Review: Shakey Graves- Roll the Bones (2011)

At a time when ‘Folk’ is perceived as clean-cut boys with guitars and fedoras, Shakey Graves is refreshing reminder. He returns us to the rustic, haunting grit that traditional folk is based on. Above all, he reminds us that this genre is a mindset- it’s relaxing and laid back. He can charm even the most materialistic city boys drop everything and move to rural Texas. Shakey Graves takes us on a rural experience into traditional folk. For those unfamiliar with this genre, don’t worry- his sincere, intimate, and smokey tone helps the listener ease in effortlessly.

Low-fi finger picking and haunting harmonica riffs compliment his soft, gritty voice, resulting in an album that is soothing and unsettling. It’s hauntingly beautiful- I get chills down my spine when I listen to this album.

Opening track ‘Unlucky Sin’ introduces the listener to an isolated country feeling with banjo and harmonica laid in odd time signatures. Following this is ‘Built to Roam’, another track introducing us to that country isolation through the simplicity of guitar and bass. What’s intriguing in the production of both songs is the sound of some inconsistency- not a fatal, juvenile inconsistency, but a purposeful one. It’s a smart move on his part- he provides very refreshing versatile approach to the same subject.

While Shakey Graves’ style is that of the hauntingly depressing, his music is not trapped in an “every-song-sounds-the-same” sort of repetition.  He maintains integrity in his sound while maneuvering variation in pace and instrumentation. His live track ‘City in a Bottle’ is exemplary in this regard with his use of horns and energy. This song displays an amount of energy that isn’t found on any of the studio tracks. Not only is it refreshing for the album, but it also proves that he can make lo-fi pack a serious punch in live performances.

‘Business Lunch’, however, is one of his most stand-out tracks on this album. It takes you on a surreal ride with smokey tonality, catchy guitar riff, and a playful ‘drop your work and get drunk’ attitude without sounding like a rebellious teen from white suburbia. It’s a rustic style of play that he’s pressuring you to do, and you can’t help but play along.

This album is perfect for road trips, wandering thinkers, stray cowboys, or anything that breathes. Roll the Bones presents honest, heartfelt, raw songs that can carry your soul down any open road. It’s an album you can-and want- to get lost in. You’d be a fool to not include Shakey Graves in your music library.

His new album, And the War Came, is set to release this October.

Pick up Roll the Bones for free at his Bandcamp page. And while you’re at it, pre-order his new album. You don’t want to be caught dead without it. 

Shakeygraves.bandcamp.com

10/10

For fans of: Middle Brother, The Devil Makes Three, Alabama Shakes, Kingsley Flood

Katt Hass

Review: Little American Champ – Nothing Forward, Nothing Backward EP (2012)

Out of Lansing bursts forth the three-piece punk rock band Little American Champ, packing lots of energy, heart, emotion, and catchy riffs. While they don’t play anything "new", per se, Little American Champ stands out with the amount of sheer energy they put in their music. Fast, smart punk riffs are nicely paired with Midwest emo elements that very much put these boys on the map.

               
 Distorted, feedback-y powerchords are nicely meshed with that Midwestern-emo-twinkly sound, giving each riff a catchy sort of twang to it that is memorable and very in-the-moment.

                
The vocals are also very true to their genre. Vocalists Jonny and Alex Janis have a melodic, shouting quality to them that keeps them grounded to their Midwestern emo/punk roots. They’re also very honest. Little American Champ needn’t paint you fantastical pictures-they’d rather get straight to the point (“I don’t have anything to report/…Thank fucking God that you stayed home” – What’s the Secret, Max?). Admittedly, the lyrics can be hard to understand (perhaps from mixing for loudness?), but such is the nature of things when you have a punk band that is as loud, fast, and energetic as Little American Champ.

The most exceptional part of their music-aside from their honest, angsty punk rock sound-is their percussion. Drummer Danny Petrill never wastes a note, hit, or kick. The execution of the rhythm section is exceptional and is the most defining instrumental feature of this band. You have to listen to truly understand the musicianship flowing from Petrill.

