JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT – JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT

Feb 242009

When Jason originally left the Trucker’s I imagined him releasing albums full of awesome tracks like, “Never Gonna Change”, “Decoration Day” and ballads as moving as “Goddamn Lonely Love”. As time moved on and Sirens of the Ditch was released and I stared to hear the previews of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, I realized that wasn’t gonna be the case. The longer I thought about that, the more it became clear that my original vision of what I thought a solo-Isbell was gonna be was terribly misguided. For one, if he was just gonna continue to write the kind of music he was writing with the Trucker’s, then why not just stay with DBT? For two, it would be utterly impossible to write albums full of tracks of that quality. A single album full of tracks the quality of “Never Gonna Change” would easily go down as one of the greatest albums in the history of rock and roll. So, when I got the band’s second self-titled album I decided to listen to it on its own merits, not on the merits of Jason’s past.

One of the first things I noticed when listening to this album was that, much like his second time through Tampa, his second solo album seems to have much more self-confidence that its predecessor. It seems he no longer needs to lean on his DBT back catalog and he is willing to sonically separate himself from the shadow he had already created. This new sound relies heavily on that Muscle Shoals sound that helped put Alabama on the musical map. Mixing equal parts soul, blues, rock and country, this album proves to be Jason’s most mature album to date.

Unlike Sirens of the Ditch, this album was an entire band experience. Jason wrote the songs, but the entire band; Browan Lollar (guitar), Derry deBorja (keyboards) and Jimbo Hart (bass), wrote and recorded the music as well as produced it alongside Centromatic’s drummer Matt Pence, who also played drums on the album.

The only question left really is whether or not people who like will Jason like this. I think the answer really depends on whether your buying this album to hear ‘Jason Isbell, the artist’, or if you’re buying it to hear the newest album from ‘Jason Isbell, the former guitarist of the Drive-By Truckers’. If you’re buying it to hear more DBT, you’re gonna be disappointed. However, if you buy this album willing to hear Jason in his own skin, then what you’ll find is a fantastic album full of songs as layered and deep as his past efforts with a slightly little different sound. I think it’s Essential Listening. What do you think?

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Streetlights
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Sunstroke
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – No Choice In The Matter

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit’s Official Site, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit on myspace, Buy Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE – ANIMALS IN THE DARK

Feb 232009

Sometimes an album review just writes itself. Such is the case with William Elliott Whitmore’s new album, Animals In The Dark, and here is what it writes:

“William Elliott Whitmore’s new album is absolutely awesome and anyone who listens to it and honestly dislikes it needs a swift kick in the crotch.”

Really, I could say Essential Listening and the above and feel like I’ve summed it up, but I wanna spend some time telling you just how awesome it is.

Animals In The Dark marks a couple of firsts for Whitmore. It’s his first album on Anti- Records. Also new to existing fans will be all the new sounds and full band arrangements. The banjo we’ve all come to love makes a couple of brief appearances, but for the most part Animals In The Dark is a full, multi-instrument affair. This may turn off some of his old fans but I can’t see how. The expansion of his sound has done nothing to lessen his impact, it just helps to make it a little more accessible.

This album also has a seemingly more political edge to it. That said, I wouldn’t call this a political record so much as a politically-charged and angry record. I imagine that if I were an artist and a farmer in my downtown I’d be pretty angry and attentive to the political landscape at this time myself. Hell, I’m a blogger and electrical designer and I’m pretty friggin’ angry.

The ultimate appeal of W.E.W. is the same as that of Mr. Tim Barry. Writing songs as honest as Abe Lincoln and taking to the road to share them with rooms full of people who’ve likely never heard them, they turn strangers into fanatics nightly. Tampa/St. Pete…you get the chance to see him on March 7 at The Orpheum. Don’t miss this chance.

If you do, find someone to give you a swift kick in the nuts ’cause you’ll deserve it….

William Elliott Whitmore – Mutiny
William Elliott Whitmore – Old Devils
William Elliott Whitmore – Lifetime Underground

William Elliott Whitmore’s Official Site, William Elliott Whitmore on myspace, Buy Animals In The Dark

ROCK OF LOVE 3: MUD BOWL 3 EDITION

Feb 202009

There was no ROL recap last week. I know. I was on vacation. I could go back and recap it but really, this season just hasn’t been interesting enough to bother. Honestly, I have not even garnished enough interest in this season to bother learning the girls names yet. But, I have not grown disinterested enough to stop watching. I will say this though, Rock of Love 3 ain’t got shit on Tool Academy.

