Jimmy LaValle, the man behind the music of The Album Leaf, isn’t exactly what I’d call a storyteller. In fact, it wasn’t until a few years ago that LaValle and company actually sang on their records. The popular belief is that if you don’t have lyrics to your songs, then you’re either a jam band or you’re making eclectic ambience/lounge music. Now I’m not going to charge The Album Leaf with such generalizations, but I will write briefly about their latest EP A Chorus of Storytellers.
For me, this album typifies the ‘hit-or-miss’ genre of electronic music. Some songs immediately strike a chord with the listener, while others seem to languish and falter in their transmission. Take for example “Blank Pages”: it’s a melancholy day at some French cafe and the rain is beating down outside. I can see the appeal, but it’s not something I can queue up anytime. Contrast that with the next song on the album “There is a Wind”, a coherent electropop track that has a cheerful lightness that gives it volume. The erratic “Within Dreams” gets wrangled in by the strudel-sweet strings that enter in at about 1:50, while “Stand Still” starts the listener off at the top of a daunting set of stairs and slowly walks her down. The repetition of “Until the Last” drags the listener into a lull, only to be wonderfully awoken by the soft horns and triumphant pianos of a new day. “Almost There” has an unmistakable radio-friendly kitsch, from the skipping drums to the shoegaze vocals.
Sure, it all starts out innocently enough. Husband and wife duo Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore form a band called Tennis. And they’re from Denver (seems exotic in the music industry). Their name? Riley used to be the No. 2 tennis player in the state. See, something just doesn’t make sense.
They make beautiful music together: Easy, breezy (beautiful, covergirl–anyone get this reference?) 60s pop that was conceived on the high seas (courtesy of Denver Westword):
Spurred by a seven-month sailing trip the two took together on the Eastern seaboard, the couple, started writing songs as “sort of a soundtrack for our experiences,” she explains. After meeting in college, the twosome pulled together money (“inspired by the fact that we had both grown up landlocked,” she notes) and bought an old sailboat in Florida, and then hit the high seas until the money ran out and they landed back in Denver
And I have a little gift for you, from Tennis. Well, kind of. It’s not really from them as so much as it is by them. If you like She & Him, if you like Candie Payne, then you’re going to enjoy the faux lo-fi sound of Tennis. “Marathon” is a doo-wop ditty that will make even the most brash a newborn dilettante. “South Carolina” begins delicately enough, but blossoms into a semi-breakbeat that belies the cute-as-a-button sound. Sure, it may not all add up, but I don’t really care. If it sounds good and rings true, I say keep it comin’.
Orthodox Jewish Reggae artist Matisyahu’s meteroric (?) rise to stardom has been nothing short of extraordinary. And in anticipation of Matisyahu’s upcoming album comes the release of the single “One Day”. If I’m a record executive and I’m listening to this song, there’s no friggin’ way I’m passing on this. This has all the elements of a top 40 hit: peaceful message, singable lyrics, and sick grooves.
I remember the first time I heard Citizen Cope’s soulful “Let the Drummer Kick”. Who was this guy who sounded like he had a wad of tobacco in his mouth whenever he sang? Was this intentional or did he just not give a damn? Feeling simultaneously intrigued and repelled, I decided I needed a greater body of work to judge. And despite the sparsity of works from Citizen Cope (aka Clarence Greenwater) over the years, I have gained a deep love for his music.
And so the first independently released album from CC comes in the form of Rainwater LP. Indeed, Rainwater continues in the same vein as Cope’s previous work. Soulful pianos, eclectic vocals, and great harmonies. He takes on the part of troubadour with the bluesy “Keep Askin’”, which slowly ebbs into the 3 chord awesomeness of “Healing Hands” that is no doubt the album highlight. “I Couldn’t Explain Why” has a strange pleasantness that belies the urgency of the song’s content. The simple wisdom of “Lifeline” is only bested by the song’s beautiful chord structure. And ultimately, that’s what CC is at his best: his soulful voice bellowing over simple piano chords.
