Rock Torch

Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate carries a torch for The Glands

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Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate and The Glands

Hardy Morris and The Glands

Hardy Morris’ recommendation: “{The Glands} are an often overlooked late 90’s band from right here in Athens, GA. I found out about them when I was in college at UGA. I was working with a guy who was playing a tape of a local Glands show. The tape sounded terrible, but I really liked what I was hearing. It didn’t take much asking around before I learned that they were no longer playing together but that both of their records were essential if you planned on living in town for any amount of time.

I quickly acquired their albums, Double Thriller and their self-titled sophomore release. Their music has been a staple in our van for several years now…and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon. That’s the thing about their style; you just don’t get sick of it. I’m not sure of what you’d really even call it. Experimental pop sounds cool and all, but this is much more than that. They have a way of making every song different, yet each one has this sensibility that is all Glands. A+ Definitely recommended.”

Hardy MorrisAbout the guest author, Hardy Morris: Hardy is the singer and guitar player for Dead Confederate, an Athens, GA band that formed in high school and then caught the attention of the manager of The Whigs. Their 2008 release, Wrecking Ball drew comparisons to Nirvana and the band was labeled as, dare I say it…Southern Grunge. Their teaming up with J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. on their new single (sample the goodness below) helps the classification hold. Check the Dead Condederate MySpace page for tour dates and info about their new album, Sugar which arrives on August 24.

MP3: Giving it All Away (Featuring J Mascis) from the upcoming Dead Confederalte album, Sugar

Steve Yutzy-Burkey of The Swimmers carries a torch for Will Oldham (aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy)

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Steve Yutzy-Burkey and Will Oldham

Steve Yutzy-Burkey and Will Oldham

Steve Yutzy-Burkey’s recommendation: “Will Oldham has the ability to deliver some of the most revealing and heartbreaking lines, yet somehow he manages to never take himself too seriously. He has maintained a unique voice throughout a varied career (Palace, Palace Brothers, Palace Music, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billie, etc], always making music on his own terms. His voice is full of personality without the pretension of a constructed persona. I am fascinated by performers like him that can take so many risks (out-of-tune vocals, almost overly sincere lyrics, sloppy revolving cast of backing band members, weighty subject matter) and pull off so many things that would fall flat coming from anyone else. I doubt that people would easily hear a connection listening to my music, but Will Oldham’s music has been a source of inspiration and frustration for me throughout my years of attempting to write and perform.”

New to Will Oldham? Steve recommends you start here: “If unfamiliar, I recommend starting with Palace Music’s Lost Blues & Other Songs, as it was my first introduction and it worked on me. It’s a scattered and sparse affair–less polished than some later records–but even early on Oldham’s voice draws me in with its warbled and haunting clarity. I just listened to it again after a long break from hearing it, and it’s everything as brilliant as i remembered it.”

Steve Yutzy-BurkeyAbout the guest author, Steve Yutzy-Burkey: Steve is the lead singer/songwriter for The Swimmers, the Philadelphia band that the New York Times called “…a new favorite” and was placed as one of the “Eight To Watch in ’08” by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Their last release, People Are Soft is a fantastic mix of cheery keyboards, sweet harmonies and smart lyrics that never try to be too clever. Check The Swimmers MySpace page for upcoming dates and sample their sounds below.

MP3: Shelter by The Swimmers from their album, People Are Soft

Westin Glass of The Thermals carries a torch for The Velvet Teen

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Westin Glass and The Velvet Teen

Westin Glass and The Velvet Teen

Westin Glass’ recommendation: “The Velvet Teen is an exquisite and chimerical Northern California band whose ever-evolving emotive post-rock sound never fails to inspire me. Judah Nagler has been the one consistent member of the band and the fountainhead of their amazing, eclectic body of work since 1999. He is a musical genius who can write, sing, and play every instrument way better than you or I or any other mortal. The rest of the band’s members are no slackers, either! The Velvet Teen has experienced a number of lineup changes since it began in 1999, including the tragic 2006 death of drummer Logan Whitehurst, from brain cancer. When we were recently mixing our new record with Chris Walla (who produced their first full-length, Out of the Fierce Parade, in 2002), Chris described Judah as “one of those people who can just… reach out and pick the fruit [of musical inspiration].” It’s true! This band could be bigger than, say, Muse right now if they wanted to. Every new record completely reinvents their sound, and blows most other bands out of the water with its complexity and sheer beauty.

In the fall of 2007 I was lucky enough to share a package tour with them, and got to watch them play 32 consecutive shows. I never got tired of their set. As far as I know, they haven’t toured since then; but I have heard tell they have another album recorded and they have been playing shows around the San Jose/Petaluma area recently, so we can hope they will return to blow our minds once again. In addition to Judah on bass, their current lineup includes Matthew Izen on guitar, Casey Dietz on drums, and founding member Josh Staples on guitar.”

New to The Velvet Teen? Westin recommends you start here: “If you’re new to The Velvet Teen, I would recommend starting with Out of the Fierce Parade, their 2002 debut LP. As I said before, Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla produced it (so you know it sounds incredible), and it’s an excellent and accessible introduction to their dizzying, aching, hyperemotional hurricane of sound.”

Westin GlassAbout the guest author, Westin Glass: Westin is the drummer for one of Rock Torch’s favorite alternative bands, The Thermals. The band has put out four wonderful albums and their next offering, Personal Life is set to drop on September 7th. The masterful Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie) is producing for the band once again, using the same live-to-tape techniques that he deployed on the band’s 2004 collection, Fuckin a. Be sure to check The Thermals’ official web site for tour dates (beginning in July) and for updates about the new album.

MP3: Now We Can See by The Thermals from their album of the same title.

AND…here is a preview cut from their upcoming album, Personal Life

MP3: I Don’t Believe You

Related: Thermals lead singer Hutch Harris’ recommendation of The Breeders

Ryan McPhun of The Ruby Suns carries a torch for Robyn

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Ryan McPhun and Robyn

Ryan McPhun and Robyn

Ryan McPhun’s recommendation: “I’m currently really excited about the new Robyn ep/album. The two singles (“Dancing On My Own”, and “Fembot”) are incredible and I can’t stop listening to them.”

New to Robyn? Ryan suggests you start here: “The new album is called Body Talk Pt 1. The two tracks above are what I’d recommend. I guess most people would be familiar with her track “With Every Heartbeat” from a couple of years ago. I love that song too and was obsessed with it when I first heard it.”

Ryan McPhunAbout the guest author, Ryan McPhun: Sub Pop’s press release describes Ryan as “… the kind of voracious musical mind that cites as equal influences ‘80s New Jack Swing and modern Angolan kuduro, Fleetwood Mac and Britney Spears, Brazilian tropicalia and Argentinean cumbia.” Sounds challenging, but it actually goes down quite easy. Give the “Closet Astrologer” mp3 a listen below from the Ruby Suns latest release Fight Softly and be sure to check their MySpace page for full tour information.

MP3: Closet Astrologer by The Ruby Suns

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