This weeks ROL was the annual Mud Bowl episode. For those that don’t know, it’s when all the strippers put on as little as possible add some knee socks, mouthpieces and a fire truck turning a field into a shallow lake and they play tackle football.

The girls break down into teams by bus. There’s the Sweethearts versus the Fallen Angels. The Fallen Angels, being what’s left of the Blondentourage with two of the new girls while the Sweethearts are the remaining brunettes. Bret explains that the winning team will get a group date while the MVP of the game will get a private date that will involve flying via private jet to Dallas and staying (read, getting punish effed in the dumper) overnight.

The game itself featured the requisite amount of nudity and the obligatory Ashleyism of the week when she drops this gem, “I am gonna do whatever it takes to win this MVP. Even if it means that I have to get my hair all muddy, so I look brunette.” Unfortunately, by the end of the game Ms. Ashley was a mere dirty blonde and Mindy wins the STD MVP.

The date involved Bret and Mindy going to a restaurant called Billy Bob’s (well, it is Texas) and then to one of Bret’s concerts which Mindy watched from side stage.

Does it seem like I skipped over the date leaving out some details? That’s been the big problem with this season. Not that I’d be foolish enough to think there is much depth to these hags but it just seems that this season been so shallow, so surface level that it’s barely worthy of the 30 minutes I spend each week typing these recaps up….but back to the date:

After the show Bret and Mindy head back to the hotel room where Mindy slips into something less classy more comfortable. A leopard print top complete with blurred out nipples, underwear, stockings and high-heels. You know, standard issue stripper costume no. 3. The VH1 friendly portion of the date ends with Bret and Mindy making out while Bret closes the door to the camera.

The group date was a dinner where Bret informed the girls that his really close soldier friend that he knew for count ‘em, 3 weeks, was killed in Iraq and he’s somber. After the dinner Bret tries to steal some alone time with the ear ring faced girl. This alone time involved Bret asking her questions and her trying to comprehend his sentences and then formulate a reply. All of this just came across as dead air on TV so Bret went for the one thing he knew could do….they made out. I bet making out and blowjobs are imprinted on a whores DNA.

Elimination comes and Bret sends the blonde who’s dad just died home cause she was becoming a buzzkill.

Hopefully this season is gonna pick up…if not I feel that these recaps are gonna stop. Perhaps I’ll start recapping Tool Academy or I Love Money 2….both of which are infinitely more interesting and fun to watch.

This song perfectly captures the girls this season: Outkast – Synthesizer
This song perfectly captures my feelings towards ROL this season: Corrosion of Conformity – Stare Too Long

As a side note…this fake VH1 press release has been circulating the internet and seeing it made me realize just how bored I’ve grown with the ROL series. I do so wish this were true though…I’d DVR it and watch it numerous times a week:

PRESS RELEASE VH1/Viacom Corp. For Immediate Release Jan. 12, 2009 New Season of Rock of Love to Feature Metal Legend Glenn Danzig VH1 announced today that producers are now filming a new season of Rock of Love featuring metal/punk/horror-core legend, Glenn Danzig. The new show, which will premiere this July, is called “Rock of Love: Bride of Satan with Glenn Danzig.” Danzig is well-known in metal and punk circles as one of the founding members of 1980s horror-core punk rockers Samhain. He went on to the form hard-rock band Danzig, which scored several top 40 hits in the late ’80s including “Mother” and “She Rides.” Both a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Danzig is also well-known for his interest in the occult and all things evil. VH1 producers stated that introducing the element of Satanism would inject new life into the Rock of Love franchise as well as reach a different audience niche — jokingly referred to by insiders as “the black market.” The new series will follow the traditional Flavor of Love/Rock of Love format with a group of 20 women vying for the affection of the celebrity musician. However, at the insistence of Mr. Danzig, the winner will enter into a legally-binding marriage with Satan in a ceremony that is sure to test the limits of basic cable censorship standards. Although network executives are keeping a tight lid on the show’s planned shennanigans, a few details have been leaked about planned challenges. These include: goat entrail soup and chili cook-off blindfolded nun deflowering contest sexy seance strip-a-thon virgin or family member: the sacrifice challenge name that heretic

JUMP BACK JAKE – BROOKLYN HUSTLE / MEMPHIS MUSCLE

Feb 192009

I’ll be totally honest with y’all. The moment I opened the envelope this album came in and saw the cover and read the band name and cd title I wanted to like the album. Add to that the fact that it was coming off the freshly reborn Ardent Music label and I needed to like it. So strong was my want to like this album that I was afraid to listen to it, so I gave it to my wife first. I figured that way, if it sucks hearing it from her will be less disappointing than listening myself.

