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il sogno del marinaio
- la busta gialla
La busta gialla
is the debut release
from il sogno del
marinaio, an Italian
band consisting of
guitarist Stefano Pilia,
drummer Andrea Belfi,
and America’s Mike Watt
on bass. The very
exotic mixtures of punk
and transient sounds
come together in a way
that is quite
mesmerizing. Mike
Watt’s lyrical sounding
bass style pulls this
trio together for a ride
of its own kind. At
first listen one might
not find the genius that
is within; I find that
in the track “A Tiger’s
Princess” you see the
genius in play. Some
tracks are instrumental
and may challenge one’s
musical boundaries.
“Partisan Song” will
take you on an eclectic
journey in and out of
conscious reality. I
find that the play off
the horns and percussion
fit quite nicely in a
beautiful chaos, if you
will. It appears as if
I pick up a Pat
Metheny-esque vibe to
their style. The album
continues on this
journey and the ride is
one to be taken and
experienced as an
interesting pull from
many genres such as hard
jazz, transient, and
punk. This album really
is something like I have
never heard before. Try
it out and see what you
think. Follow the band
here:
https://www.facebook.com/IlSognoDelMarinaiolaBustaGiallaTour
Review By Clayton
Roberts
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Chapin Sisters—A Date
With the Everly Brothers
With a classic, retro
flavor Abigail and Lily
Chapin are bringing
music from the late
1950s into the 21st
Century. The Chapin
Sisters take us on A
Date With the Everly
Brothers, an album
set for release by Lake
Bottom Records on April
23, 2013. The sisters
have definitely been
studying what the
brothers were famous
for, employing
melodically crafted
two-part harmonies to
convey a dreamy sense of
longing. Filled with
songs like “Crying In
the Rain”, “When Will I
Be Loved”, and “Always
It’s You”, the album
holds a nostalgic
captivation which
breathes a sense of
youth and innocence into
the air. “Sleepless
Nights” and “Down In the
Willow Garden” are two
of my favorite tracks,
but honestly the entire
album from start to
finish was an enjoyable
listen. The Chapin
Sisters with their
lovely voices have put
together a timeless
tribute to the beloved
Everly Brothers, sure to
be appreciated by those
who know the music by
heart, as well as those
who may have never heard
it before.
Review by Rosemary AW
Roberts
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Lisa Germano--No
Elephants
With roots running deep into the late 80’s and 90’s alternative scene,
Lisa Germano channels
her years of emotional
experience to release
her 12th
album, No Elephants.
Staying true to her
easy, soft, and often
hushed singing voice,
Lisa adds colorful,
quirky sound effects all
throughout the twelve
tracks of her latest
attempt.
Piano work is slow and dark in “Last Straws For Sale”, “Diamonds”,
“Back to Earth”, and the
first track,
“Ruminants”. “Dance
of the Bees” has a
‘Yanni meets Trent
Reznor for a few drinks’
attitude. “Haunted”
offers a slightly upbeat
and positive tempo to
trace your thoughts
upon.
Album releases February 12th from Badman Recordings.
Album Review by: Roger
Patteson
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Drivin' n' Cryin'
-- Songs About Cars,
Space and the Ramones
So what is the
saying? "When in
Rome..." Well, I am to
guess that long time
southern rock icons
Drivin' n Cryin' say the
same thing about the
South. Songs About
Cars, Space and the
Ramones is the
second installment to
the four EP's that will
come out over a twelve
month period. This album
has a great twist-mix in
the sounds of Atlanta
Southern Rock twisted
with The Ramones and
mixed with Frank Zappa
on a rock steroid. In
short, this is a great
album by this great
band. Listening to the
first two tracks "Hot
Wheels" and
"Acceleration" made me
feel like I was back in
high school rebelling
with the rest of the
class. The album is
filled with hard, in
your face, guitar
shredding tunes. This
latest album houses six
tracks that all bring
the youth of Drivin' n
Cryin' back to the ears
of us growing
adolescents. So when in
the South...Do like
Drivin' n Cryin' do, and
rock your socks off with
this solid EP Songs
About Cars, Space and
the Ramones, and
check out Drivin' n
Cryin' at
www.drivinncryin.com
Album Review by:
Grateful Dale Taylor
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Smoke Fairies--Blood
Speaks
In the early 2000's
British Band The
Smoke Fairies
started an adventure
that took them from the
streets of New Orleans
to the Folk Fest of
London England. What it
has given us is their
third Album and a great
2012 release. Blood
Speaks brings all of
this young up and coming
band’s influences to the
table on this recording.
