“That Mountain Is A Volcano” kicks off Eureka Birds‘ recent EP soft and psychedelic, but the song increases in volume and momentum by the end, with swirling guitars and a hint of lightly subdued feedback. This is precisely what you want from a psychedelic pop song, and this is where Eureka Birds are their best.

They pick up this dominating presence again on “There Was Light” and “Cactus Man”, splitting each with a quieter, softer song. “Sarah (Sits and Cries)” is the most notable of these, featuring a little more orchestration with a prominent organ and accompaniment from a violin.

Eureka! is a fun EP. Loud, soft, it doesn’t matter – Eureka Birds have done an excellent job piecing together a solid, enjoyable sound. It is laid back yet super upbeat, dreamy but very in-the-present.

The Eureka! EP can be found on Eureka Birds’ bandcamp page.

Download: “That Mountain Is A Volcano” by Eureka Birds

[Digital EP, 2010]

1. This Mountain Is A Volcano
2. Sarah (Sits And Cries)
3. There Was Light
4. Sunset On Film
5. Cactus Man
6. We’ll Get By

Where was a group like Lowell when you really needed them? Well, they were probably exactly where they needed to be – banging around the turn of the century when music was, for the lack of better words, shit. This group had it’s heyday as local favorites in their fare city of Baltimore from 1998 till 2001. They were around when rap metal was all the rage, and there were still towers in the sky. Their post grunge influenced rock n’ roll might not have been promoted by Carson Daily during those confusing times, but even Lowell (cleverly named after the hometown of Jack Kerouac) couldn’t have realized that they were making tunes that would be considered groundbreaking at the turn of the following decade (you know, the one that Y2K was going to prevent from happening anyway).

Lowell’s “debut” full length album The Ten Houses and the Falling Leaves is an full blown collection of all or nothing alternative epic tracks that make Bic lighters hit the air. It’s just too bad we’re only hearing 9 years too late. Tracks like “Somewhere California” or “Sunset Moonrise” would have been blasted across the social networking scene, had it even existed when these tracks were fresh. But, it’s always best to be thankful for what we have, and not what we lost. And thankfully, band member and Beechfields Label runner Michael Nester has decided to bring us an updated version of one of the finest records that never happened.

Much like many of our favorite bands out there, the tides of time come and swoop them away, but the music has the chance to remain. But, it’s still strange to think that an album like The Ten Houses and the Falling Leaves could have easily been left to collection dust in Nester’s closet. Sort makes you wonder how much wonderful music is hidden underneath the sands of time to never be revealed. So much great stuff that will never been known. But, again, let’s be thankful for the reincarnation of what beautiful sounds we can find. Let’s be thankful for Lowell.

Download: “Somewhere California” by Lowell

Download: “Sunset/Moonrise: 1 Pennroad Ave.” by Lowell

The Beechfields Record Label [CD, 2010]

1. Somewhere California
2. Over The Ancient Winter
3. The Days Run Away Like Wild Horse
4. Sunset Moonrise:: 1 Pennroad Ave.
5. Manchester By The Sea
6. Llama
7. The Big Chill:: My Postmodernist Dilemma
8. 20
9. Yoko Ono Love Song
10. Bloomington:: semiotics
11. Bardamu
12. Maladroit

A quick read-up on Ned Oldham will tell you he creates mystical Americana folk songs. A listen to his music will support those words. You could even consider questioning his namesake — could it be the less backwoods kin of Will Oldham? Indeed he is. Here he steps out from behind his more well known brother, and away from The Anomoanon of which he fronts, for a wondrous three-song single on Gold Robot Records. On a translucent blue vinyl disc housed within among the best album cover art of the year (courtesy Kevin Earl Taylor), his songs are pure folk heaven.

Accompanied by harmonic acoustic melodies, Ned’s words are bold and beautiful. “The One Light” opens softly with guitar before Ned’s voice takes over. By the end, you’ve realized that Americana music has somehow heightened in greatness and acquired a dulcet tone, and you wonder how Oldham did it. It’s so smooth and comfortable — and so seemingly easy — that it all seems natural. And it is. “Black Dick Pierce” and “If Tomorrow Comes Again” both follow suit perfectly.

Let’s Go Out Tonight is stripped down and personal, raw and good-natured, somewhat pure. Yet, in being so it reveals its own lack of innocence. With life, with experience, there’s a trade-off. Innocence is lost, but wisdom is gained; it is that which Oldham spouts out in verse and chorus. There’s knowledge here, and knowledge can often taste oh so much sweeter than innocence. Or, at least, feel and sound better.

