Rainstick Cowbell - Fireants

Rainstick Cowbell is the solo project of Scott Arbogast, an ex-member of Creepy Old Trucks. Each song is only comprised of vocals and guitar, but Arbogast's unique and powerful voice that makes the album standout. Every track is charged with anger and passion, which is complemented by driving acoustic guitar arrangements. While this album is far from the normal image of alt-country or folk music, Arbogast has created a refreshingly different album that is worth a listen.

Track Listing:

1 In the September of My 35th Year
2 Stabbed in a Dream
3 Rainstick Cowbell Theme Song (I Don't Suck, I Chug)
4 Legg Perthes
5 For the Beatniks
6 Sun Tzu's the Art of War: Chapter 13 - Employing Spies
7 Mad At the Megalith
8 Somewhere, Right Now... It's Happening
9 What I Would Say to Le Corbusier
10 Burt Bacharach's Hands
11 The Waitress At the Diner
12 Ye Olde Future
13 Short, Quiet Spiritual
14 A Self-indulgent Song I Know, but I Want My Family to Hear This

-Clio

Mike Bones - A Fool For Everyone

Mike Bones' new album, "A Fool for Everyone," is standard "folk" rock, but in all honesty, it's nothing special. It's not bad, but it's not great either. The lyrics are melodramatic and whiny at times, and once you make it half way through, all of the tracks start to sound the same. There's nothing compelling about the album, and most of the songs sound like recycled top 40 alternative hits. Some songs are standouts (What I Have Left), and the album as a whole is accessible, but overall the album is mediocre.

Track Listing:
01. Today The World Is Worthy of My Loathing
02. One Moment's Peace
03. A Fool For Everyone
04. Like A Politician
05. I'm a Decent Man, I Kept Repeating
06. What I Have Left
07. Much More Than Love
08. Give Up On Guitars
09. Everybody's Always Coming Down on Me

-Clio

Speck Mountain - Some Sweet Relief

Speck Mountain's album, Some Sweet Relief, is some great psychedelic folk, complemented by slow moving bass lines, hazy guitar riffs, simple drums, light organ drones, and haunting vocals. With an obvious roots influence forming a solid bass for the album, members Karl Briedrick and Marie-Claire Balabanian are able to take their music to new and interesting directions, while still retaining a sense of continuity. Speck Mountain has managed to keep their record accessible by using simple yet engaging lyrics, that are nicely accented by unique musical motives in each piece. This album has worked to fuse together seemingly contradictory genres in order to create a pleasant surprise for the listener, and is worth your attention.

Track List:
1. Shame on the Soul
2. Fidelity Shake
3. Angela
4. I Feel Eternal
5. Some Sweet Relief
6. Backslider
7. Backsliding
8. Twinlines
9. Sister Water

(release date: March 17th)
-Clio

June Madrona - Battlegrounds

June Madrona's most recent release, Battlegrounds, is a folk inspired work, with diverse instrumentation that complements their stripped down acoustic style. The lead singer, Ross Cowman's, voice reminds me of Colin Meloy of the Decemberists, but with a less nasal sound. The album whimsical aesthetic that is accentuated by flute and melodica solos sprinkled throughout. Each track, while satisfyingly simple, adds a different element of subtly to the album, while flowing seamlessly into one another. This is the fourth release by June Madrona, and easily their best, as the band has been able to hone in on their craft, bringing a new level of musical maturity to their work.

Track Listing:
1. Battle Ground
2. Grandpaw Frank
3. The Football Dream
4. Trying to Sleep
5. Wolf Dream
6. Dandelion Seeds
7. Contents of a Bus
8. Long Distance
9. Love is Complicated
10. Transatlantic
11. Big Sur
12. California Highways

If you like what you hear, they're playing a show at the Echo Curio on March 21st as well.

-Clio