The first track "Let Me
Know" gives us a chance
to experience this
band’s melodic side,
then moves into the sick
Southern Slide of "The
Three of Us". The
progression of sound and
the harmonies make this
a diverse album. The
title track "Blood
Speaks" sounds
like a cry mixed with an
anthem to a youth. This
2012 release covers
twelve tracks that make
for some great morning
tunes for a music fan
looking for a new sound.
Take a listen to this
deep sound and decide
for yourself if this is
an album of a different
musical generation. I
say that Smoke
Fairies are a band
that will make big moves
in the next few years
and we all should take
notice. Start by getting
your hands on this
newest album by the band
and see where it may
take you.
Album Review by:
Grateful Dale Taylor
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Big Dipper--
Big Dipper Crashes on
the Platinum Planet
The newest album by
Boston based band Big
Dipper is the band’s
fifth album and an
ALMOST READY RECORDS
release. From the first
track "Lord Scrumptious"
to the last "Guitar
Named Desire" this band
has brought fun and
solid sounds to the
table. The Indie Rock
Group seems to show
maturity and progress
with each album and this
is no different. Listen
to the track "Princess
Warrior" and get a feel
of how these four kids
from the north east can
have such a passion for
the sound. Crashes on
the Platinum Planet
has 12 tracks that have
the ability to make this
Album reviewer stand up
and take notice. The
smooth sound the band
rocks on the track "Hurricane
Bill" gives you a
sense of something past
60's British Rock Bands
may have been looking
for to complete their
sound.
In my opinion there is
nothing better than
listening to something
that you don't know what
to expect. And Big
Dipper has done that
for me and can do the
same for you. Check this
band out on Facebook and
get this new amazingly
fun album by Big Dipper.
Album Review by:
Grateful Dale Taylor
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Bex Marshall: House
of Mercy
The album House of
Mercy continues Bex
Marshall’s strong
influenced Mississippi
Delta
Blues-meets-country
gospel sound, and
although she is a
British musician, she
delivers a genuinely
American-roots style.
Marshall tells her soul
driven tales with the
big sound she brings and
the finesse of a truly
inspired songstress.
The album’s title track
“House of Mercy”
showcases Marshall’s
raspy, blues voice and
excellent execution of
her well-polished sound.
“Gone Fishin” is
another track that
paints a picture of
great blues folklore of
the Mississippi Delta
region. This album is
solid from track to
track. Definitely one
to keep an eye out for!
Written By: Clayton
Roberts
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Carlton Melton:
Photos of Photos
If you are in the mood
for a different flavor
of music, something that
takes on experimental,
psychedelic, improvised
instrumentals, come take
a ride with the new
album Photos of
Photos, by Carlton
Melton. The hypnotic
trance that is created
is pleasant as well as
meditational. It was
recorded in the geodesic
dome in Mendocino
County, which really
adds an extra layer of
the deep space travel
sounds that are
created. With songs
such as “Space Treader”
one can only expect to
travel on the journey
with the San Francisco
based, four piece band,
Carlton Melton.
Definitely one to add to
the repertoire for that
extra step out of
reality for a minute,
and just RELAX!
Written By: Clayton
Roberts
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Bright Little Field--
Treatment Bound: A
Ukulele Tribute To The
Replacements
If
you remember the music
movement of the 1980’s,
you could find yourself
hearing an
alternative/punk
influence coming out on
the edges around all
the synthesized sounds
of the main stream acts
of the time. Paul
Westerberg was combining
classic rock with punk
and defined the unique
sound of The
Replacements. Now here
thirty years later,
Bright Little Field has
found a new twist to
this saga: a high
energy ukulele
reinterpretation of The
Replacements sound with
folk, country, and
bluegrass influences
gives rise to their new
album Treatment
Bound: A Ukulele Tribute
To The Replacements.
