As evidenced by previous posts on Dexateens (here & here), TDR’s affinity for the band comes as no surprise to loyal readers. Surely news of the band’s upcoming album would be a note worthy event. Dexateens’ Latest album, Singlewide will be released May 12th by SkybucketCornelius Chapel Records. Based upon the two new songs posted to the band’s myspace page, Singlewide maybe a more acoustic affair.
Also DOWNLOAD the closing track “Can You Whoop It” (featuring David Berman)
Singlewide track listing:
1. Down Low
2. Caption
3. Missionary Blues
4. Spark
5. New Boy
6. Hang On
7. Trail
8. Same As It Used To Be
9. Charlemagne
10. Grandaddy’s Mouth
11. The Ballad of Souls Departed
12. Singlewide
13. Can You Whoop It
Jeff Tweedy once sang that great music, “You can’t hear it on the radio/You can’t hear it anywhere you go,” which one could take to mean that there is great music being made that most will never hear. Whether it be due to record labels or corporate radio, many talented bands get passed over for what will sell to the masses. tone.deaf.rambler is dedicated to trying to get the word out on those great bands that get overlooked (seriously it’s in the Mission Statement).
Ribbonpigeon is one such band.
Straight out of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, (also home to TDR favorite Glossary) Ribbonpigeon break on to the Alt-Country/Americana scene with Young Lungs, their debut album on Sophomore Lounge Records. Ribbonpigeon, it’s an unusual name for a band, and there’s got to be a story behind that name right? TDR asked front man Kent Goolsby where the band’s name came from. “It’s kinda strange.” Goolsby replied, “I guess it was 3 years ago I had this dream that I was being held in a Nazi prison camp. I got in some trouble for something and was hauled off to the head mistresses office. Did they even have head mistresses? I don’t think so. Anyway – I got drug into the room and sat in a chair in front of her desk. Right in front of me on the desk was one of those small name plates people keep on their office desks. It said “Ribbonpigeon” and in my mind (in the dream that is) I thought, ‘Oh yeah, of course, that’s the name of my band.’”
Throughout Young Lungs, Goolsby’s worn, warm voice and acoustic guitar is backed by intertwined, sad cries of lap steel (Mike Burgess) and fiddle (Rebecca Ryan) all while the rhythm section (Blake Loftis, drums; Jonathan Merritt, bass) holds down a solid back beat. This fusion of sounds produce familiar, yet vibrant Americana music with country undertones. When Burgess moves from lap steel over to the electric guitar, such as on the closing track, “Lowlands,” the band takes on an almost Crazy Horse persona. And while Ribbonpigeon can rock out, they can also slow it down just as effectively, such as on “Signal Fire” or “Slowdown Georgia.” Perhaps the most striking song is the sparse and bare “Devil Wind”; just a guitar backs Goolsby’s heartfelt and haunting cries of “You better run for your life/’cause they’re coming for you, and me too.” This mix of faster and slower paced songs create a coherent and effective flow for the album.
With “Young Lungs,” Ribbonpigeon have made what may be the Alt-Country/Americana album of the year. The only thing is, you won’t hear it on the radio.
Hailing from the City of Angels, Los Angeles, California, Jr. Juggernaut have put out an album of power pop, country, and punk infused rock that once it’s entered your brain, it refuses to get out. The band’s first full length album, Ghost Poison, is front to back, one hit song after another (sans the instrumental “Midnight Mass”, which provides an interesting break in the middle of the album). Oh, if only radio still played good bands, these guys would be huge. Jr. Juggernaut, featuring Mike Williamson on guitar and lead vocals, Wal Rashidi on drums, and Kevin Keller on bass, strike the fine balance of writing songs that have great hooks while maintaining a power trio sounds that makes you want to pump your fist and sing along. Williamson sings with a gruffness in his voice and his heart on his sleeve that grabs the listener in and doesn’t let go. He may be singing about typical rock ‘n’ roll themes, (lost love and life’s trials and tribulations) he does so in such an honest, relatable way that it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve heard someone sing about it, it still sounds fresh. Ghost Poison is an album that is perfect for summertime cruising with the windows down, wind in your hair, and the stereo up and Jr. Juggernaut have proven themselves to be a band to watch.
The other week I had the opportunity to see the heavily promoted John C. Reilly flick, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. I had high expectations going in due to the “history of rock ‘n’ roll” subject matter and it’s parody of of the Johnny Cash bio-pic Walk the Line. Unfortunately, the movie was a let down. To many over-used jokes and bad cliches, not to mention the unnecessary male nudity (not that male nudity is ever necessary). The entire time I couldn’t help think about a similar movie is had seen months earlier, The Hard Life and Times of Guy Terrifico.
The Hard Life and Times of Guy Terrifico chronicles the life of a fictional country-rock singer wannabe from Canada. The movie is in a documentary style and features real life stars Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Levon Helm, and Ronny Hawkins. Guy Terrifico is played by Canadian rocker Matt Murphy who does an admirable job acting and really gets into the role. The music is good too, country-rock in the vein of Gram Parsons with comedic lyrics. The Parson’s connection is extended further as Terrifico was managed by Phil Kauffman, Grams real life manager, who is also through out the film telling the story of Guy.
While Guy Terrifico isn’t an Oscar worthy movie, it is worth watching and I found it to be much more enjoyable then Walk Hard.
Back in the days of Napster (probably about 1999) I was just getting into the Black Crowes & downloaded (via a friend’s computer running AOL ) a ton of stuff including a cover of some song I never heard and assumed was a Crowes original, “Willin.” It was live and featured some other band I also had never heard at the time, Wilco. I listened to this song many, many times from a cd that I burned of Crowes songs that I had downloaded. It got embedded in my brain. Eventually I looked up Wilco and thereby found Uncle Tupelo and a plethora of great music not heard by the masses. I even got into Little Feat some, as Willin’ is their song but to me, no version (and I’ve listened to quite a few) can compare to the Crowes/Wilco versions from the Horde Tour of 1995. Now I don’t know if what I downloaded that day was the exact same version shown here (sounds pretty close, don’t remember a John Popper harp solo), but one could say that on that fateful day I was shown the door to the world of “music they don’t play on the radio.” All of the music I listen to now I have come to, one way or another, from finding this song on Napster.
And who says downloading music has to a bad thing?
music off the radar of most people, but shouldn't be. album reviews, concert reviews, music dvd reviews, other music related info & any other thing I find interesting.
Singlewide track listing:
