Alex Hirsch - Naturally...

Alex Hirsch - Naturally...
1997/2006/2010, Key Wins Productions

 You might say that Alex Hirsch was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but all of the silver in the world can’t make up for talent.  Hirsch has proven his talent over the years, collaborating with folks such as Elliot Randall, Ice-T, Bionik, Too Short and Griffen.  Alex Hirsch is the son of actor Judd Hirsch (Taxi, Dear John, NUMB3RS) and has certainly benefited accordingly, but Alex’s approach to music has always had a DIY slant.  A few years back Hirsch borrowed money from family members and started his own record label, Key Wins Productions, focusing on releasing albums made with real instruments by real people.  Hirsch’s latest album, Naturally…, is steeped in highly original songwriting that blends progressive and classic rock styles with doses of 1960’s psychedelia and jazz. 

Naturally… opens with “Martian Advance”, featuring churning guitars and an exotic progressive rock sound ala The Rheostatics.  Lyrically the song is more of a riff than a complete idea, but the grand crests and theatric turns play like a film score element.  “Naturally” is ethereal rock with a lot of open space in the arrangement all done up in reverb.  It’s a love song full of sadness and memory; Hirsch’s lyrics are intelligent if a bit off the map for your typical love song.  You might be forgiven for thinking this is geek rock with a refined touch, as Hirsch mixes a distinctive breed of intelligentsia with a charismatically finessed low-fi sound.  Hirsch takes on pure jazz form with “Structure”, offering wicked guitar and bass solos and filling in on piano is subtle but tangible fashion.  Rush fans may be reminded of the sort of structure and style displayed on their Gangster of the Boats Trilogy.

“I Speak The Truth” is an odd bit of atypical blues featuring simply Hirsch and his guitar.  Sparsely arranged and intriguing, the song is like eavesdropping on someone’s internal dialogue.  “Nova” is a dreamy ode detailing the moment of falling in love in graphic detail, reveling in the wake of the emotional explosion.  “Christine” revisits a chance meeting at the wrong time, where possibility and romance churn against limited time and circumstance in a mix of hope and frustration.  The chorus on this song is hauntingly familiar.  “One Confession” is an angry emotional jam with minimal lyrics.  Dark and vibrant, the song is full of anger and seeks an answer in no uncertain terms.  “5755” is dreamy 1960’s folk/pop ala Crosby, Stills and Nash written with a 1970’s singer/songwriter pastiche.  Well constructed, this tune is simply a pleasure to listen to. 

“Jail” is a jazzified rock composition with theatrical elements.  There’s a diffuse sense of humor running through this song that’s mildly entertaining as well.  “Girlfriend” is full of reverence; intelligent and off-beat.  Hirsch moons in a stream-of-conscious vamp in a blend of spacey rock, jazz and singer-songwriter styling.  The solo version of “Christine” sounds to be recorded live in the studio and is a bit more affecting than the standard version.  Hirsch manages to capture a live energy in this recording that casts the song in a better light.  “The Day” is a diffuse, open arrangement; a memorialization in song dotted with Branford Marsalis-style saxophone fills and runs.  “Time And Space” plays like two songs.  The first half is a long instrumental jam.  Once the vocals kick in Hirsch creates vocal triads that sound a great deal like early 1980’s Asia.  “Time And Space” has a finding-our-way feel to it that’s communicated in both the lyrics and arrangement, in what may be the most dynamic and original songwriting in a highly original collection of songs.  Natually… closes with “Lennon”, a tribute to the ex-Beatle that’s both musically and emotionally committed.  It’s a well-written and well-executed closer.

Alex Hirsch hits all of the right notes on Naturally…, following his muse wherever it leads.  Influences run through the album in veins, playing off of Hirsch’s natural musical proclivities and creating dynamic musical moments, helped along by highly intelligent lyrics and an intense creativity that seemingly never rests.  Naturally… is an exciting listen; you never know what’s around the next musical turn, or what else Hirsch might have up his sleeve.  Naturally… is an album that will keep you coming back.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Alex Hirsch at www.alexhirsch.com or www.myspace.com/alexhirschmusic.  Naturally... is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available digitally from iTunes.