Tom Littlefield and
Jonathan Bright are no
strangers to the music
industry, as they were
both in rock bands and
also did some writing
for acts such as Brookes
and Dunn. Any music fan
can find something here
that intrigues their
musical ear. If not
simply to hear those old
tunes such as “I’ll Be
You” and “Androgynous”,
it lets you stop and see
how the music remains
timeless, however
slightly transformed. I
personally enjoyed the
album quite a bit, as a
long-time fan of The
Replacements. You can
find the album and more
information on Bright
Little Field here at
http://brightlittlefield.fourfour.com/
Written By: Clayton
Roberts
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Neil
Young and Crazy Horse:
Psychedelic
Pill
Psychedelic Pill
is a sprawling,
brilliant mess of an
album, one that finds
Neil Young returning to
what he does best with
Crazy Horse. A
gargantuan, lumbering
rhythm section and Neil
spewing distorted, loose
leads all weave together
into a tapestry of
sonics that sound both
trashed-out-garage and
spritually-enlightened-outdoor
amphitheater. This is
jam band music of a
different order. It's
not about technical
virtuosity, but pure
unvarnished grit and
soul. That being said,
Psychedelic Pill
may not be the most
accessible entry point
for Crazy Horse
neophytes. The album is
long and contains only 8
songs. The opening
track, "Driftin Back"
clocks in at 27 minutes,
and it's daunting. "Born
in Ontario" and "Twisted
Road" are a pair of
classic-sounding Young
tracks that might seem
redundant if it was
anyone else, but since
it's Neil, it never gets
old. "Ramada Inn" and
"She's Always Dancing"
are longer workouts, and
contain some great
guitar explorations.
Just when things seem to
be winding down, out
rolls "Walk Like a
Giant", which literally
gave me goosebumbs the
first time I heard it.
Psychedelic Pill
is very off-the-cuff
lyrically, to the point
that verses spill over
and don't rhyme. It
doesn't matter. This is
about the music. This is
the best Crazy Horse
album since Ragged
Glory. The only
thing I might recommend
is shuffling the song
sequence. "Walk Like a
Giant" seems like such
an appropriate opener
for an album.
http://neilyoung.warnerreprise.com/
**** Eric Hehe
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Widespread Panic:
Wood
Back in olden times,
many musicians played
wooden instruments for
entertaining audiences.
And the boys from Athens
Georgia have decided to
do the same. Widespread
Panic opened up the 2012
year with a decision to
bring back a sound that
emphasizes the essential
core of their music.
From the Southeast to
Colorado the band toured
a short run of cities.
But the true highlights
have been put together
by the folks at Browncat
so that we can enjoy
what was a great tour.
The Album starts off
with a solid version of
John Lennon and Yoko
Ono's "Ballad of John &
Yoko" recorded in
Washington D.C. which
was one of six tracks
taken from that Fillmore
show on February 12th.
And Panic is never shy
about bringing guests on
stage at their shows.
And who better than the
Granddaddy of it all,
Col. Bruce Hampton
performing his cry for
help in "Fixin' to Die"
from the Tabernacle in
Atlanta Georgia, which
made five contributions
to this album. Other hot
spots mined for this
incredible new album by
the band were Aspen
Colorado, and for me the
sweet track of the stack
with "Tall Boy" from
Denver Colorado which
carries a strong
southern gospel sound.
It is easy to say that
if you are a fan, then
this album is a great
treat; hearing acoustic
versions of longtime
favorites like “C.
Brown” and “Imitation
Leather Shoes” shines a
new light through old
windows. If you are not
a fan, then this a
diamond in the rough,
and it may give you a
different impression of
Widespread Panic.
Either way, the album is
available for purchase
at
http://www.widespreadpanic.com/news/live-wood-lp-record-store-day-re
So put away the electric
cords and break out the
wood for this one. It is
a top 10 pick for the
holiday season.
