‘The Falls’ – White Pines

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mp3, Music, White Pines, Yer Bird Records

I first came across the music of White Pines last year with the release of the beautiful five track EP A Face Made Of Wood – an EP which I absolutely loved. I was therefore stoked to discover that Joseph Scott, the man behind the Pines, had released his debut full length in the form of ‘The Falls’.

Album reviews are so hard for me to write, but when you love an album you almost feel obliged to dedicate at least three or four paragraphs to it, don’t you? For some reason, saying ‘it just sounds good’ or ‘I love it’ doesn’t seem to be enough. People require reasons and proof for said love.

Maybe I should start with what I was doing when I listened to the album for the first time. I was in the park around 10am on my day off. I had a paper, a coffee and the sky above me looked like this:

Opening song ‘Churchyard’ kicked in and I remember stopping midway through some irrelevant article about some irrelevant person and instead paying close attention to the layered vocals and subtle piano. That part around the 1.20 minute mark where the vocals stop and the sound just explodes (well explode might be overstating it slightly, but ‘gets bigger’ doesn’t sound quite right) kills me every time, I love it. And the chimes at the end? Beautiful!

‘Woods’ is also a standout track and it’s one of those songs that gets me all melancholy because it features lines like we all feel our age much more out in the cold and is one of those so-beautiful-it’s-sad kinda songs. There’s some accordion action partway through it too and I just lap that stuff up.

Woods – White Pines

I also love little things like the background shuffle noise at the start of ‘Valley’, one of two instrumental tracks on the album, and the feathery snare in the stunning ‘Homes’. The beautifully meandering ‘Half Beast’ immediately won me over with all that lovely pedal steel and ‘Across The Sky’ has an almost menacing feeling to it that I can’t quite put words to, but works for me all the same. ‘Departing’ is yet another stunning track, low on word count but big on sound.

‘Hinterland’ is that other instrumental track that I mentioned and in the space of a minute and a half it seems to move from morning to night, bird calls present from the beginning to the end of the track, becoming more and more urgent as the sound progresses and then fading into the cymbal splash of ‘Armor’. This song in particular really illustrates the amazing musical vision of Joseph Scott.

Album closer ‘Warriors’ is yet another gorgeous song and seems to showcase all that is wonderful about White Pines – slow builds, beautiful layered sounds, introspective lyrics and incredible musicianship. I had to listen to this album three times before I was able to leave the park. One of my favourites of 2010 – no question.

‘The Falls’ is available in digital format through Yer Bird Records for a mere $10. There are also a few tour dates on the horizon for White Pines in the next month or so – check his myspace for details.

I’ll leave you with this bonus track from 2009’s A Face Made Of Wood. Enjoy!

Speak with the Dead – White Pines

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High Violet – The National

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gigs, High Violet, mp3, Music, The National

If you’re a fan of The National, or even just a casual observer of the internets, you’ve no doubt come across a review or two of their latest offering High Violet.

Though it was released in May, it’s taken me ages to get to the point where I can cobble together a post about this album. It took me many, many listens before I could work out whether I liked it or not. It seemed darker or thicker than their previous offerings, the melodies wouldn’t stick in my head and I just didn’t get it.

I think part of the problem was that I’d heard a few songs prior to the full album. With some bands and releases this isn’t a such a big deal, but in this case, hearing these songs out of context meant that I’d already formed opinions without hearing the whole thing. Big, big mistake! Huge.

I think one of the first tracks I heard was ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’ and I remember really, really hating it. ‘This is not The National!’ I thought. As the sixth track on the album though, following immediately after the gradual build and explosion of ‘Afraid Of Everyone’, it’s an absolute stunner. It’s been a long time since I heard two songs blend so seamlessly together.

Afraid of Everyone – The National

Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National

Now, it’s an album that I can’t get enough of. It’s a rare week when I haven’t listened to it two or three times in a single sitting, and I can’t believe that it took so long for it to click. All the classic National themes are there – dark humour, gloomy introspection, loss, anxiety, confusion, despair.

Album highlights? Well, it’s hard to go past the ‘Afraid Of Everyone’/’Bloodbuzz’ combination, but I love the slow burn of ‘Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks’ as well, and the line about inventing ‘a summer lovin’ torture party’ in ‘Lemonworld’ is pretty fantastic. I love ‘Sorrow’ too, despite its less than happy sentiments. Bugger it, I love the whole damn thing!

