In this week’s issue of Aux Deck, James and Andrew, first head north to report on a smart, post-punk act based somewhere in NYC, and then cross the East River to Brooklyn, to give a listen to an alt-country-rock-jazz band with a music-school pedigree. Meanwhile Delia and Ruby take the deep dive, way down south, to bring you two fun, indie-pop bands from Tennessee, each with its own approach. Enjoy!
Sometimes, simple is just better. New York City boys Zula seem to have stolen that motto and run with it with their debut 2013 album This Hopeful, which is filled with a seemingly loose array of raw, lucid tracks; but underneath the coarse facade of the album one can dig and find something much more than a grungy riff or catchy hook, something heavier and more profound. It’s this magnetic mixture of youthful energy and a smooth, sophisticated undertone that give this single, Twin Loss, it’s enigmatic appeal. The song stands as a paragon of simple and beautiful songwriting, with a meek, foreshadowing bassline that steps up to dominate the track after teaming up with a loud and sickly sloppy guitar. Powerful, emotional vocals apply the finishing blow to a track that was already in no need of something special, arriving at a finished project that none of us know what to do with, except listen to again. And again. Simple.
–Andrew Wilcox
It’s easy to label Lake Street Dive as a “vintage style” jazz quartet, but an exploration of their latest album, Bad Self Portraits, shows much more depth than that immediate takeaway. Their fifth track, You Go Down Smooth exemplifies what this album does best: using just enough garage rock and R&B/soul influences to complete their refreshing, upbeat sound. Opening with slightly crunchy, rhythmic guitar chords which provide the foundation for the whole song, the virtuoso singing of frontwoman Rachael Price and bright, cheery, backing vocals quickly take over. Making every note and run seem easy, the training and musical acumen gained from Price’s attendance at the prestigious New England Conservatory (where the band met) really shows in her voice. The rest of the band’s education also comes through in the literate, witty lyrics. (The group writes collaboratively.) Rounded out by the energetic drumming of Mike Calabrese and a brassy horn section, this track really gets your hands clapping and your feet tapping. In a genre that often trends toward the overdone and pretentious, you can tell this group simply enjoys the hell out of making their kind of music, making this a great, charming listen!
– James Sutton
Parachute Musical is an indie-pop-rock band from Nashville. Everything Is Working Out Fine In Some Town is the band’s second album (it came out in 2008). This song, Dear Jacksonville, the one cued up, is driven by a simple, compelling piano part. The lyrics are prominent as well. The song starts off with the lead singer and piano, then a drum beat that is steady and keeps the song moving, and once you get farther into the song, you’ll hear the time signature shift into a more swing feeling. Elements of the song will remind you of things you’d hear on the radio, but it has its own, unique sound. The positive vibe makes it easy to jam out to with friends – it’s a good song for a road trip playlist. Have fun rocking out!
– Ruby Lanier
The East Nashville band “and the relatives” released their second album Green Machinery in November 2010, which the song Fourth Rate is featured on. The album has a country meets pop meets rock feel. The beginning of this song sounds a little like the Beatles with a mid-sixties vibe, incorporating kind of a raw sound with very deep forward vocals. And the relatives have a tendency towards funny, witty lyrics, along with the garage band aesthetic. Just a warning – it gets stuck in your head.
– Delia Badger
Aux Deck 