Greenland is Melting : Our Hearts are Gold, Our Grass is Blue : Bluegrass/Punk : Released 9/17/09
With the release of Our Hearts are Gold, Our Grass is Blue, Greenland is Melting have shown that they can take minor events and make a major impression.
The album is based on the band's experiences on the road, and for GIM, those experiences are best summed up with the use of a guitar, a bass, a banjo and an improvised bass drum. Their sound is stripped down to the bluegrass basics. Lyrics on the album range from straightforward thoughts ("I've still got some dues to pay and bills keep coming everyday") to imagery that calls for some interpretation ("Then all of a sudden I saw lights descending from above/And a warmth engulfed me like a lick of breath off a thousand suns.")
In the same vein as The Avett Brothers, GIM fuses together bluegrass and punk, allowing the band's sound to transcend beyond what many college bands rely on all to often: mediocrity.
Our Hearts are Gold, Our Grass is Blue shows that the band is maturing into a powerful punk/bluegrass trio - something you don't hear very often.
Greenland is Melting will be playing at The Atlantic on Friday at 9 p.m.
Paxico via Mexico : Under the Mountain EP : Indie/Folk : Released 5/15/10
When you press play on Paxico via Mexico's newest EP, Under the Mountain, there is an immediate sense of satisfaction.
Much like on their first EP, Ground From the Rind, Paxico weave together honest, thought-provoking lyrics and eerie melodies to create a gorgeous set of five songs. Several instruments are utilized to create such strong melodies - banjo, acoustic guitar, and piano, all of which add their own tone to the song.
Unlike their first release, you can hear an improvement in the way the music was recorded. Under the Mountain sounds much more professional, much more polished.
As a Paxico fan, the only criticism is that there isn't enough Under the Mountain to enjoy. They have mastered the EP - now it's time for a full-length.
Paxico via Mexico will be playing at The Atlantic on Friday at 9:30 p.m.
Amanda & Scott Anderson : Another Day : Bluegrass : Released 8/22/09
Father and daughter is not a very common band lineup, but for Amanda & Scott Anderson, it is an effective one.
Scott is a seasoned bluegrass player who has been recording and performing for much of his life. Amanda, though not as experienced as her father, is rapidly becoming a legitimate artist in her own right. On Another Day, both Amanda and Scott show that the longevity of experience doesn't necessarily factor into musical ability.
Though the album is composed almost entirely of cover songs, the Andersons' mark is all over it. Amanda's vocals are crisp and clear, and they show the influence artists like Alison Krauss and Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek) have on the band. Amanda sounds much older than she actually is. Scott is the perfect support. His harmonies are flawless, and his abilities as a banjo player are astounding.
There is an inherent charm that comes from listening to a father and daughter collaborate on an album. However, their relation to each other is a logistical aspect of the band. Amanda & Scott Anderson is a bluegrass force that you will be hearing about for a long time.
Amanda & Scott Anderson will be playing at Satchel's on Thursday at 6 p.m.
D.P. : Bar Tab Blues : Hip Hop : Released 10/23/09
Bar Tab Blues, the newest release from Gainesville artist D.P. (Danny Perez) is a step beyond hip-hop.
The album has the sides of hip-hop that we all love - the beat, the hook, the words. But Bar Tab Blues takes those elements and overlays them with choruses that could easily fit into any pop or indie rock song, something that can be attributed to Perez's training in classical piano.
The first two songs of the album show D.P.'s range. "I Ain't Crazy" is a piano-heavy rap ballad that lays the foundation for succeeding tracks. This leads right into "Simple Dude" which is more in line with what you would expect to hear on a hip-hop record - it's catchy and club-friendly.
Dark, smoky bars are things that Gainesvillians know and love, but for D.P., they are more than that - they are inspiration for a great album.
D.P. will be performing at Common Grounds on Thursday at 9 p.m.
Band of Horses : Infinite Arms : Indie/Rock : Released 5/18/10
Since Band of Horses came out with their first two releases - Everything All the time and Cease to Begin - they have become an indie/rock staple.
The third Horses release, Infinite Arms, is a gallery of the band's signature sound. Ben Bridwell's vocals are as guttural as ever, and all 12 tracks use more landscape than seemingly possible. Though there are these consistencies in Horses' records, Infinite Arms seems to be a step in a bigger direction, which goes hand in hand with the fact that it is the first of their releases to be put on Columbia, rather than Sub Pop Records.
The band uses more grandiose arrangements than on previous records, an aspect that die-hard Horses fans may or may not be privy to. Many songs are built on string and synth arrangements in the background. Along with the arrangements, the lyrics in Infinite Arms may create a clear division between fans and skeptics. With lyrics like, "I was thinking it over at the snack machine/I thought about you in a candy bar" may come off as either quirky and cute, or base and annoying.
Either way, Infinite Arms is a solid addition to the band's already beloved discography and an encouraging release for the remainder of 2010.
