2014 In Music -- Part 1

Welcome dear faithful readers, and all newcomers! Thankfully, today we take a break from the depressing and terribly personal stuff to talk about something truly important. No, not politics, religion, nor even science. I'm talking about the really important stuff, Music.

In truth, this blog is coming several weeks too late. Other things just kept getting in the way. But at least its not a four year gap, like the last one! This is just part one, btw. What I'm going to do is just briefly review all the albums that I felt good enough about to save to my Spotify 2014 playlist. That means that most of the records will get a positive review, but not all of them!

 

So, without further ado (which is think is Latin for “bullshit”) here are the first four albums on my list. 

Purson – The Circle and the Blue Door

Well, I goofed on this band. This was some of my favorite music from 1014. That is, until just a few seconds ago when I found out I was wrong, and it actually came out in 2013. Oh, well, it's still damn good. Lead by veteran British rocker Rosalie Cunningham, they are a good blend of modern psychedelica and straight ahead rock. Their Facebook page says they are Big Psych, Facemelter, and Fuzz Wowowpopsong. Stand-out tracks include The Contract, Leaning on a Bear and Spiderwood Farm. In fact, the latter is just and instant classic, and will be in my playlist for years to come. 

The song arrangements are often quite inventive, and the pacing and moods one the album are properly varied. All the players are at the least competent, and as a band they are quite tight at times. Still, it feels very organic and not forced at all. I would happily go see this band if I ever get the chance.

Instant Album Rating: 8.75 out of 10

The Golden Grass – The Golden Grass

According to their Facebook page, The Golden Grass plays a “soulful mix of heavy-country-funk-boogie and progressive-psychedelic-freakbeat,” but if you just want to call them a Stoner Band, that's fine by me. The album opens with “Please Man” which is an early 70's soaked hard rocker. And that is pretty much what you get for the rest of the record. Even the vocalist, Professor Plum Brandy, sounds right out of 1971. Brandy also plays electric guitar in this power trio, with The Golden Goose on drums and Heat Lightning on bass.

Yes, they are from Brooklyn.

The album itself is also very old school. Only five songs, clocking in around 36 minutes. So, its borderline as to whether its an LP or an EP. Most of the songs are pretty standard retro-rock, but really well done. If I walked into a bar one night and heard these guys playing I would be very, very pleased.

Instant Album Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Radio Moscow – Magical Dirt

Damn, I am so of two minds with this album. I first heard of Radio Moscow back in 07 or 08 when they released their self titled debut. I lost track of them until this one, and on first listen, I was just blown away! They call themselves Psychedelic Blues, and that's about right. Again, Stoner Rock works just as well. (Psychedelic and Stoner Rock seem to be a big thing right now.) But whatever label you put on them, they just fuckin' rock! The drums are crisp and frantic, reminding me a lot of Mitch Mitchel, but maybe even faster. In fact, the theme of this whole record is old school power trio rock played at blinding speed, best listened whilst driving way too fast. 

Hailing from Iowa, Radio Mosco is singer/guitarist Parker Griggs and whoever he can get to stay with him long enough on bass and drums to be called a member. Seriously, it seems each album and tour there is an entirely different line up. Either Griggs is a major asshole or he doesn't pay very well I would guess.

Stand out tracks are just about any of them. The arrangements are tight, complex and just fun. The guitars are fuzzed out, overdubbed to the breaking point, and panned to the left or right just like the old days. The only problem I have, and it is sometimes a big one, is with the vocals. They just don't cut it for me. Griggs has less range than George Thorogood and is slightly less pleasing to the ear. But if you can get passed that, it is a an amazing album, just not as amazing as I first thought it was.

Instant Album Rating: 8 out of 10 during the instrumental sections, 5 out 10 with vocals.

Black Moth – Condemned to Hope

While generally part of the new Stoner Rock scene, they have a bit more of a metal feel to them, particularly early Sabbath era Metal. Two things jump out at you when you check out this band: first, they have a female vocalist. Like Purson and other bands I found this year, it really works well for them. I can't imagine why it took so long for good rock music to discover the female lead. Heart did it well, and Janis should have showed everybody that a lady can rock as good as any guy. But it's still rare to hear.

The second thing that stands out is that the cover was painted by Roger Dean, legendary artist of many Yes and Asia covers.

The Leeds band shows a great understanding of the riff and its fundamental importance to fuzzed out Metal Rock. They feel heavy and lumbering, like three in the morning feels when you're just leaving the bar. But, like some metal (or indeed staggering drunks) there are a few missteps. The lyrics on “The Undead King of Rock 'N' Roll” are as cheesy as you would expect from the title, and the delivery of the vocals is equally iffy. But this is really picking nits, as for the most part Condemned to Hope is a solid album, yet another pleasant surprise in my search for new music.

Instant Album Rating: 7 out of 10

That's it for today.  There is plenty more great music from the last year to cover yet, enough for 3 or 4 more posts like this!  And I promise that not all of it is Stoner Rock, but yes, some of it will be.  There is also some Progish stuff (of course), some weird(er) stuff, and maybe a surprise or two.  Please come back, and please comment.