Solaram - Love & The Sweet Divine

Solaram - Love & The Sweet Divine
2010, Rainbow Quartz

Solaram is a south Philadelphia quintet specializing in dreamy 1960’s folk/rock. Joe Tagg (guitar/vox); Pete Rydberg (guitar/vocals); Shawn Kilroy (guitar/vocals) and J. Laughlin (drums) spin musical webs that would have been perfectly welcome in the Summer of Love. 2010 sees Solaram release their first full length album, Love & The Sweet Divine.

Love & The Sweet Divine is pure 1960's ethereal folk/rock in the vein of The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas or modern purveyors Mammoth Life. Eschewing grand variances in sound, Solaram makes Love & The Sweet Divine a study in musical consistency that will either delight or confound listeners. Essentially, if you're a fan of one of the bands above and/or this particular style of dreamy folk/pop then you'll love Solaram. If you're not then Love & The Sweet Divine is likely to be a test of endurance. Solaram builds their vocals in layers; lead vocalist Tagg rarely is exposed without voices around him. This both works to hide vocal/pitch imperfections as well as build the dreamy atmosphere of the album. Solaram works to keep things simple, with cyclic arrangements build around simple progressions that are layered in enough sound to keep them from sounding pro forma. The opening track "When She Falls" is a prime example, built around a short, repetitive progression that forms the backbone of the song. "Precious Time" has a bit more life to it; catchy enough to serve as a single to AOR, classic rock and adult contemporary radio if Solaram so chooses. "My Back Life" brings a bit of Beatles feel into the mix while also dabbling in a feedback-prone Americana that sounds rough and uncut.

"Dead Pool" has a pure 1960's pop sway to it that will intrigue some listeners, wrapping a solid melody in layers of sound that are pleasant as a whole but a bit stark if you pick them apart. Tagg seems to struggle with matching the scale in the arrangement at times, and there's a core of dissonance in the middle of outward harmonies that reflects the vaguely disturbing message. "All I Want" takes the dreamy pop up a notch, applying a bit of edge in a song about finding peace in rock n roll. It's one of the more angst-filled songs on the disc in spite of the dream unsettled feel of the album as a whole. "Time Wait For Me" culls up the angst of living in uncertain times where there are more questions than answers to them; it's one of the more memorable melodies on the album; the layered sound surrounding a peaceful middle with rough and discomfiting bits of ambience. Solaram closes with "Fur C-Ann", a meandering acoustic-guitar instrumental with only bare framing from the rest of the band. It's a delicate and beautiful coda that contrasts with much of what has come before.

Solaram's Love & The Sweet Divine is going to have its detractors, but there's no denying the band has managed to create a complete and compelling song cycle. The deeply reserved but angst-filled style to the songwriting and the ethereal 1960's folk/pop ambience of Love & The Sweet Divine may be more sonically oriented toward Baby Boomers and those who would follow in their footsteps, but the angst and unsettled nature of the songwriting is up-to-the-minute and fresh. Love & The Sweet Divine is a great album to sink into and get acquainted with.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Solaram at www.myspace.com/solaram09.  Love & The Sweet Divine drops on September 7, 2010.  You can order the album from Amazon.com as a CD or Download. 

Angel Band - Bless My Sole

Angel Band - Bless My Sole
2010, Appleseed Records

Angel Band grew out of a partnership between vocalist/songwriter Nancy Josephson and musician David Bromberg, starting out seven years ago as jam session that Josephson didn’t even want to attend. While the personnel in Angel band has changed around over the last several years, if appears that Angel Band has finally perfected their sound with the addition (over time) of vocalists Kathleen Weber and Aly Paige. This sound is vibrantly on display on their most recent album, Bless My Sole.

Bless My Sole opens with "Hope Is On The Way", a secular gospel tune in an Americana/rock arrangement that was inspired by Barack Obama's presidential run in 2008. Josephson has an amazingly soulful country/rock voice, and the vocal triads here will blow you away. The song is somewhat low-key but catchy for all that; a great opening track. "Same Boat" mixes gospel, country and blues in a sociology lesson about minimizing the differences between people in a society that's artfully done. "Didn't See It Coming (When The Levee Broke)" calls out the effects of Hurricane Katrina on those in the small parishes around New Orleans who are often overlooked in public discussion. The classic country arrangement tinged with zydeco sounds is brilliant, and this has to rank among the best (and least political) songs written about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

"King Of Nothing" is Wilson Phillips gone country from a harmony perspective. The song talks about the sacrifices people make to become successful and how little they really gain. (I Feel) Lucky is dark, catchy country music with southern rock attitude woven in the seams. Crafted over an occasional R&B beat, the ladies of Angel Band weave angelic harmonies while the fiddle dances around their vocal fire. Occasionally a song will show up that's better heard than described. So I'll tell you to simply listen to "Fly Away Home" and be grateful for the experience; it's a thing of beauty.