Little American Champ proves that you don’t need something new to hit you in the face every time you hit play. The classics are just as nifty as the new provided that the instrumentation is tight and the energy is high. Little American Champ turns the energy level to 11. Seriously, they sound like they’re excited to play each track. I’m terribly surprised that no label has signed these guys yet. I would absolutely keep my eyes and ears on this band in the future.

http://littleamericanchamp.bandcamp.com/

8.5/10

Katt Hass

For fans of: Secret Grief, The Riot Before, Small Parks

Review: Bike Tuff- S.U.D.S. (2010)

Michigan local band Bike Tuff is bringing back punk!

Miss the good old days of punk rock? When you used to spend too much time in too many basements throwing down and thrashing about to the grungy raw tunes of your angsty youth? Have no fear, you needn’t look at Punk with such nostalgia. Bike Tuff presents everything you needed/missed in a garage/basement punk band. Raw emotions and vocals are laden in raw, grungy punk melodies and riffs that will surely have you spilling beer shirtless in khaki shorts, white socks, and converse.

But Bike Tuff isn’t all about being rough and gritty. This fast-paced punk E.P. offers a lot of heart with relatable lyrics and an honest presentation of them (aka, no repeating choruses over and over and fucking over again). My only worry is that they might fall into that same “one-note-coarse-instruments” trap that a lot of punk bands fall in. These tracks can run into each other rather easily (with the exception of ‘East Hall Shoes’).

Bike Tuff has a lot of potential as a punk band. This E.P. is a great, refreshing, honest start for them. I look forward to listening (and reviewing) future releases. Bike Tuff is definitely worth keeping your eyes and ears on.

http://bikingtuff.bandcamp.com/

8/10

For fans of: The Bravest Kids, Homelife

Katt Hass

Review: Adebisi Shank- This Is the Third Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank

The Irish math rock trio is more dance-y than ever with their third release!

While Adebisi Shank is simple with their album titles (This Is the Third Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank following This Is the Second Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank,  following- you guessed it- This Is the Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank), their tracks are anything but simple. If anything, their predictable album titles are a glimpse into the band’s consistency and cohesion. Adebisi Shank never fails to disappoint in terms of energy - each track is exploding with liveliness.  The band consistently delivers a variety of high-flying synth melodies of the digital age are seamlessly blended with elements of math-rock and funk grooves that trigger all the pleasure centers. You can’t help but smile and dance along to the soundtrack of peace and uplifting spirits. Each album represents the maturity and flexibility of the musicians as they deliver nothing but good vibes. Adebisi Shank really does keep the world in harmony in terms of functional flow and fusion of different musical elements.

At first, I feared the band’s further integration of more electronic elements, as this can become a fad-turned-grind that a band can become isolated or even trapped in. Adebisi Shank, however, does not fall into this trap. Rather, the band takes great strides to make sure that their originality and core sound (as featured in both previous albums) is not lost in the newfound digital age.

What is most refreshing in this release is the amount of bass and its variance.  I’ve seen bands incorporate more electronic elements and get lost in the bleep-bloops of the modern age. High-flying synth melodies can become overwhelming, leaving no breathing room for a bassist or other instrumentalists. Vincent McCreith fights this usurping tyrant with groovy bass lines that will have you jamming and dancing in your underpants. ‘Mazel Tov’ features an undeniably funky, bouncy groove that will have you using phrases like “far out” and “groovy, baby!” ‘Sensation’ and ‘Turnaround’ also feature infectious, bouncy bass lines that will have you grooving and dancing the night away.

Another trap that bands can fall into with electronica is repetition. That is, every song sounds the same as the last. This is the Third Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank features no such faults, giving each track their own individual feel with plenty of variation- something most electro-bands fail to achieve.  The amount of synth work in this album is truly stunning. You can feel the amount of energy put into each track pour into your ears, flow through your temporal lobe and make your neurons explode with a pulsating energy that is anthemic in nature. Don’t believe me? Just listen to their opening track ‘World In Harmony’ or, better yet, their track ‘Voodoo Vision’, which has me stunned. After hitting you with all of this energy, Adebisi Shank allows a small, somber respite to permeate before hitting you with more uplifiting dance-y jams without any quiver in their energy.

This Is the Third Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank does not disappoint in terms of originality, liveliness, nor instrumentation. The cohesiveness and consistency of this album- and the band overall- is a real treat for the listener. The band has a knack for hitting you with everything they’ve got, and I openly welcome each “punch” they throw. Adebisi Shank has really outdone themselves with this must-have album of 2014.

9.5/10

http://adebisishank.bandcamp.com/

For fans of: Anamanaguchi, Brontide

Katt Hass