Deaf Havana

Deaf Havana 
New Release: Old Souls
Release Date: 1/21/14
Record Label: BMG/Chrysalis
Sounds Like: Airborne Toxic Event (NMT); Library Voices (NMT); The Postelles (NMT)
Location: Hunstanton, U.K.

For most of my reviews, I use this space to explain some overarching theme to describe my reaction to given reviewee's latest release or connect them to a larger vein of related acts. Unfortunately, the early weeks of 2014 haven't produced much compelling new material – although plenty is on the horizon in early February – so Deaf Havana essentially makes the cut here as the group whose new record I felt inspired enough to spend some effort reviewing (Bastille's Bad Blood deluxe edition nearly emerged solely on the strength of "Pompeii" – which you've likely heard on your preferred pop culture medium, but there's not enough there to warrant my stamp of approval).

So, what makes Deaf Havana worthy of my time, then? Well, they have some pretty catchy material on their first full-length album released in earnest in the United States, a mix of heartland rock and power pop-rock. They also smartly jettisoned half of their previous scream-metal identity with the departure of Ryan Mellor in 2010, allowing the sextet to play to the unit's inherent strengths.

Yet, at the same time, some of the material is a little thin in the message department. Occasionally, it seems like their instincts drive them towards Def Leppard when they should be channeling Bruce Springsteen and The Who, while at other times they come within striking distance of some examples of amorphous Christian rock, chock full of easy cliches and empty metaphor.

Nonetheless, enough of Old Souls is of sufficient quality that I feel comfortable in recommending that you give it a listen.

Come for: "Boston Square" (both the album's lead-off track and debut single, its easily the best in their entire catalog; The Who influences are transparent, but not recidivist)
Stay for: "Speeding Cars" (although frontman James Veck-Gilodi acknowledges the band's Springsteenian bent in the previous track, "22," its here where the true nods to The Boss are most recognizable through the number's steady, chugging pace)
You'll be surprised by: "Everybody's Dancing and I Want to Die" (easily the 11-track collection's hookiest offering, in the spirit of Library Voices' excellent Summer of Lust [NMT])
Solid efforts: "Lights" (a lighter Foo Fighters); "Subterranean Bullshit Blues" (big-sound classic rock with bluesy overtones); "22" (heartland rock with a touch of pop confection, a la The Postelles [NMT]; "Mildred" (power punk); "Kings Road Ghosts" (unquestionably the most British-sounding material on the record, with its football references)
Meh: "Night Drives" (this uber ballad is a tad cheesy); "Saved" (would have less trouble with this if it were actually a Def Leppard song; otherwise its a lot of shlock); "Caro Padre" (at first I thought I would like it, since starts slow and low, perfect for an album closer, but by the end the father's son stuff becomes overwrought; if you want the proper way to handle the father's son stuff, listen to fun.'s Some Nights [NMT] or Sleeping At Last's "Heirloom" [NMT])
Skip to next track: I could make it through every track, but those in the Meh section doesn't deserve much more than a listen or two

A Final Super Review for 2013

Happy New Year! Obviously, its been a little. No good reasons why. But let's just wrap-up 2013 with a hat trick of reviews of records – all on the same day (October 29th) – earlier this fall I've been meaning to share my thoughts on. They correlate with three different acts at different stages of their careers. The first is one of few rock acts that can make an impression on the overall pop music scene these days. The second is a rabble-rousing troupe from Wales and the third an experimental fusion rock outfit from Texas. My reaction to their respective output is presented in ascending order of positivity, at least in my view.

The Arcade Fire (NMT)
New Release: Reflektor
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Record Label: Mercury Records
Sounds Like: Hey Rosetta (NMT); Rah Rah (NMT); The Talking Heads
Location: Montreal, Quebec

Look, there's no shortage of critical reaction to the ambitious fourth release from the most well-known multi-gender, instrument-swapping rock collective – a double album clocking in at more than 70 minutes of run time (although it will still fit on a standard blank 80-minute CD for burning purposes). Some think it sets a new vanguard for contemporary instrumental experimentation and thematic courage. Others think it fails according to every measure conceivable and the group is perpetually pulling one off on its hoodwinked audience. You're probably not surprised to read that my impression, then, is somewhere between those polemics.

I do think the group is capable of producing moments of brilliance, both on record and in live settings. All of their past releases have had handfuls of transcendent tracks as well as long stretches of overreaching nonsense. This is no less true on Reflektor's 13 cuts. The flashes of influence from David Bowie, Peter Gabriel and The Talking Heads that began percolating up on their previous effort – 2010's The Suburbs (NMT) – are at deluge levels here. Whether that's a welcome nod to the predecessors who informed their sonic trajectory or ugly recidivism depends on your taste.

