Sunday, September 10th, 2006
Sunday Cleaning – Volume 48
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Richard Buckner / Meadow (Merge)
Without having actually heard him, I’d always thought Richard Buckner was “just” a folk guy – not that there’s any shame in that – but that presumption was proved very, very wrong from the first notes of his new album Meadow. “Town” is a superb chunk of roots rock powered by Buckner’s world-worn, 50 pack-a-day rasp wrapped around a superb vocal melody and ex-GBV axeman Doug Gillard’s fretwork. And as high as the opener sets the bar, the rest of the record – with a few more rockers and some folky numbers – measures up excellently. I don’t know if this is a typical Buckner record or an exceptional one, but I may have to do some back catalog digging. I had been looking forward to his September 16 show at the Horseshoe mainly for co-headliner Eric Bachmann, but now that I see that Buckner will more than hold his own, I’m even more excited. The album is out September 12. |
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Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin / Broom (Polyvinyl)
Their website proudly declares themselves as the “third best band on Weller Street in Springfield, Missouri” and that little bit of self-effacement does a pretty good job of setting the tone for the debut from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Well, that and the band name. They craft ultra-compact, mid-fi, 60s-were-90s indie pop replete with hand claps, jangly guitars and sweet melodies but with enough grit and scrappiness to not be overly saccharine or twee. If the fourth-best band on Weller Street wanted to move up in the rankings, Boris Yeltsin would be ready to throw down. Clocking in at 10 songs and not even half an hour, there’s not a wasted note – long enough to satisfy, brief enough to leave you wanting more. They’ll be in town with Birdmonster and Catfish Haven at the Horsehoe Monday night while the record, originally released last year on Catbirdseat Records, is being reissued by Polyvinyl on October 24. MP3: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “Oregon Girl” |
np – Eric Bachmann / To The Races
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9/10/06 12:30 pm
I highly recommend Buckner’s album "The Hill". Aside from the fact that all the songs are annoyingly mixed into just one track, it’s a pretty outstanding achievement overall.
9/10/06 8:11 pm
I have pretty much everything Buckner has done. "Bloomed" is my favorite, and "Devotion + Doubt" ranks high as well. Hell, I liked his previous release on Merge, "Dents and Shells," quite a bit, also. One of my favorite artists. He’s got a great stage presence with that voice.
9/10/06 10:23 pm
Great review, I saw these guys once in minneapolis, great show they’ll be coming back. Can’t wait. You have quite the blog check mine out at http://www.britishrockisalw…
I definetly will be linking your site from mine. I hope you like my site. Great stuff keep it up.