There is nothing in the world quite as mysterious as a relationship. From the start until the end, however it may conclude, we have all been there. There are easily a million songs that have been written over time about relationships and love. Some are positive tunes that end happily ever after, and then there are the ones that are straight up depressing with no light in the future for a resolution. We all know these songs, and honestly almost all of them were written because of love and heartache.
Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo may have written one of the sadder love songs I have heard in my time in regards to the departure of love. The chamber-folk song, “Fields Of June”, is just depressing as hell. Considered a murder ballet duet by Barker, it actually was written back in 2007. The song became even more poignant once the song was re-recorded and the male vocal duties were taken over by a good friend of Barker’s, Frank Turner. The original duet is nothing compared to the re-released single on Xtra Mile Recordings. Barker and Turner are perfect in trading verses, no matter how run down they may be.
To make things even more melancholy, the two made a music video, or should I say filmed a silent movie, to accompany said track. The result is a clip I have watched over and over now. It hits the heart hard and can cause a laugh or two as well. Turner has proved quite the performer in the video.
Barker and Turner make for one hell of a duet act on “Fields Of June”, and it would only make perfect sense that collaborate again in the future.
The song is available for download on iTunes as well as was released on a white 7″ in the UK with another Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo track “Nostalgia” that came from their album Despite The Snow. The second track may not have been infectious to me as the first, but was really an amazing listen.
After hearing both songs, I must say I am really interested in hearing more of this chamber-folk that Barker and company creates.
Check out the video below for “Fields Of June” featuring Frank Turner:
I do not know about you, but I am pretty excited about this.
Chris from No Sleep Records posted this picture on his Facebook today (of course it still needs print and whatnot:
Into It. Over It. Tour Dates:
Oct 17 – Cleveland, OH – Now That’s Class
Oct 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Unitarian Church
Oct 19 – New York, NY – Santos Party House (CMJ)
Oct 20 – Boston, MA – Middle East/Upstairs
Oct 21 – Hartford, CT – Webster Underground
Oct 22 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
Oct 23 – Richmond, VA – The Camel
Oct 24 – Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
Oct 25 – Orlando, FL – Will’s Pub
Oct 26 – Gainesville, FL – The Fest
Oct 27 – Gainesville, FL – The Fest
Oct 28 – Gainesville, FL – The Fest
Oct 29 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
Oct 30 – Louisville, KY – The Vernon Club
Oct 31 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
Has it really been been 8 years since Tony Sly and Joey Cape released their first solo album collectively? I can remember the day I heard cuts off that release and bragged to my close friends about it. Soon they were just as hooked as I was with the acoustic renditions of Lagwagon and No Use For a Name (NUFAN) songs.
Hearing those punk rock songs acoustically was just something so new and exciting for this listener. Keep in mind, this was before many of the punk musicians started their acoustic projects. It was a new method of sorts and would pave a side road for punk rock music forever. It’s save to say the revival was made possible by Cape and Sly.
Cape and Sly would continued with their solo careers separately after the release and both dropped some remarkable albums, but nothing was as memorable as their first attempt. Over the past 8 years, Cape and Sly really built their reputation as solo artists and decided it was time again to take some of their classic songs and create acoustic renditions of them for all to head. Needless to say when I found out via Fat Wreck Chords that Cape and Sly were releasing Acoustic Volume 2, I got a tad excited.
Once again the duo took 5 songs each from their back catalogs and turned them into acoustic masterpieces. To keep with the idea of their original attempt, they both wrote and recorded brand new tracks to add to the mix. The result is a sequel to an amazing release that follows the same path of awesomeness.
Cape took the first half of the album and started it with “I Must Be Hateful” taken from2003’s Blaze. The already amazing song sounded more powerful than ever when broke down into acoustic form. Cape loses the rasp in his voice and gently sings with assistance from soft piano.
“Know It All” was one of my favorite tracks off of 1994’s Trashed, and 18 years later it continued to impress me on a different caliber. “Alison’s Disease”, originally found on Live Fat, Die Young, was a tearjerker to listen to. I remember the original on the Fat Wreck compilation, but this round was almost as hard to listen to as Fat Mike’s acoustic version of “My Orphan Year”. Amazing on how slowing down a song can unleash so much emotion.
I was so happy to hear “Resolve” on this release. Listening to Cape play a more folky version brought a smile to my face even though the track pays homage to their drummer Derrick Piourde who passed in 2005. “Broken Record”, Cape’s all new track, followed the same path as previous tracks with a mellow mood. The song perked up half way through but ended just as soon as it started.
Sly took over the remainder of the album with a powerful version of “Black Box”. Maybe it was the accordion in the background with piano and a strings section, but the new and improved version taken off the 2005 NUFAN release Keep Them Confused sounded better than ever.
“Soulmate” was my choice track off this release. The track was already one of my favorites in the 90s on Leche con Carne! and hearing it all over again in a different way was just refreshing. A new take on an old classic was just what I was looking to hear. I could not help but feel the same way I did when I heard “Justified Black Eye” for the first time in acoustic form back in 2004. It brought a smile to my face and I instantly sung along.
