This week on Aux Deck, we’ve paid off ambition’s debt and really dug down for some great listens. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
A certain sense of grandeur and a narrative lyrical style, augmented by their indie-rock-meets-horns sound, brings this lush track by Great Caesar to the forefront of their eponymous EP. The instrumentals are simple; just horns, bass, drums, and guitars, but masterfully arranged. The song lures you in with muted strumming, a snare, and gently swelling brass. But as the lyrics near their conclusion, the drum quickens to a rat-a-tat-tat marching beat, the horns crescendo to sweeping overtures that pause just long enough to allow the songs great hook (“pack up your bags and fly, we’ve got some dreaming before we die”) to sink in, and the the guitar builds to powerful downward strumming. The innocuous intro and tumultuous, resounding end accomplish the twin goals of first drawing you in and then knocking you out masterfully. And the uncommon, narrative style of the song allows the instruments to do just that. Telling the story of two children on a great journey, who, faced with impossible obstacles, eventually triumph through simple faith in themselves, the clear beginning-middle-ending to the lyrics lend a clear beginning-middle-ending to the music, combining for a layered, abundant song that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
–James Sutton
If last week’s single wasn’t enough, I’ve brought you another velvet-cloaked single with a vintage sound, one that plugs your nose and goes down surprisingly smooth for a fresh and local indie outfit. Everything about this single is seething with daring ingenuity, the originality of the track burning through the late-sixties essence and branding it with a blazing, animated fire that ignites the whole single with a scorching, torrid vibe. SF band The Soft White Sixties have taken the dreaded sophomore slump and spat in its face with their 2013 album Get Right, searing their talent into every single and instilling it with their unique, neon sound. City Lights is the real flashbulb single off of this record, and it truly encapsulates the savvy style of the band. The track is kickstarted by a muted, rythmic bass, but luminous vocals and a clear drum beat soon come in to polish off the track and buff off the hard edges. With the late addition of a whiny, off-tempo guitar, the refined product comes beaming with perfect simplicity and just a touch of authentic genius. The Soft White Sixties may not be reinventing the wheel, but their version of it certainly runs without any semblance of a snag. Who needs anything else?
–Andrew Wilcox
Do you ever have that moment, when you are driving or walking on a sunny day and everything is working out well for you, and you think to yourself that this is like a movie? Well this might just be something I do, but in any case this would be the song in the background. Cicadas by The Wild Maps has a road trip, fun, nostalgic sound. This song has the ability to put you into a great mood so fast. It starts out with a tinny old train station sound, and then in comes the harmonica which adds another element of this train sound. Not long after, comes in the the vocalist with a deep, bluesy voice. The song continues with this rambling sound and incorporates lyrics like “caroline is never sweet unless she shuts her sailor mouth and starts to sing.” And if that hasn’t sold you on the song, how many bands do you know with a: mandolin, tambourine, organ, trombone, harmonica, banjo, and ukulele?
–Delia Badger
Aux Deck 