The Crookes
Way over a year ago I booked The Crookes to play a night in Southampton and subsequently, the Sheffield band came back and played three more shows for me, all of which were fantastic declarations of chivalry and the resurrection of gentlemanly conduct.
Monday saw the release of their debut album, ‘Chasing After Ghosts’ which has been put out on Fierce Panda. One thing that this was to signify was primarily a boost in production for the band. Their past e.p’s, although lyrically plentiful, were left impaired by weepy production that packed little bite of heightened edge.
‘Dreams of Another Day’ was their 2010 output and it just delivered a limp, lifeless gmaw on the underbelly of what could have been an accomplished selection of romantic pop songs. Thankfully, in part, things have improved some what on ‘Chasing After Ghosts’.
As well as including a handful of previously released demos (‘Chorus of Fools’, ‘Bloodshot Days’ and ‘By The Seine’) there are eight new tracks to gawp over. Evidently, The Crookes are still a band fuelled by Victorian romanticism and vintage china tea pots, eloquence, good behavior and the like, but with the punchier product comes more of a snap and ‘Godless Girl’ obscurely morphs, in parts, to an unexpected Kings Of Leon-esqe pop declaration that confirms they really aren’t as straight laced as you think. While the old demos remain my favorite, it’s worth checking out…
Godless Girl SAMPLE by thecrookes
Phosphorescent
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, Phosphorescent is the moniker of Matthew Houck. Houck previously toured under the name of Fillup Shack and in 2000, released his debut album before transferring his thoughts and energy to Phosphorescent.
As a folk band from the Southern states of America they obviously that untainted artery of rooted soul flowing through their hardened exterior that runs all the way from the bust-ups of Bobby Womack and the insane drugged-up ramblings of Wilson Picket to the Alabama park where Eddie Hinton slept for a year.
Phosphorescent - It's Hard to Be Humble by thebangpop
Deer Tick
I’m very disappointed in myself for not getting into Deer Tick sooner. Three albums down and the congealed, sandy rasp of this country-rock outfit has developed from waltzing Replacements-meets-Strange Boys country to the rendered gothic-soul of Deer Tick’s blackened soul – as heard on their most recent record, ‘The Black Dirt Sessions’.
Songs of bereavement and bereft have trodden the folk path for years since, and will continue to do so for years to come, but that doesn’t hinder the poignancy and heart-break of their haunting third effort.
Deer Tick - Twenty Miles by Partisan Records
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