Devastations

It is about that time of year and I know you know what I am talking about. It's the time of year that Lake CDs are due and that can only mean one thing ...

My 2011 Lake CD is half done

And there is a Devastations song on the playlist. They are a band from Australia that are deeply influenced by Nick Cave in both sound and content and while I am not a huge fan of Nick Cave, this band really does it for me. Lead singer Conrad Standish possesses a delightfully brooding style that reminds me of a sober Mark Lanegan singing songs as a lounge act (that was supposed to be a compliment but I am not sure it ever got there.)

It is an interesting band in that it is trying to do different things as they continue their career. Their current album has a more electronic feel (cool kids call it ambient) while the album that hooked me has been described (accurately, I suppose) as outback-gothic. Whatever the style or genre, it is the vocal stylings of Standish that makes these songs stand up. His is truly one of the unique and underrated voices in alternative rock.

The Beaten Sea, The White Buffalo, and Megafaun

Hurray! It's Monday! I have a triple shot for all you banjo and non-banjo enthusiasts out there!

First of all, I recommended the Dallas Family Band a while ago, but Lefty complained because "they" (meaning the collective) don't have an album. For his sake, and the rest of you who might not spend an inordinate amount of time tethered to your computer where you can stream whatever you please, I am happy to announce at least two of the 7ish bands in the collective have now released an album. Spooky Folk put theirs out a while ago, and I have been delinquent about picking one up, but will. The Beaten Sea just had their CD release party last friday, and I will also be getting theirs sometime soon too no doubt. I still recommend streaming from the 'sounds' tab on the DFB webstie, but if you absolutely must possess it, it is now possible....

Second of all, last week I stumbled upon The White Buffalo (Jake Smith's moniker) and have been listening to it all morning. It is great-- in a nutshell, it is what you would hope Eddie Vedder solo acoustic stuff would sound like, but doesn't, but even better. I love it, especially three songs so far-- Damned, Love Song No. 1, and Sweet Hereafter, but the more I listen, the more I like them all. Take a gander and enjoy. Immensely.

THIRD (yes, 3!) is a group I just learned about from the indie music blog hear ya (which I will add to the sidebar because it seems great) called Megafaun. Lots of potential here-- I have only listened a bit, but I like what I hear and wanted to share the band, and the site.

Save as Draft

Ramsay Midwood

I got the heads up on Ramsay Midwood a few years back from my good friend Drew Thomas and it has taken me at least three years to "get it." He sounds like a mush-mouthed bluesman that writes songs that fit somewhere in-between Bob Dylan and The Bottle Rockets. Dylan in that there is more depth than most songwriters. Bottle Rockets in the way that he doesn't seem to take himself all too seriously. Or maybe more accurately, he can see the levity in dreary living. His vocal stylings take some time to get used to but there is a reward for putting in time with this artist. The songs start to open up with familiarity and seeing Midwood for the artist he strives to be is reward enough for the work.

Luther Wright and the Wrongs

This band was mentioned to me last week by a Canadian friend (yes, I was in Canadia at the time, but the friend is here). The name of the band is so great, I had to listen. The first couple songs didn't make a big impression, but a recently posted ditty called The Land of Milk and Honey wormed it's way right into the center of my heart, with all my other favorite music. I highly recommend you listen to it (Lefty), and then listen to it again and let it worm its way into yours. "Things Twice" ain't bad either-- a little ghost of Tom Pettyish, which is good because, although I don't love Tom Petty, I seem to love singers who do.

http://www.myspace.com/lutherwright

Here's the album cover from their bluegrass recapitulation of Pink Floyd's The Wall, for all you banjo enthusiasts.

(Isn't it funny that we are posting things as if anyone but you and I are reading this? As if, for example, a whole bunch of banjo enthusiasts might be reading this?)

Bonus Wednesday- Hayes Carll

I have been familiar with Hayes Carll since picking up a Todd Snider concert bootleg in which he was the opener. He is in the same vein as Todd, country-ish singer-songwriter that is sensitive and smart enough to appeal to all of us. Not as good as Todd but as knock-offs go, pretty solid. I can listen to him easily.

But since I don't with regularity, it was a nice surprise to hear him referenced on a random radio show. Actually, he wasn't referenced. His song, "She Left Me For Jesus," was. I didn't know it was Carll until I Googled the title and now you are all caught up.

Truth be told, I am not sure how good this song is. This is not his best work be a log shot. If this were the only song you listened to, you would dismiss Carll as a comedian rather than musical artist. He is definitely not that. However, it is impossible to dismiss the line, "If I ever find Jesus, I'm kickin' his ass."

Richmond Fontaine

Hard to say where my partner in crime is right now (it is a very Carmen Sandiego situation) but suffice it to say, she is unavailable for NMM. I know this disappointes a great number of you. However, I am here to save the day. Actually Richmond Fontaine is here to save the day.

I know this is not a new band to Pancho and Lefty but it is probably a new band to a lot of readers and is most certainly underrated by the people who love music by bands that sound like a reincarnation of post-No Depression Uncle Tupelo and pre-experimental Wilco. Or pre-crappy Wilco if you heard the last two albums. This band produces great country sounding rock that should have made them more popular.

Well Richmond Fontaine, you are a part of the NMM family now. Let the money roll in!

Wes McDonald

I didn't know much about Wes McDonald before I listened to the excellent 1:50 In The Furnace and after a few listens (and some hurried research before this post), I am afraid I still do not known all that much. It is really hard to find anything on him or his band. My first impression was McDonald was a cross between roots rocking Jason Isbell and late power popster Alex Chilton. Subsequent reading has found favorable comparisons to Paul Westerburg and I have a hard time disagreeing. The album is sufficiently subversive (read: smarter than you think) while rocking in that joyous way that only Southerners seem to be able to do with any consistency.