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Blues Traveler Is Well Beyond the Hook

30 Mar

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It’s hard to believe that “Hook” and “Run-around” by Blues Traveler are two decades old, but face it Millennials, you are aging at an alarming rate. However, while I may have just depressed you, remember that a fine wine gets better with age, and after millions of records sold and countless hours on the road, folk/jam-band aficionados Blues Traveler are exploring some new territory with their first release in three years and 12th studio album. Yes, this influential and creative rock band from Princeton, New Jersey, paired its immense music skill and sweet, sweet harmonica with other talented musicians to form Blow up The Moon, a unique collaboration of Blues Traveler and several different artists. The genres covered in this melodic synthesis? Is endless an option?

Want some electronic influence? How about 3OH!3? In the mood for some Ska/Reggae/Hip-hop? Let’s add Dirty Heads & Rome Ramirez to the mix. Country? Why not. Thompson Square, Secondhand Serenade, and Jewel. How about some straight rock? Bowling for Soup, New Hollow, and Plain White T’s. And, in the why the heck not category, Hanson and Thomas Ian Nicholas (of “American Pie” fame) round up this eclectic mix of musicians who, with Blues Traveler, combine to form 14 tracks – each individual song representing a collaboration of some kind.

The idea, which was developed during Blues Traveler’s celebration of its 20th anniversary of the release of Four, is now a reality, and on April 7, you will be able to get your hands on this diverse release. I have had the opportunity to take a sneak listen to the album, and I am a full proponent of you going out and purchasing it. There is something so infectiously cool about the album; let’s talk about a few songs.

“Castaway” is the third track on the album, and it is not particularly difficult to guess this collaboration. The reggae sound ostensibly seems like it might clash with John Popper’s folksy vocals and harmonica; however, it pairs oddly well. There is this strange chill that develops with harmonica and reggae. The song goes down like a Corona enjoyed in New Orleans – a little particularly but refreshing all the same.

When you have a chance to listen to the full album in early April, check out “Hurricane,” “Blow Up The Moon,” and “Nikkia’s Prom,” which, with “Castaway” are the top tracks on the album.

Find out more about the album on the band’s website.

Modest Medley: Briars Frome, Snowbride, and Clive Tanaka

12 Mar

Hey, can everyone just shut up for a second and listen to these? This medley features music that will calm you, soothe you, and perhaps even heal you. Don’t fight it, just relax and settle in for a few minutes; you’ll be glad you did.

Snowbride – “Rooftop Islands”                                                       

Southern beatmakers, Snowbride takes mind-melt psych rock and pairs it with droning synths. Blissed out and worn, “Rooftop Islands” has its own hazy sheen.

Find Snowbride on Facebook, tumblr, YouTube, and Bandcamp.

Briars Frome – s/t EP

This is a little darker. Briars Frome creates a landscape with the sounds they knit together. Slow and purposeful, the opening track of their EP “(No) Welcome to Briars Frome,” opens up with fuzzy percussion and humble guitars. They really make thunderclaps work as music, which probably isn’t something you hear every day. The rest of the release follows suit, so be sure to give it a listen in full on their Bandcamp.

Find Briars Frome on tumblr.

Clive Tanaka y su orquesta

My beloved Clive Tanaka. Tanaka is a reclusive Japanese electronic artist that hasn’t really ever been “active” in the music scene. Or at least, I’ve never heard a peep out of him since his masterpiece, Jet Set Siempre 1o. This album was a hit at my college radio station, and “Neu Chicago” was our most popular song for years. Nothing can top those steel drums and underwater vocals.

I hope you don’t want any more information on Clive Tanaka. He has nothing on the web except for a very outdated website, so you could do well to just Google him and see what comes up.

