Posts Tagged ‘Portland’

EYELIDS – ” 854 “

Posted: December 30, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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EYELIDS have a collective history of creating music for some of the most legendary indie songwriters. These longtime Portland, Oregon collaborators were not only the principal instrumentalists for Robert Pollard’s post Guided By Voices band Boston Spaceships for over eight releases, but they have also worked with Stephen Malkmus, The Decemberists, Elliott Smith, Sam Coomes of Quasi, Black Prairie, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Loch Lomond, Damien Jurado and Peter Buck (who is producing their upcoming EP this Fall).

Principal songwriters John Moen and Chris Slusarenko have turned inwards to their loves of New Zealand/Flying Nun guitar buzz, their teenage L.A. Paisley Underground obsessions, haunts of early Athens and all things beautiful, lopsided and rock. Along with members Jonathan Drews (guitar), Jim Talstra (bass) and Paulie Pulvirenti (drums) they push and pull against each other’s songwriting, in a beautiful tension that just works. Their critically celebrated debut 7”vinyl Seagulls Into Submission got airplay everywhere from BBC Radio to WFMU and was also included in MOJO Magazine’s Editors Picks of The Month. This single, as well as the accompanying video, is just a hint of what Eyelids are all about.

With 13 songs, most of them clocking in at less than 2 1/2 minutes, their debut album ‘854’ is full of what Eyelids describes as “sweet melodies and bummer vibes”. ‘854’ makes us remember when our favorite songs were both melancholy and buoyant—those same songs that could make you feel justifiably sad and later make you feel incredibly happy and empowered. That’s what these guys are onto. And, although they are on their own trip, they’ve been compared to Love, Dinosaur Jr., Big Star, and even early R.E.M. Good company. This is the spirit that comes alive in Eyelids songs: the Beatles meets Television jangle of “Psych #1,” the wistful pleas of “Abby’s Friends,” the beat-your-head-on-the-dashboard croon of “Forget About Tomorrow” and the deserted desperate cries that propel “Say It’s Alright”. And as you listen, you will soon find out that Eyelids’ music is seriously catchy, haunting and uniquely their own.

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PATSY’S RATS – ” Is It Alright? “

Posted: December 29, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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This Portland Duo write great hooks that are part Cheap Trick and part Fastbacks. Is It Alright is a blast when played at full blast!

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The Band

Patsy Gelb – Guitar/Vocals
Christian Blunda – Guitar/Vocals
Stevie Pohlman – Bass
Jon Barron – Drums

Recorded at Red Lantern in Portland,

JEFFREY MARTIN – ” One Go Around ” Best Albums Of 2017

Posted: December 29, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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I found this incredible songwriter only about a month ago when at a gig a friend told me how I would love this album because of our love for Springsteen Tom Joad era, but I was too entrenched in the volume of albums for the end of the year to give it a fair listen. When I was compiling my favorite albums for the year, I gave it another listen and immediately made a spot for it. It brought me back to the mission of this blog, to support new artists with incredible talent.

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His gravel tested voice plays well with his honest and beautiful songwriting. Tracks like “Billy Burroughs” showcase his tremendous narration while “Time Away” is a straightforward and masterful ballad. There is not a dud on this album and we would be hard-pressed to find a better set of songs within this or any genre. Jeffrey Martin is the real deal and should be on any and every device you play music.  I don’t know but in this life I believe we only get one go ’round- get ready to place this in the top 5 of 2017

ANNA TIVEL – ” Small Believer ” Best Albums Of 2017

Posted: December 27, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Anna Tivel’s songwriting crushed me with this album. She has two songs that are absolutely incredible on this album, “Dark Chandelier” and the song “Illinois.” Tivel is adding her name to a legacy of singer songwriters that includes the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Allison Krauss. She’s that good. If you think I’m exaggerating, just listen to this album. Set yourself aside an hour and listen to every song on this track. You will be a believer by halfway through the first song, trust me.

The poetic lyrics carry a ton of weight, speaking for common people. This is not the kind of music that will fly over your heard about life in fast places with fast people. This is complicated music about simple people, deeply satisfying in the truth and the grit and the mire. Tivel’s vocal tone is perfect for the kind of music she sings. She demands your attention.

