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.

Okkervil River, Neko Case

This installment of New Music Tuesdays is perhaps the one I'm most excited about in this blog's three-plus year history. You see, around 2008, I had a musical re-awakening. Until that point, my interests in alternative and independent rock largely was a recirculating collection of groups from the 1990s – the heyday of alternative and grunge rock. And sure, groups like They Might Be Giants (NMT, NMT), Weezer (NMT) and Fountains of Wayne (NMT) were still delivering quality new material. But many others such as Barenaked Ladies, Moxy Fruvous, Smashing Pumpkins and many others that formed the core of my catalog had either disbanded or weren't producing the same quality of new material. That all changed when my brother made me listen to The Decemberists' The Crane Wife sometime around 2007 or 2008. Struck by songs like "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)," "Shankhill Butchers" and "Sons & Daughters," I was immediately compelled to explore their larger oeuvre. I was disappointed I had missed out on so much of their work that matched so well with what I love about music: wit, uniqueness and creativity – elements I found lacking in what was offered to me by mainstream music media. So, I expanded my search and came across a series of acts and artists that I should have encountered much earlier. I was saddened to find I'd essentially missed the full arch of groups like Rilo Kiley (although their recent rarities collection, RKives (NMT), offered me a one-time penance in this space) and Essex Green. But I was emboldened to find bands like The Arcade Fire (NMT), The Hold Steady (NMT) and The Gaslight Anthem (NMT, NMT, NMT) still contributing outstanding new records. And ultimately, a trio of artists formed the foundation of my contemporary understanding of music: The Decemberists (NMT, NMT), The New Pornographers (NMT) and Okkervil River (NMT). This week, new releases from the latter as well as Neko Case – a charter member of The New Pornographers – are sort of a reaffirmation of my ongoing quest for new music that I enjoy experiencing for my own gratification and also encouraging others to engage with via this blog. Therefore, on to the reviews...(note: since this post benefited from streaming previews from NPR's First Listen series, I've linked to those sources for each release given that individual track-by-track previews aren't available yet)

Okkervil River
New Release: The Silver Gymnasium
Release Date: Today (September 3, 2013)
Record Label: ATO Records
Sounds Like: The New Pornographers, The Decemberists
Location: Austin, Texas

To lay it plain, the direction of the seventh full-length release from Will Sheff's intelligently emotional sextet is like nothing you've heard before from the group. Sure, individual tracks will recall past gestures, and Sheff has delved into well-realized album concepts on numerous occasions in the past. But rarely have they come across as cohesively and consistently as on the 11 cuts found on The Silver Gymnasium. As Sheff's own voyage back to the place of his formative upbringing in the early-to-mid 1980s in Meridian, N.H., it marks a period of time that largely corresponds to the same era for your blogger. (Note: the band prepared an interesting assortment of mulit-media promotions and teasers for the record, such as an 80s-style video game, illustrated map of Meridian and song previews. You should check them out) While little of the narrative is overtly biographical, when considered in its whole, its an engaging and unique take on the growing awareness of the world during childhood, including friendship, trust, experiences and other foundational themes. The reason why the record is so distinct in the group's catalog dating back to 2002 is the fortunate avoidance of ethereal, avant-garde experimentation that Sheff used to like to scatter among more muscular, structured pieces on past records. This isn't to say there aren't slower, quieter numbers, but rather that the album's sweep is more measured in its scope. There's no pseudo electronica like "Piratess" of 2011's I Am Very Far or dull and drawling efforts like "Black Sheep Boy #4" off 2007's Black Sheep Boy – numbers you listen to once, click the unselect button on your permanent library and turn back to Sheff's still substantial output of intense lyricism matched with well-delivered indie rock instrumentation. On that latter point, you'll really notice the contributions of bassist Patrick Pestorius, who adds bounce and – dare we say – a bit of boggie to the bulk of the collection. In all, The Silver Gymnasium doesn't let you down, not even once. 