Belongs in a Museum: Monuments and Statues reveal debut album Fractals

9 Mar

Monuments and statues Photo

There is a very important reason why Freelance Whales is my favorite band: prolific banjo-manship. I do not know why, but I just love banjos in all their plucky glory. My earliest banjo memory is when I was a kid watching Steve Martin on SNL perform a silly tune called “Late For School” where he played that glorious instrument. I was hooked. Monuments and Statues’ debut album, Fractals, features prominently a banjo, so, needless to say, I’ve been listening to it on repeat.

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Jay Brown celebrates life and family in latest record, Beginner Mind

23 Feb

As much as I love looking for the newest, craziest fad in music, I have an appreciation for tradition. The tradition to which I am referring is Americana, as it was basically invented in the Appalachian Mountains. (I learned that from a Belgian movie, I’m a terrible American.) There is something irresistible in the familiar chords, rhythms, and above all, simplicity. Jay Brown is a self-proclaimed one man band, though he’s not a street performer; instead he belongs in coffeeshops and intimate theaters, creating his ageless folk melodies.

Jay Brown is a humble musician. His latest album, Beginner Mind, is a look into his personal life and beliefs. Clearly a family man, the first sound you hear upon putting the record on is a baby’s laugh, an ode to his new daughter no doubt. The song that follows, “New Lovin’ Mother,” is actually my favorite, with its Simon-and-Garfunkel-like feel to it, sung directly to his newborn. Brown’s single, “Get Your Fill of Feelin’ Hungry,” was written about his time as a youth living alone with his (singular) cup and bowl. Though this track is clearly retrospective, he is giving advice, to himself sure, but also to his daughter. Creating new life makes one reflect on his or her own experiences, and I’m sure we all can think of things we would have done differently. The thing is, I’m not sure Brown necessarily agrees; “Get Your Fill of Feelin’ Hungry” serves more as a note of carpe diem- take things as they come, live simply, and appreciate life.

Jay Brown plays in many other bands, but his self-duplication has its advantages. Many artists these days are adept at personally creating all the sounds that went into their record, like Beck did for his recent Grammy triumph, Morning Phase. This is essentially what Brown means when he says he is a one man band, but when he performs live he really does have a harmonica around his neck and a tambourine under his toes. Impressive sounds can come from the most unlikely setups.

If you dig folk or roots music, there is very little chance that you won’t enjoy Beginner Mind. Unless of course you’re a sensitive conservative. I appreciate songs that have hidden political digs, or in Jay Brown’s case, not hidden at all. (Thom Yorke simply dedicated “Atoms for Peace” to Sarah Palin, he didn’t name the song after her.) As you can probably tell from the title, “Fox News (Help Me Jesus),” does not sing praises of the infamous program, Fox and Friends. How serendipitous that I should find this track now, after the nonsense Fox spouted off about Muslims in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo tragedy. At least we can laugh along with this song.

Traditional folk music is a fundamental piece of America’s cultural tapestry. It has a history that is rich yet incomplete. Thanks to folks like Jay Brown, there is no danger of this genre ever disappearing. “I’m carrying on this ancient tradition of putting life into music and music into life,” Brown says. Unapologetically so.

Beginner Mind is out now. Find more information on Jay Brown and his one man band on his website.

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Praising our white winter, the new highway

19 Feb

New Highway Hymnal

I can’t say I’ve ever worshipped the highway, nor at one, but these are the types of hymns I can support. Introducing the Massachusetts-based garage rockers, New Highway Hymnal and their debut LP, The Reverb Room.

If the title of this album is a double entendre, I don’t know what the second meaning could be; the denotation, though, is vivid. The reverb feels turned up to the max on every instrument, including most notably the vocals. At some point, the album simply becomes a cacophony of sound, but it is organized chaos, creating many hues of harmonies and dissonance. This is unabashed and fearless garage rock, so if you’re into that, The Reverb Room deserves your attention.

The Reverb Room is out now. For more information on The New Highway Hymnal, visit their Facebook, Twitter, tumblr, and Bandcamp.

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