I'm far more interested in how the group – which currently is constituted of six full-time members in the studio, along with an assortment of touring musicians – is able to weave the new material into their arena-scale live show. Having never seen the band in concert before their tour supporting The Suburbs, I was thoroughly won over by the unit's ability to reach epic levels of performance across their entire catalog at the time, especially the rave-like interaction between the group and audience on selections from their 2004 debut release, Funeral. I suspect several Reflekor tracks will manage a similarly successful transition to the stage. All the other baloney about whether the act is too full of itself in asking concert attendees to dress up for dates on 2014's worldwide tour or whether it offers anything constructive commentary on the plight of Haiti (from which co-leader Regine Chassagne hails) are all cheap shots at a group that's desperately trying to preserve the flash and flair that used to accompany rock bands of their caliber, ground that's been almost entirely ceded to the rap, hip hop and shock pop genres. I give them points for at least giving it their all.

There are a few overarching negatives, though. First, its a crime that Chassagne doesn't receive a lead vocals track of her own. While co-leader Win Butler is still the better overall singer – Chassagne can come across as breathless at times and her preference to sing in French is fine in short doses – she's, by far, the better live performer, as anyone who's seen her command the stage on "Haiti" off Funeral can attest. Butler can seem aloof and has the worst stage banter instincts in live music history, while Chassagne is graceful and demanding.  She deserves a fuller platform. Along those same lines, there are several between-song interludes that I guess are supposed to feel like some kind of concert experience. They're awkward and pointless, and if the aim is for some ironic commentary on bad performance dynamics, they've missed their mark. In addition, Butler and company like to drop references, especially historical ones ("Joan Of Arc," Eurydice, Orpheus) but they're entirely devoid of context or illumination. It's an assortment of information that's incumbent on the listener to interpret, not the educational experience you receive in a Colin Meloy or Will Sheff song. Sure, I may be too pedantic to get some of the call-outs that are obvious to those are more well-read on Greek mythology or criticisms of colonialism, but the job of an artist isn't to make your audience feel uniformed. Lastly (and sadly), the second half is largely unproductive. There's a few interesting moments in both "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)" and "It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus)" but no single track is fully realized on its own.

Come for: "Reflektor" (six minutes is unquestionably long for a leadoff single and the record's title track is assuredly too repetitive at times; it also has the meatiest rock choruses and is the album's zenith in both tone and performance)
Stay for: "Normal Person" (don't dig too deep into co-leader Butler's reflections on normalcy – a fetish that appears in nearly every negative review of Reflektor – while missing the muscular instrumental noise that's the heart of the effort's most well-rounded track; there's also guitar solos aplenty, which should quell much of the fear that the band's transforming into an electronic-focused act; you can draw a line from this track to The Suburbs' "Modern Man," both of which underscore the Talking Heads influence most transparently) 
You'll be surprised by: "You Already Know" (this Motown-flavored pop confection is decidedly the sonic outlier on the record and its great for that reason; the track's bass line is the tune's backbone, the best of an album that has numerous outstanding bass parts, with bass duties usually shared between Tim Kingsbury and Richard Reed Parry; I do wish the over-accentuation of syllables on the chorus was a little less pronounced)
Solid efforts: "We Exist" (touches of The Clash here, with the stabbing guitars and rolling bass line, and a fine chorus when it comes around, but its a lot of repetition to endure at times); "Here Comes the Night Time" (I really wish the frenetic, carnival-like intro and outro that bookend the track's midsection were actually the bulk of the number, which is the band's commentary of the original and ongoing colonial posture towards Chassagne's Haiti; how well that message is conveyed lyrically is less important than the well-rendered Carribean vibe of the song as a whole, replete with steel drums and varying rhythm signatures); "Joan Of Arc" (after an ominously metal-like intro – one I wish they'd explored a bit more – the number's bouncy groove is enjoyable); "Afterlife" (there's some pretty cool rock-electronic synthesis here, but not a whole lot of variation beyond the core lyrical and instrumental hook, so its twice as long as it needs to be)
Meh: "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)" (the track's namesake is truly apropos, because the bulk of its firt half really features some kinds of awful sounds, which I'm not sure are connected with a larger purpose other than proving that, yes, they can produce an awful sound; still, find your way to the 3:00 mark, when the number brushes the periphery of Pink Floyd's more productive experimentation); "It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus)" (I think there's something here, but its sparse and not aided by the number's nearly dead-stop, again around the 3:00 juncture; the rest is kind of uneven);
Skip to next track: "Flashbulb Eyes" (I appreciate the sonic effect they're trying to achieve – as evidenced by the title – but its not very enjoyable but for a tiny fraction of the 2:42 runtime); "Here Comes the Night Time II" (the kind of ambient electronic dirge that led me to mostly avoid groups like Nine Inch Nails); "Porno" (not nearly as risque as the title suggests); "Supersymmetry" (remember every bad notion you have of double albums because its on full display here; even worse, after the 5 and 3/4 minutes of avant garde noise, you'd think there'd be some kind of neat hidden track at the end of its 11:17, but there's little more than quiet and brief instrument flourishes strewn about the remaining 6 minutes; dreadful)

