The Creations - To Whom It May Concern 7" (1966)

"The Creations of Elizabeth City, North Carolina", declares the label on this record. As mysterious as I'd like this nugget to be, the entire EP (yes, 4 songs, 33rpm) is interspersed with narrative from this teenage garage group's front man (Bobby Sutton), who proudly and energetically introduces each song with tidbits of info. This would be perhaps odd and off-putting if the record weren't a live recording done in a bed room. A set-up like this is something immediately identifiable to me and, i'm sure, many other aspiring and formerly aspiring musicians. The energy from this lo-fi, no-nonsense recording is a kind you can only get from teenagers playing in what is surely their own favorite band. Cheap organ, barking guitar, lazy bluesy rhythms...it's all anyone could want from a band coming up around the same time as The Sonics, 13th Floor Elevators, and The Pretty Things.

Damnload it

- Mikey

Sound & Shape - Now Comes the Mystery (2011)

 

Ryan Caudle of Nashville’s “Sound and Shape” has always been an enigmatic recurring character in my life. When I was in high school and going to local shows more freely and frequently (thanks, in part, to the worlds greatest ’83 El Camino), Caudle was fronting one of my favorite local groups: Oliver’s Army. This was the band in town that did the best job of framing the late 90’s/early 00’s math-y emo sound that was fresh and identifiable to me at the time. They were every bit as good as Thursday or On The Might of Princes and fronted by this brooding dark songwriter with a voice suspiciously like Elvis Costello:  Ryan Caudle.

            Eventually that band dissolved, my musical interests shifted, and The Sound and Shape were born. They toured extensively in the late 2000s and put out some material that I, for the most part, ignored. The sound was proggy and frantic somewhere between Santana’s Abraxas and Rush. Despite losing my attention, this is a band that has earned the right to be called undeniably good in all that they do.

This new 4 song EP, “Now Comes the Mystery” really gets back to Caudle’s roots as a great songwriter and not just a capable conductor of grand prog-rock. The solid structure of the music on this release is grounded well with guitar textures that don’t demand the spotlight and melodic arrangement worthy of great baroque-pop groups like The Zombies. The band bravely adds an acoustic ballad for the second track which (although it rubs me the wrong way at first) proves to be a pretty good and very mature effort. “The Sacred and Profane” is a great urgent sounding tune with hints of power pop like The Soft Boys, vocals that remind me of Steely Dan, and a grand guitar hook chorus suggesting bands like The Mars Volta. It closes with my favorite track, “Bells at Twelve.”   “Bells…” gives me the same feeling Oliver’s Army used to back in high school.  It’s a soaring anthem in 6/8 that is thick with flowing textures and gripping tension.  I would say this particular track gives the same thoughtful vibes as anything from George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass.”  All together, this is a solid release and has certainly turned my attention back to the band.  Give these guys a listen and order a copy of the EP or just download it at their bandcamp page.

http://soundandshape.bandcamp.com/ 

-Mikey

Calicocat - Royal Jelly (2011)

I had not heard of Calicocat prior to checking out their album "Royal Jelly" on Bandcamp. As a Nashville band, I had certain preconceptions about what I would hear when I pressed the play button. Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised.

The first track "i.e., Socialism" grabbed my attention from the opening riff. Vocals on this track, and throughout the album, are reminiscent of bands like Wolf Parade and the Shins, which is not a bad thing if you ask me. Musically the songs flow from sweet distorted hooks to dreamy passages laced with chorus and reverb. The easy-going feel of "Sopohomore Slump" is a great Pavement-esque jam, while the closer ""Mean" Joe Green" builds and builds to a great climax to end the EP. Calicocat succeeds in creating well-crafted songs without sounding formulaic, drawing from a myriad of sources to craft their sound. I could list any number of bands which they sound similar to throughout the record, but that would be pointless. They find ways to make these sounds their own. The 6 song album is definitely a great listen from start to finish; I never wanted skip to the next track. And that is an accomplishment in itself. So go to their Bandcamp page, download the album for free, and share it with your friends. I know that's what I'm going to do.

Now if only I could figure out when their next show is...

-Michael Davis

Download this shit on bandcamp right here

Polvo - Cor-Crane Secret (1992)

Cor-Crane Secret is Polvo's 1992 debut album. These guys are considered pioneers of math-rock, but I'm not sure this album completely demonstrates that. Mostly, the record sounds like gritty noise pop somewhere in between Sonic Youth and early Dinosaur Jr - notably in the song "Can I Ride?". Certainly this is Polvo's best effort and most popular release. The influence of Cor-Crane Secret is very apparent in the mid-90s indie and emo scene with bands like Joan of Arc or Cursive and their Saddle Creek Records contemporaries. The difference is less whining and more psychotic noise, innovative texture, and unconventional guitar tunings. Truly a classic.

Click to dnlwd

Mikey