The album cover says it all here. Americana meets soul with a musical deja vu that will make you think you’ve heard this before even if you’re listening for the first time. The opening track posted here sets the tone for the album. If you like this, you’ll like the rest.
Here’s a little Ethiopian Jazz, dusty with African sands and rich with the smell of far-away spices. It is impossible to not feel cool while listening to this.
The story goes like this: philosophy major turned slam poet turned MC. This is an interesting hip hop album. There are club jams, rock songs, chamber quartets, and choral harmonies. Tying it all together is Dessa’s intensely personal, and poetic flow. Remember Dessa. She’s bound for bigger things.
The Gaslight Anthem are something like the Hold Steady with tattoos and blue collar jobs instead of Eddie Bauer shirts and college-degrees. I know they’re from New Jersey, but their blend of punk rock and Springsteen anthems tell me something important about the rusted and vacant refineries that litter the Cleveland cityscape, and the neat but worn-out houses sitting on tree-lined streets throughout the city.
This song has an optimistic bounce that belies its rust-belt melancholy – like the shiny reminiscing that obscures the sadness of nostalgia. So start this week with the bright side of some memories of the friends, music, and places that make you think kids these days don’t know what they’re missing.
Nothing beats accidentally discovering a band you love. Way back in 2008 I stumbled across this resurrection of The Band. Then last week I stumbled across their latest EP You’ll Find No Answers Here and I got to relive a little of that original serendipity. This track is short but full of the sweetness that make me love this band. Let their mellow acoustic groove rock you for two minutes and your Monday morning will be better for it.
I like music. This is a blog about music that reminds me I'm human. There’s new stuff, my rants on old stuff, and some wallpaper designs for fun. If you are the owner of this music and object to it being posted here let me know. If you are a reader of this blog and like it, send me some propers. Peace and love,
Jeremy