Los Campesinos! (NMT)
New Release: No Blues
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Record Label: Wichita Recordings
Sounds Like: We Were Promised Jetpacks (NMT, NMT), Broken Social Scene
Location: Cardiff, Wales

Unlike Arcade Fire's naked ambition, the similarly-sized outfit from Wales – Los Campesinos! – seems to be quite content plugging away at what they do best on their fifth full-length release, No Blues: plucky, infectious indie pop-rock. The group consistently spins out easy-to-digest, relatively joyful-sounding tromps that belile frontman Gareth's recurring themes of mortality and gloom. Seriously, in addition to the entire tracks of "What Death Leaves Behind" and "Cemetery Gaits," there's morbid gems like "We all know we're gonna die" and "May she who casts the first fist of dirt across the casket have mourners lick the mud from her fingernails."

My main issues with the 10-track release are 1) although the group is among the best at meeting my 3-2-1 ratio of uptempo-to-midtempo-to-ballads, their slow songs are not particularly enjoyable. This is nothing new for the band, and even the less enjoyable slow numbers are more worthwhile than Arcade Fire's stabs in the dark at experimentation on Reflektor. 2) I would have like to have heard more input from Gareth's sister Kim, who handles keyboard duties and occasional lead vocals. Neither figure prominently on No Blues. 

Come for: "Avacado, Baby" (the record's first single is quintessential Los Campesinos!)
Stay for: "What Death Leaves Behind" (the infectious melody obscures the morbidity, in the They Might Be Giants (NMT, NMT) / Barenaked Ladies tradition)
You'll be surprised by:  "A Portrait of the Trequartista as a Young Man" (among the most well-rounded tracks in the unit's catalog while still catchy; what's that? A meaningful acoustic guitar part?)
Solid efforts: "For Flotsam" (again, stuff like this is what the band does best); "Cemetery Gaits" (the chorus hook is undeniable); "As Lucerne/The Low" (the kind of sing-along you can't wait to participate in live); "Let It Spill" (gradual builder);
Meh: "Glue Me" (this is one of the slow numbers mentioned above as a bit sludgy, but the chorus still benefits from a top-flight hook); "The Time Before The Last Time" (ibid); "Selling Rope [Swan Dive to Estuary]" (no Los Campesinos! track should ever run 6:18)

White Denim
New Release: Corsicana Lemonade
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Record Label: Downtown Records
Sounds Like: The Sheepdogs (NMT, NMT); The Black Keys (NMT)
Location: Austin, Texas

While The Arcade Fire was overly ambitious with Reflektor and Los Campesinos reliable via No Blues, the group in this set who took the greatest leap forward on their latest release is the classic rock quartet from Austin, White Denim. I fully intended to review their sixth full-length album, D, back in 2011 but never quite got around to it. Maybe because I wasn't blown away with the collection other than a few numbers ("Drugs" being one of those). Regardless, their new effort is more deserving of some attention. Previously, the group would frequently become mired in extended jams that really aren't what get me going on record (I have a bit more patience in a live setting). Here, they haven't needed to sacrifice their top drawer musicianship in exchange for tighter songwriting and audience accessibility.

Come for: "Pretty Green" (the leadoff single is a nice strut in the rhythm track and the type of hazy 70s pop hooks so successfully employed by The Sheepdogs and The Black Keys recently; it's a shame this song wasn't released in 1977)
Stay for: "A Night in Dreams" (the record's leadoff hitter benefits from an excellent boogie groove while frontman James Petralli's stream-of-conscious vocals recall Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott and the guitar harmony effects employed by Petralli and Austin Jenkins are a pretty clear nod to Steely Dan)
You'll be surprised by: "Come Back" (enjoy the fusion of jazz and hard rock here; I wish I could hear this one under the needle on vinyl)
Solid efforts: "Corsicana Lemonade" (the pairing of the pitter-patter rhythm and Petralli's barely-louder-than-a-whisper vocals combine to produce a sense of urgency, albeit one that's somewhat restrained); "New Blue Feeling" (this feels like a very deep Beatles cut off Abbey Road; the twin guitar harmonies here are the best instrumental sounds on the album); "Distant Relative Salute" (southern-fried licks); "Let It Feel (My Eagles)" (this number grew on me the more I listened to it, but the playful melody takes a little too long to not to be scared of its shadow); "A Place to Start" (although its ironically positioned at the end of the record despite its title, it's easygoing, gentle nature is the perfect place to wrap things up; kinda wish there was a saxophone solo in there, though)
Meh: "Limited by Stature" (I like the acoustic guitar treatment on top of the rather trippy arrangement, but I'm not totally digging Petralli's wavy falsetto through much of the track); "Cheer Up / Blues Ending" (as the title's second clause implies, this is plenty bluesy, but also a bit clumsy, as it feels like most of the time its trying not to trip over its feet)
Skip to next track: Nothing repugnant

The Head and the Heart (Let's Be Still); Dismemberment Plan

Sometimes, a couple groups or artists will line-up nicely with mutual releases that highlight the similarity between the two acts, like my reviews earlier this year of Okkervil River and Neko Case (NMT) or The Family Crest and The Polyphonic Spree (NMT). On this occasion, there's very little that unites the new work (or previous repertoires) of this week's profilees: The Head and the Heart and the Dismemberment Plan. The former is a relatively new folk rock collective while the latter is a quirky indie rock unit that hadn't produced new material in more than a decade. Both are worth some time exploring.

