No More Stories, the new album from Mew is out today. The full title is a poem: No More Stories Are Told Today I’m Sorry They Washed Away No More Stories The World Is Grey I’m Tired Let’s Wash Away.  This new release should please followers and entice new fans. Download “Reapeaterbeater” from my summer download list.

Download Cool Jumper, the brand new track from west coast noise pop extraordinaire Wavves. The track sports the expected and unmatched distorted melodies and riffs… but with added punch, clarity and direction. I’m assuming this is the first track recorded with a new drummer Zach Hill, after the meltdown and subsequent cancellation of the European tour and breakup.  The percussion seems to take a new, energetic role while still allowing front man Nathan Williams the space to invigorate the stereo spectrum with ultra compressed vocals and sing-a-long tunes.

Gust of Wind # 4

Papercuts, You Can Have What You Want

Gnomosong

This gust of wind comes in the night, and gently warms the soul, leaving behind the remnants of a necessary evolution- one that can find all of us deconstructing the past, so we can grow in the future .

“We are here then we’re gone, it’s our work that marches on” Jason Quever sings on the first single “Future Primitive” of his most recent record ” You can have what you want.” The title of this new ten tracks,  reveals the nature of the human spirits journey for unconditional life. Much of this stemming from  our immortal realities. This record, the third from the band Papercuts, is no less a personal triumph then the previous two records, under the Papercuts mantra of moody lines, and drifting rhythmic melodies, that encourage us all to explorer tell the jubilant end.

Papercuts  is Jason Quever’s band, but the impressive talent surrounding him on this latest project should not go unnoticed.  Helping this band’s direction is co-founder of Gnomonsong records Andy Cabic, and leader of Vetiver, the highly acclaimed San Francisco neo-folk band. Gnomosong was founded by Cabic and Devendra Banhart, who in the last four years has risen to the helm of this neo-folk revival.  Also, helping with arrangements and playing on the album, is Alex Scally, who is the brainchild, if you will, behind the band Beach House, they in many respects have risen to new heights with last years acclaimed devotion record, which was on many top fifty lists – you should check it out!

My initial response to this latest effort by Papercuts was not what I had hoped it would be. I first began listening to them in 2007 and fell head over heals for Can’t Go Back, it was full of textures old, and new – it made days bright and thoughtful.  I was hoping for the second coming of that sound, but instead, we are greeted with a darker feel on You Can Have What You Want. After listening to this record six times, I find it to be similar to a puzzle piece, fitting perfectly with the complete set.

This music is similar to a long journey. Its not a break from the past work, but a continuation of the mindful search-party of life.  This particular time, this particular artists, is finding a somber moment in his own movement. I actually like this album, and its funny how the day in which I have listened closely, the weather outside matches the mood of the record. Its raining, but the flowers are very close by, and people have begun maintaining there plots  – we have as well. I hear this record as just that, a plot that has been tended, but is being rained on. The sound of the record is muddy in parts, there is a sense of deliberate intention to sound grainy. The certainly accomplished that, and then some. During one of the tracks I thought my speakers were blown. The basic setup for the band is the standard guitars, bass, drums, some organ, various keyboards, all filtered with endless effects of reverb, and slight distortion. The vocal of Ouever is as beautiful as ever, so much, that unless you knew the band, you would think he was a women – I am powerless against female singers. If you had to label the singing style, you could say serious, and whiny at times, but not too much, enough to make us think about life, and how much life we actually have deep down.

The influences are no doubt from the sixties and seventies rock. The mixture of folk and rock n roll make you think its an old record. I would say there is some nineties grunge influence on top of that. Papercuts are out of the Bay area, and recently that has fostered many bands with this similar sound – the psychedelic organ never hurts.

Jason Quever is an intellectual, who thinks maybe too much – we should all do this more often.

- Ryan Boos,  August 24th, 2009

Gust of Wind # 5

The Fruit Bats, The Ruminant Band

Sub Pop Records

http://www.subpop.com/artists/fruit_bats

This Gust of Wind is profoundly refreshing, managing to establish itself in greatness, while paying deference to the similar winds before its time.

The Fruit Bats is Eric Johnson’s band, his baby, his gold ticket, similar to The Shins being a James Mercer Band, or Vetiver being Andy Cabic’s vision.  Johnson has taken The Fruit Bats  to new heights with this latest record – similarly, the latest efforts by both Mercer, and Cabic, topped expectations as well – its no coincidence that Johnson’s work with all three bands has payed off on his latest release with The Fruit Bats.