"Black Tar Sway" shows the darker side of Angel Band while maintaining their bent for prolific vocal harmonies. "Deeds We Have Done" is a great blues tune with elements of bluegrass and gospel that you'll have on repeat. "Go Ahead And Go", while not the biggest tune on the album, might be the perfect vehicle to introduce yourself to the buoyant harmonies Angel Band are capable of. Delving into the sound of 1960's Motown female vocal groups with a vague country twist, Angel Band delivers a true "Wow" moment. Angel Band closes with "Bless My Soul", a gorgeous call for help in difficult times. It's not the sort of song you'd traditionally associate with beauty; being more of a melancholy-but-hopeful appeal, but Angel Band culls every bit of dark beauty they can from the song and sends it sailing to your ears.

Comparisons to Wilson Phillips, Crosby Stills and Nash and even The Dixie Chicks are going to happen, but the earthy tone of the songs on Bless My Sole set Angel Band apart. The various blends of musical styles herein may not be unique, but there aren't many bands in the popular sphere that can do so much so well. The distinctive mix of voices on Bless My Sole is stunning; you'll find yourself listening to Bless My Sole again and again in awe of the blends these three ladies create. And in case you're wondering, the rest of the band is equally good. There's no missing link here.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Angel Band at http://www.angelband.net/ or www.myspace.com/theofficalangelbandsite.  Bless My Sole is available via Amazon.com as both a CD and Download.  The album is also available through iTunes.

Stonehoney - The Cedar Creek Sessions

Stonehoney - The Cedar Creek Sessions
2010, Music Road Records

Austin, Texas bills itself as the live-music capital of the world. The more we see of artists such as Stonehoney, the more we believe the hype. Stonehoney is the coming together of four singer/songwriters (Shawn Davis, Phil Hurley, David Phenicie and Nick Randolph) who met at a songwriters round-table and found instant chemistry. Fans who attend their live shows feel it to, as Stonehoney has become one of the local favorites in Austin. In recording their debut album, The Cedar Creek Sessions, Stonehoney sought to capture that live vibe by recording the entire album live in-studio with the help of guests such as Earl "Poole" Ball (Johnny Cash) and Ken Coomer (Wilco). The result is an aural experience you have to hear to believe.

The Cedar Creek Sessions opens with "Two Years Down", an Eagles-style country rocker with distinctive pop sensibility and an unforgettable melody. It’s a song of longing written from afar; a great start to the album. "Headlight On A Midnight Train" is the absolutely brilliant second track; a song that should not be neglected from consideration as a single. This is one of those songs better heard than described as Stonehoney builds a sound here that approaches perfection. "Lucky One" is an upbeat love song with serious potential as single that sounds a bit like a Blue Rodeo outtake but with a soulful side. Stonehoney displays their best trait on "I Don't Wanna Go"; an ability to write commercial songs without trying to sound commercial. "I Don't Wanna Go Home" is a song about the desolation of being newly on your own. There's a definite Eagles feel here, but Stonehoney keeps the sound their own.

"White Knuckle Wind" finds listeners venturing into the honky tonk with Stonehoney in a turn you'll find it difficult not to dance to. "Good As Gone" takes a more serious tone, treating listeners to a story about the consequences of unintended events and reminding us that sometimes a mistake can change our lives. "Feels Like Home" shows off an organic sound that's a bit closer to traditional country that shows off Stonehoney's collective compositional skills. "Dance With You" is the mandatory schmaltzy love song; a surprisingly good pop-oriented country ballad with vocals that sound more than a bit like Bob Seger. "There Is A Light" is a pleasant little tune with an uplifting message and a melody you'll find yourself humming along to the first time you hear it. Stonehoney closes with "Feel Like I'm Gonna Die", a raucous honky tonk tune that seems like the perfect way to say goodnight.

