Hiss Golden Messenger "Heart Like A Levee"
If I was a younger man, I would likely accuse the new Hiss Golden Messenger album Heart Like a Levee (Merge) of getting me “right in the feels.” But then again in the NYT crossword puzzle yesterday the following was a clue: “Right in the _____ (deeply affecting, in modern slang)” -so all bets are off. Although “deeply affecting” does apply well to this HGM record. Mike Taylor started out writing this album as an art project for Duke University. He was tasked with writing a cycle of songs to accompany a series of black and white photos of life in an Eastern Kentucky coal-mining camp from 1972. He started out doing so, but eventually those photos started staring back… into his soul (I know, sounds scary. But it’s not nearly as scary as all those weird clowns popping up these days). Eventually the photos just served as a bit of a creative jumping off point. Imagine John Mellencamp having taken songwriting classes from Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, and Randy Newman all during one semester, and his final project might sound a lot like this singular album. Check out Mike at his most New Morning-era Dylan with “Biloxi.”
Julia Jacklin "Don’t Let The Kids Win"
Like a fever dream (or maybe an un-aired episode of VINYL) where Angel Olsen, Bonnie Rait, Mama Cass, and The Shirelles are on a Blues Brothers-esque romp playing all kinds of music in all kinds of places, Julia Jacklin’s debut album is here. Don’t Let The Kids Win (Polyvinyl) is an auspicious introduction to Julia. The first thing you won’t be able to get past is her singular, rich vocals. The next thing you will notice is her songwriting wit-a skill many songwriters are afraid to showcase. Then you’re likely gonna say “how does a 25 year old sound so mature and worldly?” It’s best not to think about such things. As Julia says in the press for the new album “yeah we’re getting older but it’s not so special. It’s not unique. Everyone has dealt with this and it’s going to keep feeling weird.” Indeed Julia – and I guess it’s time I table my “AGING SUCKS” album idea. Check out the dreamy “Pool Party.”
The Slow Show "Dream Darling"
Ok. So I’m normally here in blurb-writing land to try and describe a new album as succinctly as possible, and try to throw a few “jokes” in too. I’m also here to step aside when a band’s press is so good that after reading it I can’t even begin to do better than it. Such is the case with The Slow Show’s new album Dream Darling. When Picadilly Records says “a delicate varnish of Americana, sparse piano, guitar chords in minor keys, tender brass, swelling strings and choirs, each element combines to infuse the album with a northern soul” I know good enough to step aside. Somewhere between the Annie Lennox choral arrangements and Coldplay lies the sound of The Slow Show. Check out the devastation of “Hurts.”
Yann Tiersen "Eusa"
Multi-instrumentalist Yann Tiersen has returned with an oh so beautiful album of solo piano pieces entitled Eusa (Mute). Each piece specific to a spot on the island of Ushant, off the coast of Brittany (‘Eusa’ in Breton), which is where Yann resides. Originally an album of field recording of each spot was made to accompany a book of piano music, so that you could play the album yourself at home and hopefully connect in some cosmic way to the spot Yann was at when he wrote the album. But since most people sound more like Jerry Lewis than Jerry Lee Lewis on the piano, Mr. Tiersen was kind enough to record the songs himself in the famed Abbey Road Studios. Haunting, sophisticated, achingly beautiful, and pastoral, it’s pretty obvious YT is in love with his homeland. This is as amazing as Yann has been since his famed work on the Amélie soundtrack. Check out the less angular Philip Glass vibes of “Penn ar Roc’h.”