Here’s a new batch of new music reviews including releases from Avett Brothers, Naked and Famous, and Toya and the Humans. These albums touch on alt-country, blues and soul, synth-pop and rock with a quirky edge. Hopefully there’s something for everyone with these new albums and you’ll find something you like.
Avett Brothers: “The Third Gleam”
The core duo of brothers Seth and Scott Avett (along with bassist Bob Crawford) go back to their roots on this eight-song release — the third in a series of EPs dating back to 2006 — playing acoustic without drums. This is how the Avett Brothers started out before expanding their sound on albums like “I And Love And You” and “The Carpenter” to incorporate a rhythm section and a variety of other instruments, while retaining their rootsy country-folk based sound.
It’s debatable whether some of the songs on “The Third Gleam” might have benefitted from a bit more of a full sound. But “The Third Gleam” proves the Avett Brothers can still get their music across effectively — and affectingly — in this spare setting. That’s because they’ve once again written sturdy vocal melodies and thoughtful and probing lyrics. For instance, the song “I Should Have Spent The Day With My Family” explores the impact a real-life shooting of a child had on a parent that day and how to move forward amidst the evil of the world. “Untitled #4” gets to the core of what makes a person happy, while “Prison To Heaven” finds a convict musing about his mortality and his fate in the next life. Clearly, the Avett Brothers don’t traffic in the typical country music topics or cliches on “The Third Gleam.” And they do it all with skillful wordplay and depth.
The Naked and Famous: “Recover”
The Naked and Famous may be one of the architects of today’s modern synthetic sounding pop sound. But what makes the songs work continues to be as old fashioned as it gets. The major selling point of the songs on “Recover,” the fourth album from the group (now down to a duo), are the vocal melodies and relatable lyrics (several songs are about mortality and loss). Most of the songs are decidedly in the pop vein, as synthetic tones and beats percolate underneath and support Alisa Xayalith’s vocals. It’s only when the vocal melodies are a bit lacking that the album falters. Fortunately, that happens only on occasion, otherwise, “Recover” — like other Naked and Famous albums — offers a solid group of nicely developed, radio-friendly modern pop songs.
Toya and the Humans: “We Are the Humans”
Quirky in a way like Lydia Lunch or Fiona Apple, Toya and the Humans introduced themselves in 2009 with this genre-bending, idiosyncratic album that gets its re-release this year. The unconventional sound makes sense considering the participants include vocalist Toya Willcox (wife of Robert Fripp of King Crimson fame), Bill Rieflin (the late drummer for Ministry and R.E.M., among others) and bassist Chris Wong. In general, the songs on “We Are the Humans” have a jagged quality with minimal, but big-sounding instrumental backing. It’s all pretty stark and bold, and most of the time, the instrumental hooks are striking, while the spartan sound allows the frequently provocative lyrics to take center stage. With the passing of Rieflin from cancer earlier this year, this will likely be the last musical statement from Toya and the Humans — at least in this form. But “We Are Humans” makes one hope the group will re-emerge at some point, even if it’s with a different lineup.
Sammy Brue: “Crash Test Kid”
There’s a bit of recklessness and a rough-around-the-edges feel to “Crash Test Kid.” Considering Brue is only 19 and this is just his second album, that spirit not only seems appropriate, it often works in the favor of Brue’s songs, which generally lean toward alt-country and rootsy pop on “Crash Test Kid.” Take the case of the shuffling country-tinged “Die Before You Live,” where a rough veneer gives the song a bit of raw energy that suits the song. The same is true of “Teenage Mayhem,” which has a punky edge that makes the song feel a bit unhinged — in a good way. What shines through is Brue’s budding songwriting talent, which only figures to only grow sharper over time. And it will be interesting to see if Brue’s music will lose some of the punky, slightly ragged personality as he goes further into his career. For now, it’s a big part of the charm of “Crash Test Kid.”
Shake: “Grasping The Roots”
This band may be from Barcelona, but its musical heart is in Memphis, Tennessee. Led by singer Martillo Fontana, Shake kicks out raw, rocking tunes that are rooted in Memphis soul, bathed in horns and filled with hooks and energy. Fontana is a firebrand who at times evokes the gravel-voiced passion of Janis Joplin. At times her delivery goes over the top. That’s easy to overlook because songs like “She’s Dynamite,” the funky “Getting Stronger” and the robust ballad “I Can’t Wait” are tightly played and have an undeniable energy and honesty that translates in any language.
Read more new music reviews here.
Music writer Alan Sculley is a contributor to The Morning Call.
