Remembering Philadelphia Band Huffamoose
Sometimes a disc comes along and just hits you in the right place at the right time. In 1997, We’ve Been Had Again by the Philadelphia rock group Huffamoose, was such a disc. Having heard the gorgeous ballad “James,” on AAA radio, and a subsequent acoustic live session a few days after, the urge to pick up We’ve Been Had Again was almost overwhelming.
Vocalist Craig Elkins has an interesting vocal timbre and that originality is what makes We’ve Been Had Again so dynamic and indelible. The group made a splash with lead single and album opener “Wait,” a gorgeous alt-rock cut that rivaled anything released that year. But We’ve Been Had Again was far more than just “James,” and “Wait.”
The swirling and hypnotic “Enigmatic,” picked up on the rock vibe of “Wait,” but went a little deeper and proved that Huffamoose were certainly onto something quite memorable. The dizzying grunge-inspired title track, the hyper-silly and shuffling country-esque “Like a Weed,” and the crunchy “Such a Good Look,” were all further proof that this Philadelphia quartet was truly on the precipice of something special. While songs like “Shattered,” “Speeding Bullet,” and “Snapshot Family,” were also engaging and worth repeated listens, they don’t hold a candle to the delicate valentine “Buy You a Ring,” which later was placed in a jewelry commercial.
The success of We’ve Been Had Again vaulted the band to a spot on the 1998 HORDE Tour, but four years later, the group called it quits. Thankfully, a documentary was released about the group’s attempts at stardom and has been cited by Cameron Crowe as being one of the best rock documentaries out there. In the end, while Huffamoose’s ascent to the limelight never materialized, We’ve Been Had Again still ranks as one of this writer’s most favorite releases of that year, and “James,” remains one of the most gorgeous songs this writer’s ears have ever heard. And it is for that reason that some 15 years after its release, We’ve Been Had Again is still getting some spins.
Jacksonville, FL’s Sunbears Are Out to Impress
“Instead of going to heaven, they went to Jacksonville.” - Lyle Lovett
Jacksonville, FL is the last place one would expect to find a first-rate psychedelic pop band. But sure enough, the duo known as Sunbears! are out to buck the stereotype of the North Florida city. On their full-length debut album Love is Everywhere, the band churns out a top-notch, fully absorbing master work that towers above its contemporaries. Whether it’s the buoyant pop gem “Give Love a Try,” or the delicate and tender, “Together Forever,” there’s something potent and fully absorbing about every passing second. Songs like the swirly and ambient “Psychic Numbing is Evil,” and the symphonic and towering “Strung Out! On My Own!,” are veritable proof that Sunbears are indeed something truly special. Much like “Strung Out! On My Own!” “It’s Hard! Be Content Where You Are,” is another grand-scale, arena ready triumph that suggests the Jacksonville duo just might be the torchbearers for psychedelic pop in 2012 and beyond. Fans of Portugal the Man, Dr. Dog and The Beatles will certainly find something to like with Love is Everywhere.
2012’s Best Song (So Far): Delta Rae’s “Bottom of the River”
I don’t know much about anything, but I like to think I know when I hear good music. Durham, NC”s Delta Rae has arguably one 2012’s best songs and the band is most assuredly destined for big things. I am going out on a limb and predicting that the band gets nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy at some point in the immediate future. The band was recently signed by Seymour Stein, who helped guide the careers of Talking Heads, The Pretenders, Madonna and the Smiths. Here is a link to the band’s single “Bottom of the River.”
Score One For the Little Guy
Chandler, AZ’s Robby Fronzo is a computer technician who moonlights as a musician. Using the moniker Pools, Fronzo has released three albums and two EPs to date. On a flyer, he sent RMP a collection of songs from each of these releases, and while not everyone is a masterpiece, there are ate least a few that show signs of serious promise. Though the lyrics are horribly crude, “Are you DTF?,” is actually quite catchy and could easily land itself on college radio. Same goes for the earnest and amiable “Ricki Don’t Lose That Charm.” Fronzo’s strengths are definitely in his lyrics and the nostalgia-laden “MTV,” is veritable proof of that. The best of the lot though may be 2010’s “Wrong Direction,” a heart on the sleeve confessional that finds him defeated, bewildered and aimless. And it is in those three minutes that Pools makes all the sense in the world. At the heart of it, Fronzo is an every man, just as confused and befuddled as the rest of us. While he still has a lot of work to do before making a dent in the Arizona indie rock scene, there’s reason enough to think that given the right amount of time, it just might happen. To listen to Pools, head here.