Listening to The Cedar Creek Sessions is a revelatory experience. Not only do you get a clear picture of the songwriting and musical talent of the band, but you also get a sound that seems to closely approximate the band's live sound. If the experience of hearing The Cedar Creek Sessions doesn't end up with you searching the internet to see how close Stonehoney's next tour comes to your town then you weren't listening carefully. While the sound is a bit different, the last country band I heard come along that had their stuff so thoroughly together was Diamond Rio. Stonehoney is a creative force that will hopefully be making great albums for a long time to come. The Cedar Creek Sessions should be the first of many.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Stonehoney at http://www.stonehoney.com/ or www.myspace.com/stonehoney.  The Cedar Creek Sessions is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Steve Dawson - I Will Miss The Trumpets And The Drums

Steve Dawson - I Will Miss The Trumpets And The Drums
2010, 2009 Kernel Sound Recordings/Undertow Music

As leader singer and songwriter of Dolly Varden, Steve Dawson has toured the world many times over. While continuing his association with Dolly Varden, Dawson has taken to a much more intimate style of performing as a solo artist in the past several years. Dawson's latest solo project, I Will Miss The Trumpets And Drums, reflects the roots of a life spent in music. You'll hear the bright rock/folk sounds of his native California, the country music of his Idaho youth and the soul, funk and R&B of his adult life in Chicago. The Berklee College Of Music graduate flies solo on much of I Will Miss The Trumpets And Drums, but features a crack band consisting of Frank Rosaly (drums); Jason Adasiewicz (vibraphone); Josh Berman (cornet); Joel Patterson (pedal steel) and Jason Roebke (bass).

I Will Miss The Trumpets And The Drums opens with “Obsidian” in a wonderfully full Americana arrangement filled with gorgeous vocal harmonies in a Blue Rodeo meets Crosby Stills & Nash effect. “Long Overdue” is a pensive, regretful tune that displays shades of Paul Simon’s early solo material. It’s a nice, low-key tune with a gorgeous melody line and a simple arrangement built around the acoustic guitar. “A Conversation With Myself” is a bit more mundane but still a pretty, pleasant tune. Things get a bit odd on “Mastodon”, a rambling story-song touching on dinosaurs, aliens and emotions that rise again. Intriguing in spite of its oddity, the song features an acoustic arrangement with spacey, ethereal airs. On “Today She Found The Way To Break My Heart” Dawson heads for the country with a solid Americana theme that nicely walks the line between roots rock and country.

It’s here that the wheels come off the wagon, so to speak. Up to this point I Will Miss The Trumpets And The Drums is a solid to plus album. Dawson manages to package the weakest material of the album over the next five tracks. The highlight in this stretch is the gospel-tinged “I Wish That I Could Believe In You Again”, but if Dawson had excised these songs he’d have a top notch album on his hands. Things pick up again by the time Dawson gets to “Waiting”, a pretty tune that explores the dichotomy of hope and hopelessness. It’s the best songwriting on the album and the sort of tune that will touch listeners deeply. “Goodbye” is a pleasant last call that leads into the contemplative night club number, “It’s Not What You Think”, a pleasant closer that eases you out the door like a seasoned bartender with a deft touch.

Steve Dawson has some very good moments on I Will Miss The Trumpets And The Drums. The album is probably five songs too long; a cut that would have turned the collection from a good one into a great one. Nevertheless, the material is here that makes Dawson’s opus a worthwhile destination for your ears. I Will Miss The Trumpets And The Drums is worth the trip.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn: website

Buy: Amazon, Amazon.MP3, iTunes

Review: DownTown Mystic - Read The Signs

DownTown Mystic - Read The Signs
2007, Sha-La Music

What turned out as amusing side project for Sha-La Records president Robert Allen has turned into a serious venture. DownTown Mystic produced a demo that wound up with two different songs getting airplay on KROQ. Ensuing national airplay convinced Allen it was time turn the demo into a full-length album. The result, Rock N Roll 4 The Soul, was a strong debut featuring co-songwriting by Bruce Engler and the rhythm section of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Downtown Mystic returns now with their latest album, Read The Signs. featuring a new rhythm section and some serious songwriting.

