Please be patient--I'm Balancing My Mind--Hazey Janes-Winter That Was

I'm sitting here listening to the most recent release from 2011 by The Hazey Janes, an extremely talented quartet from Dundee Scotland. I'm liking this one a lot--it's a big, lush, undertaking, sounding in some ways indebted to the past, but also managing to carve out their own distinct territory. The title of this new one, The Winter That Was is their third--and it seems like they put it out themselves, not as uncommon occurrence these days. It is licensed through Armellodie Records. It certainly does not sound like a DIY album by a long shot.

If you have a familiarity with the band you may know that their second album from 2008 was never released. Apparently there was some issues between the band and the label. Hands Across the City never made it out of the box. On June 2, in Dundee, they'll be performing the album live. Probably would be a good gig for the hometown crowd to catch. HATC was a corker I bet. This song below would have been on it, so you be the judge. Not too shabby....My jaw dropped when I heard this for the first time.






The Winter That Was is a strong unqualified success considering the major setback, moving outward from the great vocal harmony skills of the Marras, Matthew and Alice. Andrew Mitchell and Liam Brennan round out the quartet. The songs veer from Country, lush chamber pop, to Big Star/Teenage Fanclub pop riffing, synthpop, The Delgados, even shoegaze. The Darkness Ends is one of those songs that you think they must be doing a cover of some great classic country song, but they made it up all by themselves.


At times the music is pretty loud and brash like in the final tune Everything Starts Again. Definitely hearing a Cars influence with the new wavey synths. I wouldn't think the synths would work here, but I find everything here pretty agreeable. Wake to Guide Love is one of may favorites on the album, a huge melodic pop tune. Contrast this with the Byrdsy bliss of Girl In the Night. The title of the album may be Winter that was, but that's just one of many songs I can hear blasting out of a car stereo on a sunny summer day. Truly these guys need more attention paid to them. They are so talented that you have to want to root for these musicians.

Most recently, I see they are the backing group on Michael Marra's new album, Houseroom. I don't know much about him, but he is supposed to be a pretty talented songwriter. I also think two of the Hazeys happen to be his children. I don't have Houseroom so I can't really give an opinion on the album's merits. But Hazey Janes are definitely a band worth investigating. Great arrangements and utterly fantastic singing. These guys oughta be big time. You can't go wrong here, believe me.

Human Sexual Response--not completely forgotton?

I just got the Rykodisc reissue of Boston's Human Sexual Response from way back when just the other day. I haven't even listened to it yet. They were a pretty huge band on the Boston scene in the early 80's--our College radio station used to play them quite a bit. But it dawned on me that these guys in fact put out a pretty good second album that hasn't seen the light of day. I have it on vinyl, but it just surprises me sometimes what comes out and what doesn't. I think that this band is pretty overdue for some attention, and I don't think I'm the only one out there who shares this opinion. Here's a tune that I completely forgot about---I listened to it for the first time in years and it still blows me away.

That's Andy Fell, from In A Roman Mood. I feel as a graduate from a College with a renowned Classics department (and with an erudite Classics scholar of a roomate to boot!) that I need to voice my opinion on this subject.

Get Off that Fence! Poster Children: No More Songs About Sleep and Fire!!!

Did you ever notice how right wing always seem to be cynically appropriating seemingly anthemic tunes written by musicians of a liberal bent? Songs go out on the campaign trail and they get used often in a dumbed-down irony-removed manner. Often the artists like Bruce Springsteen ask the pol to cease and desist, as use of the song is a quasi-half-assed endorsement. Though as most musicians probably lean somewhat left of the dial, the pickings may be a bit slim. After all, we are talking about the Devil's music here, aren't we? But why can't this trend tilt in the other direction for a change?

I think it would be great if President Obama went out on the campaign trail with a healthy supply of Ted Nugent blaring from the Tour bus. Turn the tables for once--Democrat Scratch Fever--Wang Dang Sweet Four More Years--Yes We Can-Go Tango. If nothing else, it would make a decent skit on SNL.

Well anyway, let's get back to what I thought I was doing. Fade out to Mid-America.......

So at least for the time being, No More Songs about Sleep and Fire appears to be the last full length record for the Poster Children, a great funky punk pop group from the Champaign-Urbana zone of the world. Although this is not considered to be their desert island, I like it just fine. (They put out a politically motivated ep collection of covers shortly afterward). Just another criminally underrated band from Middle America. Anybody with a taste for Pixies, Talking Heads, or Gang of Four will not be disappointed here. This particular little number was released on the Parasol subsidiary in 2004, Hidden Agenda Records, though at an earlier time they put some music out on Warners.

I saw them at least ten years ago in NYC, but for the life of me I can't remember where. They may have actually been on a bill with noise pimps Bailter Space at CBGB's. Even though I wasn't too familiar with them, I recall it was a great energetic set. Sometimes you see a band put on a nice show but it can leave you a bit cold. These guys put it out there, forcefully, with heart. I know people like bands like The White Stripes and the Strokes, but I could give a shit about them. Give me the Poster Children performing The Bottle over that stuff any day. Rose Marschack is the not-so-secret weapon on weapon; even though they are all quite talented, she definitely brings the funk. Rick Valentin is on guitar and vocals. Jim Valentin is also on guitar, and Matt Friscia plays drums here.

The album starts out with a bang with the hard rocking Jane. Song two is the funky Western Springs, which the band made a video for. Check it out.




There's a lot to like on this album. Flag is another super grooving tune, where the energy just erupts from the speakers. The Leader is one of the hugest tunes, and probably not one that will be used on the campaign trail anytime soon. One of my favorites is the riff heavy Sugarfriend and the excellent Shy. All in all, a very solid album by a band on top of its game. I even have somewhere the DVD they made, sort of a tour diary/spoof/low budget scripted reality movie called No Stars that I picked up. I can't say its quite the same as The Last Waltz, but I enjoyed the cheapo charm of the movie, and the band is likeable and smart.





So if like what you hear, check out this interesting band--they put out 8 albums in their day, and a lot of them are pretty damned great, including this one. They have a web-site which brings you up to date with what the band members are up to, and they have a fairly comprehensive history of the band for those interested. Their covers ep On The Offensive is a lot of fun, and it shows that their hearts appear to be in the right place. It includes songs like the Clash's Clampdown, X's The New World, Divide and Conquer by Husker Du, and Let's Have a War by hardcore belligeristas Fear. Who knows? Maybe I've just introduced you to your new next favorite band!