Will Stratton’s second album for Bella Union, “The Changing Wilderness”, is our album of the week. Pastoral folk for troubled times, Stratton’s seventh LP is yet another gem to be explored by fans of fingerpicking songwriters.
Five years in the making, sixteen after their original collaboration, “Superwolf”, Matt Sweeney teams up with Bonnie Prince Billy for its follow-up, “Superwolves”.
It’s not common for a reunion to last longer than the original run of a band. Also uncommon for the reunion-era records to be as consistently good as Dinosaur Jr.‘s. Produced by Kurt Vile, “Sweep It Into Space” is the band’s twelfth LP and the fifth since 2005’s original lineup reunion. It sees the band mostly exploring its melodic side without straying much from the typical Dino Jr sound – exactly what we all want from them.
Cory Hanson’s sophomore solo record, “Pale Horse Rider”, is our album of the week! Better known for fronting LA psychedelic rockers Wand, Hanson’s solo work is more on the mellower side, flirting with cosmic country – an unsurprising turn of events considering his whereabouts.
Stuff to listen to when your mind is warped enough (and your ear is muscled enough) to find neo-freakfolk with sweet guitar licks hugely enjoyable. Get a cold one, lay down, close your eyes, and enter the beehive’s spirit. You won’t get stung, we promise. Spirit of the Beehive’s record is pleasure percolated through aural honey, mind the cliché. And, just like honey (pun intended), it will age well.