Album Review: True Sadness

 

I spent a good portion of my day yesterday listening to The Avett Brothers’ newest album, True Sadness and it gave me true joy. True Sadness, their ninth full-length album, officially releases on June 24^th but if you’re like me, you couldn’t wait until then to give it a listen. (P.S. Thanks NPR for the first listen release!)

In true Avett fashion, the group has created another album that is entrenched in real feelings and emotions. Their strong lyrics cover topics of joy, fear, kind-heartedness, growing older and so much more. With a large amount of today’s music consisting of only topics of lust and anger, True Sadness is a very welcome, original album. As always, Scott and Seth Avett along with Bob Crawford on bass and Joe Kwon playing the cello, have created a mix of songs that range from gospel to folk rock. Their charming banjo is ever-present and they’ve even incorporated a bit of yodeling. But don’t let the deter you! The way they utilize their instruments to bring several genres of music into the perfect sound that is The Avett Brothers is incredible.

The first song on the album is “Ain’t No Man” which has a stomp-clap beat perfect for stadiums and wood-floored theatres. This song is so happy and upbeat that I can’t sit still when I’m listening to it. The choir of voices that backs up the brother’s lead vocals only makes the song more enjoyable and less easy to resist the urge to sing along.

The next three songs are more relaxed. Honestly, death has never sounded as beautiful as they make it seem in “No Hard Feelings”. Like I mentioned earlier, one of the best things about this group is the purity of their lyrics and what they’re about. “Mama, I Don’t Believe”, “No Hard Feelings”, and “Smithsonian” in particular shine a light on the authenticity of their work.

After those songs, the album changes tempo for “You are Mine” and “Satan Pulls the Strings”. Both songs are a bit more alternative but with the classic Avett twist. If you didn’t know better, “Satan Pulls the Strings” could pass for and AWOLNATION tune which just illustrates the versatility of the group. A catchy drumbeat immediately draws your attention to the seventh song, and the namesake of the album. “True Sadness” is also pretty upbeat though the lyrics are very serious. “I Wish I Was” and “Fisher Road to Hollywood” return to the somber, melodic sound that includes gentle guitar strums and sweet words.

Up next is “Victims of Life” which once again has got the “happy and sad at the same time” thing going on. This one talks about what it means to live. They sing about how life is always hard but love should always prevail. It’s pretty sweet.

The last two songs on the album have a very “Annie Get Your Gun” vibe and I am loving it. Growing up, I watched a lot of westerns with my grandpa and a lot of musicals with my grandma and I think they would both approve of these two songs. “Divorce Separation Blues” has the yodeling I mentioned earlier so…it’s pretty much a must listen. “May it Last” is the last song and it’s opening sequence is very dreamy. I’m talking horse-drawn wagons rolling up on a dusty hill dreamy.

Basically, this album is fantastic and I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy. The Avett Brothers have a way of making music that really connects to life and all of the emotions and struggles that go along with it. If you’re interested in listening to the album before the 24^th, you can listen on the NPR Music website.

 

Listen for the banjo or listen for the Americana charm. Just listen.

 

-K

Artists to Watch: RHODES

I first heard of RHODES when one of my friends sent me a YouTube video of him performing for the Mahogany Sessions. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a YouTube channel where they have little-known musicians (usually singer-songwriter/indie style) come on and perform one or two of their songs acoustically (Hozier did a couple of his songs on there shortly before his career skyrocketed). Anyway, I watched the video, and was completely hooked. So much, in fact, that I listened to the song at least once a day for a good week or two. The song was soulful, folky, and downright beautiful, which are what many of his songs are like.

Recently, RHODES released one of the songs off his upcoming debut album, and if it’s any indication of how good the whole album will be, then expect something incredible to come out this year from him. Check out the song below, and listen to some of the other songs on his Soundcloud! You won’t regret it.

-N

New Music: Tweedy, alt-J

School got the best of me last week, and I was unable to give too much attention to the blog. So, today’s album reviews are going to be shorter than usual and combined into one post. Enjoy!

 

Sukierae- Tweedy

Tweedy, the family effort from Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer, make their mark with their debut album Sukierae. The sprawling, 20 song double album is full of mellow, folky songs that are perfect for listening to while relaxing. Jeff Tweedy’s vocals are at times Dylan-esque, which only adds to the folk feel of the record. Sprinkled throughout are bursts of electric guitar and bass, helping to keep the album from feeling monotonous or too boring. One of the earlier songs is a perfect example of this effect. The third track on the album, “World Away”, has more of a groove than the other songs on the record, yet it still fits in perfectly. The bass and drum opening lends the song a kind of funk-folk feels, as crazy as it sounds. The electric guitar also comes in to break it up even more, yet by the end the song dies down to fit right back in with the rest of the songs. This technique of bringing in electric guitar shows up on other tracks as well, such as the folky “New Moon”. All-in-all, Sukierae is a great first release from Tweedy, and I can’t wait to see what they come out with next!