“Chasing Rainbows” was a fun take on the original found on More Betterness!, but overall I still preferred the 1999 original. “Pre-Medicated Murder”sounded nothing like the version found on Hard Rock Bottom. The slowed down version was eerie in a sense to listen to and enhanced the lyrics so much more.
Sly’s original, “Liver Let Die”, was a barroom masterpiece in it’s own carried by strumming acoustic guitar. The song was likable and held out an instant invite for me to learn the chorus and sing along. The track ended with a crowd chanting “one more song, one more song” and to me was a perfect way to put this release to sleep. It also provided for a taste of what Sly has in store for his listeners in future releases.
What happens when punk musicians age? They grow up, maybe have a family, live life, but never put down the guitar. If you are thinking that this album is “just another punk rock side project” you are wrong. This album is a celebration by two men and their career featuring some classic songs. I am glad I only had to wait 8 years for this because honestly, 10 years might have been too long.
If you like NUFAN and Lagwagon, chances are you already know about Acoustic Volume 2. If you dig acoustic music, check it out, you will not be disappointed. Punk rock or not, this duo make for some amazing renditions of classic cuts I feel many can appreciate regardless of what genre of music is preferred.
If it looks like cake and smells like cake, it must be cake right? Not in this case. This cake-looking and smelling thing I speak of is the birthday cake scratch n’ sniff 7″ titled Goodnight Jimmy Lee by LA rock act Roll The Tanks. The two song 7″ was released on Sabot Productions in early October.
The threesome, who have toured already with Against Me!, have have sparked the interest in many and not just because they recruited Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ Joe Sirois to play drums. They have rubbed elbows with the right people and played their asses off making sure the world noticed them. Their determination and hard work has paid off as the band will be dropping a full length debut titled Broke Til Midnight.
Title track “Goodnight Jimmy Lee” is a catchy-sounding yet brutally honest tribute written about the late Jimmie Lee a.k.a. Jay Reatard. “Now he’s gone and I’m no Jimmy Lee” bounces over catchy guitar playing that screams 90s alternative rock. As fun as the song is, the deeper meaning pays homage to an artist who left this world far too early in his career. The b-side, “Pistolero”, is a cross between that twangy country rock all the kids seem to be getting into these days with indie rock of the 90s. The acoustic-driven song almost carries a nice Fake Problems feel, but far more upbeat.
I am looking forward to hear what Roll The Tanks can dish out on their debut. Until then I have the feeling I will be listening to these songs on a regular basis as well as scratching and sniffing the cover smelling the goodness that is birthday cake. Did I mention that the cover smells like cake? Yes, I may be a little excited about this.
I hate the term “latest internet craze” when it comes to all those stupid, time-killing photos tons of internet addicted humans who fancy themselves comic reliefs by “planking”, “owling”, “horsemaning”, and oh, let’s not forget “cone-ing” (although I will admit it was funny the first time I saw it).
If you have no idea what I am talking about, a.) you are lucky and b.) google them for more explanation. It’s not a craze. It is stupid and shame on you mainstream media for evening bringing it to light thinking any of it is funny.
When I think of a latest internet craze, I think of something that is a little more meaningful than some douchebag laying on a curb while some other douche takes a picture of them. Seriously, that is NOT FUNNY. Get off the hotel sign and quit pissing me off.
Anyways, enough of my rants today. I will tell you about the latest internet craze… DIY bands offering up their music online (some for free). Skipping “the man”, these DIY bands take care of it all by themselves with help of independent labels and work hard doing it.
That right there is way more interesting to me that seeing a some huge dude perch like an owl (honestly it looks like he is trying to poop his pants).
DIY bands are nothing new, but boy are they becoming more and more plentiful these days. There are tons of websites out there (some labels and some just hosts) that host DIY bands and their music like Death To False Hope Records, If You Make It, and BandCamp.
One DIY act in particular that I have been digging lately is Direct Hit!. Last night I downloaded their newest LP called Domesplitter that was put out by Kind Of Like Records. I found the download on their BandCamp page after receiving an email from one of the band members self-promoting the new release (I think I was on a mailing list from downloading one of their EPs earlier on Death To False Hope Records – I am ok with that as it is not spam). I will admit that I did not pay anythingfor the download, but I am planning on order ordering Domesplitter on vinyl (in fact, I just did, so there! Redemption on my end!).
Milwaukee’s Direct Hit! is a pop punk act with an edge. Domesplitter was a little heavier than I was anticipating and for that I loved it more. This is the band’s first full length release that actually contains songs from the band’s first five EPs – an anthology have you. Even if the album is technically not brand new material, I must say I am impressed with it. Full of hooks and anthem-like sing-a-long opportunities, the songs on this release are down right fun to listen to. This is a band I should have been a fan of since the beginning.
There is nothing in the world quite as mysterious as a relationship. From the start until the end, however it may conclude, we have all been there. There are easily a million songs that have been written over time about relationships and love. Some are positive tunes that end happily ever after, and then there are the ones that are straight up depressing with no light in the future for a resolution. We all know these songs, and honestly almost all of them were written because of love and heartache.