Written By Dale Taylor
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Trey Anastasio:
Traveler
So the summer comes to
an end and Phish packs
up their amps and gear
to head home for a break
until the New Year’s run
at Madison Square
Garden. But before that
can take place, Trey
Anastasio has a little
business to tend to.
Trey has just released a
new album on the Rubber
Jungle/ATO Records label
titled Traveler.
This new album is being
supported by a tour
starting in Detroit
Michigan on October
18th. This newest album
by the Trey Anastasio
Band has all eight
members plus a host of
special guests ranging
from Rob Moose of Bon
Iver, Thomas Bartlett
(Rufus Wainwright, David
Byrne) and Rob Schwimmer
to name a few. The album
consists of some new
tracks, like the
lyrically lovely
“Architect”, and some
that Trey and Phish fans
have had the joy of
hearing live. Some of
the track highlights are
the Trey and Tom
Marshall sing along
"Pigtail" and Trey's own
musical efforts with the
instrumental "Land of
Nod" which has a video
that was shot on Trey's
iphone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksV8YKnwW8Y&feature=youtu.be
And if you are a
Jennifer Hartswick fan,
then you will really
enjoy the Gorillaz tune
"Clint Eastwood" which
shows Jennifer's pipes
are not just for the
horn. And along with all
the great tracks on this
one they have included
the bonus track
"Greyhound Rising" to
complete this eleven
track new album by Trey
Anastasio and his
band.
Check out his website at
http://trey.com/ and
download or purchase the
new album at
http://treyanastasio.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=943_57958
Take this one with you
on the road, for it has
great "Traveler" tunes.
Written By Dale Taylor
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JD & The Straight
Shot-- Midnight Run
With the release of
their fifth album and a
summer tour that ran
from coast to coast, New
York based JD & The
Straight Shot have
reason to be excited.
Midnight Run,
released on the Indie
Label, has a nice
Classic American sound
with a twist of New York
style grooves. The album
has some great tunes and
also gives a nod to
Payne, Barrere and
Kibbee of Little Feat
with a pretty piano
swing on "Let It Roll".
The album also shows
their love for bluegrass
and rock sounds with
some great banjo picking
in the title track "MIdnight
Run". This album has
already caught the
attention of AMC's hit
TV Series "Hell on
Wheels" who is using the
track "Can't Make
Tears". And when you
hear frontman Jim
Dolan's tune "Voodoo
Stew" you will wonder
how this creative
musician, songwriter,
and band leader has time
for a day job. With all
that Jim and The
Straight Shot have on
their plate, this new
album is a treat for a
feast. It’s a great
album to enjoy with
family and friends of
all ages. Check out JD &
The Straight Shot at
http://www.thestraightshotmusic.com/
and download the
newest album Midnight
Run for the holiday
season.
Written by Dale Taylor
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Phish, Auburn Hills
MI. 12/6/97
Were you one of the
17,666 that were in
Auburn Hills Michigan on
December 6th 1997? If so
then you know just how
great this newest of the
ongoing LivePhish
Archives collection is.
The live recording was
released on September
25th on a digitally
remastered double disc
and also available for
download at
LivePhish.com. This most
recent release reminds
us why we all love this
band so much. From the
first track "Golgi
Apparatus" to the second
and a sweet groove of
"Antelope" you know that
this will be something
special for all who were
there and those of us
who wish we were. The
first set holds true to
form for the boys from
Burlington. A solid set
with some beautiful
transitions from song to
song. First set
highlights include a
very strong pairing of
"Bathtub Gin" to a crazy
"Foam" intro and
continuing with
"Sample”, “Fee”, “Maze"
and a high energy first
set closer with
"Cavern". But for most
of us the real butter is
in the second set with
non-stop jamming that
gave the audience some
new, some old and
something to Reprise.
