RAYS VAST BASEMENT
Apparently, Starvation Under Orange Trees is the third album from Ray’s Vast Basement, but it’s the first I’ve heard of them. It’s quite unique (to use a very redundant phrase I can’t stand and hate and loathe). I wanna say it’s Americana, but it’s more than that. I wanna say it’s prog-folk, but I can’t stand that moniker. So I’ll say it’s rootsy and earthy, loose and genuine. Songs range from slow ballads to bluegrassy jigs, and everything in between.
The uneven album doesn’t always grab me, but every time I think I think, “Nah, I won’t review it,†the next track hits me in the gut and I think, “Wow! Why doesn’t anyone make music like this anymore! I’ve got to review this!†Supposedly, the album is inspired by John Steinbeck’s novels, but I’m not literary enough to catch all the references. I just know that I’ve never heard anything like this before, so I’m recommending it to you.
For a good idea of the “sound†on the record, just take a look at the list of folks who worked on it: Nate Query (The Decemberists); Enzo Garcia (Jolie Holland); Larry Crane (TapeOp/Jackpot!); Michael Zapruder (Michael Zapruder’s Rain of Frogs); Tim Cohen (Black Fiction).
For fans of: The Ghost of Tom Joad, Tom Waits, Ray LaMontagne. Release date: July 3, 2007.
How Through Sacrifice Danny’s Friends Gave A Party
ART BRUT
These links were sent to us. Art Brut has released the demos for its upcoming album. Check ’em out.
Pump Up the Volume-Art Brut (demo)
