CD REVIEWS

Monday, September 14, 2009

By JH Weekly Staff

Sow to Sow
DREW GROW & KATRINA SKALLAND WITH THE PASTORS’ WIVES
3 out of 5 stars

The keyboardist wore red skinny jeans, two-sizes too small. The drummer sat open-mouthed and slouching. The upright-bassist stood, watching Drew Grow tune his guitar and test his vocals.

Bar Pink in San Diego is typical of the Southern California dive-venue – dark walls, bad sound, cheap drinks, no cover and all variety of trendy garb. Last week, I went because I was visiting.

Finally, Grow began to play: “I want you to come home, now,” he sang – slowly, but with growing intensity, the band snapping into place for the harmonies. His presence and sincerity reminded us of M. Ward, though clearly with a
Northwest influence, per their Portland roots.

My friend and I both hollered, “Woooo,” and looked at each other in amazement. That night, he downloaded the album Sow to Sow, and I emailed the band’s label for a copy.
– Matthew Irwin


Psychic Chasms E.P.
NEON INDIAN
3 out of 5 stars
Every now and then a band comes along that just sounds perfect for the moment.
Neon Indian has the lo-fi sound of today’s indie rock, but an eclectic, experimental range of found-sounds and super dirty synthesizers to ultimately please every hipster-blogger in the universe.

It is a unique sound with old-school grooves and an irresistible contemporary feel.
The Psychic Chasms E.P. was released earlier this summer, but four of it’s tracks will be rereleased on their first full-length album coming out in early October.

They are making their live debut at the MONOLITH Festival in Red Rocks this week-
end, which includes seven other bands we’ve reviewed recently: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Antlers, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Of Montreal, Starfucker, Cymbals Eat Guitars and M. Ward. In my opinion, it is the best lineup of any festival in the U.S. this summer and it’s only eight hours away by car. Tickets are still available.
- Henry Sweets

I and Love and You
AVETT BROTHERS
4 out of 5 stars

Produced by Rick Ruben as the first record since the band signed with Colum-
bia, and the beautiful honesty of the Avett Brothers is still intact.
The difference? The band is in tune and in control.

These songs are heavily orchestrated with plenty of arrangement surprises to keep your ears perked. It will be interesting to hear these tracks live, where the brothers are known for work-ing a sweat, breaking strings and transporting emotion through tight vocal harmony.

Much of the album’s 13 tunes are piano-heavy, with sparse banjo, carefully-placed
drums, and the cello steps up to play an important textural role. Symphonized folk
with a glimpse of piano-pop, there are a depth of layers to explore here, but what
always rises to the top are the words. The title track is masterful songwriting and why the Avetts are in a major league of their own, and in their prime. The album officially hits the streets Sept. 29.
– Aaron Davis


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