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Jake Mattison // Home Is Where The Hatred Is (Cover)

Jake Mattison pays homage to Gil Scott-Heron and his classic “Home Is Where The Hatred Is.” My hat off to Mr. Mattison for his soul stirring display of courage. Jake makes this rendition personal and it bleeds blood, leaving the scars of addiction open and utterly exposed like raw nerves doused with gasoline. This song is a heap of introspection too, and the weighty torment thick as the lies and flies out of a politicians mouth. Surviving addiction is to have  rescued one’s dying self by taking the high, hard and lonely road to recovery. Jake has stripped the original track down to its bare bones. Denuded of accoutrement it is stark and beautifully lethargic. Mr. Mattison renders a tough gut-wrenching ode, and you get the feeling this is much more than just another song to be sung. I suspect this may be his torch song, his song of triumph and rebirth. This cover is the epitome of withdrawal, leaving a listener littered with moaning and the gnawing need for more. Jake, you are a survivor with the voice of a long neglected angel. Peace. Continue reading “Jake Mattison // Home Is Where The Hatred Is (Cover)”

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pond // you broke my cool (video)

If you’re in the mood for a jam band of the highest order then hang on tight to your knickers because Pond is the absolute real deal! I’ve  discovered so many great Aussie bands recently, and I’m so pleased, hopefully you’ll be too. Pond exemplifies what it means to rock out with your cock out, so to speak. The bands super amazing track “You Broke My Cool” is akin to that dirty south super duo Outkast and their song, “Take Off Your Cool” featuring Nora Jones, think of it as it’s rockin third cousin once removed. and the song “Eye Pattern Blindness” is one hell of a wild romp through rock-funk-sub space! The band’s latest album is Beard, Wives, Denim and it’s a certified rock-n-roll monster. Both iTunes and Amazon, yeah they have it, and soon enough you will too! Peace. Continue reading “pond // you broke my cool (video)”

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Beachwood Sparks // Myth

it breaks
silently
no a flood
but it dreams to be

these tears
are emotion
overflowing

these tears
are no myth.

According to Sub Pop Records’ Bud Scoppa, “Some albums were made to be played on a Saturday night. The Tarnished Gold LP by Los Angeles’  Beachwood Sparks is meant to be played on a Sunday afternoon. Listening to Beachwood Sparks’ first album in 11 years is like being under cobalt blue skies and smelling the night-blooming jasmine on a perfect spring day in Los Angeles.” Now, who can argue with that, except why limit your listening experience to a Sunday afternoon? And their utterly heart melting song, “Myth” well I’ll end with this. Some songs just start you thinking about moments. Moments suspended in time and melancholy. Hell, it even inspired me to pen the poem preceding this review. I hope it puts a wan smile upon your heart as well. The bands forthcoming album is scheduled to drop June the 26th. Peace. Continue reading “Beachwood Sparks // Myth”

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World Blanket // And Here We Are (Again Maybe)

The band is World Blanket, and although these are big city (Brooklyn, NYC) men, their music sounds like it may well have been wrought in more rural environs. Listen to, “And Here We Are (Again Maybe) and the Syd Barrett cover, “Let’s Split” and you can easily reconcile the fact that the bands geographic location is of little consequence at all. World Blanket’s latest LP album titled 2012 will drop everywhere worldwide on April 3rd. Totally good stuff. Like good sex, good liquor and good times. Peace. Continue reading “World Blanket // And Here We Are (Again Maybe)”

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Ravens & Chimes // Night

I just found a total heart breaker of an album, and a clear shoe-in for one of the best albums of 2012.  You’re apt to return to this collection of songs like the migratory geese revisiting the north lands of one’s thawing heart. And if the songs, “Night” and “Carousel” aren’t evidence enough of the band’s resounding beauty and tender trap fragility, then I implore you to warm your ethereal soul over the smoldering coals of the whole album. Lead vocalist Asher Lack delivers lyrics like the steady fall of spring rain; slowly eroding your heart to pieces. And then there is the soft crooning of Rebecca Rossi providing those soft delicate undercurrents of moody poetry. This is a band whose music ebbs and flows like small gifts of illuminating moonlight, but at times the music swells into orchestral waves of shattered sunspots leaving your breath caught in a net of forlorn beauty, oh how it captivates. You can gain this bit of gold and magic at Amazon and likewise on iTunes. Peace. Continue reading “Ravens & Chimes // Night”

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Zammuto // Idiom Wind

Zammuto is the self-titled album envisioned by Nick Zammuto and fleshed out by the many musical skill sets of fellow band members  Sean Dixon on drums, Gene Back (multi-intrumentalist), and Mikey Zammuto on bass. The album will be released April 3rd, via Temporary Residence Limited. This is music by which one can sail to the moon upon a ship of dreams powered by the winds of your swooning heart. For more stream the entire album at www.zammutosound.com. Peace. Continue reading “Zammuto // Idiom Wind”

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Alcoholic Faith Mission / / Into Pieces

Alcoholic Faith Mission is a band I first began listening to a few years ago, and I’m always ready to sing, I mean, write their praises. This Danish sextet dropped their dropped their new album Ask Me This back in January and I want you to want it too. And sorry for the short notice but the band is playing at Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, MI on May 3rd. But alas, you can also cop it on Amazon too. Well, here’s hoping you enjoy this track as much as I do, and I’ll keep you posted as new material becomes available. Peace. Continue reading “Alcoholic Faith Mission / / Into Pieces”