She Keeps Bees - Nests
Artist: She Keeps Bees
Album: Nests
Release Date: 8/19/08
There’s a lot of loud music out there. Pumping out of bicycle-size car stereos or ear-ruining earbuds at full volume and, unfortunately, at full compression, a vast majority of newly released music makes even the loudest beat seem unimpressive. Simplicity and soul together is something rare, but it is something I found on She Keeps Bees’s newest album. It is a quality that can fill a room: Jessica Larrabee’s soaring voice braided with catchy, deep guitar riffs and simple drum beats. Rich sound like this is powerful, and perfect for lying on the floor and letting the noise roll around you. I was impressed with their last LP, Minisink Hotel, but “Nests” is an album I am happy to have for those moments when I want to listen to something both loud and clear.
She Keeps Bees – Release
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She Keeps Bees will no doubt be compared to Cat Power in the coming years, but I think Jessica has a swagger and strength in her voice that Chan Marshall doesn’t often match. Coming in just over two minutes, this song is short and sweet and makes me think of what could be if a band like Wire or The Minutemen were soulful rockers instead of punks.
She Keeps Bees – Gimmie
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Despite the at times uncomfortable lyrics (“Gimme gimme gimme . . . gimme to me daddy, work me like my back ain’t got no bone”), this is a song I’ve been listening to a lot since I first heard it last week. I especially like the howling that kicks in right before two minutes.
There are some great other tracks on this album, so learn more by visiting the band site or their myspace and buying the album when it releases next week.
Plus, look how cute they are:
Photo by Adriana Jovanovic
Technorati Tags: She Keeps Bees, Cat Power, Wire, The Minutemen, Soulful
Filed under new album, soulful | Comment (0)Dr. Boogie Presents Shim Sham Shimmy
Album: Dr. Boogie Presents Shim Sham Shimmy
Label: Sub Rosa
This here is the third installment of Sub Rosa’s growing collection of rare early-American recordings. This compilation of boogie-woogie, honky-tonk, and blues tracks captures a great spirit and sound, and it is wonderful to hear such soaring voices and such moving rhythms. Get a big room, turn this sucker up as loud as you can, and bring honky-tonking (which is an awesome word) back into your daily life.
Champion Jack Dupree – Shim Sham Shimmy
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This is the title track for a reason. A bouncing, thumping, driving beat makes it nearly impossible to stand still. I find myself two-stepping on the subway, wishing I knew the right steps to the Shim Sham Shimmy.
Morris Pejoe – Screamin ‘n’ Cryin
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The swaying horns, the piercing guitar, and the soulful voice make this a sure hit for me. I want more singing like this: loud and nearly swallowed, the voice sliding from the back of the throat and shooting resonantly into the air.
It is very hard for me not to post this entire album; it is filled with really great tracks. The album is worth tracking down for “I Haven’t Got a Home” by Ramblin Hi Harris and “I’m Off That Stuff” alone. Check out of the label site and buy the album.
Filed under from the archive, new album, retro-novelty, soulful | Comment (0)She Keeps Bees - Minisink Hotel
Artist: She Keeps Bees
Album: Minisink Hotel
Label: n/a
Soulful double-tracked vocals, cavernous reverb, vague but intriguing lyrics, pared-down bluesy orchestration: She Keeps Bees has definitely tuned into what is the current trend in female singer-songwriters. At times I hear too much Cat Power, Feist, Neko Case, or Lucinda Williams (in descending order). It makes me cringe a little, and I have been hesitant to discuss this album because of that derivative air. I’ve been returning to it too much, though, for me to keep holding back. She Keeps Bees may be playing a familiar note, but they play it well, and I am excited to hear what they are doing next (a new album, apparently, is coming in August).
She Keeps Bees – “Revival”
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In trying to describe the feel of this song, I can do little more than: slow, beautiful funeral procession. Let that not creep you out. I love the dancing piano piece over the slower piano beat. The handclaps. The soaring vocals. All of these elements keep me coming back to this song.
She Keeps Bees – “Stand Where I Can See You”
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One of the more upbeat tracks from the album, this song may be less atmospheric than “Revival,” but I think as the first track it sets the tone of the album well. The singer has learned the current vocal style well, pushing every other syllable into a reverb (which I much prefer to melisma, though fun to make fun of).
I’m excited to hear the new album. If you want to hear more, check out the band’s site, look at their myspace, and buy their album.
Filed under soulful, vocal driven | Comment (1)Jamie Lidell - Jim
Artist: Jamie Lidell
Title: Jim
Label: Warp
In the world of dark-haired, soulful white boys Jamie Lidell is, to me, the most satisfying. A balanced eccentricity, a controlled and impressive voice, and live shows that match the ginger of his records make him an artist to enjoy and pay attention to.
Jamie Lidell - “Little Bit of Feel Good”
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I would say derivative if I didn’t feel such joy coming through his voice. Instead, I’ll say he is heavily influenced by American soul music and inner-city funk and pop. This is a simple, lovely song with a great band. You can stay right on the surface with his fun lyrics and soulful voice; you can also hear the really good music underneath, bobbing and balanced with percussion, horns, and synth elements hopping in harmony.
Jamie Lidell - “Hurricane”
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More rocky and driven than the bobbing song above, “Hurricane” exudes the energy of a song right out of The Commitments.
For more info on the Jamie Lidell phenomenon, check out his official site here. There is also an extensive interview with Jamie on The Believer website, written during the tour for his last major album Multiply. You can also buy his album.
Filed under new album, soulful, vocal driven | Comment (0)