Grizfolk – A San Francisco Concert Opportunity

     The focus of the May 28, 2013 blog entry was on the band Grizfolk. Originally, the band name was Griz Adams. In the earlier entry, we noted our guess that the name change was likely a result of receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the current owners of the trademark rights surrounding Grizzle Adams.

      The three members of Grizfolk are Adam Roth, Sebastian Fritze, and Fredrik Eriksson. They identify their hometowns as Los Angeles and Stockholm, but they are currently based in Los Angeles.

     There are two updates. First, Grizfolk is on tour, and one tour stop will be in San Francisco. On August 24, Grizfolk will visit the Brick & Mortar. Other tour dates are posted below. Second, Grizfolk is using NoiseTrade to gain exposure (and hopefully some tips).
     The NoiseTrade offer is the Indian Summer Sampler, which is embedded below. To listen to the three songs, click on the arrow.  NOVEMBER 16th UPDATE - unfortunately, this opportunity has been removed.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grizfolk

Website: http://grizfolk.com/

     At the Brick & Mortar, Grizfolk is opening for the Chicago singer/songwriter Andrew Belle. 
     "Pieces" by Andrew Belle

     "All Those Pretty Lights" by Andrew Belle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewbelle

Website: http://andrewbelle.com/

“Canvas of Me” by Migrant Kids – A Song Review

      The song “Canvas of Me” is the first single of a larger release that is scheduled for September 24, 2013. The band is Migrant Kids, which is currently based in Austin, Texas, but the three members are originally from the Midwest. 

     The members of Migrant Kids are Miguel Ojeda, Bryan O’Flynn, and John Zakoor. Ojeda and Zakoor are cousins who started the band in Detroit before moving to Austin (after a short stay in Brooklyn). Following the move, they joined forces with O’Flynn, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.

     In “Canvas of Me,” we like the guitar hooks, such as the short one at the 1:08 mark. And the voices are at a sufficiently high quality that Migrant Kids takes the risk of going a cappella at the 2:28 mark. SoundCloud shows this a cappella portion as a valley in its waveform. But after the valley, the intensity jumps immediately.
     If the rest of the September release from Migrant Kids is even nearly as well written and produced as “Canvas of Me,” it will be much easier for us and others to gather information about these guys.

     "Canvas of Me" by Migrant Kids - currently the song is a free and legal download.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/migrantkids

Website: http://www.migrantkids.com/

The Postal Service and The Divine Fits in Berkeley – A Concert Review

Disappointingly, cameras were not permitted
into the venue (drat!)

     The Postal Service made two appearances at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, California this weekend. We were able to attend on Saturday, the second of the two sold out evenings. Joining Postal Service were Baths and Divine Fits.

     Despite any impression that may be gathered from the basketball comparison below, we want to make clear that we enjoyed the performance from The Postal Service. The foursome knew what the crowd wanted, and the band delivered on it. On stage, co-founders Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello were joined by Jenny Lewis and Laura Burhenn. Off-stage, the crowd was disproportionately comprised of a particular age group, namely persons who would have been in their music-formative high school or college years when The Postal Service released its explosive album “Give Up” in 2003. There were attendees who represented other age groups, but the representation was weaker than is the case in our typical concert experience.

     The fans wanted to hear the tracks from “Give Up” and wanted to sing along. Judging from the attitude of the crowd during the show and from the bits of conversations we heard during our walk after the show, people were more than just satisfied. And why not, The Postal Service was engaged to the music and engaging with the crowd. Ben Gibbard and Jenny Lewis in particular maintained a high level of energy through the fifteen song setlist. The attitude was infectious.

      

     Turning to comparisons, the first one we want to make is between our two experiences in seeing The Postal Service. The first opportunity was in April of this year – at Coachella. The band was certainly musically “tighter” in Berkeley. The timing went from being very solid in April to being near flawless in July. On the other hand, the Berkeley performance seemed to have less of a rock “edge” than the Coachella performance. In Berkeley the “edge” surfaced with force during “Natural Anthem,” but otherwise showed itself in only very short bursts. In fairness, The Postal Service is not a rock band and rock edginess is not what their fans wanted.

