It’s funny how much your external surroundings can affect your perception of a cd. When the new Seven Mary Three cd showed up in my mailbox, I was heading out the door for an afternoon at the beach with the dog. Since it was in the car with me, I threw the cd in the deck and headed out. I was really indifferent, bordering on disappointed, in the album, and it had been sitting in my passenger seat ever since. I was making a lonely middle of the night trek home from a show in Orlando the other night and all that was on sports radio was March madness talk, so I decided a disappointing Seven Mary Three album was better than more NCAA basketball talk. Suddenly, driving down the interstate alone at 1 am, I “got it”. Perhaps I finally listened to it, I dunno, but my feelings toward Day&nightdriving made a 180 during that 2 hour drive.

Seven Mary Three will always be know as “the Cumbersome band”, and it’s a real shame. While “Cumbersome” propelled their debut cd, American Standard, to platinum status, it also shackled the “grunge” label around the band’s neck. Back then the band consisted of Jason Ross wanting to rock and Jason Pollock wanting to write more acoustic, contemplative songs. Over time, the strain of the different sounds resulted in Pollock’s departure. This allowed Ross free rein to “rock out with his cock out”, which he did for two dreadful albums. The success of “Cumbersome” was never repeated, and 7M3 is filed as a one hit wonder in most people’s memories. Hell, after the disappointment of 2004’s Dis/Location, I assumed they were done until I saw an add in a magazine about the new album, so I wrote to Icon Records and asked for it.

I am guessing Day&nightdriving was a difficult album for the band to release. Its honesty cuts right to the bone. Anyone who’s had a relationship fall apart can identify with the lyrics of “Dead Days in the Kitchen” and it’s final admission of sharing fault, and anyone who’s had an intimate relationship with a bar can identify with “Strangely at Home Here”. Does Day&nightdriving have a “Cumbersome”-like hit on it? Hell, I dunno. I haven’t listened to FM radio in 5 years, but I can say it is the best album the band has released since 1997’s Rock Crown…even if it took a little late night driving for me to realize it.

Seven Mary Three - Strangely at Home Here
Seven Mary Three - Dead Days in the Kitchen
Seven Mary Three - Upside Down

Seven Mary Three’s Official Site, Seven Mary Three on myspace, Buy Day&nightdriving

Today I wanna talk about an interesting, to say the least, one-man band; Possessed By Paul James. I first came to know of Possessed Paul James because he was doing The Folk Singer with Scott H. Biram, and anyone affiliated with SHB gets immediate examination by myself. To say I was put off is putting it lightly. I didn’t like what came out of my speakers in any way shape or form. That would have been the end of any Autopsy/Possessed By Paul James relationship, had it not been for his cd showing up in my mailbox the other day and, as I said, anyone who affiliates with Scott Biram starts off on my good side, so I decided to at least give the album a listen.

Looking back, I dunno how or why I wasn’t digging his stuff the first time I heard it. My only theory is that perhaps his myspace profile was streaming poorly-recorded live takes or something, because this album is wonderful.

Konrad Wert was raised in the Florida Everglades by an Amish Menonite preacher, taking on his stage name in honor of this father and grandfather, and he now makes his home in Texas. Released by Voodoo Rhythm Records, Cold and Blind features Konrad incorporating fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, stomp box, the occasional diddly boe, grunts, hollers and a kind honesty that you rarely hear, but once you do, cannot deny. The Daily Texan described Konrad’s live show as follows:

“Wert is known for contorting his face in pleasure and apparent pain, and subsequently shakes, convulses, stomps and yells throughout his performances.”

Possessed By Paul James will be playing Deep Blues Festival this year, so I’ll get to witness it all for myself. Till then, I’ll just keep Cold and Blind on my essential listening iPod playlist. If you are in the mood for some lo-fi, under-produced, old-time Southern folk with a dash of everglades blues that cuts through all the bullshit, then Cold and Blind could be the album for you.

Possessed By Paul James on myspace