Summer roundup of West Michigan CD releases: REVUE music sampler, Karisa Wilson, Igby Iris, The Outer Vibe, Lucas Wilson, The Go Rounds, Lindsay Lou.
As Peter Gabriel once sang (in brilliant fashion), “Here comes the flood.”
Granted, this is long overdue, but here’s the first edition of my summer roundup of recent album releases by West Michigan bands and solo artists. (I’ll post the second batch of reviews next week). It’s a virtual treasure trove of talent that deserves attention. And what better place to start than here …
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West Michigan Music Sampler: The Sequel
For the second year in a row, REVUE Magazine has assembled a who’s who compilation of some of West Michigan’s finest up-and-coming bands – seventeen tracks representing an eclectic, diverse mix of music ranging from pop to bluegrass to rock to country. And best of all: It’s free.
The compilation – which can be found online here — kicks off with the rousing and celebratory “Must Land Running” by Grand Rapids pop geniuses Stepdad, which is rightly starting to make waves now that the band has been signed to Black Bell Records and recently released their new “Wildlife Pop” album, produced by Chris Zane of Passion Pit and The Walkmen fame. It’s the sort of furious, danceable, ultra-layered pop that’s gives you a sugar buzz just thinking about it.
Better yet, it leads perfectly into the delectable rock abandon of the Total Blam Blams, the stunning pop of Grand Haven’s Garrett Borns, the acoustic shoe-gaziness of Kalamazoo’s Glowfriends, the heavy rock intricacies of Igby Iris, the rootsy, this-must-be-a-national-caliber-artist melodies of Lucas Wilson, the rock-pop explosiveness of The Outer Vibe, the psychedelic country power of The Go Rounds, the moody folk-rock of Big Dudee Roo, the garage-rock genius of The Fuzzrites, the down-home beauty of Karisa Wilson, the experimental rock delights of Ghost Heart, the lilting Michigan bluegrass of Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, the alt-country charm of Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, the rock-hued country of Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son, the lovable pop flavors of The Icicles, and the mesmerizing indie alt-rock of Simien the Whale.
Whew.
This scrumptious buffet of West Michigan’s vibrant music scene makes a fine jumping off point to explore new albums by some of these very same artists in greater detail.
The Outer Vibe
Hoka Hey
Oh hey, The Outer Vibe is back with another studio album. And hey, it’s their best effort to date. Led by the truly dynamic, versatile vocals of Sean Zee, this pop-laced Grand Rapids rock band turns on the dance-and-party charm with a well-executed, exquisitely produced nine-track album.
The collection’s obvious commercial appeal puts it smack dab in the league with bands like Maroon 5, with trumpet, banjo and lap steel guitar adding twists to the instrumental assault.
Website: http://www.theoutervibe.com/
Lucas Wilson
Lucas Wilson
The power of Lucas Wilson’s soulfully raspy voice cuts through instantly on the opening track, “Always Until,” and never lets up throughout this self-titled seven-track album recorded at Grand Rapids’ Stone House Recording.
If there’s a little bit of Ray LaMontagne, John Mayer and even Jonny Lang in his vocal delivery, Wilson sets himself apart with his distinctive, rootsy songwriting. And he further elevates his game with help from an all-star cast of players, including cousin Karisa Wilson, Molly Bousma and Jen Versluis on backing vocals, and former Sweet Japonic bandmates Matt Young and Sam Parks on guitar and Gabe Dutton on bass. (Drummer Phil Tomasello, keyboard player Christian VanAntwerpen, violinist Jeffrey Neimeier and accordionist/recording engineer Peter Fox round out the studio lineup.)
Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/lucaswilson
The Go Rounds
feathername
Just like the cryptic title of this album, Kalamazoo’s Graham Parsons and The Go Rounds create mysterious, magical music that’s tough to figure out, but delightfully satisfying to explore. Spanning country, folk and rock amid a psychedelically dreamy and languid milieu, Parsons writes with a dusky-yet-penetrating pen: “We cared therefore we lied, but all the latent old truth and the absence of youth means not you’ve come untied. Will you have me but never hide from me, or will you haunt me until I die?”
Recorded at Kalamazoo’s Double Phelix, the sessions which produced the multi-dimensional 12-track CD featured a host of musicians, including Drew Howard, Ben Lau, Fiona Dickinson, Sam Cooper and members of the Red Sea Pedestrians, Red Tail Ring, The Kalamazoo Brass Collective, Elk Welcome, Birdfingers and the West Michigan University jazz program.
The Go Rounds host a CD-release party at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Founders Brewing Co. , 235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, with special guests, The Double Phelix Orchestra and The Benjamin Riley Band. Cover is $5.
Website: http://thegorounds.bandcamp.com
Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys
Release Your Shrouds
Lindsay Lou and Joshua Rilko exude such joyous energy as a couple that it’s not surprising to hear that ebullience permeating the bluegrass band’s second studio album, recorded at Lansing’s Troubadour Recording Studio.
Led by Lindsay Lou’s captivating lead vocals, the uniquely talented outfit – the Rilkos, Spencer Cain, Keith Billik, Mark Lavengood – mixes in folk-rock and throwback swing elements to further hone its sound, creating a truly original Michigan bluegrass experience.
Website: http://www.lindsayloumusic.com/
Igby Iris
Inevitable
It may sound a bit cliché, but there really is no musician or songwriter quite like Bradley Self, aka Igby Iris.
An uber-talented multi-instrumentalist with a penchant for well-crafted, artistic concept albums, his latest three-song project hammered out at Stone House Recording – “Push,” “Slow Me Down,” “Last Prayer” – once again displays Self’s compellingly dark fare: a prog-rock-styled opus that utilizes searing heavy metal guitars as well as poignant piano balladry.
Website: http://igbyiris.com/
Karisa Wilson
Stronger
“I’ll only grow stronger,” Karisa Wilson croons on the opening jazzy folk track from her latest studio album. Indeed, she has. Wilson has long distinguished herself as an in-demand singer, guitarist, violinist and bassist for a host of other West Michigan bands, but has also rightly impressed fans with her acoustic-flavored solo material.
With help from musician pals Joey Schultz, Jason Wheeler and many others, this eight-song album recorded at Paw Paw’s Jack A. Gregory Studios (with parts also tracked at Grand Rapids’ Mackinaw Harvest Music) goes down as smooth as a sweet margarita on a sun-splashed summer day.
Website: http://karisawilson.com/
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