Small Believer is Anna Tivel’s fourth studio album Its an amazing collection of patchwork stories drawn from conversations with strangers, on the road, in restaurants, bars, and rest stops. Produced by guitar mastermind Austin Nevins (Josh Ritter, Anais Mitchell), the songs float on a raft of electric guitar, pump organ, and sparse bass and drums. ‘Small Believer’ is spacious and honest, a lyric-driven exploration of the things that move within us. Tivel takes great care with every syllable and every story, chipping away until what remains is blindingly true and deeply affecting. This album came out late September on Fluff & Gravy Records.

BLITZEN TRAPPER – ” Waking Bullets at Breakneck Speed “

Posted: December 18, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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“Waking Bullets At Breakneck Speed” is the first volume of Blitzen Trapper’s ongoing “Unreleased Recordings” series. In the vaults for over 10 years, the album was recorded at the Telegraph Building in Portland, OR during Blitzen Trapper’s “Wild Mountain Nation” and “Furr” album sessions circa 2006.

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Band Members
Eric Earley
Brian Koch
Marty Marquis
Michael VanPelt
Erik Menteer

MO TROPER – ” The Poet Laureate Of Neverland “

Posted: December 18, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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On the off chance there were any doubters of the songwriting gifts of Portland’s Mo Troper following his 2016 debut, Beloved, those suspicions ought to be dashed, scattered and abandoned after a listen to his follow-up, “Exposure & Response”.  A harmonic choir intro opens the record on the satirical “Rock And Roll Will Change The World,” a pessimistic shout-down to those who still believe in the transformative power of art. The rub, of course, is how gorgeously Troper masks his ironies, winking at his audience even as he attempts to break down their comfort zones. The subsequent “Your Brand” continues his admonishment of the social media generation, which Troper can most certainly count himself a member of, with a guitar-rock onslaught.

Shades of Brian Wilson melodics shine through Exposure & Response, especially on “Big School,” where the minutiae of daily struggles are given grandiose treatment within a “Don’t Worry Baby” pop structure. Troper’s vocal range is frequently given to elastic fits, stretching the thinness of his voice to notes that you can hear him struggling beautifully to attain. That element of Troper’s musical alchemy is central to the power of his songs; as fun and punchy as the music has the potential to be on its own, it’s Mo Troper’s snarky lyrical charms that truly take center stage.

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STRANGE RANGER – ” Daymoon “

Posted: December 16, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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It’s difficult to describe what it is exactly about Strange Ranger that has me in love with their music, but it is certainly some combination of the stream-of-conscious lyrics and the winding indie rock jams. Setting this album on a record player is like sitting down for a 5 course meal at a fancy restaurant. As I proceed through the track list, I digest each song fully, marveling at each facet and savoring the textures. There is a true depth to these tracks that may not be apparent on the 1st or even 10th listen. With Daymoon, Strange Ranger have miraculously recreated the success of Rot Forever and proved they have the skill to write great music for a long, long, time.

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Released October 6th, 2017

Isaac Eiger– vocals, guitars, some of the organ/keyboard
Fred Nixon– bass, some of the vocals, pump organ, casiotone mt-68 electronic musical instrument, piano, melodica, guitars on 6
Nathan Tucker– drums
Fiona Woodman– vocals on 1, 2, 13, casiotone mt-68 musical instrument on 15
Dookie + Sawyer– vocals on 9

Daymoon was recorded by Strange Ranger in Gerry’s room during the winter of 2016/17

MO TROPER – ” Exposure & Response “

Posted: December 8, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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When I hear they are a band from Portland I can always get more excited than those from anywhere else these days. Probably because there are more of them to be excited about. Mo Tropper apparently is both a person and a band. His/Their new album combines psychedelia and power pop in a similar way that jellyfish did. I am also reminded of the Return of the Frog Queen by Jeremy Enigk, Cardinal, Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground and the Beach Boys. This album is in technicolor. Its a well crafted slice of power pop where every song has it’s place and no tune overstays it’s welcome. More people should be striving to write the kind of timeless and insanely catchy music this guy seems to throw out like it’s as easy and automatic as putting his pants on in the morning.

