Saint Joe Hazelwood - "Moth & Wool Part II"
It's tough to remember to use your "inside voice" sometimes, but Saint Joe Hazelwood clearly has no problem - "Moth & Wool Part II" is an almost-demure musical statement that carries with it a quiet sense of dignity.
"Moth & Wool Part II" never really constructs itself a true hard-set framework, rather it blooms into varying shapes with almost each passing phrase. This song sort of unfurls like a huge blanket to which you can never find the corners.
Saint Joe Hazelwood doesn't pack a punch volume-wise, but their song does have its own quiet, understated brand of power mixed with a certain bit of intrigue. The song's primitive/lack of structure makes it seem like a one-off, never to be replicated perfectly via another performance. This song is pretty but it's a hushed sort of pretty that will not force itself on you, and all that does is further prove the case.
Timothy Cushing - "Blizzard Bound""Blizzard Bound" carries with it a musical urgency, brought on by the rat-tat-tat guitar/drum combination, like your local Ameri-folki-cana group assembled into a folk marching band bearing acoustic guitars and accordions instead of trumpets and huge bass drums.
This song is an odd coasting parade, propelled forth by the guitar and drums and eassssed through the turns by the flowing strains of what we're going to address as accordions. The entire affair, however, is led by an almost lazy-sounding major with a microphone as the vocal performance is almost too dead-pan to sound as if it fits in with the drive of the music. Surprise surprise - it does.
Cushing's vocal tone communicates a feeling of near-world weariness. This is not to say he sounds defeated, hopeless or any other futile emotion, he is simply in full control, having gone 'round this block a few times and will patiently bring us around - yet secretly enjoys the trip.
Streightangular - "The Beginning of the End"It is fairly easy for a song to get locked into one particular feel or mood. Sometimes this is known as "establishing a tone" and other times it is known as "boring." Streightangular's "Beginning of the End" has a rather interesting duality in that it is part stony-faced new wave and part wholly-human wild spectrum of feelings.
This song coasts forward as if balanced on two rails, powered by some odd series of mechanics. The almost machine-like steadiness of the song is tempered by an emotive vocal and very-alive melody. This comes in odd contrast to the no-nonsense rhythm and instrumentation that provides the straight-ahead feel to the piece.
This song really ramps up as it progresses, coming pleasantly unhinged for the ending refrain. The whole shebang feels like it might come off the rails and fall to pieces at any second, but the whole balancing act is part of this song's appeal.
Gentleman's Bet - "So Sweet""So Sweet" starts off almost like a revved-up version of the initial chord progression from "A Day in the Life." Instead of going through the news today (oh boy), it instead kicks itself into gear and gets its butt out the door, sauntering around its own musical neighborhood like it's lived there forever and is the boss.
"So Sweet" seems able to cruise around its neighborhood in style using a variety of vehicles while still retaining the character of the song. The vocal is richly melodic and enjoyable in that it really explores different levels of varying dynamics all the while never straining at the edges to hit out-of-reach notes at either end of the register. When the almost ever-present vocal gives way to a guitar, it's the same feel, just a different sound.
"So Sweet" is a comfortable sounding song in the way that your neighborhood is comfortable. It's much too boisterous to stay inside, but just right for a brisk walk around the block, glad-handing neighbors and waving to passing vehicles, regardless of how familiar the drivers might be. And you know what - it's a fun place to be.
Want to submit your band's song to C.D. On Songs?
To be reviewed in a C.D. On Songs column:
- Be a Boston-based band/artist.
- Email a single mp3/m4a/etc. (or a download link to one) to cdonsongs (at) gmail (dot) com, with the subject line "C.D. on Songs" (DO NOT send us a bunch of songs and make us pick, we will ignore you). We require a file – not a streaming link.
- Include album cover art if you have any. If you don't, a band photo or logo is acceptable.
- We will assume that we have your permission to make the song downloadable on Boston Band Crush (readers will want to hear it, after all).
- If that's not ok with you, say so and provide us with a link to the song on an embeddable player like ReverbNation – something we can include in the post (and not just link to).
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