     The other comparison is an analogy that brings in both the Miami Heat championship basketball squad and last night’s middle act –  Divine Fits. The Divine Fits provided the rock edginess for the evening, so the two bands formed a good combination. The combination also seemed appropriate because both bands are “super groups” (that is, formed of members who were or are in other bands which experienced a level of success). In the analogy, Divine Fits represent the Miami Heat as it was intended to be when its three stars were brought together, while The Postal Service is the Miami Heat as it turned out to be.

      When the Heat team was “built” by bringing LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh together, the vision was a team that required spectators and (more importantly) other teams to spread their attention. With three individuals having the skill to carry the team at “crunch time,” it is important to remain aware of the presence of all three. That’s the Divine Fits. The trio for the band is Dan Boeckner, Britt Daniel and Sam Brown (drummer Alex Fischel seems to have been added as a permanent fourth member). No member is the basketball equivalent of James, but particularly with Boeckner and Daniels, it is important to remain aware of the presence of more than one person. Each has a sound he is working to achieve, and achieving the sound often means getting on the floor to manipulate controls for guitar processing or getting on the floor to be in the direct path of the speaker. When he is on keyboards, Brown sometimes stares into the sky, presumably while he concentrates on his music. The three are very serious about their music as individuals, but still work well as a team.

      If there can be a disappointment with a basketball team that has won back-to-back championships, it’s that the focus of the spectators and opponents can (must?) be on a single person, specifically LeBron James. The other Heat players are skilled and appreciated, but James is the focal point. The same applies to The Postal Service. Jimmy Tamborello, Jenny Lewis and Laura Burhenn are appreciated. During the concert, the crowd cheered loudly the first time Tamborello joined in the singing. During the encore, the cheers after Gibbard praised Lewis were so loud and so long that it seemed to embarrass Lewis. But the reality is that Ben Gibbard carries the show. That's not meant as a negative. We highly recommend seeing The Postal Service. The comparison is only meant as our review of what we saw last night. 

Setlist of The Postal Service

The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
We Will Become Silhouette
Sleeping In
Turn Around
Nothing Better
Recycled Air
Be Still My Heart
Our Secret (Beat Happening cover)
This Place Is A Prison
There’s Never Enough Time
A Tattered Line of String
Such Great Heights
Natural Anthem

Encore
(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan
Brand New Colony  

“My Type” by Saint Motel – A Song Review (And SF Concert Opportunity)

     Probably like you, we read a number of different music blogs. All too often, a blogger will make a statement equivalent to “It’s impossible to not at least tap your foot during this song.” Because it has become so trite, we won’t apply it to our description of the recent release by the Los Angeles band Saint Motel. The song is ‘My Type.”
      “My Type” starts with a single horn, without much force. But force surfaces very quickly, because the rest of the horn section jumps in. Then, percussion and guitar add to the sound. During the song, the horns and the band choir jump in and out. And a piano is used effectively starting at the 2:10 mark. There’s a lot going on, but the song never becomes “too busy.”

     We first became aware of Saint Motel because of our obsessive approach to collecting songs that have a “year title.” Within the collection of songs is “1997” by Saint Motel. On July 27 (tomorrow), Saint Motel will join Hockey at The Independent in San Francisco.

      "My Type” by Saint Motel - For at least now, it is a free and legal download.

           "1997” by Saint Motel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintmotel

Website: http://saintmotel.com/

The 1975 - A San Francisco Concert Review

The 1975 at Rickshaw Stop

     Yesterday, we visited Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, again. This time the band of interest was The 1975 from Manchester, U.K. It was another good experience (although this venue does start shows later than any other SF venue).

      We admit to being less enthusiastic about the concert after seeing the performance of The 1975 on Conan earlier this week. That performance is embedded below. During the late night appearance, the band didn’t show the energy we expected. The energy level wasn’t bad; it just did not match our expectations. Happily, it was a different story at Rickshaw Stop.

     Maybe the increased energy was a result of getting some quality sleep. Touring can be exhausting. But where’s the fun in that explanation? We are going with the “reverse Samson effect.” The Book of Judges tells the story of Samson, who lost his supernatural strength when Deliliah cut his hair. Well, in the couple of days between the Conan premier and the show we attended, the lead vocalist (Matthew Healy) received a haircut. The top was still long, but the sides are now both closely cropped. IT WORKED! He had electrifying head banging energy throughout a majority of the performance. The other members of The 1975 are Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums) and Ross MacDonald (bass). 

