN A DIGITAL URN