You may or may not remember, but a little before Christmas I wrote a bit about Matthew Ryan’s latest album, Dear Lover. It got a bit of attention – not least because, uhhh, Matthew actually tweeted it. And usually when I get attention, it means I get free music.
Of course, with it being just before Christmas – and my first Christmas in retail since 2004, at that – actually finding the time to write anything about that music proved difficult. But this is when a phenomenon I have mentioned before, but never actually named – let’s call it iTunes Shuffle Roulette – comes into play. And this song comes on that you’ve never heard before, but it almost feels as if you’ve known it your whole life. And that song makes you want to jump and dance and scream and fight and kiss. That song comes close to being everything you love about music in three minutes of simple chords.
In this case it was “Sooner/Later” by Kasey Anderson, and I couldn’t believe I’d left it so late.
Nowhere Nights, the third album from the Portland-native singer-songwriter, is what he describes as his coming-of-age record, leaving behind the small community in Bellingham, Washington where he spent eight years. “Bellingham Blues” sums up his frustration, with its repeated motif – this ain’t never been my home – setting the tone for the rest of the album.
Nowhere Nights is the sound of escape from the smalltown blues. When it’s up (“All Lit Up”, “Torn Apart”) it’s like a freedom drive down some distant highway, the windows down and Born To Run blaring from the tape deck. When it’s down (“Home”, “Leavin’ Kind”), um, that’s probably a good description of it too.
Kasey Anderson is, I believe, just off the back of a tour with Matthew Ryan himself and if you like the sort of stuff that I like you will love this album.
DOWNLOAD: Kasey Anderson – Sooner/Later
BUY: Nowhere Nights from Red River Records
Also worth mentioning is Jonathan Barnes, whose bluesy, five-song Treatable EP is a gorgeous, low key treat for a late night or a laid-back, rainy Sunday afternoon.
DOWNLOAD: Jonathan Barnes – Swiftly Now
BUY: The Treatable EP from CDBaby.
And I suppose, if I’m writing about music… remember my cynicism about the so-called Hole “reunion”?
Well… I might have tickets to see them, and be ridiculously excited.
I mean, she’s even using the same logo.
I can’t help it. I’m going to be in the same room as Courtney Love. Fairywings and babydoll dresses at the ready!
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