Album Stream: Nerves Junior ‘As Bright As Your Night Light’
Hit play. Hit play right down there next to the creepy man-rabbit that looks like he just leapt out of one of Donnie Darko’s trippy parallel universes. Now, don’t touch your computer for a while. I recently stumbled across Nerves Junior via The Decibel Tolls. This blog is written and operated by a man who calls himself Kenny Bloggins.
Kenny knows Louisville, the hometown of Nerves Junior. Kenny knows music, and Kenny knows how to write. Because I know all of these things to be true, I will simply refer you HERE. While you’re listening to As Bright As Your Night Light, read Kenny’s words. These are the best two pieces of advice that I can give you today. It’s not much, but it’s something.
Written by Rob Peoni
Album Review: Chris Brecht & Dead Flowers ‘Dead Flower Motel’
Paula Cole begged the question “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” on her mid-90s mega hit of the same name. Apparently Paula, a few of them are hanging out in Austin, Texas.
Chris Brecht and his band Dead Flowers are responsible for one of the more underrated releases of 2011. Dead Flower Motel is a 3 AM barnstormer of a record that would prove a welcome addition to the jukebox of any West Texas honkytonk. Brecht has an artist’s eye for detail that provides the story for this smoky, whiskey-infused backdrop.
Daytrotter’s Sean Moeller wrote of Brecht, “We know it in our hearts – that we’re weak and expendable – but we also can see the beauty in that. We are brief and we are supposed to make the most of it. Brecht does this by finding the beauty in the smallest things, those toss-away details that, for many, are imperceptible, but they’re the bits that make a writer great and make a satisfied person.”
Concise, vivid songwriting is too often taken for granted in the indie scene. Blogs like Pitchfork appear willing to promote acts that fit a certain image, while the music itself plays second fiddle. (See: We Listen For You) As a result, artists like Brecht tend to slip through the cracks.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, Dead Flower Motel keeps the music simple and employs Brecht’s unique perspective to elevate the songs. I don’t wish to short change Dead Flowers. Their play provides a solid foundation for Brecht to draw from. The music has a subtle, haunting quality that pairs well with his mellow angst.
Brecht appears keenly aware that his message is lost on certain crowds. On “Not Where You Are”, Brecht writes “If you think that I’m wounded/It’s my soul that bleeds/Cause you’re judging a man/By the brand of his jeans/You have everything you want/Because you’re parents were rich/And you sit around and pretend/ How hard it is.” The lyrics read like a giant middle finger to the snobs whose club Brecht has never been allowed to enter. He continues, “I don’t want you to get it/I don’t want you to end/You can’t even pretend/To know where I’ve been.”
Dead Flower Motel is a tough sell. The music is too country for indie fans, and Brecht’s delivery is too indie for traditional country fans. Regardless of which crew Brecht eventually falls in with, his story is worth hearing. Click HERE for a free stream or download of his Daytrotter session.
Written by Rob Peoni
Album Review: The Drums ‘Portamento’
Poppy 80’s bleeps followed up by a vocal resurgence of Morrissey’s dramatic tones, welcome to Portamento! The Brooklyn-based New Wave rejuvenators released their sophomore LP, and the result is gnarly. The listening has been done and the hint of a second year slump is slam danced by The Drums.
Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham found each other after a brief hiatus in 2006 to form The Drums. The electrophonic group Goat Explosion had ran its course. Pierce and Graham manned up other projects before reuniting the Post-punk vibe with The Drums. Tubular reach and bright identity move by the group to continue to pull from influences such as The Smiths and Joy Division. A lot of people my age were too young for groups like this so we are all trying to absorb their catalogues as quickly as possible. The Drums provide themselves as a seamless fit during this musical understanding.
Portamento is an awesome album in 2011 because the formula has not changed. We all saw the polarizing rediscovery with MGMT’s Congratulations. Casual fans hated it, dedicated fans were split, and hardcores…well remained hardcore to their vision. If you were a fan of The Drums self-titled album, then there is no reason to battle this conflict. The single, “Money” picks up where “Let’s Go Surfing” and “Me and the Moon” left off. Whether it is visiting the moon, riding a wave, or demanding to buy you something The Drums always have a very kind way of demanding your attention and expressing their fun.
The track “Please Don’t Leave” brings me closest to the Smiths comparison.
Please Don’t Leave
Please Don’t Leave
Please Don’t Leave
Where Will I Go?
Where Will I Go?
Irking, bleak pleas for reconnection show doom as Pierce’s vocal chords pop, yearning for that lost one. This formula helped build Smiths nation 30 years ago and assists with creating The Drums’ buzz. I hope that by avoiding the slump and staying true to their roots will allow The Drums to elevate to the next level in the indie hemisphere. Their close attention to their ancestors earns them this progression.
Written by Brett McGrath
Thought on Tracks 