Album Review: Pree ‘Folly’
Damn it’s been a good year for NYC’s up-and-coming Paper Garden Records. The label is responsible for Thought on Tracks favs Little Tybee and Big Tree. Now enter Washington, D.C.-based electric-folk band Pree. The four-piece band is the brainchild of guitarist May Tabol, who formed the group after departing from Le Loup.
I’ll leave it to the band for an explanation of how they came together:
“Folly was written and recorded over the course of several heat waves and snow storms by May and her cohorts in a rotating cast of bedrooms, basements, and attics across the District, bearing witness to two foreclosures, a bit of squatting, a larger bit of eviction, and a subsequent life shuffle that would rival that of a wind-addled gypsy moth. The patchwork, guerilla style of recording which grew out of necessity ultimately served to instill a sense of tension throughout the record, leaving one hanging on despite the imminence of something so delicate falling apart.”
Their debut release Folly is anything but. Tabol’s cheerful, bouncy vocals weave in and out of her bandmates, melding together like the most beautifully constructed bar room conversation. The last line of their description of the album’s recording proves apt. Folly feels as if it’s built like a house of cards, were any individual element removed, it would all come crumbling toward the floor.
Pree is in the midst of a rigorous tour schedule until early December. Listen to tracks “Lemon Tree” and “Fresh Paint” below. Purchase Folly on CD or vinyl: HERE. It is also available via Spotify. Their debut came together like a perfect storm. It will prove interesting to see whether or not this quartet can create equally entertaining sounds once they’ve settled in.
Written by Rob Peoni
New Video: The Black Keys “Lonely Boy”
Check out the debut single “Lonely Boy” from The Keys’ upcoming album El Camino. The album was produced by Danger Mouse. It is the first time the Akron, OH duo has worked with the producer since 2008’s Attack and Release. Click play below and enjoy the dance moves. I, for one, plan on stealing each and every one of them.
Written by Rob Peoni
Daytrotter Unveils New Design, Live Listening
One day, if there is any justice in this world, Daytrotter will have an entire room at the Smithsonian. I truly believe that Sean Moeller’s contribution to music is every bit as significant as the museum’s non-profit record label Folkways. With each passing day, and subsequent recording, Daytrotter moves closer to cementing itself as a living, breathing library of modern music.
Daytrotter began with a single mission: Record one band a day, every day, then give it away. It sounds so simple, but when one factors in the sheer magnitude of this mission it becomes maddening. At the time of this writing, 1321 artists have stopped by The Horseshack studio. Every post includes original artwork, Moeller’s writing and at least four tracks. When you include multiple appearances, the number of “sessions” grows exponentially. This volume of work is staggering.
The Horseshack is located in the abysmal, albeit convenient, armpit of Illinois that is Rock Island. Part of the Quad Cities, Rock Island is one of a handful of industrial towns straddling the Mississippi River at the Iowa-Illinois border. For decades, the city’s lifeblood has remained Rock Island Arsenal: the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing facility in the United States. Not exactly a hotbed of creativity.
Nonetheless, Moeller’s decision to make the Quad Cities the home of his burgeoning enterprise proved a critical one. Interstates 74, 80, 88 and 280 all converge here, along with nearly a dozen Illinois state highways. Thus creating a hub for travelers headed to every corner of the continent. As such, Daytrotter found itself a welcome stop for bands looking to break up the grueling voyage across the country. While we may not know about the Quad Cities without Daytrotter, we can be certain that we would not know about Daytrotter without the Quad Cities.
Yesterday, the website unrolled its latest redesign. Along with an updated look and more intuitive functionality, Daytrotter announced an exciting new feature: live listening. For a small price, listeners can now stream sessions as they are being recorded. Just when you thought the site couldn’t possibly get any sweeter, it did. For years I have dreamt longingly of a life as a fly on the wall of The Horseshack. Now, that opportunity is mine.
Another change involves subscriptions. Daytrotter’s free downloads will not be available for much longer. The site is moving toward a $2/month subscription fee. This is a small price to pay for 365 artists and 1300+ songs per year. Not to mention, I would rather pay two dollars than have my listening experience interrupted with annoying ads like many other free music services.
For those that have yet to visit Daytrotter, you may think that I am over-selling yet another music blog. I promise you, without a shred of doubt, that my words can not begin to do justice to the greatness that is this musical juggernaut. My only hope is that the site will outlive everyone that stumbles upon this post. Daytrotter is an invaluable institution. To all those whose daily grind makes our enjoyment possible, we are forever indebted. Thank you.
Written by Rob Peoni