Read our quick round-up of what the Gibson editorial staff is listening to this spring.
Aidin Vaziri, writer: “The best music is the kind that stops you in your tracks and makes you listen. I think that's how a lot of people feel when they hear
Other Lives for the first time. A little-known band from from Stillwater, OK, headed by bushy-bearded frontman Jesse Tabish, who has one of the most captivating voices I’ve heard in ages, the group started out playing 45-minute long meditations before realizing it could pack all the beauty and impact into four-minute gems like ‘Black Tables’ and ‘Paper Cities.’ The group’s self-titled debut — produced by Joey Waronker (the Eels, Lisa Germano) and engineered by Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Beck) — is out this week on ATO Records and it honestly sounds like none other.”
Ellen Mallernee, editor: “When I first listened to
Neko Case’s new ‘country noir’ album
Middle Cyclone, I thought,
eh. But then that thing happened, that thing that happens when you listen to really good CDs 50 times over — I fell in love with it, and each new listen revealed something new. Still, despite the fact that this album charted wayyyy higher (No. 2 on the Billboard charts) than her former solo disc, I don’t think it’s quite as accessible. Her abstract lyrics are even more arty, her melodies are less distinguishable, and her songs take a little longer to love.”
Dave Hunter, writer: “This week I’ve been listening to Lucinda Williams’s latest album,
Little Honey, a lot. I'm particularly digging the raw, rough’n’ready guitar tones and playing on ‘Real Love’ and ‘Honey Bee.’”
Jonah Bayer, writer: “I am currently obsessed with ‘Everything To Nothing’ by
Manchester Orchestra, which comes out on April 21. I wrote these guys off for a really long time because they were so overhyped, but the new disc is a really amazing conceptual rock record that evokes everyone from My Morning Jacket to Pedro The Lion and literally manages to successfully defy genre stereotypes. My favorite track is ‘Tony The Tiger,’ which is probably the best mid-tempo post-hardcore song that's been written since the ’90s. Plus, it’s a named after a delicious cereal.”
Russell Hall, writer: “After seeing a recent repeat of
Ryan Bingham’s performance on Austin City Limits I've been listening to his
Mescalito album non-stop. Some alt-country artists are starting to seem like posers, but he's the real deal. In some respects he reminds me of a young John Prine, except Bingham is rougher around the edges (a good thing). Can't wait till his next album —
Roadhouse Sun — comes out in June.”
Ted Drozdowski, writer: "
Left Lane Cruiser are dirty badasses from Fort Wayne, Ind., and they’re the bastard grandkids of R.L. Burnside and Sid Vicious, a duo who make Mississippi hill country and the Bowery sound like they’re adjacent counties. I’ve also been listening to Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch and Lurrie Bell. The new two-album set they’ve banded together to cut —
Chicago Blues: A Living History — is the genre’s best in years. It reclaims the style from every
suit-and-sunglasses-wearing pack of jackals who’ve ever hacked through ‘Sweet Home
Chicago,’ and there’s a lot of ’em. OK, one more group that's been in my tapedeck is
Hill Country Revue. Led by North Mississippi All Stars drummer
Cody Dickinson and that group’s bassist Chris Chew, this group carries the All Stars
mantle, romping through Mississippi hill country juke joint blues laced with hearty
rock and roll. New album out May 10 called
Make a Move and a likely big hit
of Bonnaroo 2009."