Fall Music Review

There’s a whole lot of music, and even though most of it’s somewhere between uninspiring and “turn it off now please”, there’s a ton of amazing art given the volume. Filtering through the mass of autotuned garbage is tough though, and over the last few years I’ve come to rely almost exclusively on word of mouth recommendations for a variety of reasons: I’m not too down with mainstream reviewers like Pitchfork or Rolling Stone, the radio is worse than useless, and Google Play’s premium “radio”-like playlists are mostly crap because good algorithms do not good taste make. Here's what I've been listening to this fall.

The Record CompanyGive it Back to You (2016)

This debut from a new LA-based power trio is pure rock and roll. In a modernized original sense of the term. I guess they are making a few waves here and there, one of their singles going to the top of one of the alternative charts and all. And I can see why it did. I hear simple arrangements layered in compelling ways. I hear more than a hint of the blues, a little gospel call and response, and swinging back beats. I hear some of that high energy garage sound that The Black Keys used to have when they still kicked total ass, but it’s not quite as lo-fi as the Keys’s early work. Neither is it over produced though. The 10 tracks are all solid and you can and should play this on repeat for a few hours to let it all sink in. I think there’s something here for most fans of rock, in particular people who like artists bringing that 60s rock and roll sound back. I picked up tickets to see them in a few weeks and if their live work is half what their studio work is, $18 was a bargain. Check out Off The Ground. Five stars.

John MorelandHigh on Tulsa Heat (2015)

I’ve been listening to more country lately, in part because the death of Merle Haggard reminded me to and in part because of decent albums like this that are opening up the alt country genre, whatever that is. Moreland blends a more americana roots folk style -- stuff I often like -- with country on this album, but I can’t say he does it consistently across all 10 tracks. Like many, this album contains gems like Sad Baptist Rain which almost carry it, but not quite. In the end, Moreland doesn’t have quite enough material for me to dig into. Tracks 1 and 3 and 6 are slow and pleading and plodding. I wouldn’t call them filler per se, they’re honest, but what would have been an excellent EP makes a mediocre LP. On the other hand, if you listen you’ll hear some amazingly questioning lyrics like “Drowning in the sea of tears you're crying, are you worried that you're happier at war than at peace?” Some people that like to buy individual tracks should pick a couple up for sure. Otherwise, worthy of streaming online now and again but not highly recommended as a full price purchase. Three stars.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night SweatsNathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (2015)

Good lord, I don’t know the last time I played an album this loud this often. Watch and listen to I Need Never Get Old. Do it, do it now. If your rig doesn’t go to 11 get a different one that does. Rock, blues, gospel, and soul blended in distorted near-perfection. Five stars.