     Last night, conspiracy theorists would have enjoyed themselves. The air conditioning was turned off during the strong opening performance by Bad Suns (from Los Angeles) and during the set change. It was very uncomfortable. The air conditioning remained off during the start of the first song in the set by The 1975. But when the song went upbeat, the sudden triggering of the air conditioning seemed too perfect to be coincidental. Regardless, the crowd reacted positively to the combination. Couldn't have been any better timing as it brought life to the audience.  During their song "Chocolate" (an obvious audience favorite), Healy let us sing portions of the song.  You could tell they were thrilled by the fan base they had in the U.S. and how well everyone knew their lyrics. They picked right back up with the chorus after the crowd participation was complete.

     The 1975 was engaging. The crowd was appreciative. And the evening was a positive experience. Trying to beat the rush to the door, we left the venue immediately after the regular set of songs. We risked missing a strong encore. But as we headed to the car, we saw the lead vocalist (Healy) and the drummer walking toward us after they exited through a back door.  It was comforting knowing that we didn't miss an encore and it was an unexpected bonus to the evening - telling them how great a performance they had just put on.  They seemed really appreciative to have played in San Francisco for the first time.

The 1975 at Rickshaw Stop

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/#!/the1975

Website - http://the1975.com/

Bad Suns at the Rickshaw Stop

Quoting the bio of the Bad Suns:

Bad Suns are a band from Los Angeles. The band's back history is minimal: founded at the top of 2012, and spending the majority of that year writing and recording. However, in the first month of the band's existence, after sending out a demo of the song "Transpose" to KROQ 106.7 FM, Kat Corbett decided to air the song on their Locals Only program. Much to the band's surprise, the song reigned in the top 5 of the show for nearly three months (reaching number one on three separate occasions.)

This was an encouraging response for only a demo. The band continued writing, and in June entered Infrasonic Studios in Los Angeles, with producer Eric Palmquist (Wavves, Aloe Blacc, Trash Talk). The band quickly began to attain a steady Los Angeles following, playing to packed houses within the area (The Troubadour, Viper Room) and generating local buzz. "Cardiac Arrest" was chosen as the first single from these sessions.

"Fast-forward to 2013, and [Chris] Bowman and pals Miles Kottak, Gavin Bennett and Ray Libby — still in their late teens — are Bad Suns, and they are looking and sounding a lot more grown-up. Their crackling radio rocker “Cardiac Arrest” was recorded at Infrasonic Studios with producer Eric Palmquist (Wavves, Aloe Blacc, Trash Talk) and reveals a sensibility far beyond the band’s years." --BuzzBands LA

"The War" by Josh Record - A Song Review

     Josh Record is a singer/songwriter based in London (technically, Brixton). Somehow, this guy is able to bring a given set of speakers, headphones or ear buds to a level of fidelity that previously did not seem possible. It is fair to refer to his recordings as being "produced," but it is not to the point that the song itself becomes secondary. The lyrics are intelligible over the production (and the lyrics are intelligent). Josh Record's voice is pure enough that the higher fidelity certainly works in his favor. His music has gained traction in Europe, but the North American continent is lacking in the awareness of Josh Record.
     We like other songs by Josh Record ("Bones" is included below), but it was his recent release, "The War," that made the difference for us. "The War" is about a relationship and the effort required to make it work. The instruments effectively enter and exit, but never dominate.  Below are:

• The SoudCloud offering of "The War;"
• The lyrics of the song; and
• The official video.

And so our sun may set, we've been in winter for so long

Don't give up on me yet, I will give you what you deserve

Though our arguments are many, and your eyes are always sore

I promise you we'll get there, this war is almost won

This war is almost won

And lose if you have to

But lose if you have to

Cause I've been putting you through this hell for so long

As long this stands your choice my dear, don't lose or we have won

Don't let your heart grow cold, when you go to sleep upset

Grow with me till we're old, we will find a way to heal

The bruises that will appear, from choices long ago

Hold on to our love my dear, don't think it's dead and done

When this war is almost won

And lose if you have to

But lose if you have to

Cause I've been putting you this hell for so long

As long this stands your choice my dear, don't lose or we have won

I'm running round in circles drinking whiskey and your wine

To drown the sound of endless questions in your mind

Forget the way I treated you and trust that I will love you better

Give me all your patience, give me time

Give me all your patience, give me time

Give me all your patience, give me time

Josh Record | The War from Ellis Bahl on Vimeo.

