Bandcamp
continues to impress me with its never ending options for discovery. I don’t
know about you but I am an avid user of the mobile app since I am constantly on
the move and the ease of access is undeniable. The latest updates to the app
have improved significantly, not perfect, but in particular I have found myself
browsing the daily bandcamp featured feed which shows up on the homepage when
you open the app. You can also check it out via the New and Notable section on
the bandcamp homepage. The picks are usually very diverse and span a multitude
of styles, mostly outside my normal go-to hard rock and heavy stoner genres.
Not only does this keep things fresh, but it’s a great way to get a different
perspective. I figured I’d share some highlights I’ve stumbled across recently
on the featured feed. They’re not all winners, but a different perspective is
always refreshing.
Steven Boone – SoulLow
It was
undeniable how soothing the sounds were when I decided to check out the
featured album by Steven Boone. He appears to be a solo DJ artist of sorts with
an impressive roster of material. Although I have only listened to the latest
which I found on the featured bandcamp list, I have listened to it multiple
times. It spans multiple styles from hip hop, soul, alternative rock, and light
and airy blues.
SJOB Movement – Friendship Train
Who’d of
ever thought I’d find myself actively checking out “Afrobeat” music? Well shit,
if it wasn’t for my curiosity while scrolling the new and notable section on
bandcamp and finding the reviews and notes appetizing I wouldn’t have been
playing this album multiple times. Wow, this is very cool. Have I seen the
light, or am I going crazy. My hard rock brethren may claim the latter, but you
should see for yourself. It’s offered up on vinyl and I’ve been really into
diversifying my collection with different styles. Sounds like they were a thing
back in the day, now getting the modern treatment. I’m a sucker for releases
seeing the light of day on vinyl today that were originally buried in the
underground in the 60’s and 70’s.
Will Sessions – Deluxe
Taking a
look at the cover art one might be led to believe this is another hard stoner
Rawk and roll release with the vintage car on the cover which has been a staple
in the rock and roll world for years. However, upon investigation this is some
downright funk driven soul music. I loved it so much I added it to my vinyl
collection. It’s hard to deny the parallels that soul and funk shares with rock
and blues. I find myself thoroughly enjoying this stuff during certain moods,
and stuff like this is great as a crowd pleaser during dinner nights at home,
or over a glass of wine to set the mood with your partner.
Various Artists – Southwest Side Story:
Vol. 19
Oh man I
have gone mad, or I’m just honest. If you are in the mood for some straight up
oldies from the 50’s check out this rad compilation. I’m not ashamed to say I
can dig it.
“There are hundreds of bootlegs out there to
sate the ravenous soulero set, and so often they incorporate songs in the vast
Numero catalog. Rather than beat them, Numero joins them with our answer to the
iconic East Side Story series. Eschewing our classic look and standard-bearing
copious notes for sardonic artwork and impeccable selections, Numbero is proud
to present a ‘bootleg’ you can be proud of (because it’s all licensed). This
time we’ve set our sights on the most unique of soul cultures: the irreplicable
melting pot of San Antonio. Included here are all songs never before issued
other than in minuscule pressings on 45, never distributed outside of Bexar
County limits.”
This one I
haven’t even got a chance to hear fully as its not out yet, but reading up on
the bandcamp feature article about it sounds worthy of attention.
“In a world of guitar players, James “Wooden
Wand” Toth remains first and foremost a songwriter and lyricist. "Clipper
Ship", however, presents a break in tradition: in attempting to emancipate
himself from old habits, Toth wrote most of the songs on "Clipper
Ship" 'music first,' adding lyrics later, a reversal of the tried and true
method that has made him one of the most prolific and respected songwriters of
his generation. The result is the most democratically-conceived, multi-layered,
and musically sophisticated album in the vast Wooden Wand discography.”
Rays – Rays
What good is
a feature without some rogue as fuck garage driven punk? Not as good as when
you include one. I scanned this one a few weeks back and thought it was cool,
especially since I don’t particularly listen to this raw punk routinely and
that they were from Oakland which is semi-local in the grand scheme. If
anything else it’s a reminder that this stuff still exists and is thriving
depending on whose garage you are stumbling into.
“On RAYS’ debut album the band spins eleven
tunes of wiry, urgent post-punk, one foot planted firmly in the nihilistic
apathy of 70 & 80’s punk (Wire, Electric Eels, Pere Ubu, Eno, Television
The Fall), Australian punk past & present (UV Race, Terry, Victims, Babeez),
and the addictive strum of 80’s & 90’s New Zealand/Flying Nun pop; all of
whom have found their own way to meld the ferocity & thuggery of punk with
a singular melodic voice.”
Well that
felt good. For the record, these are just a sampling of what I’ve enjoyed via
the featured feed on the bandcamp app. Everyday there are a half a dozen new
and notable albums recommended by the folks behind the scenes of bandcamp.
Check it out if you have the app, or even on your desktop on the bandcamp homepage. Who knows you may just find
an entire new approach and decide to pack your bags and head across the valley to
an entire different camp. Although my tent is pitched in the rock and roll
camp, clearly the campground spans full circle and welcomes and encourages
diversity.
-The
Huntsman
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