Thirsty Thursday

Shortly after he released his first bedroom-folk project (”the perfect CD to end your life to”), I spoke with Elliott Kozel of Madison, WI. band Sleeping in the Aviary and the beautiful solo-project he recorded over the last few years that he has tagged She Is So Beautiful/She Is So Blonde. Kozel offered up tons of tidbits about the creation of both projects, the life of dayjobbing in an effort to continue following the muse, Carabou, and playing weird shows around the country. The interview also offers up a smattering of Kozel’s work with the two aforementioned bands, plus a track from a side-project he’s been tinkering with called The Lark Voorhies.

Elliott Kozel interview



If you’re itching for more Kozel and Co., head over to the Sleeping in the Aviary myspace page or check out a few more She Is So Beautiful/She Is So Blonde songs.

The day after his first LP (”A Place Where We Could Go”) hit the stands, Cali. dream-pop genius Jeremy Jay took a few minutes to chat with me about exactly how much work went into his first full-length, the joys of working with Calvin Johnson (founder of K records and the man behind Beat Happening), riding all of your ponies at once and the sounds that formed his musical interests growing up.

Jeremy Jay interview.

For more of Jay’s dreamy, Buddy Holly inspired tunes, check out his myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/jeremyjay and be sure to pick up “A Place Where We Could Go”, out now on K records.

The Watson Twins
“Fire Songs”
3 out of 4 stars

On their first full-length album, the Watson Twins deliver beautiful, melancholy tunes that would fit right in with Norah Jones, Kim Richey or Nina Nastasia.

After their first brush with fame, doing backing vocals on Jenny Lewis’ (lead-singer for Rilo Kiley) first solo album “Rabbit Fur Coat,” Chandra and Leigh Watson released an EP titled “Southern Manners” and had some of their music comfortably inserted into an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.”

They’ve built on their homey, lovely folk/country/gospel sound, and “Fire Songs” certainly gets the job done if you’re looking for something warm and inviting. Featuring a killer cover of “Just Like Heaven,” one of the Cure’s most famous songs, the duo manages to slice the distraught edge off the Robert Smith classic and make it more of an AM radio staple.

“How Am I To Be” starts off the album with dreamy, enticing vocals. A jilted lover, a silly fight, an exciting beat and smoky vocals make the sheer warmness of the twins sound lure you right in.

The disc has a nice balance between Cat Power (though not nearly as dark) and Azure Ray throughout most of its run. Though the Jenny Lewis solo album wasn’t the greatest thing to come out in ’06, at least it brought us the Watson Twins, who undoubtedly have a long career ahead of them, if this album is any indication of their greatness.

Originally published in the St. Cloud Times on 07-17-08.

Jason Schueppert

The Weeks
“Comeback Cadillac”
3 out of 4 stars

The Weeks debut album “Comeback Cadillac” blends a lot of familiar sounds into something that’s bound to get you tapping your feet.

The Jackson, MO. five-some have jumped on the Kings of Leon bandwagon, with lead singer Cyle Barnes matching that throaty, lazy drawl of Leon front man Caleb Followill. Instead of coming off as just a Leon knock-off, they’re avoiding the southern rock in favor of some good old fashioned rock and roll that taps into that stomping blues feel of the Black Keys.

The album opener “Comeback Cadillac” throws an amped up punk rock vibe that sounds like a hotel room being trashed, with Barnes‘ howl spilling out of your speakers. It works as a high powered kick-off that throws you off of what to expect from the rest of the disc. Instead of setting the tone, The Weeks quickly abandon the wildness and fall back into a nice, lazy, very cool round of killer tracks that somehow grow on you even though they were good to begin with.

Track five is the obvious album seller or hit single waiting to be overplayed across the country. “Buttons” is a fun, night out track about the drunken stumble home from the bar, holding hands with potential romance. Starting off with a guitar riff that sounds an awful like that Silver Suns Pickup cover of “Lazy Eye”, it quickly becomes a twenty-something anthem as Barnes drawls “She kissed my lips and quickly ran away” referring to the cat and mouse game of young love that’s beginning for the narrator.

Barnes and crew have their shtick down pat. They are clearly wearing their influences on their sleeves, but it never seems like they’re directly ripping off anyone. They like Kings of Leon, who can fault them for that, or for being down with the Black Keys? They’re just a handful of young kids from down south who are out to get you hopping around and the songs they’re offering us never fall flat and are nearly impossible to dislike.

For more about the band and to catch some of their tracks (including the awesome “Buttons”), head over to myspace.com/theweeks.

Originally published in the St. Cloud Times on 07-10-08.

Jason Schueppert