          "Bones" by Josh Record

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshrecordmusic

Website: http://joshrecord.com/

Homebrewing with The Eastern Sea

     After thinking we had discovered all the reasons to love The Eastern Sea, we find that they homebrew. It keeps getting better.

     The Eastern Sea is offering their “Summer Tour Sample,” which includes “The Match” and other quality music. To sample the songs, just "click" the arrow within the orange area of the embedded NoiseTrade offer. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theeasternsea

Website: http://www.theeasternsea.com/

The Eastern Sea Summer Tour

8/01 - Fort Worth, TX @Lola's Saloon *

8/02 - Austin, TX @ The Parish *

8/03 - Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds *

8/05 - New Orleans @ Gasa Gasa *

8/06 - Mobile, AL @Soul Kitchen *

8/07 - Tampa, FL @ Crowbar *

8/08 - Orlando, FL @ Will's Pub *

8/09 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl *

8/10 - Nashville, TN @ Exit/In %

8/12 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement %

8/13 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe %

8/14 - New York City, NY @ Mercury Lounge %

8/15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's %

8/17 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

8/19 - Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar %

8/20 - Indianapolis @ Do317 Lounge %

8/21 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas %

8/22 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry %

8/23 - Madison, WI @ The Frequency %

8/24 - St Louis, MO @ Off Broadway %

8/26 - Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room %

8/27 - Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz %

8/29 - Bryan, TX @ Grand Stafford Theatre #

·     * with Roadkill Ghost Choir

·    % with Grandchildren

·     # with Buxon

Bastille at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco – A Concert Review

Bastille at the Rickshaw Stop

     Last night, Bastille performed at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco. Our three conclusions are:

• The members of Bastille are genuinely good guys and are appreciative of fan support.
• Even when the lead singer (Dan Smith) is at less than 100%, Bastille is better in concert than in their recordings, which is not an easy task.
• Bastille is well positioned to explode in the United States, similar to their explosion in Europe.

     Almost sheepishly, Dan Smith explained that he “blew out” his voice during a festival in Spain (Recinto de Festivales) the previous Saturday. He apologized at different times, and once mentioned that he could pay for everyone’s tickets. There were no takers. Smith continued on, and not without risk, since Bastille is scheduled to make its first U.S. late night appearance on Wednesday (July 24 on Conan). The other members of the band helped as much as possible and asked the crowd to do the same.

     We tested our camera (Canon SX280) for the first time. In low lighting, the compact camera performed well for its primary task – taking pictures. But as we were told, when we went to video recording, the microphone struggled. Maybe it was just sympathy pains for Dan Smith, since it was only a problem during the power vocals. The recording of "Pompeii" is embedded below.

     We look forward to seeing Bastille a second time at the Great American Music Hall on September 19.

Little Daylight

     The opening band was Little Daylight. Their performance was solid. Going in, we were familiar with “Overdose” and “Name in Lights.” In the final three songs of their setlist, the two familiar songs sandwiched one that we didn’t recognize, but it was our favorite of the performance. Mistakenly, we didn't make a mental note that would allow us to identify it today.

     "Overdose" by Little Daylight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littledaylightsounds

Website: http://littledaylightsounds.tumblr.com/

“House on Fire” – The Three Songs

     In January, we noted that two bands from London had released songs with the same name – “Pompeii.”  Tonight, we will see Bastille perform their “Pompeii” and we are hoping to have a similar opportunity to see Bear’s Den.

     A new oddity is the release of three songs with the title “House on Fire,” with all three releases occurring since May.  Interestingly (well we find it interesting anyway), we can tie two of the three songs to blog entries of the last week. First, the song from the Liverpool band Outfit was presented in the July 18 discussion of rock guitar (CLICK HERE). Second, the song by Black Taxi includes the trumpet, so it could fit into yesterday’s post about trumpet-containing songs (CLICK HERE).