The Head and the Heart
New Release: Let's Be Still (listen to it streaming here)
Release Date: Today (October 15, 2013)
Record Label: Sub Pop Records
Sounds Like: Agesandages (NMT), The Oh Hellos (NMT), The Last Bison (NMT)
Location: Seattle, Wash.

Much of the talk coming out of The Head and the Heart camp is how much the band has opened up to explore new sonic space after touring in support of their 2011 self-titled debut (NMT) and responding to the influences of those they supported on the road, like The Decemberists (NMT, NMT), My Morning Jacket and Iron and Wine. That's all fine, but whatever evolution that has occurred between their debut and sophomore releases is subtle and fairly in keeping with the trajectory the band had established for itself on their first record. This isn't to suggest that I'm disappointed with the result; far from it, actually. The Seattle sextet's sound has certainly matured, producing a fuller and more balanced approach that beneficially avoids some of the starker moments of their premiere. Apparently, that stems from group-wide approach to both songwriting and performance, rather than relying on the bulk of the material emanating from co-frontperson Josiah Johnson, who'd rounded up the band from open mic nights where he'd been performing around Seattle, who then largely modified his existing compositions.

Come for: "Shake" (rich, full sound, piqued by darker electric guitar by Jonathan Russell and piano from Kenny Hensley)
Stay for: "My Friends" (Hensley's punchy piano is the focus from the outset and sustains the uptempo beat throughout its delightful 3:22; solid group vocal harmonies); 
You'll be surprised by: "Summertime" (a bit of calypso vibe on this number fronted by violinist Charity Rose Thielen; provides the nice change-of-pace vocals Regine Chassagne contributes in The Arcade Fire [NMT])
Solid efforts: "Homecoming Heroes" (the typewriter-style percussion is the song's signature, and the lyrics frame the record's theme: "so, now I know, people want a story, one ending in glory and a wave of their flag;" Hensley's piano is again a stand-out); "Another Story" (the heart of the group's nu-folk sound, becomes livelier as it goes); "Josh McBridge" (a little sleepy at first, but rounds out over its 5:14 runtime into among the most well-realized offerings on the baker's dozen tracks on the album; learn more about the meaning of the song here); "Cruel" (a slightly bluesy slow roller); "Let's Be Still" (as the title suggests, restrained and reflective); "10,000 Weight in Gold" (a measured, heartland/rootsy rambler); "Fire/Fear" (Russell's oaken lead guitar lines are 1977 distilled, perhaps my favorite instrumental sound on the record); "These Days Are Numbered" (Thielen's second turn out front is stark and gritty); "Gone" (when a closing number runs 6:26, its often a dirge; this one starts similarly but is totally transformed around the 1:45 mark, when the instrumentation and intensity really pick up; also, any train references are always appreciated by your blogger; closing refrain continues the band's tradition of using their name in the lyrics)
Meh: "Springtime" (really just an intro to "Summertime," and Thielen's vocals are a little ambient for my taste)
Skip to next track: nothing too objectionable

The Dismemberment Plan
New Release: Uncanny Valley (listen to it streaming here)
Release Date: Today (October 15, 2013)
Record Label: Partisan Records
Sounds Like: They Might Be Giants (NMT, NMT), The Tins (NMT)
Location: Washington, D.C.

I remember the first time I heard about The Dismemberment Plan. It was my freshman year in college (1999) at the Catholic University of America. A couple of my classmate from my French 101 course and I were at the They Might Be Giants' then-annual Halloween show at the 9:30 Club. That show was great (they played Flood in its entirety as a fake opening band called Saphire Bullets of Pure Love, who proclaimed themselves to be the greatest They Might Be Giants cover band at Syracuse University, and then criticized the fake band as a bunch of assholes when they came out for the real show. The next year, they played the setlist in reverse, starting with what would normally be the final encore, "Istanbul [Not Constantinople]" and working their way back). Anyways, between real and impostor sets by TMBG, we were discussing various groups and my friends mentioned a local DC-based group who should appeal to TMBG fans. That group as The Dismemberment Plan.