The Band never let up on
their third run to
Auburn Hills, and with
the first lick of "Tweezer"
the crowd never sat
down. "Tweezer" led into
a guitar shredding Jimi
Hendrix tune "Izabella"
that found its way to
the new tune "Twist
Around". The band never
took a breath as the jam
continued to a sweet
builder in "Piper" down
to Fishman hitting the
high notes in "Sleeping
Monkey". And to end the
set they come full
circle with "Tweezer
Reprise". Each song
carried a long jam that
the band created as a
musical conversation
between each other and
the audience. Ending it
all with the bluegrass
classic "Rocky Top", it
is easy to see why the
fine folks at Phish Camp
made this gem the next
release in the LivePhish
Archives collection. So
to the 17,666 fans and
the Band, thank you so
much for letting us in
to the show. Now we must
play it in one sitting
at the highest volume
and dance, dance ,
dance.
Written by Dale Taylor
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Keller
Williams and the Travelin
McCourys
"Pick"
I have
always regarded Keller
Williams as possibly one
of, if not the
most, talented acoustic
artists on the scene
today. I have
recommended his live
performances as my
favorite act to attend
for several years. The
charisma he exudes is
considered by many as
comedic as it is
musical, and is worth
the price of admission
itself. Typically
playing solo, he has
been known to mix it up
with supporting
musicians historically;
with projects like “Dubalicious”,
“The WMD’s”, “The Keller
Williams Incident” and
he has even tried his
hand at bluegrass, with
“Keller and the Keels”.
Accompanied by Keith
Mosely and Jeff Austin
of Yonder Mountain
String Band, he graced
fans with the release of
an all bluegrass tribute
Grateful Grass, a
foot stomping album
consisting completely of
Grateful Dead covers. As
a devoted fan of both
Keller and bluegrass, I
was intrigued by his
newest project where he
teams up with superband,
“The McCourys” as they
tour promoting their new
album Pick.
His 18th
album sheds light on yet
another aspect of
Keller, and proves he
has and will continue to
keep fans satisfied. His
new album is a testament
showing off another one
of his many talents as a
successful frontman and
bandmate. Credited to
“Keller Williams and the
Travelin McCourys”,
Pick is a studio
masterpiece celebrating
many wonderful talents,
supported by the entire
band, whilst still
maintaining Keller’s
playful charisma. With
fresh original songs
like “Broken
Convertible” and Jason
Carter’s superb fiddle
work on “Something
Else”, Pick
offers some new
instrumental madness,
accompanied by lyrics
reminiscent of Keller’s
solo originals that will
have you laughing out
loud. Some of his
popular originals like
“Mullet Cut” and “I Am
Elvis” also made the
cut, with the pleasing
addition of stellar
mandolin play by Ronnie
McCoury and banjo
boogies by Rob McCoury.
Alan Bartram provides a
booming bass line,
allowing Keller and the
gang to put a delightful
twist on popular cover
songs as well. He has
been known to recreate
his own versions of new
and classic covers, and
Pick does not
disappoint. Making an
appearance on the album
are taboo versions of
“I’m Amazed” by My
Morning Jacket, Mike
Daughty’s
“American Car” and Jesse
J’s “Price Tag”
to name a few. Closing
the album, “Bumper
Sticker” epitomizes the
synergistic talents.
Keller even managed to
get folk legend Del
McCoury to contribute
his vocal skills on the
final track. Between the
band’s fast paced pickin’
and listening to Keller
and Del sing about
“Hippies not using
shampoo”, “Bumper
Sticker” is an
appropriate finish, sure
to leave any listener
permanently grinnin’!
Written by Joey Pye
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Bob
Dylan's "Tempest"
Things still ain't going
well on Dylan's new
album ,Tempest, an
absolute stunner of a
record that feels like
the proper follow up to Modern
Times. ( 2009's Together
Through Life seemed
weak and out-of-place,
but in retrospect, a
stop-gap detour). The
same themes are present,
but Dylan really ups the
intensity. His voice is
as ragged and damaged as
ever. "Duquesne Whistle"
begins the record
innocently, maybe the
sweetest thing on here,
but, after that, things
get brutal really
quick. "This
is hard country to stay
alive in, Blades are
everywhere, and they're
breakin' my skin, I'm
armed to the hilt, and
I'm strugglin' hard, You
won't get out of here,
unscarred" he
belts out on "Narrow
Way", over a white-hot,
honky tonk rhythm. Time
seems skewed in the
modern Dylan universe;
Biblical worlds bump up
against the present.