Read The Signs opens with 1960's Folk/Rock of I Can't Let Go, a catchy quasi-love song that shows shades of Crosby, Stills & Nash in the harmonies. Go Back features some nice, lively guitar work but runs a bit long at five-and-half-minutes. DownTown Mystic is a decent listen; a bit on the bland side but sonically pretty. From the lyric perspective the song is a bit awkward, a trait that carries over a bit into One Step Closer. This is a song that has potential hit written over the music. The highlight of the album is Read The Signs, which sounds a bit like a Bob Seger tune. Read The Signs has a strong clear hook and is very catchy.

A close second is Think A Little Louder, which features one of those choruses that gets stuck in your head and won't leave of its own volition. DownTown Mystic brings the same feel good, infectious Rock sound to Test Of Time, a jubilant love song about marriage and the power of love. Tomorrow's Clown finds DownTown Mystic entering the California Country territory trod by The Eagles with much success, before breaking into infectious Roots Rock on A Way To Know. The last track on the disc, an untitled song that comes up as "Unknown" if your system displays title information moves back to the Poppy-Classic Rock sound that seems to the be the middle ground for DownTown Mystic. It's perhaps the most generic of the tracks on the album; pleasant but not overly impressive.

Read The Signs has its ups and downs, but when they're at their best, DownTown Mystic is an eminently listenable band. This is feel good music for folks who miss 1980's Guitar Rock and Adult Contemporary formats (ala radio's The River). Robert Allen has an exceedingly pleasant voice, and in general the songs are quite strong in the writing department. Take some time to Read The Signs.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about DownTown Mystic at www.myspace.com/downtownmystic or http://www.shala.com/. Read The Signs is available as either a CD or Download from CDBaby.com.

Review: Bryan Gorsira - So Far

Bryan Gorsira - So Far
2009, Bryan Gorsira

Biologist and songwriter Bryan Gorsira is back. Last year we reviewed his album The Best Years, finding his songwriting quite memorable and some of the talent he’d attracted to work with him formidable. Now Gorsira is back with another collection of songs entitled So Far. The album sits right in the middle of the singer/songwriter aesthetic.

So Far opens with Searching, a contemplative, vaguely melancholy song about fruitless searches with a sweet, gentle melody and a deep poetic sense. Searching is a powerful opening song that clamors for attention with subtle grace. Gorsira scores big points with Give Me A Day, a song that might have been right at home in the late-60's/early 70's singer/songwriter era. The harmonies here recall Crosby Stills & Nash, and the songwriting in general is superb. Gorsira's Caught, sung here exquisitely by Dana Cooper is the tale of someone who knows their love is likely to have no good end but has surrendered to it nonetheless. There is a passing resemblance to Stairway To Heaven here that kept presenting itself, but it’s an incidental resemblance that might almost be ironic.

The Best Years is the strongest entry on So Far, a Country-flavored love song written husband-to-wife about the times go by and the happiness they've brought. This is a major Mix Tape candidate for a slightly more mature set of listeners and is very well written. Something Right is a gentle, happy moment from a man surveying his life and finding that all is as he'd have it. Gorsira and band meander through Again and StepChild before finishing up with Ramble, which owes a bit of its musical lineage to Kansas' Dust In The Wind.

Gorsira is a more than competent songwriter. The pacing of So Far drags a bit over the last third or so of the album, but it is a strong effort with a few songs that might garner him real attention as a songwriter. There are some striking similarities between a couple of Gorsira's songs and classic rock tunes here, but the differences are enough to at most claim "inspiration". So Far is another decent effort from Bryan Gorsira.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Bryan Gorsira at http://www.bgorsira.com/ or www.myspace.com/bryangorsira. You can purchase a copy of So Far as either a CD or Download from CDBaby.com.

Review: Silverbird – Silverbird

Silverbird – Silverbird
2009, Heritage Recordings

Silverbird is the Atlanta, Georgia duo of David Leinweber and Bob McMillan. Career musicians, Leinweber and McMillan play covers that range from easy listening to rock but are most at home playing their own original material. Silverbird plays almost everything but are primarily influenced by the music of the 1960’s. Their debut album, Silverbird, was released earlier in 2009.

