Built on a Weak Spot

This is an upcoming split from two Boston based bands The Cold Beat and Movers & Shakers drumming up the old roots/Americana rock territory that immediately sends you thinking of the obvious comparisons. You know them; I don’t need to go through them. Anyway, The Cold Beat apparently already has an EP to their name titled Dumbwaiter. If it’s like the two songs on this split then I may very well be tracking that down. They seem to be playing it more towards the straight forward indie-rock line, with a couple songs here that throw some big melodies and a memorable chorus at you while still managing to get you feeling down and out. Although it’s not revolutionary by any means, it’s solid stuff. I can get behind a tune like “Tracks” just about anytime I hear it.

The Movers & Shakers side is definitely mining the alt-country of the past couple decades much harder than their companions here, however again it’s done tastefully. I would have to say “Movin’ On” wins out as far as their songs go. Although maybe not intentional, their style of play and general tone makes for a good contrast of emotions from side A to side B with The Cold Beat channeling a bit of desperation while Movers & Shakers provide a bit warmer sound with a glimmer of hope.

The Cold Beat – Tracks (stream)
Movers & Shakers – Movin’ On (stream)

Be on the lookout for this split come early January. In the meantime continue to check in on the bands for more information on this split and to pick up any previous material.

It doesn’t seem, at least to me, that too many bands start out as a country/folk outfit and eventually grow into a predominately punk/indie sound. It seems you see more of the reverse actually. However, they could just be me. Anyhow, that’s what Unwelcome Guests were initially before ripping off a strong run of 7 inches that showcased the band and their more punk inspired leanings. Of course the band still bares a fair portion of its past within its current sound giving them that late 80’s/90’s gritty alt-country/indie-rock sound of sorts. The Painter 7’’, which I have here, is probably some of their best and most rockin’ material that was released late last year through a collaboration of multiple labels (Art of the Underground, Dirt Cult, and Feral Kid). Two tracks to each side, all of which keep it snappy and feature a loud wallop of bass and drums combined with some rough around the edges guitar haze that make it seem as if these songs were destined to be listened to on a 45. I think they have another single on the way, which is definitely good news. Anyway, check out a tune from The Painter below…

Unwelcome Guests – Painter [MP3]

If you’re enjoying what you hear then be sure to pick up a copy of the single, which can be had over at their MySpace along with most of their past material. For anyone that is curious of their beginnings, then they have a compilation for sale on CD Baby. Check it out.

Some early material from the highly underrated Morning Glories. This is a single the band released in 1992 through Kokopop Records for Chapter of Wills, which is a fine song. Another good thing here is that there are still many copies of the CD single version on Amazon for a few cents plus shipping. It happens to contain a couple more songs. However, here are the two songs from the 7-inch. Enjoy and for more Morning Glories tunes check back at the post I did a few months ago about their albums here.

Morning Glories – Chapter of Wills [MP3]
Morning Glories – California Day [MP3]

Primarily the trio of Christian Gibbs (vocals/guitar), Nicholas Palumbo (bass), and Kenny Savelson (drums), the NYC based Morning Glories existed for a good handful of years in the nineties releasing three under the radar albums on the Headhunter/Cargo label. It’s a little bit surprising as to how little there is out there these days about this band, not even an archived review from some zine or anything for that matter really. Kind of a shame as for three albums they released a solid mixture of trademark nineties jagged indie-rock, blues, and tiny smidge of alt-country worked in for good measure. Typically it seems to work the other way around, but if I had to suggest it I would work backwards through the bands discography starting with their final album in 1997 Let the Body Hang. From there is the bands second album Fully Loaded in ’95 and their Self-Titled debut in 1994.

Morning Glories:
Morning Glories – Pink Fog Assertion [MP3]

Fully Loaded:
Morning Glories – Elizabeth [MP3]
Morning Glories – Tire Iron Serenade [MP3]

Let the Body Hang:
Morning Glories – B.B. Gun [MP3]
Morning Glories – Hickory [MP3]

After breaking up, singer Christian Gibbs would move on to solo work and is currently a member of two different groups, Lucinda Black Bear and The Droves. The Droves also happen to feature former Morning Glories drummer Kenny Savelson as well. All three of the bands albums are still available through Amazon, both new and used. Definitely pick up and album or two if you dig what you hear.

Earlier this year I took a trip to the Grand Canyon and Vegas. We opted to drive, which took us through parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada. It being my first trip out there I wasn’t really prepared for how barren and desolate those areas are. Every once and awhile I would drive past these tiny little communities that somehow inexplicably sprung up in the middle of the desert. And every so often you’d see one lonely bar placed off to the edge of the highway, which made me begin to wonder what it would be like to spend my life in one of these places. Trust me, I had plenty of time to think about this as it was all I saw for hours upon hours of scorching hot highway. Pictures of lonely nights sitting with maybe one or two other patrons at a bar staring face down into the bottom of my drink emerged from time to time. And then other times I just envisioned taking the truck I was driving and pulling off onto one of the number of dirt roads that shot off from the highway and then driving aimlessly for miles and miles with the windows down. The only thing missing from this was the perfect soundtrack, which sadly I didn’t have for the trip. However, I believe I have found it, albeit a few months late, but regardless now when I recall those same images all I have to do is put on Liquidate Paris the third and latest album from Vancouver’s Blood Meridian.

I know many albums have encapsulated the idea of the west and its reputation for hard living, blood shed, and the mourning that comes along with it. However, there is something special about the way Blood Meridian has gone about doing it on Liquidate Paris. While their previous album Kick Up the Dust was another fine dose of blues tinged Americana, it’s the slightly added element of smoky psychedelia that truly puts this one on the map for me. While practically all of Blood Meridians music emits a haunting vibe to it, Liquidate Paris hones in on it and delves deeper than ever before. The album contains nine songs that are meant for the scattered mess of broken liquor bottles, cigarettes, and shotgun shells.

Blood Meridian – Walk Through the Door [MP3]

For those looking to pick this up, it’s available currently over at Elevation Recordings. I would suggest picking it up quick as Liquidate Paris has a limited run of only 1000 on both CD and vinyl, so these might not last long. It’s well worth checking out.