Carcrashlander is the project started by Cory Gray. You might not know that name but if you have an album from a Portland band there is probably a good chance he might be playing somewhere on it. Gray is a session player for acts as diverse as The Decemberists, Grails, Norfolk & Western, Graves and Life At These Speeds. But, you should know him best from his former band, the sadly underrated Desert City Soundtrack. Carcrashlander’s official debut album comes courtesy of an interesting new label called Parks And Records (a percentage of all sales goes towards arbor related projects). Owing comparisons towards Desert City’s more even-keeled record, the somber Perfect Addiction, Carcrashlander play dark piano-driven music. In fact, moreso than older (unreleased) Carcrashlander material, Gray often uses a full band approach here. While it adds depth to Gray’s arrangements, this is strictly his show. His piano and horn playing along with his trademark somber vocal style continue to lead the way. Carcrashlander offers up a brooding album’s worth of material here that seemingly contradicts at every point. Gray’s moody tendencies are balanced by a wealth of ominous restraint. The sound of the record is mysterious yet still oddly comforting. It all works to push the album towards beautifully, sad places. So, I guess seems fitting that a campfire adorns the front cover. While Carcrashlander’s music is warm, intimate and even inviting at times, it sheds light on a world much better off left in the dark.

Genre: Indie/Folk/Pop

RIYL: Desert City Soundtrack, Sparklehorse, The Black Heart Procession

Carbon Waltz

[audio http://www.parksandrecords.com/mp3/carcrashlander%20carbon%20waltz.mp3]

www.myspace.com/carcrashlander

Borko “Celebrating Life” (Morr Music)

Morr Music have invaded Iceland it seems. Borko is the label’s third recent Icelandic signing behind Seabear and Benni Hemm Hemm. Oh, and Borko is, in my opinion, the best as well. Borko is the project of Icelandic film/theatre musicican Björn Kristiansson. He has written music for theatre as well as modern dance. On Celebrating Life, Kristiansson provides beautiful (mostly) instrumental movements that are almost post-rock in their grand scope. But there is a noticeable sense of humor and playful spirit possessed by Borko. Stiff post-rock bands are rarely able to incorporate such levity but Borko pull off the feat rather easily. One of Kristiansson’s tricks is the use of a variety of vocal effects on Celebrating Life. It creates a playfulness rarely seen in these parts. The album is accented by horns as well and that addition offers a grand characteristic to these moving pieces. It especially shows on the album’s finest work, “Summer Logic,” which mixes in some well-placed harmonica too. Actual vocals do appear on occasion, like on “Dingdong Kingdom” and “Spoonstabber,” which is about being punched in the belly…go figure. Celebrating Life is a thrilling journey for fans of instrumental music. It also marks perhaps the best Morr release since Electric President. And that is some high praise right there.

Genre: Instrumental/Rock

RIYL: Unwed Sailor, Sigur Ros, Do Make Say Think

Dingdong Kingdom

www.myspace.com/borkoborko

Spirituality in music is certainly nothing new. Foxhole perhaps took it to another level with their 2004 debut, We The Wintering Tree. The Christian instrumental group wrote and recorded the album in the sanctuary of a small-town Kentucky one-room church. Thankfully, Burnt Toast Vinyl has re-released We The Wintering Tree for all of us to hear. What is so different about Foxhole compared to other instrumental outfits is the band’s reliance on the trumpet. The instrument sets the mood for the entire album. It is a beautifully subtle instrument when played in the right manner and it fits these slow, deliberate movements perfectly. The band rises and falls around the trumpet’s lead. It is a remarkably distinct characteristic for an instrumental outfit to possess…especially in a genre that is so consumed with the generic soft/loud dynamic. The band is most comparable to the rambling spirit of Do Make Say Think. Both bands have an almost improvisational quality towards instrumental music. Vocals do appear on several tracks but they are simply used as another accenting force behind the band’s rich, majestic sound. We The Wintering Tree certainly has my interests piqued to find out what Foxhole has been up to since 2004.

Genre: Instrumental/Rock

RIYL: Do Make Say Think, Explosions In The Sky, The Six Parts Seven

The End Of Dying

[audio http://www.burnttoastvinyl.com/mp3/Foxhole/The_End_Of_Dying.mp3]

A Children’s Canto

[audio http://www.burnttoastvinyl.com/mp3/Foxhole/A_Children’s_Canto.mp3]

www.myspace.com/foxhole

I think Sub Pop must have a trademark on this sound. Grand Archives, like another newer Sub Pop band, Fleet Foxes share a great deal of similarities to older Sub Pop bands like Band Of Horses and The Shins. Once you find something that works, you might as well stick with it, right? On to the music, you have to admire a musician who leaves a successful band to start his own musical journey. From the ashes of Carissa’s Wierd, Mat Brooke and Ben Bridwell formed Band of Horses. When it became apparent that Band Of Horses was going to be primarily Bridwell’s songwriting vehicle, Brooke left to explore his own path. Enter Grand Archives.