Silverbird slips gently into Boomer Rock mode on their self-titled debut, following in the footsteps of bands like The Band, Crosby Stills & Nash and the like. Thursday Ride bespeaks of a time when cruising was the thing to do. Heart Of A Song sticks with reverie, but this time about the music that inspires us. Musician's Prayer is a bit kitschy but cute. A prayer with a sense of humor, Musician's Prayer will be entertaining for most. Daphne is presented in both studio and live versions, and was written about the character of the same name from the old Dark Shadows TV program. Played by Charlie's Angel Kate Jackson, Daphne is the reason for a bit of inspired story telling here. I, for once, actually preferred the studio version to the live versions. Sweet Delilah is a song I viewed with some skepticism when I saw it on the track list as the subject has been covered as long as songs have been written, but Silverbird surprises with the best songwriting and performance on the CD. A great hook, great melody and unforgettable chorus make this a must-have disc, much less song. The power of music is revealed in Mitch Ryder Revisited, which recounts the ability of the music of our youth to pick us up all throughout our lives. Silverbird closes out with Some Like It Hot, a decent Blues tune with some fiery guitar play.

Silverbird is a decent enough debut, with some great moments and a few where things get a little lost. The balance sheet points to good things here, however. The songwriting is nuanced and mature, the musicianship is great, and vocalist David Leinweber has a highly pleasant voice to listen to. Silverbird is definitely a bit more oriented to the Baby Boomer market, but fans of great music of all ages will find something here to like.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Silverbird at http://www.davidleinweber.com/ or www.myspace.com/silverbirdduo. No online outlet was noted to purchase Silverbird, but if you contact the band through their MySpace page I’m sure they’ll be happy to help you out.

Review: The Dimes - The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry

The Dimes - The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry
2009, Pet Marmoset Records

Last year I reviewed a recording from Canadian singer/songwriter Mike Ford, Canada Needs You, Volume 2. The album was essentially a lesson in Canadian history set to music. At the time I remember thinking that it would be great if somebody would do something similar with American History. And along come The Dimes. Their sophomore album, The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry, is due for release on December 1, 2009, and features amazingly polished songwriting, memorable melodies, divine harmonies, top-notch instrumentation and yes, a steady dose of obscure American history with Boston as the center of it all. Engineering for the album was handled by Jeff Stuart Saltzman (Death Cab For Cutie, Decemberists, Sleater-Kinney).

The Dimes open with Damrell's Fire, a tale about The Great Boston Fire of 1872. The Folk/Americana arrangement is perfect accompaniment to the autobiographical account of one fireman who would not survive. The song is artfully written and beautiful in melody and harmony. The Liberator recalls the abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison between 1831 and 1866. The Boston-based paper was very controversial, particularly in the South. The instrumentation provided by The Dimes wraps around the narrative like a comfortable cardigan; these guys can play. The Dimes pay tribute to Clara Barton, founder of The American Red Cross on Save Me, Clara. The missive is from a dying soldier. Make sure you listen to the lyrics on this one in particular. Aside from being a fine vocalist, Johnny Clay is pretty amazing as a word smith as well.

The inspiration for Celia's Garden came from a painting by Impressionist Childe Hassam of Celia Thaxter in her garden. The song is done in a glorious Pop/Americana arrangement with Crosby Stills & Nash-style vocal harmonies and a melody that attaches itself to your brain and won't let go. The Ballad Of Winslow Homer is a gorgeous Folk song where each verse is based on a painting of Homer's. This might be the best all-around songwriting on the album, and the vocal harmonies are exquisite.

Webster Thayer was written about the judge in the infamous Sacco And Vanzetti trials, accused of forcing the trial toward conviction. Critics at the time (and posthumously) decried Thayer's handling of the trial. This tune is a Folk/Rock offering that details one perspective on Thayer's state of mind during the trial. The tune is well-written; the ideas clearly communicated. Perhaps not as dynamic as the rest of the album, but a strong song nonetheless. Charles Street serves as something of an epilogue to Webster Thayer, a paean to the infamous Boston jail that held Sacco & Vanzetti and later, Malcolm X. This song has a straight-forward Folk/Rock feel with an intriguing chorus that's both upbeat and dark.

Lovely Mary Dyer gives a strong picture of one of the "Boston Martyrs. Mary Dyer was a Quaker living in Colonial Massachussets. Massachussets law forbid Quakers from living within its bounds. Dyer continued to do so in spite of a previous arrest and knowledge of what would happen to her if caught again. Dyer was hanged for beliefs, and became a symbol to remind the Puritans of the reason they had come to New World: religious freedom. The song is a loving tribute in a lush arrangement with simple but elegant harmonies. Abigail, Don't Be Long pays homage to Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams. This Beatles-esque ballad has an upbeat pleasant arrangement and is a great fit as the penultimate track. The Dimes close out with Boston (Trimountaine), a musical geography lesson of the city of Boston with attention paid to historical sites.

