Tal National "Tantabra (FatCat)"
When people ask me what I think the next big thing is gonna be in rock music, I like to say “who knows? But chances are it isn’t gonna be American.” When I say such things (besides thinking about how lovely my voice sounds) I’m always thinking in a very World Music/David Byrne sort of way. That dude knows what’s up. So does Tal National. The latest from the Nigerian rock band Tantabra (FatCat) finds them further stretching what us in the west would consider “rock” music. African grooves and key signatures, mixed with guitarist Almeida’s super hot licks, and a rotating carousel of vocalists (8 to be found on this record, one for each of the tracks). I would not be surprised if the “next big thing” sounds a lot like Tal National. So get ahead of the curve and start grooving to the joyous “Akokas.”
Hovvdy "Cranberry (Double Double Whammy)"
Has anyone coined the term bootgaze yet? If not, then yeah me! Because that’s the first thing that came to mind when I started to listen to the shoegaze-y country sounds of Hovvdy’s new LP Cranberry. The Austin duo’s sounds is all gentle guitars, odd studio trickery, and wistful vocals. Think Red Red Meat meets Cowboy Junkies meets dream-rockers Drugstore and you are starting to get the beautiful idea of what is happening here. For an even clearer picture of what is happening here, take a listen to “In The Sun.”
Curtis Roush "Cosmic Campfire Music (Modern Outsider)"
Curtis Roush from the popular Ausin band The Bright Light Social Hour is here with his solo debut Cosmic Campfire Music (Modern Outsider.) “Fusing bedroom soul with the ambient expanses of shoegaze, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Curtis Roush explores love and loss” is a great way to describe the ‘70s AOR feel of this album. Thankfully the excellently written press for this album did just that, hence the quotation mark! It’s like The Flying Burrito Bros meets Hall And Oates-and if that doesn’t whet your whistle then you have one dry whistle my friend. Try fixing that with “Real Love.”
Hockey Dad "Blend Inn (Kanine/Gaga)"
Sometimes the press for a new album makes defining the band’s sound easy. But even then, it can be are to come up with the band comparisons these blurbs are famous for (wait… they’re NOT famous!?!). Anyway, the press for Australian band Hockey Dad’s sophomore album Blend Inn made the sound-alike part of this blurb super easy. In an interview with Consequence Of Sound, Zach Stephenson specifically listed the songs that directly influenced the writing and recording of this LP. AC/DC’s “Jailbreak” Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” Twin Peak’s “Butterfly ”Iggy Pop’s “I’m Bored ”The Growlers’ “Neverending Lin.” All that PLUS the band’s name is an excellent Simpsons reference? Plus, is it just me, or does Zach’s voice sound like a modern day Billy Squire? Ignore my gratuitous use of the word “plus” and decide for yourself how huge a Hockey Dad fan you are when you check out “Homely Feeling.”