Download: “The One Light” by Ned Oldham

Gold Robot Records [7" Single, 2010]

1. The One Light
2. Black Dick Pierce
3. If Tomorrow Comes Again

For those who do not know me personally, and I’m sure there are many of you out there, I [Ron Trembath] have been contributing to FensePost for over a year and a half now. What might be the real surprise is that I am also a member of the United States Air Force. I usually tend to leave the bill paying job apart from my contributions here, but I recently found the two worlds intertwined when I came upon the chance to have a sit down with singer/songwriter Jenny Boyle, in what I must refer to as an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, where I have called home since January of this year. Risking any plight by joining the two worlds for this interview was absolutely worth it considering all the wonderful things Boyle and her band have done to entertain me and my fellow comrades throughout the “undisclosed” world.

Jenny Boyle hails from the northern sections of Virginia, but now calls Baltimore her home (Fells Point to rep specifically!). On the east coast, Jenny lives the life of an OR Nurse by day and a rocking, bar hopping songstress peddling around sweet and harmonic, R&B driven pop music by night. But, for what is now her 8th trip overseas, when she comes across the pond – she is a Star! Jenny, and her band of extremely talented and hand selected jazz/rock musicians. Whether she is playing her heart out in Fells Point, Maryland, or performing for hundreds at a time overseas, her voice echoes with talent and her passion to entertain is without a doubt, inspiring to say the least.

Boyle has been around the globe so many times, Bono would have to bow to her continuous efforts. From military hospitals in Germany, to windblown war fronts most only see through the eyes of a cable news cameraman. When asked about her most memorable stop in the last six years of spontaneous touring, humbly she stated:

[Boyle] “Obviously, having the opportunity to perform in places such as Germany or Spain, which was absolutely beautiful, are wonderful from a tourists point of view. But, the shows in Afghanistan have to be the highlight of [the tours]. They really seemed to enjoy the shows. They don’t have too many options around those parts beyond Xbox and the gym, so they deserved a change of pace.”

One of Jenny’s most personal tracks, “World of Dust” is a harrowing descriptor of what she saw in her time in the midst of the modern day battlefields. But the majority of her original work is more uplifting and pop oriented. Her 2006 debut album, Life in Mosaic, was well received by critics and audiences alike. On Tap magazine could not have been more spot on when they praised Boyle as having, a sultry voice and soulful riffs. The Jenny Boyle Band will be releasing a new album in the in the near future. “The new album is going to be a bit more R&B and rock oriented. A bit less pop than the first record. But, not completely withdrawn though,” Boyle mentions.

As a songwriter, there are certain inspirations that are obvious within her songs. Love is a common theme. The corresponding loss that sometimes follows it is there as well. “It’s easy to write a song with no real meaning or emotion that is appealing. But, it can be extremely challenging to make something entertaining, yet personal. I like that,” Jenny pronounced with an excitement in her eyes one can hope she never loses.

Although her songs are inspiring in themselves, it is her live performances that are by far the most captivating aspect of her life as a musician. Especially during her shows for the troops. Touring as an independent act has had its challenges, but in the end, Jenny will, in the sweetest stereotypical fashion, admit that it is absolutely worth it, and that the troops without a doubt deserve a good time.
[Boyle] “Our goal is to try and bring a bit of American life back to the troops. That’s why we throw in a few covers that are sure to garner mass appeal. I like to play my own songs, but we might throw in a song like “Santeria” from Sublime, to maybe remind the folks of a good time spent on the beach somewhere in their life. We’ve learned that an audience that is primarily made up of service members will love to hear the songs they already know and love.”

Whether playing her own brand of pop, or covering the classics, audiences around the world have been left in awe by the talent that Jenny and her boys have unleashed upon them. Performing as Jenny & The Drivers or simply, The Jenny Boyle Band, our heroine has performed with the likes of Los Lobos and Drowning Pool. As well as teaming up with the always popular group of Cheerleaders from any professional sports team you could name, and a plethora of touring comedians.

If you had asked Jenny Boyle in 2004 if she could have seen herself performing in front of so many troops, or to anyone by 2010, the inevitable response would be no. After a college degree studying voice, and a short stint trying to make it as a musician, Jenny called it quits to help nurse her mother for six months after a terrible car wreck nearly claimed her own, and her family’s life. She called it quits, and shifted her career over to becoming a nurse. But, not before Jenny’s father had the brilliant idea in telling her to apply to the Armed Forces Entertainment to play for the troops. Eventually she would receive the call. And, well, the rest is history.