The Dimes take a risk by steeping their songwriting in so much history, but the risk pays off with a collection of songs that are beautifully written, artfully described lyrically and full of a love of both history and music that's hard not to catch. The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry is brilliant and inspired; a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc. Don't miss it!

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Dimes at www.myspace.com/thedimes or http://www.thedimes.com/. The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry drops on December 1, 2009. Keep an eye on the Store section of The Dimes’ website for purchase information

Review: RainPace - Easy Labor

RainPace - Easy Labor
2009, RainPace

RainPace is a Los Angeles based collective of actors, singers, comedians and all-around musicians. Two-thirds of the musical/comedy act Changing Lanes (Kerry Phillips and Valerie Tullous) are here, as well Robert Briscoe Evans, Mike Hunter and Michael Salas. Phillips was a writer for Showtime’s Deep Fried TV and has starred with Peter Billingsley (Messy Marvin, A Christmas Story) in Who’s Watching Me. Tullous is an Award-winning stage actress and a pretty mean singer (check out the part in her bio about homicidal ideation). Robert Brisco “Good Friend Bob” Evans is a major stage actor in Los Angeles, and has had a host of small to mid-size roles on TV and in movies (What Women Want, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Who’s The Boss, Caroline In The City, Ally McBeal). Mike Hunter is a longtime session player for A&M Records and was a childhood actor and model who spent two years touring the country with a mysterious and unnamed punk band (we dug but couldn’t find out whom). Michael Salas has played with numerous bands including Grupo America, The Tri Angels, 818 and The Pirates. As RainPace, the group is ready to release their latest storm of creation, known as Easy Labor.

Easy Labor opens with With Your Permission, a quirky folk duet that quickly grows into an ensemble vocal piece with a wicked sense of humor. The musicianship and vocals here are flawless with a down-home Country/Americana flavor that can't miss. Mood Wonderful Mood sounds like The Manhattan Transfer singing material from A William Finn musical. The song is incredibly lyrically dense; you almost need to stop the disc from time to time just to keep up with all the thoughts and ideas thrown your way. It's a great listen. Easy Labor is a melodic morality tale told ala Greek Chorus about taking the path of least resistance. I D'Wanna Do It is an amusing song about life's greatest ambition for someone who's done it all.

Oliver Thom renews the William Finn comparison, a biograph in song for a songwriter who never grew into his outlook. It's a charming tune with harmonies that are to die for. Sittin' Around sounds like an alternative take on I D'Wanna Do and is probably a great euphemism for the "this is your brain on drugs" commercials from the 1990's. Easy Labor closes with At The Big Table, a song about coming home and family with all the quirks and dysfunction that grease the wheels of love. There's a Crosby Stills & Nash feel to the harmonies on this one, and the arrangement is solid Americana. This is perhaps the best song on the disc; I wouldn't be surprised to find this one licensed for films or even better, I wouldn't be surprised to hear this as part of a stage show.

RainPace match musicianship, harmonies, songwriting and humor in an explosive package of songs that you simply can't ignore. There's a high dramatic sense to the music on Easy Labor; imagine if Shakespeare were still writing his farces in today's vernacular and had a penchant for folksy music. This is the sort of stuff he might come up with. Easy Labor is going to be a bit hokey to some readers, but it mixes elements of classic old-style family entertainment with strong songwriting and musicianship. You can't go wrong with an album like this.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about RainPace at http://www.rainpace.com/. You can purchase a copy of Easy Labor at CDBaby.com.

Review: The Lovely Feathers - Fantasy Of The Lot

The Lovely Feathers - Fantasy Of The Lot
2009, Sparks Music/Tommy Boy

Just a few years ago The Lovely Feathers were being hailed as the next big act out of Canada by outlets such as Spin Magazine and Rolling Stone. Life intervened; one member fell in love, another went to school, and so on and so forth. Indefinite hiatus became the band buzzword, yet life is a circle. The time off refocused the band's personal and musical priorities, and The Lovely Feathers are on the verge of re-claiming their position as the Next Big Act out of Canada. On August 18, 2009, The Lovely Feathers will release their sophomore album, Fantasy Of The Lot.

