GODSPEED, SWEET FRIEND: It is with a very heavy heart I report that Athens musician Jimmy Taylor died the morning of Sept. 11. Jimmy was a Macon native who grew up attending Stratford Academy, where he was an award-winning soccer player. After moving to Athens in the early 2000s he quickly made his musical mark while performing as guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist with Iron Hero. In October 2004, Jimmy was struck by an SUV on Broad Street late one night. His injuries were so severe that his relatively quick rallying afterward was the stuff of miracles, and his break from playing music was shorter than immediately expected. Unfortunately, this rally was short-lived as the ensuing years saw him suffer through countless complications and conditions related not only to his severe brain injuries, but also physical ailments that often had him spending several weeks at a time hospitalized in various facilities throughout the country. Even so, Jimmy never gave up hope and continued to pursue musical projects including Darla, Virgin Box Set and Hello Kitty Kat. Last week, he suffered a seizure which caused him to break four ribs. The day he died, he suffered both a seizure and cardiac arrest. Jimmy was a dear friend in the truest sense. He was enthusiastic to the very end and, though no one would have blamed him, he never turned cynical or thought his full recovery would never arrive. He was the literal embodiment of hope. Jimmy loved his family, his friends, his cats and music, and probably in exactly that order, too. I’m going to miss him terribly, and I’m far from the only one. He was 43 years old.
ALMOST HEAVEN: Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Brandon Quarles released the debut album from his project The Employment Pages last week. It’s titled All My Ghosts and was produced by Annie Leeth. While Quarles performs most of the music himself on this, it does feature William Kissane on drums and was mastered by Jesse Magnum (The Glow Recording Studio). Quarles excels at amplifying what I would describe as the moment before an emotional dam breaks. Every song here has a sense of bubbling under and, as such, has a simmering quality that leaves the listener satisfied but wanting more anyway. The record is largely piano-centric but with incredibly creative arrangements punctuated with items (brief glitch bursts, overdriven bass, etc.) that would be wasted in weaker hands. Some might hear a kinship here to early third-wave emo, but I find it to be much more expansive than that and place it solidly in the songwriter category, such that those who enjoy, say, artists as diverse as Jeff Buckley, The Afghan Whigs and even occasionally Morphine should find something to grab on to here. Specific and personal highlights here are the title track “Talk About It” and the very beautiful “Flowers.” Find this on Spotify, and follow along at theemploymentpages.com.
SATAN’S NEW WAVE SOUL LOSERS: The 40th anniversary remastered edition of Love Tractor’s album Around The Bend is now available on vinyl and compact disc from, who else, Propeller Sound Recordings. It’s hard to believe it’s been four decades since its original release but, you know, time makes you bolder and children get older, etc. This album in particular contains several of the group’s signature tracks including “Pretty,” “Spin Your Partner” and “Fat Birds.” The vinyl LP is $28 direct, and the compact disc is $16. The label also has some T-shirts and bundle offers, too, as they do with all Propeller releases. To check those out, you’ll need to head to propellersoundrecordings.com. You can stream the album and purchase a digital download over at lovetractormusic.bandcamp.com.
RELATEDLY, BELATEDLY: In other Propeller news, the label is now taking pre-orders for its upcoming re-release of Kilkenny Cats’ Hands Down album. It was originally released in 1986 on Twin Tone-related label Coyote Records. Kilkenny Cats were distinguishable in the Athens scene by never shying away from a guitar solo or being willing to take the then-current jangle pop scene into a harder rocking direction. At any rate, the album is set for release in November but, like I said, you can secure your copy today. Head to propellersoundrecordings.com to check out your options.
ONE IN THE CHAMBER: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will perform at this year’s free Payne Memorial Concert. Featured with this performance are the society’s co-directors, pianist Wu Han and cellist David Finckel, who have held these positions since 2004. This event happens in the Hodgson Concert Hall on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. Sponsors of this performance are M. Jean Lauth and the late Thomas P. Lauth, Jane Payne, and WUGA 91.7 and 94.5 FM. While admission is free, tickets are required. To obtain tickets, please see pac.uga.edu, call 706-542-4400 or visit the Performing Arts box office Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, please see pac.uga.edu/chamber-music-society-of-lincoln-center-returns-for-free-concert-sept-24.
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