[Boyle] “It’s important to me that the people I play with are on the same page as me when it comes to these tours. We know it that there is a cause behind what we are doing. I don’t want someone coming along who is only in it for the traveling. It’s about so much more than just seeing the world. It’s about using our music to boost their morale, and provide some sort of hope for the troops.”
According to Jenny, the future will definitely consist of another tour, after she finishes her current tour of course.

[Boyle] “I love it. I want to continue doing it as long as I can, whenever I get that call from the Pentagon. I’m off.”

The inspiration and tremendous good times that Jenny Boyle has brought to tens of thousands of troops throughout the world is something few will ever do, or even have the guts to do, in their lifetime. It is great to see an artist that is as humble and dedicated to service as this lady. As a service member, I am extremely in awe of the passion she has shown in doing something as crazy as jumping on a C130 aircraft to sing a few songs for us. It is definitely an honor.

Be sure to head over to Jenny’s WEBSITE for updates, and how to pick up a copy of Life in Mosaic.

Download: “Move On” by Jenny Boyle

True folk-pop minimalists are of a rare breed these days. Many folks have become perfectly fond of only accepting Nick Drake and a handful of other Drake ripoffs hanging around. My recommendation: let these conformists have a listen to Kadman’s sophomore release These Old Bones. Let thee be regretful and God forgive them for their ignorance when they hear the awesome sounds of this Baltimore-based threesome.

David Manchester (guitar/vocals) and company (Frank Corl on drums, James Bahleda on everything you can imagine) have been noticed throughout the Northeast for their stellar live performances. Their talents prove to be just as effective on record as they are when said talent is dripping from their foreheads onto barroom floors. “Anything” is by far the highlight of These Old Bones. It’s a real shit-kicking tune with some long notes barreled from Manchester’s mouth. But for the die hard enthusiasts, “Bone & Wire” is the song that will set your heart aglow.

Kadman was once a solo project molded directly around David Manchester. Thankfully our man found himself a couple of stellar gentleman to match his talents as a craftsman in the low tempo pop world. These Old Bones is an album you will find yourself listening to no matter what mood you are in. It has the ability to reek havoc amongst the independent world simply by being that damn good. Jealousy is sure to ensue.

Download: “Anything” by Kadman

Download: “Bone & Wire” by Kadman

The Beechfields Record Label [CD, 2010]

1. Portraits
2. Anything
3. Bone & Wire
4. Sunshine
5. Contracts To End
6. Dropped
7. An Army Rises
8. Mountain Song
9. Lullaby
10. Little Darling

Fact: I never really dug Beach House. I often found their blend of minimal drone meets spacey bedroom pop a bit drab. Melodies didn’t seem to be all there, and the vocal parts, too, were dull. My interest waned in the first few songs of both their debut and follow-up, so I’d pull them from the record player. Thus they found an inevitable fixed spot on my dusty shelf. Truth: I don’t think I really gave them the chance they deserved. Teen Dream is proof of that.

This latest album, the Sub Pop debut, will not succumb to the same fate. No, this album opens strong with “Zebra”. By the time Victoria Legrand finished the first verse I was sold on the album and knew all previous beliefs about Beach House were misconceived. “Silver Soul” – just as powerful, and then the third track, of course, is their first single “Norway”. These songs are filled with passion and hint lightly at a psychedelic influence. During the chorus of “Walk In The Park”, deep vocals echo off the walls of keys. “Better Times” boldly declares this year a comeback without actually saying it. “10 Mile Stereo” reaches what I can only imagine as an epic height for the band that is typically at a level 3 on the volume scale. In Teen Dream, Beach House reaches new heights.

For me, I feel like I’m back in high school, just noticing there’s an attractive depth and pleasantly mysterious qualities to that nerdy girl to whom I didn’t give a second glace before. She’s shed her commonplace, outdated glasses for something a bit more style-oriented, donned a somewhat cute outfit, and, perhaps most importantly, noticed me. Translation: now this is something I can get into, and easily at that – these sounds are ones that attract me, and for once I’m paying attention. There’s nothing dull here, no painful lapses in passing judgment; just purity and goodness at its most sincere.