He's a judge and the
judged in an impending
apocalypse, a hangman
and the hanged in the
post-apocalypse. Those
threats keep coming!
Over the
standard-stop-start
blues beat (think "Hoochie
Coochie Man") of "Early
Roman Kings", Dylan
spits "I
can strip you of life,
strip you of breath,
Ship you down to the
house of death". "Pay
in Blood" contains more
savagery per line than
any Dylan song ever, too
many to mention. At his
most bile-throated yet,
he practically barks the
recurring line "I pay
in blood, but not my
own". Even the
mellow waltz of "Soon
After Midnight" hides
treachery:"Two-timing
slim, who's ever heard
of him, I'll drag his
corpse through the mud".On
"Long and Wasted Years",
the most Dylan can
muster is smug
admonishment to a woman
of his past. The way he
belts out "Oh
baby, you just might
have to go to jail
someday" makes
me chuckle.
There are two wild cards
on Tempest. The
last track, "Roll On
John", about the slain
former Beatle might seem
out of place. But it's a
nice respite from the
blood-spilling that
preceeds the record, a
possible lament to or
plea for a purity that
was lost. The title
track is a 14 minute,
40-odd verse rumination
on the sinking of the
Titanic. Critics have
made such a big deal
about the fact that it's
not historically
accurate. Fact, fiction,
myths, even movie
characters all fall into
the sea. It's basically
Dylan's version of a
traditional tragedy
song. It is grueling,
and indulgent, yet not
unlistenable.
Written by Eric
Hehe
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The Avett Brothers "The
Carpenter"
"The Once and Future
Carpenter" is a warm
opening track, like an
old friend who's
returned after a long
absence. That line "if
I live the life I'm
given, I won't be scared
to die" comes
to the forefront. "Live
and Die" is catchy, but
more style over
substance. With "Winter
in My Heart" the music
takes a somber, yet more
exciting turn.
There's plenty of great
lines in almost every
song; "Febuary Seven" ("And
as the last of breath
was drawn from me/ the
light broke in and
brought me to my feet";
"Down with the
Shine" ("Things
change and get strange
with the movement of
time/ It's happening ,
right now, to you"); and
"Life"( "Wouldn't
it be fine to stand
behind the words we say
in the best of times?") "Through
My Prayers" is the real
tearjerker on the record
and I'll admit I got
misty-eyed. Yet, I feel
conflicted about it.
Part of me thinks it's
great, but then it feels
at times like Avetts-by-numbers.
By Eric Hehe
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Trampled By Turtles "Stars
and Satellites"
In April of this year,
TBT released Stars
and Satellites. It's Palomino turned
on it's head. A
desolate, rural
melancholy is at the
forefront ("High
Water").
The lightning-fast
hoedowns are minimized ("Risk").
It feels like they're
trying to break into a
new realm or have
already-but just barely.
If they have, I wouldn't
say they know how to
flawlessly maneuver
through it yet.
Lyrically, they can be
odd, even opaque at
times. It's
simultaneously
fascinating and
frustrating. The few
ragers can be jolting
alongside everything
else.Most of Stars
and Satellites isn't
exactly easy listening.
I don't mean it's
necessarily
depressing.or
uninviting. It's
something that demands
repeat listens. More
gets revealed each time.
Those kind of records
can be the most
rewarding in the long
run. That's why it's one
of my favorites this
year, so far.
Trampled By Turtles have
six albums-Songs From
a Ghost Town (2004), Blue
Sky & the Devil (2005), Trouble
(2007), Duluth (2008), Palomino (2010),
and Stars
& Satellites (2012). Also
check out www.archive.org for
some great band-approved
live downloads. But,
please, if you like
them, support them. Buy
a record, ticket, or
t-shirt.
The
name is silly, but the
music is not. I kind of
like that contradiction!
By: Eric Hehe
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