Motor City’s SSM - singer/keyboardist John Szymanski (The Hentchmen), drummer Dave Shettler (The Sights) and singer/guitarist Marty Morris (The Cyril Lords) - makes everything from gritty, howling bar rockers to synthed-out electro-trash anthems, all the while disguising it as Detroit garage. However, as the wall of noise/sound check/intro gives way to the inebriated swagger of opener “Exit Strategy” and it’s ripping analog keyboard climax, it’s obvious that there are influences here that reach beyond Detroit. As far, in fact, as 60s Swedish garage rockers The Backdoor Men. There are hints of many things along the dizzying ride of this debut full length - from The Rolling Stones to the Frank Black-ish belting vocals of highlight track, “Put Me In” and all the way to space-rocked-out jams that The Flaming Lips could join in on.
Aside from the energy, attitude, fuzzed out guitars, heavy drums and sleazy sex appeal in their sound, there are two main elements that come together to define the SSM sound. Shettler’s use of both organic and programmed beats throughout gives the record a modern spin while Szymanski’s vintage analog keyboards keep it old school and authentic sounding. So if it’s not futuristic and it’s not a throwback… this must be the sound of now. Future vintage garage rock.
I can’t believe I spent so many evenings recently watching the Mavs play, just to see them lose it at home. Anyway, here are a couple of releases that I’ve been meaning to get to. Looking through this pile, I’ve got some catching up to do…
13ghosts
Cicada
[Skybucket; 2006; Rock]
13ghosts make that brand of well crafted, smoky bar rock that represents the modern sound of southern rock. One that doesn’t scream redneck like a Skynard show. (I know. I’ve been to one) And while these Birmingham boys’ sound points to many of the same influences as other recent releases such as Catfish Haven, The M’s (who aren’t from the south) and The Drones (who aren’t from America), to peg them as simply rock is a bit of an injustice. They also point in the direction of old school garage, folkish singer-songwriter, woozy ballad crooning, country, primitive Americana, bluesy howls and straight up, whiskey-fueled bar rockers in a way that somehow reminds me of a state line liquor store between Arkansas and Missouri on a Sunday night.
In addition to the variety of influences, the shared writing and vocal duties of Brad Armstrong and Buzz Russell add an even more varied sound throughout the 21 tracks. These 2 sample tracks give a fair representation of the band’s scope, from the Beatles-ish 70s pop sound of “The Search Party” to the soulfully plucked “Robert J”, but it doesn’t really show that they can get down and rock like Akron/Family or Bobby Bare Jr. rock.
p.s. Hey guys, you should play “Wormhead, My Dear” for everybody. They’d like that.
Hailey Wojcik
Jealous Sees
[self-released; 2005; Pop]
Kalamazoo songstress Hailey Wojcik makes achingly charming little pop songs that I have to listen to with headphones on. Not because her record has an intricate mix of sounds that you want to pick apart, not because it’s loud and obnoxious and pisses off the neighbors, but because it’s too damn cute to admit liking. Whether she’s singing about being a “jealous maniac” and exs, getting dug like a dinosaur bone or telling the boss off, even her “fuck you”s sound nice enough.
This track would fit in nicely in my homeboy Joe’s “Female Troubles” mixtape he’s working on. Some Hole, Peaches, Mu, Cars Can Be Blue and this. Sounds good, but we’ll just have to skip this one or turn it down if we’re driving. You know, ukeleles, pianos, guitar strums and vocals that sound like the good girl next door aren’t exactly what a dude wants coming out of his speakers. It’s like driving down the road bumpin’ some Kimya Dawson or something.
I got tipped off to these guys by a publicist doing a little “pro bono” push on ‘em. Apparently they’ve been described as “a cross between Bruce Springsteen, Bright Eyes, and The Counting Crows”, which I guess is a pretty complimentary comparison for an unsigned band, but to me, that doesn’t really sound good. And I was pleased to find it pretty inaccurate too. I don’t hear the Springsteen at all. Maybe Bright Eyes isn’t that far off, but just in the emphasis on a few words, not an overall I’m-gonna-kill-myself kind of feel. Counting Crows? What the hell did they even sing? “Mr. Jones”?
Lorenzo Goetz
The Heavy EP
Rating: 7.0
[self released; 2006; Rock]
Hellsyeah! Here’s another follow up I’ve been waiting for. Lorenzo Goetz is back with a handful of new tracks that stay true to their funky, hip swaggering brand of rock that is as well suited for a shady dive bar as a chic hipster hangout. If you’re familiar with their last release, Jesus Elephant (and liked it), you should by all means add this EP to your collection. The sound is more focused although less diverse. But focusing on your finer aspects is always good.
The title track opener kicks off in full swing, a Beck-ish funky groove with Jesse Greenlee’s drums playing a major role in accenting the highpoints. “Run There” adds a bit of a countrified flavor to their sound with it’s guitar stylings, harmonica and junkyard-sounding percussion. “La Salvadora” slows the flow for the closer with a mellow, old school psychedelic trippiness and one part Janes Addiction and one part modern indie rocker. Along the way, the boys tip their hats to everyone from Sublime to The Beatles and even a chorus that is vaguely Jim Morrison, yet still have their own style that is completely fresh and a sound that is like nobody else I’ve heard.
Recommended if seeing a pissy drunk Beck opening a show for Bobby Bare Jr. (Which LG did recently) sounds good to you. It sure does to me.
Download Heavy (be patient, it’s slow coming from their myspace page) There are others there and at their band site.
Since I didn’t get through all the great records that I had hoped to, I’ll throw one of these “catching up” posts in from time to time, but since it’s Friday, here’s a collection of cool records that have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Except they’re really good…
Mahi Mahi
(Re)Move Your Body
[Corleone; 2005; Electro-Rock]
Mahi Mahi’s (Re)Move Your Body moved from the danciness and into darker territory. Glammed out, slick electronic knob twistery mixed with digital and organic industrial percussion topped off with filtered vocals. And plenty of bass to give the little 10 inch sub in my Jeep a serious workout. What more could I possibly want in a record? Excellent.
Neotropic
White Rabbits
[Mush; 2004; Instrumental Rock]
Neotropic’s move to Mush Records continues her move towards a drifting, almost post-rock sound. Beautiful piano notes float above minimal electronic loops. Weeping guitars dance with sparse samples of found sound and environmental recordings. A warm ambient soundtrack to a cool spring evening… and an excellent fit with Mush’s collection of innovative artists.
Aquarius Songs plays like a collection of some of the best jazz, samba, tango and soul songs ever - remixed by a master party-starting DJ. But that’s only half correct. Malik gets the party started and your ass on the floor, but these are his new creations, not classics mined from record shop basements. Some of it is a little dance-y for my taste, but the jazzier tracks more than make up for any of the others that I have to skip.
Spaghetti Western
Do Right By People
[Adonis; 2004; Instrumental]
Judging by the name and cover artwork, you would probably assume that this is a country record. If you skipped it because of that, you’d be sorely missing out on a great, very unique record. It does have many traditionally country instruments, but they’re played at times with a soaring, psychedelic quality. Guitars, banjo, pedal steel (always a bonus), pianos, organs, vibraphone, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass combined with “junkyard percussion” and drum programming, folk and bluegrass influences, to create an instrumental record with substance. At some points throughout the record, I want to give it a new genre name… like ambient country or something.
SSM
13ghosts
Hailey Wojcik
Lorenzo Goetz
Mahi Mahi
Neotropic
Joseph Malik
Spaghetti Western