Fantasy Of The Lot opens with Lowiza, lamenting the loss of a sex drive in marriage. The song has an urgent quality to it, with the Lovely Feathers sounding a bit like The Talking Heads. Long Walks is a quirky Brit-Pop wonder that you won't be able to get out of your head. Finder's Fee is all about dysfunctional relationships and why people stay in them. It's jangly Brit-pop at its most austere and quite a decent listen. Fantasy Of The Lot seems to juxtapose the reality of life with the escapist fantasy of the silver screen. The song it artful and well written but feels incomplete, almost like a daydream you're roused from too early (which may well be the point). Ossified Homes is a great listen, lamenting the fact that the flexibility of youth is replaced by the hardening of choices and paths as we progress through life. The songwriting here is superb. Vaulted Precedents is built on the best pop hook on the album and harmonies that would make Crosby, Stills & Nash proud. You could wear out the repeat button on this one. It's not a complicated tune, but gets in your head and won't let you go.

Fantasy Of The Lot took some work to review. This is not a disc you get on the first listen, or even on the first few. Dedicated listening over a period of time pays its rewards, but casual listeners won't get into this unless they're naturally oriented in the same musical direction as The Lovely Feathers. The songwriting is quirky and enough off the beaten path to seem strange and unusual, and wonderful once you figure out what's going on. I highly recommend Fantasy Of The Lot, but suggest you save it for a time when you can really concentrate on the album.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Lovely Feathers at http://www.thelovelyfeathers.com/ or www.myspace.com/thelovelyfeathers. You can purchase copies of Fantasy Of The Lot at The Lovely Feathers’ webstore.

Review: Straw Dogs - Love And Then Hope

Straw Dogs – Love And Then Hope
2009, Crafty Records

High energy blended in subtle textures. This is an apt description of the music of Straw Dogs, a Seattle Americana quartet that's spreading out of the great northwest faster than influenza on an airplane. Singer/songwriter/guitarists Dave von Beck and Darren Smith feed off the energy and support of bassist Eric Bryson and drummer Casey Miller to create a sound that's part, CSN, part Son Volt and part Ryan Adams. Their latest album, Love And Then Hope is a collection of fourteen intelligent and well-written songs that push at the boundaries of Americana while exemplifying the very soul of the genre.

Love And Then Hope opens with Lie Awake, a song you'll be hearing in one way, shape or form. Lie Awake falls firmly between Country and Rock, but is so well written and so full of real emotion that its hard to imagine this song not being picked up for niche radio as well as for licensing opportunities. Besides it's not often you hear male vulnerability in song outside of canned ballads, which this most definitely is not. Could You is a very interesting musical construct, combing the weird, nervous energy of early REM with the highly melodic and dark timbered sounds of bands like Blue Rodeo. I could see this song doing very well on Americana radio. Down My Hall is a highly accessible pop/country song built around a very strong melody and great harmonies.

Something More is a hopeful love song that looks back at a broken relationship and wishing for another chance. The song is wonderfully tuneful and features both vocalists in harmony. It's a very mellow vibe but perhaps the well-written song on the disc. Waiting By The Gate is an inspired bit of songwriting. The song has a very earthy tone to it that's based in the protagonist's near-desperation. Make sure to give this one a careful listen. My favorite song on the disc is Then Maria. The sway to this song will draw you in, and the singer's pure devotion is palpable. As always, the chorus is full of great harmony, and the melody line will stick in your head for days. Other highlights include Serious Love, Remember My Garden, Numbers and First Time.

Love And Then Hope is one of those albums that you could sit and deconstruct for hours. The musicianship is top notch, as is the songwriting. The more upbeat tunes will haunt your brain, as von Beck and Smith have a unique knack for pop hooks embedded deep in their Americana sound. The heart in the music is distinctive, whether it's an optimistic upbeat country rocker, a sad ballad or a melancholy musical mood. Straw Dogs deserve significant attention; Seattle isn't big enough to hold them.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Straw Dogs at http://www.strawdogs.com/ or www.myspace.com/strawdogsmusic. You can purchase a copy of Love And Then Hope at www.cdbaby.com/cd/strawdogs5.