Three Cheers for Nell Robinson
There are few things more inspiring than following your dreams. In the case of California musician Nell Robinson, her dreams started at age 45. After 30 years of singing in the car to herself, the Alabama-raised singer-songwriter finally stepped onto the stage and now, five years removed from that watershed moment, she has released On the Brooklyn Road, an engaging and homespun collection of 12 bluegrass and country gems. Read more…
Oregon Band Priory is One to Watch
With all this talk about the year’s best albums, it is time to focus on one album few if any people are talking about, but one that should most certainly be included in the honorable mention discussion. Said disc is the self-titled debut album from Portland, OR indie folk quartet Priory. Read more…
The Top 30 Albums of the Year
1. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
2. My Morning Jacket – Circuital
3. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
4. Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials
5. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
6. Other Lives – Tamer Animals
7. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
8. The Antlers – Burst Apart
9. Portugal the Man – In the Mountain in the Cloud
10. Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones
11. Radiohead – King of Limbs
12. Yuck – Yuck
13. Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
14. Eisley – The Valley
15. The Drums – Portamento
16. Danger Mouse and Danielle Luppi – Rome
17. Noah and the Whale – Last Night on Earth
18. Okkervil River – I Am Very Far
19. Pepper Rabbit – Red Velvet Snow Ball
20. Scattered Trees – Sympathy
21. City and Colour – Little Hell
22. Sims – Bad Time Zoo
23. Smith Westerns – Dye it Blonde
24. Starfucker – Reptilians
25. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?
26. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l
27. Wilco – The Whole Love
28. Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know
29. The Middle East – I Want That You Are Always Happy
30. Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
The Top 30 Movies of the Year
Below is my collection of the best 30 movies I’ve seen this year. Now please take into account a good chunk of some of the year’s most talked about films are not on this list. Unfortunately I have yet to see War Horse, The Artist, The Grey Lady, My Week With Marilyn, Warrior and others, but for new here’s the list.
1. Tree of Life
2. The Descendants
3. Margin Call
4. Hugo
5. Melancholia
6. Contagion
7. Senna
8. The Debt
9. J. Edgar
10. Bill Cunningham New York
11. Young Adult
12. Project Nim
13, Higher Ground
14. Klitschko
15. The Future
16. Midnight in Paris
17. Tabloid
18. Le Havre
19. Dragonslayer
20. Cedar Rapids
21. 50/50
22. The Company Men
23. Queen of the Sun
24. One Lucky Elephant
25. Queen to Play
26. Little Sparrows
27. Win Win
28. Sarah’s Key
29. Ceremony
30. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Texas Band Speak is One To Watch
It’s no secret that the Austin, TX music scene is ripe with talent, and the latest example of that is the electro-pop outfit Speak. On their 10-length effort Believe in Everything (Modern Art Records) the group tackles guitar-laden rock (”Wars,” and “Firecracker,”) as well as synth-infected dance gems (”Carrie,” “I’d Rather Lie”) and the falsetto-laden “Stand By Us.” Vocalist Troupe Grammage revisits his youth on the hip-shaking “81,” and gets downright serious on the ruminative “A Little Way,” and the cerebral album closer “Too Afraid.” All in all, it’s an inspiring and heady listen.
Remedy Drive Keeps Jangle Pop Alive
Why has jangly guitar pop become so outdated? In the late 90s bands like Dishwalla, Tonic, Toad the Wet Sprocket and GIn Blossoms made a killing from earnest, simple jangly guitar pop. But these days, the genre is nearly as extinct as the cassette tape. But thankfully, there are a few purveyors of the genre still working hard at their craft.
One such example is the Nashville, TN-based Christian band Remedy Drive and their latest EP Light Makes a Way is a compelling listen. Unlike most Christian outfits, the band steers clear of worship and praise, and drives at uplifting and ebullient tunes. Album opener “Light Makes a Way” Second track “Hold On,” offers more of the same, while “Don’t Wait Too Long,” tries to take a stab at radio charts but falters. In truth, “Don’t Wait Too Long,” is the EP’s only real disappointment on the EP. Fourth song “Follow Me” is a lullaby for vocalist David Zach’s son and proof that the band is equally adept at ballads as rockers. The EP closes out with “Disappear,” a combination of “Light Makes a Way,” and “Don’t Wait Too Long,” that closes out the disc nicely.
In the end, this EP is a neat little listen and a strong reminder of why once upon a time this kind of music was dominating airwaves.
