THE HOT SPROCKETS-Brother Nature

I have been following The Hot Sprockets since their 2011 release of ‘Honey Skippin‘. I was fortunate enough to catch this Dublin, Ireland band at Canada Indie Week, part of a North American Tour to promote the June, 2014 release of their latest album, ‘Brother Nature‘.

The album opens with “Quarter Roam“, with its powerful vocals, great changes, and choral harmonies. The combination of acoustic and electric guitars is wonderfully melodic, and I think I heard some slide guitar in this track. The melody rocks, the effects are cool, and I dig the drumming. The early rock and roll influences on “Boogie Woogie“, are almost Rockabilly. This song delivers a high energy tempo, with dynamite and unexpected changes, some dynamite harmonica, and a great vocal track. “Shake Me Off” brings great harmonies, cool changes, and wonderful instrumentation. The country-blues sound of “Comin’ On‘ offers some sweet guitar picking, a dynamite bass line, and a great melody. A wonderfully lively track. “Lay Me Down“, a beautifully sweet song, with acoustic guitar, nice harmonies, wonderful vocals, and, as an added bonus, some way cool banjo. The western style of “El Torro“, an instrumental, comes across like a cowboy tune, a great song to listen to on a cattle drive! It brings wonderful guitar, and great harmonica. The powerfully “Show Me The Weight” gives up dynamite guitar and great harmonies.  “Women & Chile”  delivers some R & B vibes, incorporating great guitar effects, wonderful drumming, a cool melody, and perfectly placed harmonica. One great track! The melody of “Someday” joins the acoustic guitar picking to create a simply serene track. “Soul Brother” just plain rocks. A wonderful tempo brings this blues-rock track to life. There are great guitar riffs and a way cool solo, wonderful harmonies, dynamite changes and insanely good vocal effects. The bluesy, acid rock sentiment of “Heavy On My Mind“,  reminds me of Steppenwolf. With a cool guitar riff that drives the great melody, and incredible drumming, what else could I ask for? Well, The Hot Sprockets thought that flute would be a good idea. They were right. Amazing! The incredibly wonderful “Homeslice” offers a great melody, coupled with sweet harmonies, over what sounds like strings and a mandolin. My favorite track on the album, “The Worried Kind“, brings a great melody delivered by a wicked vocal track. The changes and harmonies are wonderful, and I hear strings! The song has a John Lennon thing going on, both in melody and vocals, and I like it. A beautifully written and performed song!

 

Well, there you have it. Brother Nature. 13 tracks, and not a bad one to be found. I have listened to this album for the 4th time, and it just keeps getting better. The songs are insanely good. The production, wonderful. These guys can write. These guys can play. The album has a ‘live off the floor’ feel to it. I haven’t heard this much energy in an album in a long time. The Hot Sprockets refer to their music as ‘country dirt”. I prefer to call it Irish Soul! Brother Nature is one of the most powerful albums I have heard in 2014, filled with the unusual, and the unexpected.  A definite must have for your collection, and a definite contender for I Can’t Believe My Earz’  Album Of The Year. Don’t just take my word for it, listen here: http://thehotsprockets.bandcamp.com/album/brother-nature

 

 

 

 

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THE NURSERY-Carnival Nature

One of the most intriguing and interesting albums i have heard in a long time, Carnival Nature by Toronto band The Nursery, contain 6 tracks of musical mastery. Released in June, 2013, The Nursery dance to the beat of a very different drummer.

“Lysurgically Yours” opens the album with wonderful piano work, and a magical, carnival feel.  The harmonies, hypnotic vocals, theremin and guitar riff create a wonderfully esoteric feel. The steady drumming of “It’s A Sin“, coupled with the over the top guitar, synthesizer and theremin create a very different atmosphere while providing a catchy melody that makes me think of court jesters. “Lucy” delivers a strangely cool melody amid a western tempo countrified guitars and great transitions. The synth opening of “Domino“, accented by drum rolls, delivers a great melody in an unconventional song. It is just plain weird, but I do like weird. “The Wild Heart” contains an REM style acoustic guitar opening, with a very eerie vocal track that creates a wonderfully dreamy sensation. The psych-rock guitar solo compounds the ethereal sensations.” I Was I Was Someone Else” comes with acoustic guitar picking, horns, a sophisticated melody and spectacular vocals. A wonderful song.

Alex Pulec

For the first time I was unable to find an identifiable favorite track. The music defies genre. The Nursery have incorporated several styles and arrived at a sound that can best be described as acid/rock/soul/synth-folk/pop. Let’s be honest. Its just plain weird! Eccentric. Bizarre.  But it is simply incredible. Alex Pulec’s voice, akin to Robert Smith of The Cure, in its tone and phrasing, is perfectly suited to sing these  songs. In fact, I don’t think anyone else could do them justice. I have listened to Carnival Nature several times, and enjoy it more with each listen. The songs are  unconventionally spectacular. The arrangements are weirdly wonderful and I’m having the time of my life listening. This is a band I want to interview.  This is an album you won’t want to miss.

Check The Nursery out for yourself here:      http://thenursery.bandcamp.com/album/carnival-nature

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