Come for: "Down Down the Deep River" (exceptionally poppy, great first single, albeit very long for a single at 6:32); Justin Sherburn delivers the sort of cheesy keyboards that defined Bruce Springsteen records in the mid-1980s, which is fitting for the time period Sheff is exploring here; the tale of paternal protection and support – a key experience of childhood – is well-explored here)
Stay for: "Where The Spirit Left Us" (sounds like most like the Okkervil River catalog, a melodic mix of "Calling and Not Calling My Ex" and "White Shadow Waltz;" Sheff's signature lyricism is on full display; the river-as-the-journey-metaphor returns again)
You'll be surprised by: "Lido Pier Suicide Car" (very nearly the one candidate for the Meh or Skip to next track selection due to the track's dreary first four minutes, but the about-face to mile-a-minute pop-rock shuffle at the 4:11 is, well, surprising) 
Solid efforts: "It Was My Season" (jaunty piano from Sherburn leads things off; provides the narrative stage-setting for the album's concept; background vocals and horns later on add to the number's punchy nature); "Pink Slips" (way back when, Okkervil River was essentially an alt-country act, this is kind of what that was like; surprisingly blue collar, like a nerdy Bob Seeger song: "show me my best memory, it's probably super-crappy"); "White" (defined by the rattling snare of drummer Cully Symington; it's always interesting when Sheff utilizes the lower register of his vocal range, which he does here in an account of changing seasons serving as a chronicle of various phases of life, growing in energy and emotion; delightfully short at 3:06); "Stay Young" (a new-wavy sound – largely provided by Pestorius' bouncy bass line and guitarist Lauren Gurgiolo's rubbery lead part – that wouldn't not have been out of place on fun.'s Some Nights (NMT)); "Walking Without Frankie" (could have also been the You'll be surprised by pick; again, Pestorius distinguishes himself here; great classic rock references with "it's a Stairway or a Slow Ride, its Rhiannon or a Landslide"); "All the Time, Every Day" (dig up "The Latest Toughs" off Black Sheep Boy and play this right after it; a fun chorus singalong); "Black Nemo" (ah, surely this will be one slow, throwaway track buried at the end of the record; hardly, it's rootsy Americana that could have been churned out recently by Dawes (NMT) or long before that, Jackson Browne; worth sticking around for and ends on a gentle note)
Meh: As I said above, "Lido Pier Suicide Car" could have ended up here, maybe you won't have the patience for the first four minutes
Skip to next track: I liked it all, a first for a full-length Okkervil River record

Neko Case
New Release: The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight; The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You (NPR First Listen)

Release Date: Today (September 3, 2013)
Record Label: ANTI- Records
Sounds Like: Laura Veirs (NMT), The New Pornographers
Location: Northeast Vermont

It is my view that Neko Case is simply the best vocalist in contemporary music. Little – if any – technology is ever needed to amplify or enhance the raw power of her singing. If you're familiar with The New Pornographers, you're aware of how essential that force is to driving A.C. Newman's (NMT) indie rock confections. On her solo work, Case works with a larger palate, essentially rooted in alt-country but ranging from blues to hard rock. Like Okkervil River, the record serves as her seventh full-length release, while her contributions to indie music – even beyond The New Pornographers – are substantial, ranging from her early years as the drummer for Cub (which They Might Be Giants fans will remember as the original composers of "New York City") to Camera Obscura (NMT) and Jakob Dylan (NMT), among countless others.

