Martin Van Ruin - Calvin Johnson - Arthur Nasson
Background - Current Day is the follow-up release to Martin Van Ruin’s critically-acclaimed debut, Every Man a King. A collective project from some familiar Chicago faces (members of Derek Nelson & The Musicians, Jenny Dragon, Planetsexploder).
The seven-piece’s new album sees the group exploring increasingly modern sounds while building upon the ideas that led critic Jessica Hopper to write that their debut was “one of the best local albums of the year; a sprawling folk-rock work with vintage country and chamber elements … an album in a classic sense.”
Also for American Songwriter to say that “fans looking for Chicago’s next Wilco may want to check out Martin Van Ruin,” and for the Chicago Sun-Times to write that “The Bob Dylan and Neil Young comparisons are inescapable for this new folk rock supergroup.” Current Day was recorded over a series of sessions in 2017 at the Music Garage in Chicago and was engineered by Mike Lust (Tight Phantomz).
Martin Van Ruin is: Alex Winter: bass, Brian Sharpe: lead guitars, piano, Cathy Starr: violin, Derek Nelson: vocals, guitars, Sarah Jane Goldstein: vocals, percussion, melodica, Pete Falknor: drums, synth, guitars, Philip Vickers: lap steel, guitars, trumpet. WEBSITE.
The new album 'Current Day' from Chicago band Martin Van Ruin really does deserve to get noticed way beyond the bands home city. Although they have been described as a folk rock band, that for me is too narrow, it's perhaps a starting point, however they morph comfortably beyond that doing so with a consistently engaging sound. The musicianship is high calibre as are the vocals, which add so much feeling and personality to the songs. Others have described the band as a super group, I would rather leave the listener to form opinions around that particular label, that they are musically superb, is something I would comfortably concur with.
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Background - The new Calvin Johnson album A Wonderful Beast [KLP269] is an experiment in sound. Calvin entered the Audio Eagle Studio in Nashville, TN. using the premise “Rock’n’roll Will Never Die” as a starting point. Working closely with Producer Patrick Carney and Chief Engineer Marc Whitmore, the team tested the resiliency of such time honored materials as the electric guitar, modular synthesizer and trap drum kit, combining them in various ratios with musical elements like chords A, C and Dm. The results are the Frankenstein’s monster of an album, A Wonderful Beast.
Following in the tradition of such Brill Building songwriting teams as Leiber-Stoller, Greenwich-Barry and Goffin-King, all the songs on A Wonderful Beast are a collaboration between Calvin Johnson and Patrick Carney. Carney, best known for his work as a member of the Akron, OH powerhouse The Black Keys, established Audio Eagle to further exactly this type of rock’n’roll workshopping, allowing the music and songwriting of Now to rocket launch into the Future.
Calvin first met Patrick in 2005 while touring the United States following the release of his second solo album Before the Dream Faded… [KLP170]. The two kept in touch over the years. Patrick suggesting some sort of collaboration; they got together with only the belief that music can ooze from the savage breast, and A Wonderful Beast emerged from the primal dross.
An important element of the sound success of A Wonderful Beast is the contribution of chanteuse Michelle Branch, who provides back-up harmony vocals on three songs. Ms. Branch, who score many hits in the early double-0 decade as a solo artist and as a member of the Wreckers, lives next door to Audio Eagle. Intrigued by the sounds ratcheting forth from the lonesome shack that houses the studio, she walked over to see for herself what all the hubbub was about. Before long she was singing like a bird, in three part harmony (Thanks, Michelle!). TWITTER.
There is something about the video that is strangely addictive, however it's the song that still stands out in a sizable way. 'Like You Do' is just a little "out there" with the vocals demanding your wholesale attention and the vibrant and energetic musical backdrop adding layers of gorgeous sounds. Just one track and the album is calling me for some serious attention.
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Background - Prolific alternative rock artist Arthur Nasson shares "Books About It Pt. 2" off his forthcoming LP Whack Mythology, due out next Friday, August 31st. "The idea that mythology, whether personal or global and the social programming it instills in each of us, drives much about our actions and perception. In holding up this type of mirror both in personal and more broad ways, one can perhaps have a laugh and recognize some shared sense of what we go through in this life."
Whack Mythology will be the 10th full length release for the Arlington, Massachusettes alternative artist. Nasson's determination led him to build a critically acclaimed catalog of recordings starting out largely with one mic and an 8 track cassette deck. Following the release of the LP Nasson will release an additional bonus EP Basement Glitter, due out 9/14.
Speaking on Whack Mythology, Nasson says, "The idea that mythology, whether personal or global and the social programming it instills in each of us, drives much about our actions and perception. In holding up this type of mirror both in personal and more broad ways, one can perhaps have a laugh and recognize some shared sense of what we go through in this life."
Nasson recorded these tracks in his home studio, but the final product feels far from lofi. Nasson handles the songwriting, production, engineering, vocals, piano, guitar, bass, percussion and synthesizers largely on his own, and with assistance from his sons Graham Nasson (drums/rhythm guitar) and Colin Nasson (rhythm guitar/percussion). WEBSITE.
'Books About It Pt. 2' is a melodic alt rocker that has a relaxed swagger to it musically (the piano adding something of a bar room vibe). Arthur Nasson's vocals are a delight and as the song builds into a more strident rocker, he allows the music to carry the day.
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