Phantogram - Voices

Released Feb 18th 2014

Phantogram according to Wikipedia: The images, when viewed from the correct vantage point and through 3D glasses to present on image to each eye, produce the illusion of solidity by mimicking the visual cues of perspective and depth perception.

According to NPR: Hazy, trip-hop-infected electronic sounds with gauzy pop melodies. 

I feel like NPR was way more accurate and am not sure when Wikipedia became so abstract in their music reviews but i'm on board. 

Drive-By Truckers

“English Oceans”

When Jason Isbell left Drive-By Truckers the band was without one of the best songwriters in music.  The positive was Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley were still writing great songs and Easy B, Brad Morgan, the band’s drummers was still providing steady beats.  Bassist Shonna Tucker left the band and many were left wondering about the band’s future.  Fast-forward several years and Jay Gonzalez has replaced Isbell and Matt Patton of the Dexateens has replaced Tucker.  2014 version of the band is having a blast and “English Oceans,” the band’s 12^th album, is fantastic.

            I was fortunate to hear many of the new DBT songs during their annual Homecoming shows at the Fabulous 40 Watt in Athens in February.  The band’s HeAthens shows usually take place on MLK weekend but the band moved the shows to President’s Day weekend perhaps due to the sudden death of longtime DBT “Merch Man,” Craig Lieske on January 18^th of last year.  During the final show of this year’s run I turned to my buddy and told him how much I loved the new songs.  For the past several years, DBT shows were made up of alternating Hood and Cooley songs.  “English Oceans,” however, is the first album to take the same approach.

            The album kicks off with the Cooley rocker “Shit Shots Count” complete with horns.  The album should already be on full blast by the time the horns come in late in the song.  Hood’s “When He’s Gone” immediately follows and the album is off and running.  The album is filled with the typical tales of the South’s dirty politicians and corrupt businessmen.  “Made Up English Oceans” and “Pauline Hawkins” take us back to the Reagan/Bush years.  The former is about former Reagan operative Lee Atwater. 

            “English Oceans” isn’t all about Hood and Cooley though.  Gonzalez’s keyboard is evident on most tracks and Easy B’s drumming is outstanding on “Part of Him” and “Grand Canyon.”  The latter tune is dedicated to Lieske and knowing that creates a haunting edge to the albums final track.

            “English Oceans” will never be put in the same category as the amazing three album run of “Southern Rock Opera,” “Decoration Day,” and “Dirty South.”  However, it is the band’s most complete album since those came out many years ago. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzTPQPwDM_A

Tinariwen - Emmaar

Northern Africa has seen its fair share of conflict. Out of the conflict, Tinariwen's worldly and surprisingly upbeat sound, has risen.

Beck - Morning Phase

A week ago, I walked a mile on Lake Superior to see the much-publicized Apostle Island ice caves — a rare and beautiful homage to a record-setting winter. Soaring rock faces opened onto slivers of frozen blue sky, while a gusty wind echoed through rows of 20-foot tall icicles in some semblance of a pipe organ. To say it was like standing in a natural cathedral is an understatement.

I read that the park service will be closing the caves to tourists on March 14. In the last week, temperatures have risen to above freezing and the caves are slowly melting back to a place only accessible by kayakers and fit swimmers. It's a sign that spring, blessedly, is finally here.

So why all this weather forecasting in a blog about music, you may ask? Because I can think of no better way to describe Morning Phase by Beck, than it's own kind of homage to that hopeful spate of weeks between the cold of winter and the return of the spring. Up here, in a part of the country that's had more than 50 days with a subzero temperature reading, it's simply called The Thaw.