Junip is Jose Gonzalez’s (yes, that Jose Gonzalez) Swedish band. Intrigued yet? There doesn’t really seem to be any rhyme or reason to when Junip decides to release an EP. They’ve only put forth 2 EPs, and they’re about 4 years apart. But the truth is that these little gems are basically a way to get your Jose Gonzalez fix inbetween his sparse albums.
So if Jose Gonzalez is singing, and they’re basically playing the same instruments, what’s the difference between Junip and Jose’s solo work? Well, surprisingly there’s quite a bit. Junip is not so much Gonzalez’s alter-ego as it is a nice avenue for him to explore another side of his musical interests. A little edgier, more fast-paced, and generally more layered, Junip’s sound is intriguing and captivating.
I actually had this great post all written out, and it got deleted (damn you, inconsistent internet connection!). So here’s my quick shpiel, each song gets one line
“Rope and Summit” – Roped in to this sonic delight.
“Far Away” – Was that a Baba O’Reilly tribute at the beginning, or was that my imagination?
“At the Doors” – Clocking in at 8:18, this heavyweight is anything but: light and airy to the finish.
“Loops” – See title.
GUESS WHAT?Rope and Summit – EP is free. Get it here.
Swedish pop collective Sambassadeur exudes innocent fun, and what’s more fitting for the summer than some more Sambassadeur? It’s a rhetorical question, but the answer is not much.
Their third LP European is due out July 7th on Labrador (respect!), and they’ve released the single “I Can Try” for all to hear.
Norwegian native Sondre Lerche has been a long-time CSV favorite ever since his groundbreaking debut Faces Down. No doubt, Lerche has faced his fair share of so-so albums. He seemed to lose track of the sound that first put him on the map, trying to delve into the darker Two Way Monologue and even the edgier Phantom Punch. But what’s so wonderful about this 2009 release Heartbeat Radio is that Lerche is returning back to that wonderful sound of Faces Down. 8 years older, and many musical miles under his belt, it’s great to see Lerche come back to the scene of the crime.
Here’s a few thoughts about some of the highlights from the album:
“Good Luck” – Bouncy pianos and playful guitars, not to mention Lerche’s loving way with his vocals, makes this song a great listen
“If Only” – The 90′s power-pop strikes throughout the song are as humorous as anything Lerche’s ever done.
“Easy To Persuade” – A high-charged verse turns into an easy-listening chorus that reminds me a dusty road in the backroads of some eastern town stuck in the 80′s.
“I Guess It’s Gonna Rain Today” – Seamlessly transitioning from a ballad to a horn-laden sonorous song, this Norwegian wunderkind is perfect in this track.
“Goodnight” – The farewell track is a sweet cinematic delight, with its sensitive strings and Lerche’s warmest wishes.
I don’t know much about Charlotte collective Campbell the Band, but I know I love their sound. And when it all boils down, isn’t that the most important thing?
I’m reminded of the Art of Fighting when I listen to Campbell the Band: the delicate vocals, the nostalgic content, and the sweet-as-honey guitars that wash over you.
They’ve been kind of enough to stream 6 tracks from the their new album Bear With Us (see below), and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. My personal favorites are “Quickly Growing Old” and “Through Your Veins”, and I love the dark ivory and ebony at the end of “We Are Free”.
Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream will serve as a blog for me to share my thoughts and musings, with a special emphasis on music. The music that will appear in this blog is for evaluation/sampling purposes only, and is designed to promote up and coming bands. Remember, if you like the artist(s), buy the CD! If you are the owner of a sound file and would like it removed, please contact us and we will kindly take it down.
Jimmy LaValle, the man behind the music of The Album Leaf, isn’t exactly what I’d call a storyteller. In fact, it wasn’t until a few years ago that LaValle and company actually sang on their records. The popular belief is that if you don’t have lyrics to your songs, then you’re either a jam band or you’re making eclectic ambience/lounge music. Now I’m not going to charge The Album Leaf with such generalizations, but I will write briefly about their latest EP A Chorus of Storytellers.
Concert News
