Did you know that grad school would seriously cut down on your time to write about music, let alone listen to it? Couldn’t be me! So over the next few weeks you’ll see me writing capsule album reviews in a desperate attempt to catch up on everything I missed from the last year and a half while trying to keep up with new stuff. Hope you enjoy!
Jesse Daniel Edwards — Violensia
Jesse Daniel Edwards debuted with a gorgeous album — Sauded, which I waxed poetic about on No Depression. Thing is, he released it under the name Juni Ata. The album were lilting folk rock songs of love and loss. On Violensia, Edwards wanted to break the Americana mold. These songs are the flip side of the coin, a diary of disgust with the self and the rock star lifestyle, swinging between rock and grandiose pop. But Edwards’ voice is polished and angelic, and it’s difficult to shake the feeling that maybe things aren’t all bad. “Nobody’s Got Me” exemplifies the album’s themes of being hungover on loneliness and drugs, sung as sweet as can be.
Rissi Palmer — Still Here
This one came out this past Friday, and it’s three songs of pure country music with Rissi Palmer‘s innate fire. Two of the songs, “Still Here” and “Seeds,” I believe have been released previously. “Seeds” is a powerful anthem of revolutionary resistance. Palmer teams up with longtime colleague Miko Marks on the title track, defying Nashville’s previous expectations of the pair. The final song, “Speak On It,” is a funky number about speaking out in the face of “something funky.” You can learn more about how the EP came together on Palmer and Marks’ joint interview on NPR’s World Cafe.
The Prairie Joggers — Going Nowhere
Manitoba’s The Prairie Joggers bring an undeniable groove to their high lonesome sound. Going Nowhere, their three-song EP, is a sampler for some exciting music to come. “Move Along” kicks it with a chugging beat as lead singer Cody Goertzen channels Neil Young while singing the praises and frustrations of a rambling life. “In The Wake” turns the temperature down but brings a musical swirl that reminds me of early Great Peacock.The closer, “Sweet Tooth,” waxes philosophical about the fleeting nature of youth.
Who Is She? — Goddess Energy
Sometimes you just need to blow off some steam, and that seems to be the goal of Who Is She?, the Seattle supergroup of indie rockers Robin Edwards (Lisa Prank), Bree Mckenna (Tacocat), and Julia Shapiro (Chastity Belt) – are joined by a new member: Tacocat’s Emily Nokes. You can’t argue with any of these bands’ track records, and Goddess Energy amply demonstrates the casual ease with which the four fire off jokes, from the ’50s-tinged lament for “MoviePass” to the Marianne Williamson praise song “Bitch For God.” Some songs, like “My Orca Card” miss the mark a bit by hewing too close to the original to feel fresh. However, Who Is She? knows how to pick a simple lyric, an irresistible groove, and keep you glued to your speakers with an album that feels like you’re shooting the shit with friends.