I investigated them the best I could, but the internet of 1999 was not the same as today's, so it was harder accessing their full catalog. What I did find was a little quirky and disjointed for my taste. I couldn't make a show because of the routines of college life, and when I was finally able to around 2001, they had gone on hiatus (read this interesting piece from frontman Travis Morrison's now-wife who initially didn't know about his band). So, here we are more than two decades later, and the four-piece outfit's timing seems ideal as a second chance for my fandom. Although the 10-song record starts off a little disjointed, the second half builds in accessibility with some well-crafted nerd-rock tracks. As an overall statement, though, there's about 200% more strange keyboards than are necessary across the whole record. I wish they'd focus more on the guitars.

Come for: "Lookin'" (uncomplicated indie pop-rock, the type of unpretentious love song the four-piece wouldn't have attempted in its heyday)
Stay for: "Mexico City Christmas" (once you get passed the cheesy synth/drum machine intro, its funny and quicky in just the right ways; the chorus is among the meatiest Morrison has ever crafted)
You'll be surprised by: "Daddy Was a Real Good Dancer" (sure, its tongue-in-cheek, but so was Paul Westerberg's "Androgynous;" don't take it too seriously)
Solid efforts: "No One's Saying Nothing" (on the first few listens, this track didn't appeal to me that much aside from the chuckle-inducing opening lyric, "You hit the spacebar enough and cocaine comes out / I really like this computer," but its gradually wearing on me a little more);  "White Collar White Trash" (the only rock song I know that's essentially a listing of Northern Virginia suburbs; I like guitarist Jason Caddell's work, but Morrison's keyboards are distracting during the verses; the chorus is simple, but catchy); "Go and Get It" (the sludgy rhythm track from bassist Eric Axelson and drummer Joe Easley is a nice departure from the bulk of the collection and the shout-it-out-loud chorus is eminently singable); "Let's Just Go To The Dogs Tonight" (as close to a late-nite/party anthem that this group can muster, replete with its own audience call-and-response bridge)
Meh: "Waiting" (it's just too weird for me, and I think the lyrics sound forced to match the beat); "Invisible" (doesn't feel comfortable in its own skin); "Living in Song" (the verses are not easily digestible due to the lyrics and keyboards, but – again – the chorus is worthwhile)
Skip to next track: I could put a couple of the tracks where I complain about the keyboards here depending on my mood. A taste of weird keyboards is fine; this is forced feeding.

Deer Tick

Deer Tick
New Release: Negativity
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Record Label: Partisan Records
Sounds Like: Ha Ha Tonka (NMT), Dawes (NMT)
Location: Providence, RI

There's a portfolio of artists and groups that I know are liked by people who's musical tastes I respect, but I just can't seem to get interested in. I can't get beyond the trippy or moody tangents of My Morning Jacket or the stark and fragile whimpers of Justin Vernon and Bon Iver, while both Daft Punk and LCD Soundsystem are just too much electronica for my palate. I won't criticize folks for being into those acts, but I doubt I'll ever take a liking for them. I always figured Deer Tick would be remain among those groups. While I can stomach a certain amount of un-beautiful singing by a lead vocalist if it serves the larger ethos of their catalog (see The Hold Steady's (NMT) Craig Finn (NMT) and Rural Alberta Advantage's [NMT, NMT] Nils Edenloff as examples), I never really found that Deer Tick's frontman John McCauley delivered material that justified the suffering of my aural receptors. I was also deterred by reports of the band's casual drug use, and the harder edge kind at that. Overall, there was some alright stuff, but none of it really hit my nerves, kind of the same way I feel about My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver or groups like Grizzly Bear or Deerhunter (the latter is unrelated to Deer Tick).

So, why I decided to click on a video of the band playing "The Dream's In The Ditch" on Conan last week I don't know, but I'm glad I gave McCauley and his mates another chance. Gone was the sparse, half alt-country, half Replacements derivation of previous efforts. Instead, it was replaced on this track by a full, classic rock motif that while obviously borrowing liberally from Springsteen and Van Morrison, at least delivers a very enjoyable knockoff. Similar to my reaction to the latest work by Ha Ha Tonka last week, Deer Tick sounds like it has graduated from the self-imposed limits of their past work and is now performing in a space that's both inevitable and comfortable based on where they came from.