     “House on Fire” by Outfit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outfitoutfitoutfit

Black Taxi

     Black Taxi is a band from New York. The Facebook page of Black Taxi indicates that they will be in LA three times during September. Because there are large gaps between the three dates, we are guessing that they will make the relatively short trip to San Francisco. But it is a guess.

     “House on Fire” by Black Taxi 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLACKTAXIMUSIC

Website: http://www.blacktaxi.com/

Fitz and the Tantrums

     The third song is from the May album release from Fitz and the Tantrums, who will be at the Outside Lands Festival this year.

A bonus track – one that almost fits the naming qualification.

     "Set This House on Fire" by Nick Valle (Folly & the Hunter)

An Increased Use of Trumpet in Indie Music (Inspired by Alan L.)

A little more than a month ago, we went to a festival with a friend who is a trumpet player with serious skills. Because of his background, Alan L. enjoys opportunities to see Indie bands who feature the instrument. After watching the high energy performance of Capital Cities with their charismatic trumpet player (Spencer Ludwig), Alan decided that it was time to buy some songs of Capital Cities.

     We didn’t discourage Alan from moving forward with his decision. But we did talk about additional opportunities. Within the last twelve months, the use of the trumpet in the Indie pool of songs has noticeably increased. Technically, some of the songs have been in the Indie water for more than a year, but are only now surfacing. For example, the song “Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities was originally released in 2011, but it didn’t explode until 2013. Another good example is the song “Hello World” by the Capitals, which hit our play lists in 2011, but wasn’t on an album until June, 2013.

     So, we started thinking about a CD of our favored trumpet-containing songs. Typically, we can get nineteen songs on a CD. The rule is that the nineteen tracks must either have gained attention since the start of 2012 (preferably 2013) or have an emotional connection for us (such as the song “Raindrops” by Grand Hallway, which is dedicated to one of our favorite couples – Michelle and Mark D).

     Coincidentally, this list was inspired by a friend and his trumpet background, and it includes three trumpet-containing songs with the term “friend” in the title. The order of songs in the list is primarily based upon our order of preference, starting with our favorite. But this post entry is a result of the performance by Capital Cities, so we grouped their two entries together.

Driver Friendly

     Wake up world, Driver Friendly exists!!! (And Driver Friendly, if you increase the fidelity of your offerings, more of the music world will notice you.) 

     There are so many features of “Harsh, Harsh, Harsh” that should be appreciated. It's not easy to shout while singing in a manner that can be enjoyed. The energy surges keep the interest of the listener throughout the song. But it's the interplay of both the trumpet and trombone with other instruments (voices and otherwise) that sets this song apart from the many other songs we play on a regular basis. “Harsh, Harsh, Harsh” is an anthem. It doesn’t deserve the respect that a National Anthem receives, but it deserves more respect than it gets.

     #1 - "Harsh, Harsh, Harsh" by Driver Friendly

     #2 - But wait, there is another blogworthy song from these Austin-based guys. Driver Friendly also offers “Messidona,” which would be first on this list if not for “Harsh Harsh Harsh.” The band is allowing free downloads of "Messidona" at its SoundCloud - just CLICK HERE. But we enjoy the Tom Hanks-approved video, so it's embedded below:

Driver Friendly Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/driverfriendly

The third and fourth songs on the list are from Capital Cities.

     #3 - "Safe and Sound"

        #4 - "Kangaroo Court" this one is available for free download


     We need to explore the music of Dark Mean from Hamilton in Canada. We love “Happy Banjo,” but we haven’t taken the time to see what other songs we might enjoy.

      #5 - "Happy Banjo" - yet another song that is a free, legal and recommended download

     #6 - Next on the list is a song we have mentioned in a past blog entry – Quiet Company, who impressed us in Austin last year.   "You, Me & the Boatman" is also free, legal and recommended.

     Now the three songs with "friend"-related titles. The first is older than most on this list, but the age is offset by the second, which was released in the last month.
     #7 - "Friends and Family" by River City Extension. 


