Wesley Gonzalez "Excellent Musician (Moshi Moshi)"
Upon first checking out Wesley Gonzalez’s solo debut, you are probably gonna say to yourself “this record is pretty bonkers.” It won’t take long. In fact, it took me 17 second (no lie) into the first song before I messaged another BRMer the following “this wesley gonzalez record is pretty bonkers.” And then when I read the following on diymag.com “Gonzalez describes the record as “angry music” influenced by the more melodic likes of Sly & the Family Stone, Donny Hathaway and The Beatles.” I was better able to describe the bonkers-ness I was hearing. It’s indie-quirk-pop at it’s finest. Check out the Elvis Costello-y “Exhibition Song.”
Palehound "A Place I’ll Always Go (Polyvinyl)"
A Place I’ll Always Go, the second LP from Palehound but their first for Polyvinyl, is an indie rock wonderland. Spindly guitar lines, plunky bass, shuffle-y drums and Ellen Kempner’s hushed, melodic vocals. It all adds up to a throwback to the ‘90s heyday of the indie craft a la The Breeders (with a little Folk Implosion percussion thrown in for good measure), plus a softer take on the modern sounds of Speedy Ortiz. Having recorded the album after a period of great personal loss, Ellen and Co. have come out the other side with an introspective blast of blurry rock. Check out the earworm “Room.”
The Peacers "Introducing The Crimsmen (Drag City)"
There you are, you just built yourself a shortwave radio that you are sure will pick up frequencies from space. You tune it all over the dial (do short wave radios have dials? Admittedly, I didn’t do a whole lot of research for this…) and come upon some alien sounds. But suprisingly, the aliens speak English. Also, this sort of sounds like rock and roll music, but like none you’ve ever heard before. That’s because it’s The Peacers! Spilling out from a split in the fabric of the universe is their strange, frazzled garage rock from space. Introducing The Crimsmen (Drag City) is like if you pushed the Kinks down the stairs mid-practice, and they never stopped playing. Half way down the steps, they tumble into Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd who was working on some Monkees covers, and the whole thing winds up this alien-sounding supergroup before they hit the landing. Cool origin story right? Check out the stonned shuffle of “Jurgen’s Layout.”
Billy Stoner "Billy Stoner (Teal Love)"
It’s one thing to call yourself an “outlaw country” artist. It’s another thing to be Billy Stoner, as legitimate an outlaw country musician as have ever existed. He spent some time kicking around in bands in the ‘60s and’70s, before getting busted running drugs across the border. This album, an unreleased gem being brought to light by our pals at Team Love, was recorded in 1980 right before he was sent to the big house. What’s it sound like? Well, he dedicates the last song on the album to Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash among others, so… you know. Plus, if my colorful description of him didn’t conjure up a sound in your mind already, then I think no amount of describing here is gonna help-although knowing that Arlo Guthrie’s band is backing him up here could do a little bit of clarifying. Give a listen to “River Gang.”