Come for: "The Dream's In The Ditch" (see above)
Stay for: "The Curtain" (meaty; McCauley's vocals sound as like Axl Rose singing with a blues-rock band; love the organ part from Rob Crowell and lead figures by former Titus Andronicus (NMT) guitarist Ian O'Neil)
You'll be surprised by: "Just Friends" (Bob Seger called: he wants "Main Street" back; sounds circa 1977, not 2013, and that's just great)
Solid efforts: "The Rock" (a little slow at first for a leadoff track, but gets real by the first chorus with punchy drums from Dennis Ryan and pulsing piano lines from Crowell; as usual, I'm a fan of the horns); "Mirror Walls" (easygoing, alt-country-style ballad); "Trash" (after the assault of horns in the intro, the remainder is tres-Van Morrison, all bluesy and smoky; "I want to fall in love again with the open road" and "it's my disposition as a wasteful savant" are the album's finest lines and are expertly-delivered by McCauley); 'Thyme" (the number's minor-key structure plays out like an old detective novel, it should be the soundtrack of puddled alleys and guys called gumshoes; Crowell's piano parts are his best work on the record); "In Our Time" (like so many others in this collection, this tune sounds much older than it is, with its affable rolling country-meets-boogie flow and fantastic guest vocals by Vanessa Carlton); "Hey Doll" (the previously mentioned vocal patterns of both Van Morrison and Axl Rose somehow meet in the middle here and its delightful; its clear Crowell has more freedom to demonstrate his value here than on any previous Deer Tick record, with his steady piano grounding the track); "Pot Of Gold" (as the heaviest number on the album – by far – the effects of McCauley's history with substance abuse are most explicitly discussed here); "Big House" (appropriately restrained solo, acoustic by McCauley to end the session, although he shows hints of a slight lisp that was more prominent on past acoustic tracks that often became distraction)
Meh: "Mr. Sticks" (I'd be fine with it if it didn't follow two other ballads, nothing exceptional here)
Skip to next track: nothing objectionable

Ha Ha Tonka

Ha Ha Tonka
New Release: Lessons
Release Date: Today (September 24, 2013)
Record Label: Bloodshot Records
Sounds Like: Band of Horses (NMT); Oh No!, Oh My! (NMT); The Postelles (NMT)
Location: West Plains, Mo.

Stop me if you've heard this one before: a band who has put out a few solid, but not exceptional records turns in an effort that serves not as an elaboration from their previous form, but a fulfillment of it – the type of music they were destined to make if their composite elements came together in a cohesive fashion. Such a description could easily apply to several releases we've reviewed previously here, most notably the ones listed in the Sounds Like field above. This time around, its the fourth full-length album by the rural Missouri alt-country, Americana quartet Ha Ha Tonka, Lessons (listen to it streaming here).

Over the course of the outfit's previous three records, there was plenty of earnest, stripped-down roots rock flavored with country influences and, at times, gospel-style vocal harmonies. But often it came across like they were trying a bit too hard to come across as hardscrabble and authentic, yielding somewhat forced songwriting and overwrought studio performances. Lessons, on the other hand, is easygoing and inviting, despite the fact that most of the instrumental arrangements are the most complex the group has ever delivered. If an resource economist were to review this record, they might dub it peak mandolin via lead guitarist/mandolinst Brett Anderson's exhaustive use of the instrument. A 70s-era funkmaster would be impressed with bassist Luke Long's often bouncy and occasionally groovy bass lines. Your blogger is satisfied with all of it, enjoying the output of a band that is just hitting its stride.

Come for: "Rewrite Our Lives" (an optimal choice for a leadoff single; fantastic hook and exemplary performance)
Stay for: "Dead To The World" (the album opener's 45 seconds of intro is the most elaborate and joyous instrumentation the band has recorded in their career, with mandolins, strings, pounding percussion from Lennon Bone, even touches of Celtic influence; the leadoff lyrics set the stage for the group's re-energized mission, that of overcoming inertia and embracing new ideas: "I'm at the stage when I only do things that I know how to do / I can make coffee and I can make small talk, cause who wants to try something new?"; frontman Brian Roberts has never sounded more genuine)
You'll be surprised by: "Colorful Kids" (the starkest departure from the group's previous signature sound; comes across like IRS-era R.E.M. [NMT]; the verses are catchy enough to be a perpetual chorus; Anderson's mandolin is out front again)
Solid efforts: "Staring At The End Of Our Lives" (a direct nod to the late era of The Replacements; some nice vocal harmonies in the chorus, stick around for Long's rubbery bass outro); "Synthetic Love"/"Arabella" (the short, :30 track introduces the recurring synthetic love/heart concept, then sets the stage for the record's only true ballad, a very rusty trails one at times, but the fuzzy, thumping post-choruses are something the band would never had tried before; which would pair nicely with Southeast Engine's "Ruthie" [NMT]); "Lessons" (once again, Long is the standout contributor here; the chorus, albeit catchy, is a bit repetitive – and, yes, I get that's the point – but they get points for experimentation); "American Ambition" (most similar to the bulk of their catalog); "Pied Pipers" (is Wilco-y a word? If it is, this is its definition); "The Past Has Arms" (easily the best singing on this collection); "Terrible Tomorrow" (can a western song be psychedelic? If so, this is what it would sound like); "Prove The World Wrong" (another dusty trails motif; I love albums that end with these types of farewell credos and this one builds in intensity as it reaches its zenith)
Meh: "Cold Forever" (nothing exceptionally wrong, but lacks the sizzle of the rest of the album)
Skip to next track: Give it all at least one listen

My Optimal Okkervil River Setlist

I'm pretty jonesed about seeing Okkervil River (NMT) at the 9:30 Club here in D.C. on Monday evening. I saw them there previously on the I Am Very Far (NMT) Tour and was impressed (see your blogger's photo above). Now, I went in with low expectations. I was sure Will Sheff would load the set with slow, obtuse selections that would take the crowd out of play. I was wrong. They opened with just the sort of uptempo, engaging material I would have suggested, and had a good balance between new and old stuff, as well as loud and quiet. Sheff's mid-set solo, acoustic version of "A Stone" was among the highlights (watch on the linked video how just changing chords without strumming provides just enough instrumentation), as was the expectedly brash final encore "Unless It's Kicks."

