5. Eric Lovre - Knucklehead City (2014)
Eric Lovre - Knucklehead City
Midnight Son
self-released
Released October 4, 2014
Eric Lovre, former guitar whiz for northwest legends the Dharma Bums, and a good personal friend of mine....cranks out a great new organ/guitar stomper about our hometown, the dreary Salem, Oregon. Catchy and singable for sure. The version on the record features the late Mike Davis from the legendary MC5 on the bass guitar. Apparently, it's his last recorded appearance. Pick up the album, Midnight Son, at your local record store.
I couldn't find anything to embed, but I did discover that you can listen to the full song on Myspace (!) but only if you login.... Oh well, get the album.
4. The Van Pelt - Three People Wide at All Times (2014)
The Van Pelt - Three People Wide at All Times
Recorded in 1997, released in 2014. Woo! 90s time capsule! The Van Pelt broke up during the sessions for their third album, and some of them reformed as The Lapse and rerecorded and released most of these songs. For my money, the Van Pelt versions sound fresher and more fun. Nowhere is this found more than this track. HUGE guitar sound. A sister to the legendary "The Speeding Train".
[note: bandcamp embeds seem to be not working today. Hear it HERE on bandcamp]
3. Damien Jurado - Now You're Swimming (2004)
Discovered this 10-year-old Damien Jurado EP with a FANTASTIC 764-HERO cover. First of all, thanks to Damien Jurado, you can actually understand John Atkins' lyrics, and they're pretty good. What really makes this version, though, is the arrangement. Damien's quiet, calm delivery in the verses, with another track of him shouting the same words buried in the mix... just gives the whole thing a menace and creep factor missing in the original.
2. Modest Mouse - White Lies, Yellow Teeth (2014)
The Van Pelt - Three People Wide at All Times
Imaginary Third
La Castanya Records
Released April 19, 2014
Released April 19, 2014
Recorded in 1997, released in 2014. Woo! 90s time capsule! The Van Pelt broke up during the sessions for their third album, and some of them reformed as The Lapse and rerecorded and released most of these songs. For my money, the Van Pelt versions sound fresher and more fun. Nowhere is this found more than this track. HUGE guitar sound. A sister to the legendary "The Speeding Train".
[note: bandcamp embeds seem to be not working today. Hear it HERE on bandcamp]
3. Damien Jurado - Now You're Swimming (2004)
Damien Jurado - Now You're Swimming
Holding His Breath
Acuarela Records
Released 2004
Released 2004
Discovered this 10-year-old Damien Jurado EP with a FANTASTIC 764-HERO cover. First of all, thanks to Damien Jurado, you can actually understand John Atkins' lyrics, and they're pretty good. What really makes this version, though, is the arrangement. Damien's quiet, calm delivery in the verses, with another track of him shouting the same words buried in the mix... just gives the whole thing a menace and creep factor missing in the original.
2. Modest Mouse - White Lies, Yellow Teeth (2014)
Modest Mouse - White Lies, Yellow Teeth
White Lies, Yellow Teeth / Buttons to Push the Buttons 7"
Glacial Pace Recordings
Released November 4, 2014
Modest Mouse re-released their first two albums on vinyl in 2014, and released two bonus 7"s of extra material. I think this song is the best of the bunch, although all 4 songs are very, very good. White Lies, Yellow Teeth was recorded for the Long Drive album, although for my money, it would've sounded at home on Moon and Antarctica. Maybe it's because they ended up recycling some of the lyrics into "Willful Suspension of Disbelief". Either way, it's a great song. Shout-out to their new song "Lampshades on Fire"-- I chose "White Lies" over "Lampshades" because I think everyone in the world is hearing "Lampshades" right now, and I don't need to add my voice.
1. Whiskey Priest - Fill (2014)
Noah Hall and Whiskey Priest - Fill
Almost Satisfied
Raven's Flight Creative
Released May 3, 2014
While the album just narrowly missed my top 5 (sorry!), this standout track could not be ignored. Whiskey Priest (Noah Hall) delivered his second solo album in 2014, and this is far and away my favorite song on it. I've included a live video from the album release show, but I think the EQ on the video removes all of the really fun drums that were going on. Anyway, a beautiful song with just a hint of menace. Buy the album.
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