Grand Archives breezes by with ten songs of warm, intimate indie pop. Grand Archives are certainly mining a lighter territory than Bridwell and Band Of Horses. Because of that soft rock characteristic, it sounds as if the band is barely breaking a sweat. Besides the great album opener, “Torn Blue Foam Couch,” the haunting “Sleepdriving” and the misstep into melodrama that is “The Crime Window,” the album has a tendency to just float by unnoticed. Sure, it all sounds natural and even likable but it also fails to leave much of a lasting impression.

I find it all kind of ironic that Bridwell and Brooke couldn’t bare to share songwriting duties. Cause there are a huge amount of similarities between both bands and you have to wonder what the duo might have been capable of if they had stayed together. But, I guess that is neither here nor there at this point. Both have created their own strong entities. There is no doubt that Bridwell has found his niche with Band Of Horses. I expect Brooke and Grand Archives to do the same in the future. Til then though, The Grand Archives is just a pleasant record, nothing more and nothing less.

Genre: Indie/Rock/Pop

RIYL: The Shins, Band Of Horses, Fleet Foxes

Torn Blue Foam Couch

[audio http://www.subpop.com/assets/audio/4009.mp3]

www.myspace.com/grandarchives

Austin Lucas continues the long line of artists originating in the punk/hardcore scenes only to head in a more authentic direction. Having spent much of his life playing in punk, crust and grind bands, Lucas shows off a beautiful change in pace with Putting The Hammer Down. While the traditional folk/bluegrass sound of Putting The Hammer Down might surprise some, this sound has been in Lucas’ bones since childhood. And with a musician father that cherished these genres, Lucas sounds perfectly at home here. In fact, his father, Robert Lucas sings, produces and plays banjo, fiddle, ukulele and guitar on Putting The Hammer Down. Right from the very beginning you will notice the vocals of Lucas. Quite similar to the distinctness of Will Oldham (Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy), Lucas’ vocals carry these songs on their wayward path. “Man Alive” and “Shipwrecked (Glass Bottom Boat)” are gorgeous and powerful bookends for the album. With beautiful female vocals from Chloe Manor on five of these eight tracks, there is a remarkable depth reached when she and Lucas harmonize together. The instrumentation is rich and adds to the music’s warm intimacy. Lucas’ Putting The Hammer Down is a haunting, moving journey worthy of much acclaim.

Genre: Alt-Country/Folk/Bluegrass

RIYL: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Iron & Wine, Lambchop

Man Alive

[audio http://www.magicbulletrecords.com/mp3s/manalive.mp3]

www.myspace.com/austinlucas1

You know, the male/female duo have almost worn out their welcome for me. After suffering through yet another high profile album of this sort recently (not naming names), I practically swore off these sickeningly cute pairings. That is until I remembered Ghost In The Water. Tooth is the kind of album people should be investing their time and energy towards. Granted, this territory has been mined before but rarely this well. The husband/wife duo of Nathan and Mandy Tensen-Woolery create such an embracing atmosphere on their debut effort. The duo’s songs reside somewhere in the electro-indie pop realm but don’t let that scare you away. The song arrangements are inventive and the lyrics are remarkably engrossing. The duo has a playful, creative energy that is measured only by the album’s dark ambiance. Nothing on Tooth ever goes for that cheap thrill. The material here is measured and subtle in its approach. There is incredible detail given to each movement and when and where each voice appears over the angelic backdrop of guitars and electronics. Tooth is wildly moving and quite an impressive debut.

Genre: Indie/Electronica/Pop

RIYL: Bjork, Bat For Lashes, Stereolab

Clean Sinks And Folded Laundry

[audio http://music.hiddenshoal.com/wp-content/uploads/Media/HSR_Radio/gitw/Clean_Sinks_And_Folded_Laundry.mp3]

How To Draw A Ghost

[audio http://music.hiddenshoal.com/wp-content/uploads/Media/HSR_Radio/gitw/How_To_Draw_A_Ghost.mp3]

www.myspace.com/ghostinthewater

Now if Suburban Home would release something by Dave Smalley next, they would have the ALL trifecta. What the hell am I talking about? Well, that would give the label three projects by all three of ALL’s different lead singers. Of course you have the label already releasing (and re-releasing) just about every Drag The River record which boasts ALL’s third and current singer, Chad Price. And now you have the label releasing Scott Reynolds’ new project, The Steaming Beast. Reynolds was the second ALL singer. Much like Price’s Drag The River, Reynolds’ newest endeavor bares little resemblance to the pop-punk of ALL. Frankly, you can decipher that without even listening to the album. The credits boast producer Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev, Sparklehorse, Mogwai) and Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips. However, I don’t write for Maxim so I guess I should listen to Adventure Boy. The album is certainly not a chore though. The Steaming Beast combine humor and intelligence so well that it’s hard not to compare them to those early Flaming Lips records. On the other hand, The Steaming Beast never head off into those odd territories that the Lips were so well known for either. Reynolds and company might be peculiar at times, but never weird for the sake of being weird. That is an asset for Adventure Boy as the album moves at a healthy pace without ever feeling sidetracked. In fact, all this recalls the sadly defunct Troubled Hubble the most. That’s high praise indeed. For fans of quirky, offbeat pop, Scott Reynolds & The Steaming Beast might just be what you have been looking for.

