I've been tempted to post an emo style album the entire time I've been in this little organization. All the albums I've suggested have been emotional, but not necessarily in the genre. This choice continues that tradition, but skirts closest to the edge of full blown "emo", specifically the Mid-Western / Chicago scene style. They are a blend of math rock instrumentation and emo vocals and melody.

         This Town Needs Guns is a band from
Oxford, England. Their name (a joke on the town's low crime rate) is nowadays stylized TTNG. The band has been through a lot of turmoil in their 12 year history, going through multiple members and vocalists. This album is the last to feature Stuart Smith on vocals (lead vocal duties are now handled by Henry Tremain). The one constant in the band is also its centerpiece, lead guitarist Tim Collis. His virtuoso playing is what drives the band. Complex riffs, finger plucked adeptly, are the real star. I've seen the band live and I don't know if I ever took my eyes off him. The drummer, Tim Collis's brother, is no slouch in the music department either, and drives the rhythm along quite well.  I'm hoping this backdrop will keep the interest of those of you in the club who don't normally enjoy emo style music.

         The vocals and lyrics are pretty classic emo fair. There is a definite American Football influence / comparisons to be drawn, which is rather daunting to live up to. TTNG managed this task, while also finding a voice and foothold in the genre.


         Hope you guys enjoy this!

11:23 AM

This week I am going to share an album that was a big part of my childhood, but is also an important part of music history that some of you might not know. Uncle Tupelo, whose debut album No Depression came out in 1990, was the project of Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy, who after the band's breakup in 1993, went on to form the bands Son Volt and Wilco respectively. Though Farrar takes lead vocals on most songs, Tweedy's voice as a songwriter is still strongly present on this album, and increasingly more so on the band's later projects.

Throughout the album, they rip through many catchy "country grunge" songs (tell me the guitar riff on the first song doesn't remind you of a much more famous first-song riff on an album released a year later), the songs that really shine through are the quieter ones. Lines like "Whisky bottle over Jesus/ Not forever, just for now" hit hard, maybe not in literal terms, but the passion they are sung with reaches right into your head and plucks out whatever "thing" you're not proud in a very powerful way.

"No Depression" (which became an anthem in this scene and still has a prominent blog named after it) and "Screen Door" were probably two of the first songs I ever knew all the words to. For as long as I can remember my dad would play them for my sister and me with my mom singing harmony. I didn't know it at the time, but those were nights after my dad's corporate job and affluent lifestyle were really making him feel out of touch with what matters to him. "Screen Door" in particular is just an incredible overall description of the attitude and culture of where my parents came from and, though I experienced a much more privileged version of the world Tweedy describes, I understand the emotional core of the song. Some of the most poignant memories from my childhood are of my dad and some of his friends sitting out on our back porch on sticky, lightning bug-filled summer nights singing songs like these. Where I come from is not always a source of pride for me, but these songs remind me that, for all the fault I can place on the south, most people there are doing the best they can, "looking for a life worth livin'." These are emotions and memories I can cherish.

I know country is not a super easy genre for everyone to listen to, but I also know that everyone loves Jeff Tweedy, so I hope you can enjoy exploring this album this week and come away with a better appreciation of this genre, the culture surrounding it, or at least little baby Jeff.

11:58 AM

I’ve been thinking about showcasing a riot grrrl era album on this blog pretty much since I joined. So I’ll go with one of my favorite albums from the movement. I present to you the debut album from Team Dresch: Personal Best.   

Team Dresch hails from Olympia, Washington and was heavily involved with both feminist and LGBT movements. While the riot grrrl movement often encouraged women to start making their own music and to make themselves heard in a scene dominated by men, part of what makes Team Dresch stand out is its experience. Its members had been involved in the music scene for some time prior to forming a band together, including Donna Dresch who had even played with Dinosaur Jr.

        

This history surrounding the band is plainly visible in Personal Best. This album is catharsis through raw emotion. Personal Best takes the frustration, persecution, and injustice the band’s members had experienced as openly lesbian and turns these feelings into blistering and unapologetic tracks. However, not every track is an all-out punk rock brawl. This album also incorporates elements of grunge and early indie rock. Several of the more subdued tracks help create an emotionally charged album that feels remarkably well-rounded.

The previous musical experience of the band also shines through on this album. The album is surprisingly listenable both in skill and production. I think this album demonstrates both the raw expression that punk is often characterized by with the proficiency of a more seasoned rock outfit. 

           

I realize that not everyone on this blog is a fan of punk music, but encourage you to give this album a shot nonetheless. 

3:29 PM

I just realized I forgot to add this to my favorites of 2015 album list and I'm so upset about that. Blood was an album I came back to many times in 2015 and I just so happened to be listening to it this morning so thought I'd share it with you all. And given that I'm trying to expand our blog's choice of records to listen to, I felt like a contemporary soul album would do well.

The obvious draw in to this record is Lianne La Havas' voice. Her vocals are crisp, clean, and smooth all at once and her ability to hit various ranges makes listening to her sing exciting. I love how this album stays soulful while exploring different sounds as well. The more upbeat tracks  (Unstoppable and What You Don't Do) mixed in with the ballad love songs (Wonderful and Good Goodbye) provide listeners with the opportunity to hear different sides of Lianne, yet the album still remains seamless and on point with every track you listen to. Hope you all enjoy this one!

(Spotify Link)

10:45 AM