My expectations are now raised, but I have far too many standout numbers I'd want to hear in a normal set with an opening band (iTunes tells me it's 1.9 hours without breaks). Nonetheless, he's what setlist I'd prefer in an ideal world. I'll post the actual setlist in the comments after the show. If you're in town Monday night, hope to see you there!

On A Balcony -> 

Pop Lie -> 

White Shadow Waltz

Blanket and Crib ->

A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene

Stay Young ->

The Latest Toughs

It Was My Season

Lost Coastlines

Wake and Be Fine

(mini-acoustic set)

Black Sheep Boy ->

Okkervil River Song

The President's Dead

Where The Spirit Left Us 

Calling And Not Calling My Ex

Song About a Star

No Key, No Plan

Rider

All The Time, Every Day

Black 

Westfall

Singer Songwriter

Down Down The Deep River

Unless It's Kicks

-- --

John Allyn Smith Sails

Lido Pier Suicide Car

--

Savannah Smiles

Last Love Song for Now

NMT's Favorite Singers

In the previous post on Neko Case's most recent solo album (NMT), I anointed her "the best vocalist in contemporary music." Which is to say she is my favorite singer currently releasing relevant new material. Obviously, there's no objective standard for ratings of this kind, merely just personal preference. I will provide warrants to support the claims I make, but there's no scientific or mathematical formula behind it. And I should explain that while singers have a wide range of impact on the songs they record and perform, what I'm talking about here is sheer vocal talent. For instance, Craig Finn (NMT) is – by form – not a particularly great singer, but is a perfect frontman for The Hold Steady (NMT). Likewise, The Rural Alberta Advantage's (NMT, NMT) Nils Edenloff has a voice as smooth as vinegar, but that's irrelevant as he tears through "Deathbridge in Lethbridge." Neither will make an appearance on this list.

Another key note before getting underway is originally this list was going to be a Best Female Singers list. But as I prepared and thought about the list, the gender distinction is unnecessary. Great singers are simply great singers. Moreover, I was having trouble putting together a list that had more great male singers than female. The selections below will bear that out, so here they are in descending order from 10 to 1.

10) Mikel Jollett – Airborne Toxic Event (NMT)

Baritone frontmen are rarities (think of The National's Matt Beringer and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder) and Jollett's rich, meaty stylings represent the only deep register selection here. Jollett possesses a strong, sustaining vibrato (the ability of vocal chords to quiver on a given note) and enjoys hanging on to long phrases. His stylistic range encompasses everything from punk to new wave, and as I noted in my review of 2011's All At Once, can conjure reflections of Bono and Neil Diamond as easily as some of his more contemporary peers.


9) Greta Morgan – Gold Motel (NMT), The Hush Sound  

Imagine if Sheryl Crow had more consistently produced songs that weren't merely photocopies of previous material geared only for Top 40 radio. That's what Greta Morgan does in her work with Gold Motel. No doubt her crisp vocals are ideally suited for very accessible pop-rock, but what she has to work with is far more enjoyable than anything Crow did after Tuesday Night Music Club. Her carefree performance on the bouncy exuberant "Safe in L.A." is what earned her a spot on my list.

8) Wes Miles – Ra Ra Riot (NMT)

Blending faux-Reggae vocal syncopation of Sting with intricate, yet buoyant chamber pop structures is Ra Ra Riot's Wes Miles. Over the band's first few records, Miles (who's name sounds too similar to a certain LSU head football coach) established a playful, genre-bending use of his tenor range that matched perfectly with the group's overall quirky vibe. It's a shame that the outfit's third full-length release from earlier this year, Beta Love, was such an unnecessary diversion to dance and electronica – so much so that I refused to review it – and wasted much of Miles' unique charm.

7) Erin Passmore – Rah Rah (NMT)

The temptation to discuss Ra Ra Riot and Rah Rah within a few sentences of each other is just too hard to resist, which is why the latter's co-lead vocalist winds up at #7. Think of Regine Chassagne from The Arcade Fire (NMT) as an alto and a more accessible tone, while replicating her same mult-instrumental talents (when I saw Rah Rah live earlier this year, Passmore played drums, guitar and keyboards, although she could learn a few tricks from Chassagne on stage presence). Her standout "Prairie Girl" off The Poet's Dead – released last fall – will tell you everything you need to know about her vocal capabilities and should be all the band needs to hear to offer more time at the lead mic.

