The Grebes

Cameron Winter- Heavy Metal

Cameron Winter and his band Geese are the latest critics darlings of the indie music world. They have also faced some pretty insane backlash recently. People are saying their big rise to stardom was a psyop? I’d never even heard that word before! I’m pretty sure it is just called marketing. Sometimes it is okay for an artist to blow up. It doesn’t automatically mean they are sell outs. Of course, the hype around artists is often overblown, but in this case, IMHO, it is entirely deserved. Some high praise has been heaped upon Cameron Winter. The next Tom Waits? The next Neil Young?? I don’t know. Those kinds of comparisons seem a bit silly to me. Like any song writer, he is singular, but also an amalgamation of all his influences. I think he is brilliant.

I probably listened to this album more than any other last year. It is remarkably confident and self assured and rich. Every song stands out on its own. His voice is not everyone’s cup of tea upon first listen. I love his voice. The way he uses his range. He will often start an idea down in his lower octave and then jump up a register out of nowhere, shedding new light on the melody. His use of layering and overdubbing is mind boggling. You can listen to this album 100 times and notice something new each time. The songs are also just downright beautiful. And weird. What the hell is he talking about? Some lyrics are easy to understand and others leave you scratching your head. It is a wonderful balance of intelligible and universal and strange. If you enjoy this one then definitely check out Geese’s latest album, Getting Killed, as well. So much indie music today feels derivative or played out. Cameron Winter and Geese are a breath of fresh air.

Star Moles - Highway to Hell

I have had this on repeat for the last two weeks. From the first line on the album—“If I put my shirt on backwards one more time I swear/This will be the darkest Tuesday in a thousand years”—I was hooked. Emily Moales, aka Star Moles, has a voice that is effortlessly cool but her lyrics reveal an earnestness and insecurity that is immediately relatable. It is a wonderful combination. “How much of my life have I squandered?” she wonders on the song “Factory Train”. The songs on Highway to Hell are far from depressing, though. Simple arrangements of piano, drums, and guitar give a spaciousness and lightness to Moales’ lyrics. The melodies meander and float around, landing on moments of pure, pop catchiness. It is a fantastic album all the way through, maybe my favorite of the year so far.

Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

Somehow I completely slept on B+S until just a couple months ago, when my friend David told me that this was one of his all time favorite albums. So I listened to it, but somehow I decided it was kinda boring and over-intellectual. But then luckily I listened to it a couple more times and it began to dawn on me that this was one of the greatest albums I had ever heard. It seems obvious and quaint and straightforward upon first listen. But it is incredibly intricate and subtle and so so so catchy. Some of the melodies will just break your heart. Listen for the melody. The lyrics are so tender and clever. It is a full album in every way. It takes a bit of time to sink in but when it does you won't be able to stop singing it in your head.