And, thanks to my obsessive website checking and a heads up from a friend, I discovered that The National, in addition to doing the Oz music festival circuit this summer, are also playing at The Palais in Melbourne and I’ve got tickets!! I can’t tell you how excited I am to be seeing them again. I’m sure it will be equally as good as last time, although the change in venue will probably make for a slightly different atmosphere I think. At least this time I’ll be able to see!

The January 9 date is sold out now, but a second Palais show has just been announced. Presale tickets are available from 5pm Thursday 21st October, with general tickets on sale Friday 22nd October at 12pm. Click here for more info.

(Image via Claus.com – check out their excellent album review here)

Jonsi’s ‘Go’ was made for me

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album review, Jonsi, mp3, Music

Being the massive Sigur Ros fan that I am, it’s kinda ridiculous how long it’s taken me to check out lead singer Jónsi’s debut solo album Go. I have vague memories of hearing opening track ‘Go Do’ late last year I think, but it wasn’t until last week I finally managed to have a proper listen. Yesterday I went out and bought the CD and I’ve listened to nothing else all weekend. Literally. I’m on to my fourth listen this afternoon as I type this – I can’t get enough.

I think part of my reluctance to listen to this album was perhaps that I was worried that it wouldn’t be as good as the music he makes with Sigur Ros. I am not exaggerating when I say that I love Sigur Ros – not in a silly fangirl, posters-all-over-my-wall, watches-every-video-she-can-on-youtube kinda way, but that they are the band that I turn to when I need comfort or a lift or I just need something to listen to that I know I will love without having to think about it. Unconditional music, I guess.

I needn’t have worried. It’s true that Jónsi’s solo stuff differs in many ways to Sigur Ros – or at least from their earlier, more ambient releases – but the magic certainly remains. Actually, I think it’s quite similar to Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust in that it’s uptempo for most of the album, but there are breaks in the songs where fast beats are replaced with just strings and vocals, before kicking off again. It’s also the first time Jónsi has sung the majority of his songs in English.

I had a terrible time trying to decide which songs to post, to give you the best taste of the album and convince you that you had to run out right now and get your hands on a copy. I could’ve posted any of them, to be honest, but I went for the opening track ‘Go Do’ and ‘Tornado’. ‘Go Do’ is incredibly infectious, and I can’t listen to it without a big stupid grin on my face. ‘Tornado’ is a bit more Sigur Ros-ish in that it’s more piano and string focused and starts off slow, and builds. It also showcases that voice that makes me speak in cliches. Angelic, ethereal, soaring… you get the picture.

I guess if I was going to mention particular highlights, I would choose ‘Animal Arithmetic’ and ‘Boy Lilikoi’, both of which are wonderfully fast paced tracks, but I am also really taken by closing track ‘Hengilas’ because of all that low slow cello/double bass action. I swear, this album was just made for me. The man can do no wrong.

So yes. Go and buy the album. And please go and see him live, because I can’t and I must, as always, live vicariously through you.

Go Do – Jónsi

Tornado – Jónsi

John Butler Trio impress with ‘April Uprising’

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April Uprising, John Butler Trio, mp3, Music

Up until now I’ve never been anything more than a casual John Butler Trio listener. However after hearing lead single ‘One Way Road’ several times on the radio and loving it, I immediately snapped up the opportunity to review their latest offering April Uprising. Following on from Sunrise Over Sea (2003) and Grand National (2007), April Uprising is the third consecutive JBT album to debut at #1 in the national ARIA music charts.

Incidentally, the album was named after John Butler’s search to trace his family in series 2 of the Australian version of Who Do You Think You Are? This was a top episode, in which Butler discovered that some of his ancestors were involved in the Bulgarian April Uprising in the 1870’s. If I remember correctly, he also discovered that his great-great-great grandmother lived in Shinbone Alley in Echuca during the Gold Rush years and was married to a Chinese prospector. When he left her alone with several children to raise, she made a living busking in the local pubs. It would seem that being a busker and a revolutionary runs in the family!