From the beginning of  The Ruminant Band , The Fruit Bats establish themselves as music makers to be taken seriously. I like all of Eric Johnson’s previous efforts, but I love this album, it has a greatness to it, and timeless sounds that we all can admire, one that pays homage to amazing talents that left us early in another time – Gram Parsons comes to mind. Its as if Eric Johnson ran into Gram out at Joshua Tree, and sold his soul to play this sound. This record is that good, and it will be next year, and the year after. I am completely enamored by the music on this release, and Johnson’s ability to soar above the music with beautiful belting pipes, makes me wanna jump for joy, and it has, and it will continue to do so, every time I hit play.

Making Bold statements with music  has always been something I do, when I hear a sound that’s perfect for the moments I know its time to go bold, and The Fruit Bats latest has snuck into my “Top Ten, in the last Ten list.” The Ruminant band album is a summer play, but will carry on well into the Fall. Its a last breathe for the sunshine weekends, flowered filled pastures, and delicious sips of good times, but as that folds, and we proceed toward color change, cool months, and coffee on the porch, I will still be hitting play on this record, a vote to cast anytime, and anywhere, with anyone – its damn near perfection.

“Feathered Bed” is amazing, and when Johnson Belts ” Baby open wide, you got the light in you, can’t gimme too much love” its apparent,  like many of us,  he might depend on a lady to get him through to the other side, to get us through the night, to be there. I hear ya man! There are so many great moments on this album, “Being On Our Own” might be the track  for me. It has this amazing feel to it, very happy song, the one you will repeat several times. They are simply just jamming and the wind is taking us all for a ride  we will never forget, as he sings ” There’s a light at the end of the line, where everything is defined,” you realize were taking this ride together, all of us heading to the same place, and “were not alone in being on our own”  as Johnson sings. We just have to go through some crazy shit to get there.

In the end, Eric Johnson has grown up, and grown his hair, letting loose, and soaking up some West Coast sun, and influence on this latest effort. The sound is nothing like their old albums. It’s as if I have never heard The Fruit Bats before, and this is a first record. They have risen to new heights, I can’t imagine where they will go from here. If they never released another album, this record would suffice for the rest of my days. It beauty, its fresh fruit, its by far the album of the summer, and might just be the album of the year.

- Ryan Boos, August 24th, 2009

Gust of Wind # 3

Sin Fang Bous, Clangour

Morr Music

This gust of wind stays busy establishing a coupled sound of gadgetry, strings, and broken tonality, which moves freely through  familiar instrumentations of pop.

The ability of this album to change with a flick of a switch is apparent with the first listen. It feels like a science fiction movie is playing along side a band, bridging the gap between mediums. The busy feeling of this album works, but can also lose the listener, b/c it’s entirely full of sounds, both quirky, and sublime – you have to catch yourself from drifting off into space.

Sin Fang Bous is not waiting around for trends, or for the rest of us to figure out where the world is heading, it’s waiting for us to catch up, and jump on. The track “Sunken Ship” is a great moment on this beautiful record. It has amazing cadence, vocal depth, and really moves the listener throughout the tune – sounds sort of creep up in places where you might not expect, essentially being consistent throughout this ambitious affair.

Clangour gives an epic story impression, something that trilogies are made of. It’s cohesive and fun, but deeper then just an everyday listen. This record could very easily be considered before its time. I picture new technology, and kids hovering on skateboards, while they remember their parent’s stories about the days when grass was still green, and close enough to touch and feel – a bitter sweet memory, if you will.

This album doesn’t leave traditional music at the door; rather it gives it an upgrade, while maintaining the abilities and talents of great musicianship. It would seem the human has been kidnapped to sing and play, while the robots back him perfectly, waiting to be lost in something organic.

Did I mention its one guy on this record? Sin Fang Bous is Sindrie Mar Sigfusson from the band Seabear, out of Iceland. Get this album soon; it’s an amazing work of art, and a complete package of emotion.

- Ryan Boos, August 21st, 2009

A fresh new track from Radiohead has surfaced and it’s yours for the taking. Thom York’s vocals don’t actualize until 2min38sec into “These Are My Twisted Words”, nearly halfway through. Included with the MP3 are track cover art and a 15 page pdf designed to be printed on tracing paper to re-create the track art yourself… or maybe something all new entirely. More interesting music marketing in the making. Download the track and art here.

The MySpace Transmission Sessions is featuring a performance by EELS leader Mark Oliver Everett aka E. Watch footage of E being interviewed and performing 5 songs, and download the audio for all 5 songs FREE for a limited time right now, right here: http://www.myspace.com/transmissions

EELS “In My Dreams” from The MySpace Transmissions

Gust of Wind # 2

Cotton Jones – Paranoid Cocoon

Suicide Squeeze 2009

This gust of wind, ebbs & flows with a distinct soul, one that is weathered from the train, its many stops through out small towns, and back through the whiskey bars of our brightest cities.