6) Nate Ruess – fun. (NMT, NMT), The Format

By far, my greatest discovery during the course of this blog's tenure is fun., which is now a Grammy Award-winning, large venue act just a few years after I helped them load out gear in the alley outside the 9:30 Club while opening for Jack's Mannequin. No small part of the groups skyrocketing place in mainstream pop is due to their frontman, Nate Ruess. After making fantastically catchy pop-rock tunes with The Format but finding little broad appeal, he shifted to fun., producing some of the most elaborate and purposeful pop music since Jeff Lyne's Electric Light Orchestra. Ruess' style is schizophrenic at times and can occasionally crack at the upper limits of his first tenor range, but check out his show-stopping performances in "Barlights" and "At Least I'm Not As Sad As I Used To Be" off the group's 2009 debut, Aim & Ignite, or the intro to the 2012 commercial smash, Some Nights, to hear a singer in full command of both their talent and their mission.

5) Tracyanne Campbell – Camera Obscura (NMT)

As the only foreign entry on this collection – and therefore the only Scot – Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell has well-qualified to represent the world's premiere singers on this list. While her quintet's folk-rock tendencies don't present her with the same anthemic opportunities as some of her peers here, Campbell nonetheless shines among band's rich instrumental tapestries. Spend some time with 2006's Let's Get Out of This Country – and, in particular, its title track – and you should come away impressed with Campbell's enjoyable mix of tone and delivery. 

4) Sherri DuPree Bemis – Eisley (NMT)

We're decidedly entering the power territory of this ranking, the domain of large lung capacity, full-throated chorus anthems and healthy vibrato. One of the defining characterises of these power vocalists – a trait shared by all Top 4 singers on this list – is their ability to deliver great volumes of sound in an effortless fashion. Among these is decidedly the strongest voice in the North Texas-based, family-only power-pop quintet Eisely. Sherri DuPree Bemis' vocals – especially on the band's third full-length release in 2011, The Valley – is striking in both the force she injects in numbers powerful anthemic rockers like "Better Love" and "Smarter" with the restraint to hold back some of that muscle on ballads such as "Mr. Moon."


3) Jenny Lewis – Rilo Kiley (NMT), Solo

If you've paid attention to this blog in recent months, you'll notice my several statements of regret in missing the active lifespan of the Los Angeles-based quartet, Rilo Kiley. The contributions of the group's primary vocalist, Jenny Lewis, are the reason why. Lewis' vocal approach is frank, determined and nearly always beautiful. Her signature moments at the mic include heart-wrenching, bluesy ballads like "Does He Love You?" and "I Never" as well as thundering rockers like "Spectacular Views" and "It'll Get You There," not to mention the pop-rock hit, "Potions For Foxes." Lewis often makes you feel guilty and abused for the sake of her characters, and that's no small consequence of her persuasive and demanding delivery.

2) Aaron Perrino – Dear Leader (NMT), The Sheila Divine

Full disclosure on this one: Perrino is originally from Western New York, and I consider it a grave injustice to the cosmos that his acts never received broader recognition outside Buffalo and Boston. I remember the first time I saw Perrino and The Sheila Divine live. It was sometime in the fall of 1999 and the band was opening for another of my favorite Buffalo/Boston acts, Tugboat Annie, at Nietzhe's in Allentown. I'd never forget them after I heard Perrino wail away at Morrisey-via-U2 rock anthems like "Hum" and "Like A Criminal." He possesses a once-in-a-generation mix of power and vibrato that fuel antagonistic, often political numbers in both acts to arena rock territory. Dig up "Glacier" off Dear Leader's 2006 release, All I Ever Wanted Was Tonight, and be captivated in the song's titanic crescendo as Perrino's vocals transform into the tidal wave his lyrics suggest. 

 

1) Neko Case – The New Pornographers (NMT), Solo (NMT)

This should be no surprise given the lede. As a Case apologist, I simply need to point to her extensive solo catalog and time with The New Pornographers. Her solo work demonstrates her emotional delivery range – incorporating everything from multi-layered gospel choruses to rusty alt country – while her explosive power is self-evident in nearly everything she touches with The New Pornographers. The latter is often labeled as an indie-rock supergroup; it's doubtful it would have achieved that title without Case's thundering presence on numbers such as "Letter From An Occupant" or "The Laws Have Changed." Perhaps the greatest barometer for her overall capabilities is frequent New Porngraphers' main set closer, "The Bleeding Heart Show." At first, its a tad sleepy as frontman A.C. Newman leads the group through the verses, but Case absolutely dominates during the track's seemingly-unending chorus, although it should be noted drummer Kurt Dahle provides crucial fuel to the fire there.