Not only did Butler use his experience tracing his family history as the inspiration for much of April Uprising, he also introduced two new band members, Nicky Bomba (drums/percussion) and Byron Luiters (bass) to help forge a new direction. (I don’t think the new direction refers so much to the musical sound, but rather to the inspiration that comes from working with new people and new ideas). All the trademark JBT elements are there though. Comments on social justice, respect for others and the quest for positive change, not to mention catchy rootsy melodies and beats that beg to be moved about to. Listening to ‘C’mon Now’, for instance, makes me think that it’s high time I caught these guys live. I just know they’d be wonderful.

Ok, enough background! How does the album sound, I hear you say? Really bloody fantastic, actually. In the past, JBT albums, as popular as they are with the Australian public, have never fully done it for me. I may like a few tracks but am never able to appreciate the whole album.

April Uprising however, is different. I think what I like the most is its strong opening. The first five tracks in particular are excellent, the quicker uptempo numbers making way for a more mellow, reflective sound that carries through to the concluding ‘A Star Is Born’. I was going to try and get all philosophical on you for a minute there, but I haven’t been able to find the words. Let’s just say that you could interpret this last song as a conclusion to Butler’s journey to discover his ancestors – he’s discovered where and who he comes from, and somehow this has served to make him value and love and appreciate his own family even more. Or maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about. Ahem.

I’ve heard this album described as his ‘most accessible’ album to date and I think there’s a lot of truth in that. While I’ve always recognised the man’s talent for intelligent lyrics and stunning musicianship, I’ve not been able to completely connect with his music until now. Perhaps it’s the collaboration with new people, his search to find his roots or simply the natural progression that comes with age and experience, but for me this is certainly the John Butler Trio’s finest work yet.

Track listing:

1. “Revolution” – 5:05
2. “One Way Road” – 3:06
3. “C’mon Now” – 2:42
4. “I’d Do Anything (Soldier’s Lament)” – 3:21
5. “Ragged Mile (Spirit Song)” – 3:57
6. “Johnny’s Gone” – 4:55
7. “Close To You” – 3:45
8. “Don’t Wanna See Your Face” – 2:43
9. “Take Me” – 5:01
10. “Fool For You” – 5:07
11. “To Look Like You” – 4:19
12. “Steal It” – 3:43
13. “Mystery Man” – 3:55
14. “Gonna Be A Long Time” – 3:46
15. “A Star Is Born” – 4:35

Highlights from the album include ‘C’Mon Now’, ‘One Way Road’, ‘I’d Do Anything (Soldier’s Lament) and ‘Ragged Mile (Spirit Song) and I also really enjoy ‘Don’t Wanna See Your Face’, ‘Steal It’ and ‘Fool For You’.

The John Butler Trio have just embarked on a world tour, hitting up the UK, Europe and the US from April through to June, with a major national tour planned here in Australia in August and September. Check their myspace for dates (there are heaps of them – let’s hope the boys have something left in the tank by the time they return to Oz!) and visit their website to stream or buy April Uprising.

You can also check out an excellent live session recorded in the Hear Ya studios back in February here, along with a video of a live performance of ‘One Way Road’ – it’s a goodie.

I tried to have a stream of ‘C’Mon Now’ available for you, but WordPress is being a rotten so-and-so today and won’t save it properly, so you’ll have to make do with the download of a live performance of ‘One Way Road’ instead. I think you’ll cope.

One Way Road (Live) – John Butler Trio

(Image from the band’s myspace)

Miles of highway poppies, a stretch of maybe flowers

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mp3, Music

And such is the opening line of ‘Slowness’, my favourite track from Calexico’s 2008 release Carried To Dust. These guys are from Arizona and they’re all about the alt-country rock stuff. This was an album that made an appearance on many 2008 year end lists, and after repeated listens over the last few days I can certainly understand why. It’s the kind of album that takes its time to slowly seep its way under your skin, but before you know it, you’re humming along and anticipating that next subtle twangy note. It’s an amazingly calming listen, which isn’t to say that it’s boring, far from it. It’s warm and lush and when you can get past the gorgeous instrumentation and pay attention to the lyrics as well, seriously romantic pictures of life on the road spring unbidden into your head.

In addition to the beautiful ‘Slowness’, a song about a late night drive that features female vocals and some seriously yearning pedal steel, ‘Writers Minor Holiday’ is also a favourite. I also can’t help but love the instrumental ‘El Gatillo (Trigger Revisited)’, a track featuring a whistling part that always calls to mind DeVotchKa’s efforts on the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack.

I’ve seen Calexico and this album labelled as ‘Americana’, a term and genre that I’ve always considered myself not to like, but if this is Americana, then perhaps I do like it after all. Check it out.

Slowness – Calexico

Writers Minor Holiday – Calexico

Nightjar – The Moth Trap

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mp3, Music

This Christmas lark has really thrown me. It’s taken me over a week to drag myself out of my Christmas stupor and find the enthusiasm to begin writing proper posts again. It’s quite strange – all year I dreamed of being able to ditch my work responsibilities and just have time to write properly and now that I’m on holidays I find that all I’m capable of doing is reading other blogs through glassy eyes and buying t-shirts from Threadless. (I wouldn’t follow that link if I were you – that damned site is bloody addictive).

Something has clicked this morning though, and I’ve awoken ready and raring to go. Over the Christmas break I did manage to listen to a lot of music at least, and I found myself listening repeatedly to The Moth Trap by Nightjar, a folk/country outfit from Edinburgh. I had already heard the gorgeous ‘Lady Of The Calico’ over at Song, By Toad and so I was expecting the rest of the EP to be filled with similar hushed murmurings over acoustic guitar.

Although I would’ve been more than happy if the rest of the gear had been of a similar quiet-ish vein, I was stoked when I heard the opening track ‘The Hanging Tree’. It was the strings that did it. It’s always the strings. It never ceases to amaze me how, in the right hands, a violin can play a reeling, rollicking tune and still manage to churn up a feeling of longing and wonder in me, all at the same time. The banjo is also a prominent feature, giving it a bluegrass feel that I don’t usually go for as a rule, but find myself enjoying immensely.

The vocals are wonderful as well, strong and full of depth, delivering lyrics that warn us about small towns and how they dispense their own brand of justice.

in small towns, they have different laws
from that you’d find in the city
so no matter what if you break the rules
expect no help nor pity
expect no sherrif nor no judge
to stop the people if they see
and carry you off to pay the cost
in the shade of the hanging tree

The rest of the EP is a similar mix of quiet acoustic songs and twangy banjo driven tracks and there’s something quite endearing about hearing Americana-type tunes delivered in that lovely Scottish accent. Hopefully we’ll see a full length from these guys sometime in the near future.

You can stream other Nightjar tracks at their myspace and can purchase The Moth Trap over at Song By Toad Records.

The Hanging Tree – Nightjar

Lady Of The Calico – Nightjar

Oh yeah, a nightjar is an owl. And here I was thinking it was a fancy name for a chamber pot.

Okkervil River – The Stand Ins

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mp3, Music

If you’re an Okkervil River fan, or if you are a blogoholic like me, you’ll know that their latest release The Stand Ins is loosely described as a companion album to last year’s wonderful, wonderful album The Stage Names. An album which is still in heavy rotation in my car, on my iPod, in my head, wherever.

Having only had the chance to listen to The Stand Ins a couple of times since I picked it up last week, I have to say that while I think it’s fabulous, I don’t think it quite measures up to the dizzy heights of The Stage Names. Don’t get me wrong, the songwriting is superb of course and their distinctive sound is still ever present. I love the awesome cover art on both albums too – the way the two illustrations line up is very clever.

There are some stand out tracks (pardon the pun won’t you dears) like ‘Pop Lie’ and my current favourite ‘Calling and Not Calling My Ex’, but it was always going to be hard to top tracks like ‘A Girl In Port’, ‘John Allyn Smith Sails’ and the wonderful ‘Plus Ones’. I’m on holidays in three days (yay!) so I plan to give it a much better listen while I’m kicking back doing a hell of a lot of not much, so hopefully I’ll be able to give you a better review later on. Until then though, check out the track below, and enjoy!

Calling And Not Calling My Ex – Okkervil River

Mates Of State: Re-Arrange Us

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album review, Mates Of State, mp3, Music

I did a post about Mates Of State recently, but I’ve since been able to give their album Re-Arrange Us my full and undivided attention. And what a treat of an album it is. It’s a rare album for me, in that I like every single track on it. Seriously. Undemanding and catchy as hell, it’s the perfect album to listen to when you don’t want to have to think too much or when you want something that’s not going to leave you feeling melancholy or morose. Pure indie pop at its finest.

The Re-Arranger – Mates Of State