Cotton Jones – Paranoid Cocoon is an album that feels connected to the roots of America. The tradition of its sounds, and loose feeling of texture, evokes images of a couple lying on an open patch of grass, looking up at the clouds, while their dogs run to fetch a stick – it’s subtle and beautiful, with enough sweetness to combat the zest of an open rd.

Many people can share an experience of driving for miles while forgetting where you’re going, or where you’ve been. There is something about songs that enable our minds to lift above the vehicle we’re in, and fly – fly above and let our souls be free with love. Cotton Jones is that record, and has those songs. It’s a back porch soundtrack for the rocking chair, a PBR, and something special with your lady, or gent. Hopefully if you’re lucky, the moon will be rich and full, the stars bright, and the surrounding neighbors quiet. Then you fully realize the calm, and chill of an evening with complete rest with Cotton Jones playing in the background, through the haze of life and all its rough and tumble.

Digging deeper in this record, my favorite moment was the first few minutes of “Some Strange Rain.” It’s a two minute instrumental intro of lush’s field folk and dreamy-hazy pop. The music paints this picture that is simply even, meaning neutral in emotion – the rain might be poring down but we are happy to be standing in it, or shelling out a few cartwheels b/c we are free to be without stress. The overall song has this psychedelic quality from the sustainability of certain sounds. Its words sound great, but don’t over power the music; they rest right on the ridge of the song, and call out questions that “honey” can only answer.

I strongly recommend this record to anyone who enjoys coffee, swings, sitting on a porch, animals, the beach, rd trips, fresh air, the light shining through the trees, vintage culture, whiskey, love songs, flowers, friendship, meditation, folk, the blues, and the moments when you realize you’ll remember something forever. For fans of Vetiver, Iron and Wine, Willie Nelson, CCR, Bob Dylan, The Byrd’s, and um, well I could go on, but you get my drift.

Reviewed by

Ryan Boos, August 10th, 2009

Gust of Wind # 1

Bibio’s Ambivalence Ave

Warp Records 2009

This gust of wind tracks you down with a furry; it takes you on a ride of revelation, joy, and a little funk to get you through the night.

Bibio’s Ambivalence Ave from the beginning makes you feel as if you’re running through the wild, but still plugged in. Maybe in this case, your experience is a simulated one, and you’re simply walking in place. Regardless, it’s a good feeling, and one that connects you to the musician.

The album manages to bring correlations between the funky night club vibe of the seventies, especially with “Jealous of Roses,” to the spiritual feeling of running naked in a Holy Garden. Now, I have not yet ran naked to this album but in the right climate, the right neighborhood, I just might, but lets not get ahead of ourselves, the listener can sit comfortably in his/her room, and enjoy it just as easy, naked or not.

Ambivalence Ave is an outdoor party of free flowing, experimentation, with ghosts lurking around. Bibio uses sampled sounds of running water, kids playing, and at one point what sounds like the old laser tag game. The biggest attraction of this album is its diversity of sound, and its ability not to get stuck in one spot. Bibio goes from a 70’s music influence to older sounding hip-hop beats very quickly, and then into this quirky acid sounding electronic music. The overall setup is very heady, maintaining a coherent pace, but changing enough to make you think you had the player on shuffle – wait, did I?

If pressed to compare, I hear Shuggie Otis, Simon and Garfunkle, Boards of Canada, Akufen, and Marvin Gaye, just to name a few. But this is a Bibio album, and he manages to connect the dots in time, giving the sound something nostalgic of his own.

At the end of this record, you’re compelled to start over. This can go on for days, and it did for me. Its not often you can hear a person unfold on a record, or open up so freely. Bibio could have four side projects out of this one album. Let’s hope he sticks with the sound on Ambivalence Avenue, it’s as fresh as starting your own personal garden.

Reviewed By

Ryan Boos, August 7th, 2009

I’ve recently taken a temporary hiatus from scoring the Internet for new music, upcoming bands, free downloads, etc. to concentrate on getting my upcoming music projects off the ground. Not to say I won’t be posting. I will. The posts will more than likely gravitate more towards technology and software and progress in the studio. And, of coarse, you know I can’t help but post relevant info on the bands and music that influence me the most, I just may not have the opportunity to share all the newest music out there… cuase I might not find it if I’m not looking. I believe it’s a necessary step towards future progress and believe up coming posts will reflect quality content that I will be exposed to.

On another, somewhat related note… I’ll be updating from Lollapalooza 2009 this weekend. Mostly from twitter, but may reflect deeper in posts. I’m excited.