7/10

 

This Is All Yours- alt-J

Continuing their trend of atmospheric albums, indie rockers alt-J have taken it to a whole new level with their release This Is All Yours. Though they released many of the songs off the album prior to its release, I personally feel that it’s best to listen to it in its entirety. Using their unique song style to their full advantage, alt-J create an album that is simultaneously simple and complex. They weave together electronic sounds, piano, world music, and dub step beats into something that is wholly unique and immersive from song to song. On tracks such as “Pusher”, acoustic guitar and vocals take center stage. The song brings to mind Bon Iver, but the unique singing voice of lead singer Joe Newman keeps it in the realm of alt-J. Similarly, “Left Hand Free” reminded me so much of the Black Keys, with its blues rock style and grittier sound, that by the time it got to the chorus I had to check and make sure I was listening to the right artist. They also use some of their older songs as inspiration in the new album. On “Bloodflood pt.II”, they combine lines from their song “Fitzpleasure” (off of their 2012 album This is a Wave) with new lyrics and a different, slower beat to create a vastly different sound than they had on the one they borrowed from. Overall, This Is All Yours is wonderful to listen to as either separate songs or one single entity.

8/10

 

-N

Beck’s “Morning Phase” is Beautiful

If you haven’t listened to this album, you need to. Right now. In fact, scroll to the bottom of this post, click on the first song, and then scroll back here to read the rest of this while you listen. I’ll wait.

If you know anything about Beck, you know that he moves through genres like it’s nothing. Pick any album of his and it probably isn’t going to sound like his others. Although it might seem difficult to be a musical chameleon and still make amazing music, Beck makes it look easy, and his 2014 release Morning Phase proves it. The songs range from dramatic, orchestral songs to ones that have a hint of country twang to them, and it all works. The opening track “Cycle” is a short, symphonic piece that works as a distant segue throughout the album. The slow-building drama that was in the works during “Cycle” leads directly into the acoustic guitar of “Morning”. The main theme of acoustic guitar work continues throughout the album, giving it a warm, folk-country feel that can be felt more clearly during “Say Goodbye”. The reappearance of the orchestra-fueled drama that continues in “Wave” juxtaposes well with the more relaxed, folk vibe that the majority of the album exudes. Speaking of vibes, individual songs reveal hints of other possible influences, including  Simon & Garfunkel (“Turn Away”) and 80s ballads (“Unforgiven”, “Waking Light”).

Overall, Beck manages to combine an orchestra, folk-country acoustic guitar melodies, 80s balladry, and rich vocals into an album that is well-rounded and immensely beautiful.

My rating: 4/5

-N

 

Random CD Pick: The Olms

So, there’s a music shop about five minutes away from campus and it’s dangerous. All of the CDs are super overpriced and they don’t have a super huge selection but for whatever reason, I’M ALWAYS THERE. Also, I’ve taken to buying completely random albums and just hoping that they’re really good so I’m going to go ahead and review my most recent random purchase.

To be completely honest, I bought this album because it had a super awesome cover. I had never heard of the band or any of their songs but for some reason, I couldn’t leave the store without it. As soon as my money transferred to the hands of the cashier I started having regrets because even with bands you know and like, you sometimes just get a disappointing CD. However, when I got back to my dorm, put it on my computer, and heard the cowbell drop, I knew I had made a grand decision.

This. Album. Is. Fantastic.

The Olms, Pete Yorn and J.D. King, are from California and are apparently pretty eclectic in their style, decor, and music. This album is super laid back and folksy. Something about the songs makes me feel super nostalgic about times before I was even born. It’s kind of magical and the dreamy tunes are addicting.

You should listen to:

–          Wanna Feel It

–          On The Line

–          She Said No

–          Only One Way

Also, give What Can I Do a listen. It totally sounds like the ripped pants song from Spongebob. In the best way possible.

Other super great things about this album:

–          The track list art

–          IT CAME WITH A STICKER

–          STICKER.

Give this band a chance. They aren’t what I would typically listen to and I think if I would have looked them up prior to buying the CD, I probably wouldn’t have had the same experience with my first listen. They’re super talented and the range of instruments is incredible. Enjoy.

-K