Come for: "Man" (everything you want from Neko Case: brash, assertive and smart; can be easy to focus on the unambiguous post-feminism while missing the driving rock foundation – her backing band is exceptional)
Stay for: "City Swans" (incredibly well-balanced; strains of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" inform the number's instrumental core)
You'll be surprised by: "Nearly Midnight, Honolulu" (if this one doesn't make you tear up at least a little, you probably don't have a heart; Case is so bold and headstrong through the bulk of her work that her bearing witness to parental hostility [a la "What's The Matter Here" by the 10,000 Maniacs] is not exactly jarring, but certainly distinctive)
Solid efforts: "Wild Creatures" (a somewhat abrupt way to begin the record, but after settling in is reflective of the bulk of Case's solo material); "Night Still Comes" (in the hands of another performer, this might be a tad lethargic, but Case's vocal talents keep it afloat; "I revenge myself allover myself" is one of the album's signature lines); "I'm From Nowhere" (a rusty combination of blues and western, Case's own nod to the 80's pairs well with Sheff's work above; I love whenever Case uses the word "kid" in any song ever, including this one); "Bracing for Sunday" (hints of rockabilly, a black comedy tale of a "Friday night girl bracing for Sunday to come;" jagged saxophones are reminiscent of old-school They Might Be Giants; don't miss "I only ever held one love, her name was Mary Anne / she died while having a child by her brother, he died because I murdered him"); "Afraid" (I would have loved this as a round, since it's a neat looping melody with great layered harmonies); "Local Girl" (would have been the most likely to appear on a New Pornographers release, although likely without the gospel choir background vocals); "Ragtime" (somewhat of a slow chugger at first, but the imagery is evocative and the chorus is pleasingly full of horns, reminiscent of The Decemberists "Valerie Plame")
Meh: "Calling Cards" (it's fine, but doesn't have the same degree of creativity or urgency that defines the rest of the album)    
Skip to next track: "Where Did I Leave That Fire" (begins with nearly a minute of avant garde filler, and then never really gets going from there)

Laura Veirs, Harper's Fellow

Laura Veirs
New Release: Warp & Weft
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Record Label: Raven Marching Band
Sounds Like: Neko Case (NMT), The Decemberists (NMT) Valery Gore (NMT)
Location: Portland, Ore.

If you follow the kinds of bands and artists we profile routinely here, you're likely already familiar with Laura Veirs, even though I don't feature a ton of solo singer-songwriters in this space (something I'll admit as a weakness in my preferences that may cause me to miss some fantastic stuff, but one that's unlikely to change; please feel free to convince me otherwise in the comments section). In addition to her comprehensive catalog dating back to 1999 and frequent opening or co-heading slots with the sort of acts we favor, she's twice appeared on records with The Decemberists, most recently on "Dear Avery" off 2011's The King Is Dead (NMT) and most notably the outstanding duet with Colin Meloy on "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)" from The Crane Wife (2006). On her ninth full-length release, she focuses on the recurring theme of parental fears of loss and harm – a topic no less foundational to the human experience than the more oft-explored notions of pleasing your father or the journey to/from and battle for/against your homeland/town. Veirs' take here – informed by her own two children – initially seems dark and surreal but is frequently tempered by moments of brightness and hope. Additionally, reflecting Veirs' well-cultivated stature in the indie music scene, there's no shortage of outstanding guest contributors, ranging from her husband and producer Tucker Martine, voice of thunder Neko Case (stay tuned in coming weeks for coverage of her upcoming The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight; The Harder I Fight, the More I Love You), My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James and Decemberists' bassist Nate Query, among others. 