A week later the report came back; “Awesome! Really sounds like Mofro”

Immediately I confiscated the cd from her car (she’s still bitching) and tossed it in my cd player.

Jump Back Jake is Jake Rabinbach (Vocals/Guitar), Jake Vest (Guitar/Vocals), Brandon Robertson (Bass) and Greg Faison (Drums) joined by the part time horn playing of Paul Morelli (Sax) and Nashon Benford (trumpet). Jump Back Jake’s embryo started while Rabinbach was on a trip from New York to Memphis that was doubling as a “do I wanna move here” visit. Playing solo and opening for a band at four o’clock in the morning at a bottle club, Faison decided to join him on stage and improv the drums. Months later when Jake decided to follow the sirens of the South, he called Faison up and 2 weeks later Jump Back Jake V.1.0 was birthed.

Reading their one sheet I see names like The Meters, JJ Cale, North Mississippi Allstars and The Black Keys, but the one name that’s missing from that list is the one you could call their brother in sound; JJ Grey and Mofro (or Mofro for fans prior to the Alligator Records signing). Perhaps outside of Florida JJ Grey isn’t that well known, I dunno, I don’t get out of the state too much, but that seems like the only way you could not draw comparisons between the two.

For those out of the know, any definition of Mofro’s music contains words like front-porch, soul and Southern. Take that and add an ever so slightly more rocking edge to it, and you’re gonna be describing Jump Back Jake.

Check it out, and, um….welcome back into the game Ardent…more releases like this and you’ll be just fine.

Jump Back Jake – Easy Answers
Jump Back Jake – Terrible Mistakes
Jump Back Jake – Samson

Jump Back Jake’s Official Site, Jump Back Jake on myspace, Buy Brooklyn Hustle / Memphis Muscle

TAMPA/ST. PETE: TO DO: PINE BOX BOYS @ DAVE’S AQUA LOUNGE & DR DOG @ THE CROWBAR

Feb 182009

This Friday the murdergrass outfit out of San Francisco, The Pine Box Boys, will make their triumphant return to the stage at Dave’s Aqua Lounge. The last time these guys came through town I partied a little too hard with my good buddies Beam and Ginger and was unable to write a decent review of the show…which is a good sign I had one hell of a good time, and I did.  The interplay of the band members as well as their faux-arguments even makes the between song innerband banter a complete riot.

You’re asking, what does the band sound like? You’re wondering, what exactly is murdergrass? Well let’s say you take Old Crow Medicine Show and Those Poor Bastards and you put them in a blender. Now, if you  were to puree them what you would get would be one hell of a mess, but if that mess could somehow make music…that amalgam of Old Crow and TPB would be The Pine Box Boys. If Old Crow are Dr. Jekyll, then The Pine Box Boys are their Mr. Hyde.

So, come join me at Dave’s Friday night and listen to Mr. Lester T. Raww confess to more murders than the Green River Killer. Try not to think too ill of them, though, as they said a few years back, ““We never wanted any of them ladies to get killed. But they kept on bleeding and Willie kept on stabbing, so, well, I reckon we HAD to write a song about it.”

Flawless logic if you ask me.

The Pine Box Boys – I Had To Cut Her
The Pine Box Boys – Just A Crush
The Pine Box Boys – Hair Of Gold
The Pine Box Boys – The Pallbearers

The Pine Box Boys Official Site, The Pine Box Boys on myspace, Buy The Pine Box Boys’ music

9B editor and guest contributor Marci also wants to make sure you all know about Dr. Dog coming to the Crowbar this Thursday night.  When she saw them at Lollapalooza last year, this is what she had to say about their show, “These guys are 100% pros and fit all the energy and music they could into the hour allotted to them on the little MySpace stage.  Much of the crowd knew the lyrics to every song, and as the five guys gave their all, for a little while it felt as if we’d been transported from this sunny public park to a little local gin joint.  If you get a chance to see these guys, do it, you won’t be disappointed.”  She tells me that this time they’ll be playing a place that should far better enhance their raw, blues-filled harmonies and they should not be missed.

Dr Dog – Army of Ancients
Dr Dog – The Beach

Dr Dog’s Official Site , Dr Dog on myspace

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