Nonesuch Records

The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin [Album Review]

by oz on August 24, 2009

The low anthem cover art

The Low Anthem’s Oh My God, Charlie Darwin is one of the finest albums of 2009. It’s not one that immediately took me over, but for the past few months I’ve spent countless hours pouring over each song, interpreting lyrics, reading band bios and searching YouTube for videos. It’s safe to say that The Low Anthem is an obsession.

The first track, “Charlie Darwin,” showcases Ben Miller’s lyrical prowess and vocal range while Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams help bring the haunting song to life. Its vocals and slow tempo might not be for everyone, but just sit tight while this Providence RI band, consisting of a poet folk musician, a jazz bassist and a classical composer, take you on a journey into the rootsy heart of Americana.

Ben’s vocals trade off between clean and pristine (Charlie Darwin and Cage The Songbird), gravelly Tom Waits-like growl (The Horizon Is A Beltway and Home I’ll Never Be), soft whisper speech (Ticket Taker) and down home sincerity (To Ohio and To The Ghosts Who Write History Books). This vocal variety is matched by varied instrumentation, including acoustic guitar, pump organ, upright bass, E flat horn, rack harp and crotales. The final work is an old-timey feel to progressive folk-rock music.

We had the pleasure of having The Low Anthem in the studio for a live session over Lollapalooza weekend. Seeing the songs performed up close and personal gave me a whole new appreciation for Oh My God, Charlie Darwin and their ’07 release What The Crow Brings. They just announced fall tour dates with Blind Pilot once they get back from their European tour. Be sure to catch The Low Anthem if they run through your town and stay tuned for our upcoming session in a few weeks.

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The Low Anthem – Charlie Darwin

The Low Anthem – Home I’ll Never Be (Live @ Monkey House, Winooski VT)

The Low Anthem – Ticket Taker (Live @ Monkey House, Winooski VT)

Video: The Low Anthem – Home I’ll Never Be (via Paste Magazine)

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Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid [Album Review]

by oz on February 10, 2009

Dan Auerbach

What can I say about Dan Auerbach that isn’t already documented in the restraining order? After putting out one of the best albums of 2008 with Black Keys’ Danger Mouse-produced Attack and Release, Dan decided against taking a break and opted to put out a stellar solo album called Keep It Hid.

While Danger Mouse helped out on the Keys’ last album, Dan is a do-it-yourselfer by heart. He recorded two years of material that became Keep It Hid in his home studio in Akron, OH with mostly analog equipment. Although Auerbach played drums and percussion, sang harmonies, and even played glockenspiel, he also enlisted the help of some family and friends. His dad wrote “Whispered Words,” his uncle, James Quine (the guy that taught him to sing and play guitar), plays guitar and sings on “Trouble Weighs a Ton” while Jessica Lea Mayfield lends her vocals on “When The Night Comes.”

If you’re a fan of The Black Keys, you’ll be more than satisfied with Keep It Hid.‚  Along with Dan’s signature guitar riffs and big vocals are frayed edges and impurities that give the album character. It carries softer, more fragile elements like on “Trouble Weighs a Ton,” “When The Night Comes” and the album’s closer “Goin’ Home.” These down-tempo tracks are a bit unexpected, but it’s a refreshing change of pace from Auerbach – especially the album’s opener “Trouble Weighs A Ton.” As you’ll hear in the video below, the tone of his voice and the melancholy lyrics take centerstage. I’m now wondering what a solo acoustic show might be like…

But you didn’t come here for the softer side of the Keys, did ya?‚  “Heartbroken, In Disrepair,” “Mean Monsoon,” “The Prowl” and “My Last Mistake” bring the signature blues-rock sound you’d expect from a Black Keys side project. Keep It Hid is out today and it’s one of the best albums of 2009 so far.

Side note: The Black Keys deserved to be on stage at the Grammys. They’re just too damn good.‚  Not as good as a Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus duet, but a close second.

Live Video: Dan Auerbach – Trouble Weighs a Ton

Here are Dan Auerbach’s solo tour dates:

Feb 28 – 9:30 Club – Washington DC, Washington DC
Mar 1 – Paradise Club – Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 2 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, New York
Mar 3 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, New York
Mar 5 – Beachland Ballroom‚ ‚ ‚ ‚  – Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 6 – Metro – Chicago, Illinois
Mar 7 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 10 – The Showbox – Seattle, Washington
Mar 11 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, Oregon
Mar 13 – Bimbo’s – San Francisco, California
Mar 14 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, California

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