ARE YOU SURE JAYNE COUNTY DONE IT THIS WAY?: Cowboy Kerouac has a brand new full-length album out this week named Chaos Country. In its 11 tracks, the good cowboy collects a couple of previously released singles (“They Don’t Let You Fuck The Horses,” “The Lot Lizardman”) as well as a totally rockin’ version of the previously acoustic number “Thank God I’m Queer,” but retitled appropriately here as “Thank God I’m (Still) Queer.” Strictly musically speaking, this keeps between the ditches via an ongoing mix of folk, traditional country and 1970s-style punk rock. There’s even a nod to Creedence Clearwater Revival in the intro to “Jesus Came Inside Of Me,” which is a song as aggressively and intentionally offensive as you might care to imagine. But, you know what? Who cares? There’s no right to not be offended and, besides, the principle of free speech is only worth a damn if it protects speech you don’t like. That said, when he’s not making jokes, Cowboy Kerouac can really gin up a solid tune with poignant, thoughtful lyrics à la “No One’s Free ‘Til Everyone’s Free” and “O Say Can You See The Horrors.” Find this at cowboykerouac.bandcamp.com. In related news, Cowboy Kerouac will celebrate the release of this album with his band The Barebacks at Flicker on Friday, Feb. 23 along with Atlanta band The Muckers and frequent collaborators Beat Up. For all other information, please see cowboykerouac.com.
HOME BASS: I was pleasantly taken by the new five-track release by the Dick Chardo Trio named Hot Biscuit Summer, which snuck out at the very end of last year. The group—Geoff Knot (guitar and electronics), Seth Hendershot (drums) and Dick Chardo (bass)—recorded the whole thing live in a single afternoon. Loosely, this could be considered something in the family of jazz fusion with its jam band acrobatics, blues progressions and heavily syncopated bass. Especially impressive were “Big Dummy” and the riff heavy “woofalump.” Four out of five tracks here exceed the six minute mark, so prepare to settle in while you check this out at geoffknot.bandcamp.com.
BUY NOW OR CRY LATER: Continuing his quest to make the entire world aware that Limbo District ever happened, cultural impresario Henry Owings—via his label Chunklet Industries—will release a 7” containing two live tracks from these half-hidden art maestros on Feb. 14. The songs in question are “Circle of Monkeys” (recorded during rehearsal in Athens in 1982) and “5 ‘til 12,” which was recorded live at the I&I—previously known as the B & L Warehouse, then later known as Buckhead Beach and now known as The Hodgson Oil Building—in November 1982. Preorders are open now for the very limited edition (i.e. only 60 copies) vinyl version of this, and you can get on the techno tip by heading to chunklet.bandcamp.com and entering all your relevant information.
MORNING GLORY: You’d be forgiven if you accidentally heard the new self-titled full-length album by Athens songwriter and musician Lavon Smith and thought you’d stumbled upon some singer-songwriter from decades ago. This exceptionally realized collection of 12 songs has that certain je ne sais quoi that was so strongly present during what I like to refer to as the heyday of artist development that ran from the late 1960s through the early-mid 1970s. You know, that time in history that gave us the earliest albums by Randy Newman, Tim Buckley, Billy Joel, et al. From the plaintive opening piano meditation of “Bittersweet” to the cleverly melodic “Sarah and Stewart” to the Spaghetti Western-meets-Caribbean rhythm “Personal Faults” this record was a revelation of nice surprises throughout its entirety. Please enjoy for yourself over at lavonsmith.bandcamp.com.
INCENSE AND PEPPERMINTS: On the cusp of its first UK tour, happening in April, Immaterial Possession has a new single out named “Sugar In A Memory.” This tenderly delivered, shadowy tune is a slight step sideways for the group who is largely recognized by its big art statements both musically and visually. That said, the notes for this release mention that it’s among the earliest compositions written for the band, so perhaps it’s a taste of what might have been. In any case, the mood is big with this one so just sit down, listen and wait for the sun to rise. Find this at immaterialpossession.bandcamp.com, and for more information, please see immaterialpossession.com.
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