Chris Garneau "Yours"
“Chris Garneau has always pursued his own strange sonic path, drawing on a diverse array of influences to create an otherworldly, haunting and distinct lane in the singer-songwriter universe.” Thanks Billboard! You’ve made my job here pretty easy, because I’m not sure that Chris’ ovure has ever been described more succinctly or poetically. Thankfully, Yours, his latest release, continues in this grand tradition. Like a lot of us, Yours finds Chris fed up with the state of things, but the results are far more beautiful than an angry twitter feed. Songs build and crescendo, at times gentle-at other times epic. Case in point is the single “Torpedo.”
Grapetooth "Grapetooth (Polyvinyl)"
The name of the band Grapetooth was originally bestowed as a nickname upon Clay Frankel (Twin Peaks) after a night of drinking a LOT of wine. Makes sense. I had the same nickname when I was little, but it was because of my affection for grape Kool-Aid and other artificial grape flavored candies. Not exactly the same, but then again this would be a much different blurb if I talked about all the wine I drank as a little kid. Also, Frankel, along with his partner here Chris Bailoni, formed the band over a mutual admiration of ‘80s Japanese new wave and Arthur Russell-neither of which I was cool enough to be into as a kid (Chuck Berry and Car 54 Where Are You? were my jams! Who wants to be in THAT band? Lemme know). This album is full of new wave-y synths and smooth grooves, with totally different vocal vibes for each jam. Grapetooth (Polyvinyl) is bound to stain your chompers too. So take a big bite out of the lead off track, “Violent.”
Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers "Bought To Rot"
Laura Jane Grace’s work with Against Me! Needs no introduction. Her work with her new band, however, needs a primer. Bought To Rot, the debut from Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers is a gloriously ramshackled homage to her influences. Put together like a playlist, with hard rock next to country-tinged next to surf rock next to power pop next to classic rock, this is as laid back and unexpected as her music has ever been. Seriously, at one point the album turns from a Meatloaf-esque theatrically shifted “I Hate Chicago” to a loud/quiet punk ballad with “Screamy Dreamy” to a late night LA rocker in “Manic Depression.” It’s obvious that the band is having the time of their lives recording these super-fun tunes. Check out “The Airplane Song.”
MICK HARVEY & CHRISTOPHER RICHARD BARKER "The Fall And Rise Of Edgar Bourchier And The Traumatic Horror (Mute)"
As far as concept albums go, The Fall And Rise Of Edgar Bourchier (Mute) from Mick Harvey & Christopher Richard Barker puts the artistic layers of House Of Leaves to shame (yes, I know I’m mixing my metaphors – books and albums – but bare with me). The story goes that Christopher Richard Barker has been writing poems as a fictional WWI poet named Edgar Bourchier. Also, this fictitious poet also has a backstory (killed by a tank at 24, his front line poems printed posthumously). He then asked Mick if he’d like to team up with him to record songs based on these poems. I can only assume Mick said yes, because here we are! The genres are all over the place, the only constant the concept of the WWI poetry. From era-appropriate folk songs to “Poor Poor Surgeon Tim,” a song that would sound right at home on The Who’s Tommy (assuming Tommy was about WWI). Check out the first single from the record, the guitar line trading “Lost Bastard Son Of War.”