Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Feb 25 Vol. II

RICHARD DAWSON – End Of The Middle
Often classified as a folk artist, Dawson is really in a league of his own sounding like a cross between Captain Beefheart and Tortoise and with an uncanny bard’s ability to tell stories that feel personal, universal, mundane, and extraterrestrial all at the same time. (8)

THE DELINES – Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom
The low-key Muscle Shoals country soul sound and Amy Boone’s gorgeous voice are ideal for late-night listening, but it’s Willy Vlautin’s lyrics that are the real revelation – not only a good musician but an acclaimed author in the Raymond Carver vein, he puts his skills to good use here with stories about the down and out. (8)

DREAM THEATER – Parasomnia
Portnoy’s return to the line-up coincides with a strong album that will thrill prog metal fans, but whether this sound can still be described as “progressive” after 35 years of it is debatable. (8)

CHRIS ECKMAN – The Land We Knew The Best
His former band The Walkabouts were making Americana popular (especially in Europe) before the term even existed in this context, and Eckman still excels at it now that he’s actually living in Europe. (8)

SETH LAKEMAN – The Granite Way
One of the best contemporary English folk artists, and probably the most rock ‘n’ roll one (no surprise that he’s served on Robert Plant’s and Van Morrison’s backing bands) on one of his strongest solo sets, inspired by the stories and myths of his native Devon. (8)

JAMES BRANDON LEWIS – Apple Cores
One of the great contemporary jazz sax skronkers in top form. The rhythm section kills it too. (8)

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND – Preservation Brass: For Fat Man
New Orleans traditionalists/revivalists dedicate a joyous album to their recently deceased drummer. (8)

NADIA REID – Enter New Brightness
Folk-pop that somehow reminds me of a hybrid between Laura Marling and Chantal Kreviazuk even though it shouldn’t. Her voice is soothing to the soul. (8)

SQUID – Cowards
With Black Midi breaking up and Black Country New Road in the process of transitioning, Squid are left alone to fly to flag for British talk-singing post-punk. But they also sound reluctant to do that, venturing more and more into art rock. (7)

SPIDERS – Sharp Objects
Nordic rockers return and this time they pump up their Detroit/Australia-style garage punk rock with some late-70’s NYC vibes – I can hear traces of Blondie, The Ramones, even Richard Hell/Stiv Bators/Johnny Thunders in here. (8)

SHARON VAN ETTEN & THE ATTACHMENT THEORY – Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
People will say that Van Etten has gone electronica but, really, this is post-punk and sounds more like Joy Division/Siouxsie than anything else. (8)