Come for: "Sun Song" (easygoing leadoff single strikes a positive tone for the larger theme from the outset: "As all the other mothers would remember / Stalked by winter solace in a small, warm hand / We got the sun, the sun to thank;" Case's vocals in the bridge are unavoidable)
Stay for: "That Alice" (easily the 12-track collection's most rocking number; an homage to John Coltrane's wife, Alice)
You'll be surprised by: "Sadako Folding Cranes" (intricate, as suggested by the imagery of the origami created by Hiroshima victim Sadako Sasaki; Veirs is at her best as a storyteller here; James' backing vocals are intriguing without becoming distracting)
Solid efforts: "Finster Saw the Angels" (sparse, but enchanting; simple, repeated melody is the song's enjoyably unforced core); "Dorothy of the Island" (a close runner-up for the Stay for selection; the most direct exploration of the parental loss theme); "Shape Shifter" (the foreboding tale of the looming winter is softened by the protagonist's resolve to stick together; strings in the center of the piece are a warming influence); "Say Darlin' Say" (sludgy, with a ruggedly frontier-settler vibe; "I got my shoes from a railroad man and the dress from a driver in the night" is some of the record's most evocative narrative, bookended by the train locomotive bell and whistle at its closing); "Ten Bridges" (folksy; beautifully illustrative of the album's central conflict between fear and delight); "White Cherry" (jazzy and ethereal, another nod to Alice Coltrane?; lines like "I take pleasure in the wind chimes" are augmented by actual wind chimes)
Meh: "Ghosts of Louisville" (I like the eerie harmonies, but I'm not really sure of their purpose in only a 30 second track); "Ikaria" (this instrumental has more meat on its bones than "Ghosts of Louisville," but I'm still missing how it complements the other material)
Skip to next track: "America" (I had high hopes for some good old fashioned protest music out of Veirs, but her criticisms of an America run amok don't include a cause or a solution, so it comes off just as a list of unspecified gripes; I was hoping for more)

Harper's Fellow
New Release: Thanks for Tonight
Release Date: July 27, 2013
Record Label: self-released
Sounds Like: Kate Voegele, Brandi Carlile, The Little Willies (NMT), Seryn (NMT)
Location: Asbury Park, N.J.

(Full disclosure: I've known the band's guitarist, Eric Castellazzo, since babysitting for him when we were both much younger)

In the beginning, there were essentially two forms of American contemporary music: the blues and country. While offshoots and derivatives branched off in all directions – ranging from jazz to rock-and-roll, and much more – the core of American music, popular or otherwise, owes its existence to these two genres. Out of the legendary New Jersey musical breeding ground of Asbury Park, the five-piece Harper's Fellow are solidly rooted in both country and the blues, yielding a hardscrabble mix of rustic Americana and rootsy twang throughout their debut, full-length release, Thanks for Tonight. Frontperson Cortney Metzler trades on the same sort of genre-bending, countrified blues vocals employed by folks like Kate Voegele and Brandi Carlile with the added benefit of a sturdy blues-rock ensemble comprised of Castellazo, bassist Brendan Smith, drummer Alex Ford and background vocalist Yanell Reyes. Elements of alt-country, folk, Americana and old-time country interchange freely across the record's 10 tracks, paired with healthy access to catchy hooks and choruses. I wish there were a few more uptempo numbers (the tisk-tisk of my ideal 3-2-1 ratio is scattered across past posts in this space, so the quintet need not feel singled out) as well as a few more instrumental flourishes like an occasional fiddle, organ or harmonica would have nice, but their absence is an understandable given for a new group producing a crowdfunded debut. 

Come for: "Three Paint Brushes" (brisk and lively, a catchy tale spun from weightier topics: identity and inheritance)
Stay for: "Bow & Arrow" (spunky with jangly guitars and the album's best singalong chorus)
You'll be surprised by: "Fool" (don't let the uptempo acoustic number's jovial pace fool you (pun intended); its a larger message of learning from mistakes and accepting limitations; see Ed Robertson's (of the Barenaked Ladies) "Leave" from 1998's Stunt for instrumental and thematic reference)
Solid efforts: "Amber Fallout" (the record's opener eases the listener into the group's sound, punctuated by the steady rhythm section of Smith and Ford, in particular); "Whiskey" (Castellazo's distorted electric guitar is the track's signature, and the bluesiest work on the collection); "Freedom" (the number's opening acoustic chords bear all the signatures of a classic country ballad); "Cadillac" (rockabilly-infused; has an enjoyable swagger); "Finer Words" (the piano adds color to another relatively slow song; its unvarnished nature is its strongest attribute); "Smoking Gun" (I like the more western influences here, a welcome compliment when most of the previous country flavor had been more southern-inspired)
Meh: "Sleepy City" (I know the title should be a clue, but I think "Freedom" satisfied my country ballad needs earlier; still, hardly a bad effort; it's well-performed)