Album Reviews

Initially conceived as a project for fun and occasional gigs, The Weary Times have put together a strong debut that should help them chisel out a notch in the northwest music scene.

Holley’s Mythological Horses strike the match most combustible when leaning pop forward with a wacky garage-rock equation on YYYMF. At times doused with gasoline, the flames and heat from this new line up has the intensity to singe the boring, pedestrian elements of independent rock, thus keeping this genre and all it’s styles combustible.

When like-minded souls come together and fuse their talents and ideas into a focused common message, that is when they move from being a group of players to being “a band.”

The fifth album from Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers may prove to be their finest effort yet, as the group certainly did find the Heart of Memphis and brought her home.

After a month length of listens, Storm is best appreciated as a painting or sketch of Jurado’s mood. At times, begging for flashes of colors, as his gray scales cloud the cracks of light readily available, In The Shape of a Storm seeps from the stitching of canvas and offers both the ordinary and mystery we tug at.

That’s what Giants in the Trees is really about; they’re about having a good time, and they’d love to have you join in on the fun. Revel in the bliss.

It wraps up with “Whatcha Gonna Do?” which, unlike most of the tracks, has a slower, almost reggae vibe. Perhaps because it’s a call to action, and it’s important that the words be clearly heard; act now, before it’s too late, the song implores. It echoes what Keithley refers to as D.O.A.’s mantra; talk gets you motivated, but it’s action that gets the job done. Words to live by.

The 10 original tunes and an inspired cover of Mississippi Fred McDowell’s Kokomo are presented as a Blues duo format of guitar and drums that scored Benton placement in the semi-finals at the IBC in Memphis.

Having found dusty indie rock production tassels from early Rogue Wave to Brendan Benson’s singer-songwriter power-pop anthems, La Fille’s (pronounced la-fee) admirable, melody heavy debut Alright Already is a gem.

Tacocat’s latest album is a sweet pop treat, with a sunny outlook seemingly bursting out of the speakers on every track. Or is that really the case? On This Mess is a Place, appearances can be deceiving, and there’s definitely a bit of sleight of hand going on here.

Music should rub mind, body, and spirit without posturing, chasing dollar signs, or fitting pre-made molds. The Black Tones circumvent it all to expose only what’s real. “Mama! There’s a Spider in My Room!” may be the only song title carrying two exclamation points, but with Cobain & Cornbread exclamations flare.

Malkmus, a master at saying (and playing) more with less and using language (and bright sounds) as a direct attack, rather than aiming his arrows at the meaning. A Malkmus arrow is the gestalt and Groove Denied is worth verbalizing and visualizing over.