     #8 - "Friends" by Eliza and the Bear


     #9 - "Good Friend" by Cloud Cult


    #10 - Finishing the top ten is a song that seems to have been abandoned by the band. The Night is a band from Sydney, Australia. A trip to their website or their Facebook page identifies other music by the group, but not "Put Me Out," which is their best. The only place we can find it for public listening is http://www.triplejunearthed.com/thenight1

    #11 - "Dreams of Cannibalism" by Typhoon


    #12 - "Raindrops" by Grand Hallway


    #13 - "The Match" by The Eastern Sea


    #14 - "Hello World" by Capitals


    #15 - "We Are the Tide" by Blind Pilot


    #16 - "Small Talk" by Of Monsters and Men - this would be much higher on the list if it hadn't been played so often on radio stations


    #17 - "Sonsick" by San Fermin


    #18 - "Tucumcari, NM" by Billy Wallace and the Virginia Blues


    #19 - "The Plan" by Playground Noise - the trumpet is only at the end of the song, or it would be higher on the list

“Shake the Dust” by Evil Eyes – A Song Review

     After admitting to be under the control of the "obsessive gene," there is very little credibility to the argument that you have patience. The San Francisco band Evil Eyes releases its debut album “Borderlines” next week (July 24 – Wait, a Wednesday album release in the U.S.?). Obviously, patient contributors to a blog would wait until the release, and then review the album. But that approach is reserved for bloggers having will power, not us.

     We ran into the single “Shake the Dust” earlier this week and have listened to it multiple times per day since the discovery. For its initial twenty eight seconds, the song is subdued and the temptation is to reach for the volume control. However, at the 0:29 mark, the guitar demands attention and the drums help set a very different energy level. Interestingly, the vocals resist, since the voices remain controlled. The subdued-then-energetic sequence repeats, starting at the 2:00 mark, but the vocals are more cooperative this time. “Shake the Dust” ends with the sequence in reverse. As my blog partner says, “Good stuff!”

     The size of the band varies with your source of information. On their SoundCloud site, the statement is that Evil Eyes is a two-piece band, but the group’s Bandcamp and Facebook sites list the members as Greg Mabry (vocals, guitar), Joe Frabotta (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion), Aleks Bars (bass), and Brian Damert (drums).  The album cover of “Borderlines” only shows Mabry and Frabotta, who were college friends in Tennessee before moving to San Francisco. Our position is that the sound is too “big” for two musicians - so four it is.

     "Shake the Dust" by Evil Eyes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onlyevileyes

Website: http://onlyevileyes.com/

The complete list of songs on the “Borderlines” album is:

1.  “Shake The Dust”

2.  “In The Summer”

3.  “Roll On”

4.  “Saw Her In The Sun”

5.  “Keep Your Mind On Me”

6.  “Flow”

7.  “Borderlines”

8.  “Evil Eyes”

9.  “Black Smoke”

10. “Don't Wait”

11. “Slow Love”

12. Paper Thin Moon"

“Gen V” by Solomon Grey – A Song Review

    We received an email, inviting comments about the video for “Gen V,” which is a song that will be included in an upcoming release by Solomon Grey. The release is scheduled for August 4, 2013. Because we already had “Gen V” on our list of interesting songs to consider, we’re jumping on the invitation.

     Solomon Grey is Tom Kingston of the U.K. (London) and Joe Wilson of Australia. According to the press release that was attached to the email invitation, “[T]he duo spent over three years crafting a sound that spans across two hemispheres: writing in both the Irish coastal wilderness and barren Australian plains, enduring relationship strains and long travels, desolation and the beauty found within it.”

     Melancholy falsetto is not an approach that we would have thought could draw our attention, let alone hold that attention for long. But “Gen V” adds sophistication to the approach, and there are minor touches that evidence the care that Kingston and Wilson (and any production team?) exercised in recording the song. Just as an example, we appreciate the two seconds of added echo occurring at the 0:36 mark. And we are always susceptible to energy build-ups, such as the one leading to the 3:43 mark in the song.

     Regarding the video, we like the kaleidoscope affects and the metropolitan scenery. Quoting the press release again, “It’s no coincidence that the video for ‘Gen V’ has a glassy, metropolitan feel – the Tokyo night skyline evokes comparisons to the director Sofia Coppola and Lost in Translation, the track itself almost a soundtrack to the indifferent city.”

     "Gen V" by Solomon Grey

Facebook:  http://facebook.com/solomongreymusic

Website:  http://solomongrey.net

     "Firechild" received attention when it surfaced about eight months ago.