AgesandAges - Alright You Restless (2011)

Like neo-hippies, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, AgesandAges sound like an idealized front porch family sing-along. Just about every song off Alright You Restless exudes a friendly communal feeling, to the point where the band must regularly discuss whether they are or are not a cult. I first discovered AgesandAges, along with Boy Eats Drum Machine and Light For Fire, on last summer’s PDX Pop! Now compilation. “No Nostalgia” stood out with its wonderful rolling rhythm, buoyed by spirited group harmonies, and a catchy call and response. The rest of album roughly follows that basic formula, with a guitarist and percussionist anchoring the songs, while the rest of the seven member band fills out the sound and shares the lead and backing vocal duties. The rustic nature and appearing simplicity of the songs belie the many tempo changes, vocal arrangements, and intricate musicianship. For example, when male vocals lash through the choral pop towards the end of "When I Was Idle." I love the entire album, but the galloping “So So Freely” (mp3) and ringing “Souvenir” are two of the other standouts.


AgesandAges "Navy Parade (escape from the Black River bluffs)" HD from Alicia J. Rose on Vimeo.

Worst Week To Leave Portland?

Apparently, I am traveling to DC for a week at the worst possible time when there isn't an actual festival going on. The Crystal Ballroom's December to Remember series of concerts includes Passion Pit, Metric, Vampire Weekend, Black Joe Lewis and Spoon! On top of that, Edward Shape is sharing a bill with Fool's Gold and the Local Natives at the Doug Fir. And the Thermals are at Berbati's Pan. On top of that – yes, I am going to pile on more – the Dandy Warhols and Upsidedown are at the Wonder Ballroom. And that really only highlights the headliners. Dolorean, Chuck Prophet, the Slants, Joe Purdy, and Nurses are also playing around town. All in 7 days.

Sometimes the music gods can be cruel.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up from Below (2009)

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros are a neo-hippie band started by one of the guys from Ima Robot. Apparently they tour around in a big old bus and have wild celebratory live shows. The songs from Up from Below fit perfectly with that image. On songs like "Carries On" they sound like Hot August Nights era Neil Diamond, while "Home" adds the Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood-style vocals to an atmospheric Hang Em High soundtrack. Spanish lyrics coupled with mariachi horns and manly grunts turn "Kisses Over Babylon" into a great opening sequence to an epic Western. The coda on "I Come In Please" references "Sympathy For The Devil". There a couple acoustic folk songs sprinkled throughout which diversify the album, but don't add much else. Overall, the mood is laid back and retro, spacey and fun.

The video to "Desert Song" is too weird not to share.