Genre: Indie/Pop/Rock

RIYL: Troubled Hubble, The Flaming Lips, Ben Folds

Angel

[audio http://www.suburbanhomerecords.com/mediafiles/ScottReynolds/ScottReynolds_Angel.mp3]

www.myspace.com/scottreynoldsmusic

www.myspace.com/steamingbeast

This Will Destroy You “This Will Destroy You” (Magic Bullet)

Two things to start this review off. First, have you ever noticed how post-rock instrumental bands have the most melodramatic names? This Will Destroy You, Explosions In The Sky, and Godspeed You Black Emperor! just to name a few. Secondly, as assinine as the term post-rock is, when listening to This Will Destroy You the term actually makes sense. This Will Destroy You are huge, expansive, wide open and completely beyond normal rock music. This is what it is supposed to sound like, right? The band’s debut, Young Mountain, was a solid yet somewhat unspectacular entry into the instrumental rock journal. The band’s second album is a different story though. It certainly shows a depth and willingness to expand. No more is the band content with the normal ebb and flow of the soft/loud dynamic. With more attention given towards creating atmospheres, This Will Destroy You put forth a gripping album full of glorious highs and desperate lows. Creating an instrumental canvas of vivid colors and cinematic scenes, This Will Destroy You are approaching the majestic imagery of Sigur Ros. While I have found myself involuntarily retreating from instrumental rock in the last couple of years, This Will Destroy You might just have what it takes to bring me back. With their second effort, the band has put down a massive gauntlet for all their peers to step up to.

Genre: Instrumental/Rock

RIYL: Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, Sigur Ros

Threads

www.myspace.com/thiswilldestroyyou

Freshkills are a Brooklyn based band who much like my earlier Band Of The Day this week, are hard to get a handle on. Definite post-punk influences like Drive Like Jehu and The Jesus Lizard are matched with a vocalist that Nick Cave or Ian Curtis would be proud of. The music is driving and the vocals are certainly distinct. Freshkills have hit on a familiar, yet unique combination with their sound. “I Know I Know” is off the band’s second full-length, which remains untitled and unreleased. The album was recorded with Alex Newport (At The Drive-In, The Locust, Two Gallants). Thoughts?

I Know I Know

[audio http://www.ezarchive.com/original/soundaslanguage/0102IKnowIKnow.mp3]

www.myspace.com/freshkills

Run Dan Run’s Basic Mechanics might just be one of those perfect remedies to life’s tumultuous pace. Hailing from Charleston, SC, Run Dan Run play atmospheric and tuneful indie rock that soothes a tired soul. Led by the aptly named, Dan McCurry, the band shows off a brilliant maturity on their debut effort, Basic Mechanics.

Run Dan Run tackle a wealth of styles here but they maintain a remarkable cohesiveness throughout the length of Basic Mechanics. From the depth of the six minute “Multi-Colored Lights” to the two minute instrumental intermission, cleverly titled “The Instrumental,” Run Dan Run show off an impressive scope. “The Setup: The Blackout” is a glorious song that rivals Broken Social Scene in its expansive nature. The band’s flexibility is certainly admirable throughout Basic Mechanics. The rich “Your Name Escapes Me” is followed by the bare bones of “Points of Departure” and it sounds perfectly in tune. And once again Run Dan Run are able to recall the grandiosity of Broken Social Scene with the horn-laced album closer “The Turnover.” The song marks a fitting end to an emotionally stirring album.

Running over the fifty minute mark, Basic Mechanics runs the distinct risk of wearing out its welcome at times. However, to the excitement of this listener, that simply never happens. The album unfolds slowly and keeps the listener’s attention at every change in pace. Basic Mechanics makes for a fine swan song to yet another strenuous day.

Genre: Indie/Rock/Pop

RIYL: Death Cab For Cutie, Say Hi, Broken Social Scene

Your Name Escapes Me

[audio http://www.ezarchive.com/original/soundaslanguage/08YourNameEscapesMe.mp3]

The Setup: The Blackout

[audio http://www.ezarchive.com/original/soundaslanguage/05TheSetupTheBlackout.mp3]

www.myspace.com/rundanrun