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The Band:

mo troper: vocals, guitar, keys, bass, drums
jackson machado: guitar
ben burwell: bass
asher mcKenzie: drums

additional musicians:
lee ellis: keys
shannon rose steele: violin, viola
lily breshears: vocals
zach banks: cello
anthony meade: trombone
corey palacois: trumpet

PATSY’S RATS – ” Singles “

Posted: December 8, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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PATSYS RATS - Singles LP

In the bands short years so far Patsy’s Rats have been very productive when it comes to putting out singles on various labels all over this globe. You should of course track down all of them, collect them and play them when you are DJing at your favorite club, someone’s birthday party or when you are day drunk on weekends. Singles are great! I know that – and you know that. But SINGLES COMPILATIONS are great too! Expecially if the singles have a constant high level like those released from Patsy’s Rats – and you don’t have to stop dancing to flip the sides or put on another 45!

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“Rock n Roll Friend” and “Hard Time Karen” appear on their first record, released in summer 2016 on La-Ti-Da Records. “It’s Gonna Hurt” was intended to be on the single as well but there was not enough space on the vinyl… “Burning Honey” and “Nowhere Close” appear on the second single, which was released on Dig! Records in fall 2016. “Empty Bottle” and “Let’s Stay Up All Night” were recorded in the same session and appeared on a limited square hand cut record released by Super Fan 99 Records. All above songs also appeared on a cassette on Burger Records.

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“More Than This” is a Roxy Music cover, it appeared on a digital only compilation on Super Fan 99 Records in summer 2017, it’s a collection of covers that derive from Sofia Coppola films.  “Rounding Up” and “Little Rat Charm” were released on Dirtnap Records, “It’s Alright?” and “Givin’ Up” were released on Wink and Spit Records, both in the summer of 2017.

 This is not only a collection of singles, this is infact a perfect powerpop album you’ve been waiting for.

 All songs written by Patsy Gelb and Christian Blunda.

KYLE CRAFT – ” The Rager “

Posted: December 8, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Ever since his debut album ‘Dolls of Highland’ was released on Sub Pop in 2016, Kyle Craft has been a critic’s dream. Based in Portland, he serves up all the observational, storytelling talent with none of the attitude that so often comes with male singer-songwriter territory. “I’ve found my place,” he says. “I’m not one of those people that approaches music for anyone other than myself. My favorite part about music is when it’s just me and a notebook.” Speaking of, his second forthcoming album ‘Full Circle Nightmare’ is entirely autobiographical. Sonically, thematically, lyrically, it’s a huge leap forward from his 2016 release.
The title ‘Full Circle Nightmare’ refers to a moment where Craft saw his life for what it is and told himself to be satisfied. “But that’s nightmarish to me,” he laughs. He described his debut record as: “like walking down this long hall of bizarre characters and surreal experiences, moving through the spider web of love and loss.” This album is when you get to the end of that hallway, turn around and see all the stuff you’ve been through, then walk through the door, close it and start a new chapter in an even crazier hallway. A straight-up rollicking rock’n’roll album, it traverses all the different nuances of the genre; from the bluegrass twang of ‘Exile Rag,’ to the gothic style of ‘Gold Calf Moan,’ it’s a timeless piece that could exist in any of the past five decades.

In terms of contemporary peers, Craft likes to stay in his own lane. He’s an old soul who sticks to his tried and tested influences. Social media is not his game – it’s just not interesting to him. He’s not fussed about preaching his politics or discussing the status quo either. “I don’t really like writing a time piece. I don’t wanna get trapped in the ‘Donald Trump era of Kyle Craft,’ you know? I’m a very off-the-grid sort of person. As much as I am traveling across this giant place sometimes I just feel so outside of it. Also, I’m not necessarily a stand-up citizen so it’s hard for me to say: here’s Kyle Craft’s America, ladies and gentlemen.”

The ironic thing is that ‘Full Circle Nightmare’ sounds exactly like Kyle Craft’s America. That is what he’s built for us: the story of one man’s trials and tribulations to find his passion and voice for art and creativity in this vast opportunistic country. Where did he find it? Among the historic riches of America’s most honest sounds.

Full Circle Nightmare (Release Date: February 2, 2018)

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