Teen Dream does something else – it communicates beyond the music. You want to move your body, put a sway in your hips. Dull? Not here. Bold? Yes. It has the potency of Mazzy Star at their greatest, yet takes that sound to a whole new level of lucidity. It gives Richard Linklater’s Waking Life a whole new meaning. And it’s with cheeks tinged red that I admit: I may need to revisit those first two and see what I’m really missing.

Teen Dream hits stores everywhere on January 26, 2010. Pre-orders are available now from Sub Pop; they come with extra exclusive goodies from the band too!

Beach House: Norway [mp3]

Sub Pop Records [CD, 2010]

1. Zebra
2. Silver Soul
3. Norway
4. Walk in the Park
5. Used to Be
6. Lover of Mine
7. Better Times
8. 10 Mile Stereo
9. Real Love
10. Take Care

The term “WTF” was thankfully not accessible when Elvis Costello emerged so many years ago. But, in his beginning stages, it probably would have applied. Thankfully, the artistic revolution happend, and he became a household name. And with this, some brilliant performers were surely to draw influence. One act would be Gary B & The Notions and their gem of an album The New Twist & Shout. Influence, yes. Copycat, definitely not. They simply stir up a 50′s pop style with a new age rock mentality to create barroom classics that will assist you in drowning yourself alongside your pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Gary B has a knack for songwriting as far as lyrics are concerned. He knows what a love song is supposed to be about: love. Simple, but quite a few musicians seems to forget that. He also knows how to bring out the sort of punk spirit of his aforementioned predecessor. But, the most impressive spirit this cool ass cat and his Notions possesses is the power of introduction. They keep the songs short, but never fail to lengthen an intro to get your foot tapping and good-time feelings in gear. “Give Me One Reason” is a perfect example of such ingenuity.

Baltimore native Gary B is a truly unique individual and he has found a brilliant team in The Notions. They bring a splendid demonstration of perfectly acceptable nostalgia with their feelin’ good album The New Twist & Shout. And as simple as the title of the album is, it might just be absolutely perfect for their style. Much like the artists by which they are influenced, this band is more than capable of standing the multiple choice test of time.

Gary B & The Notions: Give Me One Reason [mp3]

Gary B & The Notions: Unannounced [mp3]

The Beechfields Records [CD, 2009]

1. We’ll Wait
2. Three Horse Carousel
3. Hall and Oates
4. Unannounced
5. Rhthym of the Weekend
6. Jenny
7. Give Me One Reason
8. Nations 1-2
9. Sally
10. The Exercise Song
11. New York Jet Set Garbage
12. Landscapes & Skylines

Upon first hearing “Beach Town”, the first officially available track off Le Loup‘s sophomore release Family, I noted how it was surprisingly reminiscent of recent Papercuts. I failed to mention that the two artists shared a stage at CMJ 2007, where I saw each lay down a phenomenal set. Well, listening to Family in its entirety, I’m struck by two thoughts.

First: Here’s the Le Loup I remember from The Throne, filled with all the mystery and eclecticism that surrounded that early album. However, the band has most definitely progressed from the tormented darkness so very likely inspired by Dante’s Inferno. A corner has been turned and the dark dementia has been put to slumber; in its place the dawning of hope, joy, elation. Easily it’s a part of songs like “Beach Town”, which ring with positive energy, and “Grow”, which possesses an almost joyous tribal element.

Second: Family is an aptly titled LP. Listening to title track “Family”, one is treated with multi-vocal parts backed by highly melodic instrumental drone and the tribal-like percussion noted earlier. Where The Throne found front-man Sam Simkoff reveling in the torment that is loneliness, he seems to have found solace in surrounding himself with those who mean so much to him. This sound continues in “Forgive Me” and “Sherpa”.

In true Le Loup form, Simkoff and company treat Family like a concept album, rounding things out in “Neahkahnie” with a recap fit for a reprise version of “Beach Town”. It’s strange that one wouldn’t immediately categorize Le Loup’s sound with experimental contemporaries like Animal Collective and Deerhunter. Family proves that not connecting them is an absolute folly. If anything, closing track “A Celebration” will tell you that.

Le Loup: Beach Town [mp3]

Hardly Art [CD, 2009]

1. Saddle Mountain
2. Beach Town
3. Grow
4. Morning Song
5. Family
6. Forgive Me
7. Go East
8. Golden Bell
9. Sherpa
10. Neahkahnie
11. A Celebration