It’s a soundtrack for a movie about being a teenager. In love. And beating the shit out of the world and shoving it in his pocket. At least, that’s what I gleaned from the trailer — and even more so, the soundtrack. The Twilight franchise

shocked everyone with its (admittedly) amazing soundtracks, and Scott Pilgrim’s tunes follow suit here. Beck happily throws himself back to his bizarre Midnite Vultures phase as the fictional band Sex Bob-omb for four super-fuzzed, video-blippy garage rock tracks.

 

Longtime local rocker and one-time Ranch Records employee Don Hoxie is so clear on his album opener, “Welcome,” that he’s not impressed by the lack of skill and hard work demonstrated on current records. I agree, music seems too easy to record and sell. Problem is, few artists with strong musical chops make memorable albums. Yes, Joe Satriani might wail on gee-tar…but his albums blow. Just because you can play guitar doesn’t necessarily give you the green light to record.

If you judge Kousefly’s Down By A Billion by its faux-metal cover art, you might expect late ’90s-style rock. And while the local duo that has been gigging regularly around Bend for several years is anything but Godsmack wannabes, it takes several songs before the album realizes its direction.  Songs like “Rain,” “Pride,” and the gospel-tinged “So Lovely” certainly show Down By A Billion to be more than unnecessary guitar noodling and forgettable musical ideas.  Chalk it up to first-album jitters, but at times, Kousefly seems a bit unsure about how they want to sound and who they want to be as a band. The band works best when they explore folk-based harmonies and melodies over creative plucked strings, whistling and brush splashed drums. Chris Evans, Brian Hinderberger, and company give an honest effort on Down By A Billion and I couldn’t be happier that Kousefly isn’t another horrid hard rock group.
— Ethan Barrons

The Quick & Easy Boys

Red Light Rabbit

PerCapita Records

 

Well, The Quick & Easy Boys have done the seemingly impossible – they’ve managed to make a largely funky record without coming off even the least bit corny. Those who’ve seen the Portland band live and wondered how the trio’s energy-packed live show would translate to the recorded medium have a firm answer in Red Light Rabbit.

While a soulful air of throwback funk fills the 11-track album, the band keeps a garage-rock ethos, proving with songs like “Take Your Medicine” that a band can be funky without getting too concerned with flashiness. The record peaks with “Black Panther,” a groovy yet earnest rocker that’s grounded in the sort of guitar mastery that Jimmy Russell dishes out throughout the album. Fans looking for the honky-tonk feel the Boys deliver at their shows won’t find much of it here, but that’s a good thing because Red Light Rabbit feels more focused than the band’s earlier efforts. Yeah, the honky-tonk-funk collision was interesting, but the more gritty rock feel the Boys have going here makes for a much more solid record.

 

The Quick and Easy Boys play Silver Moon Brewing. 9pm Saturday, August 14.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy & the Cairo Gang
The Wonder Show of the World
Drag City Records

Will Oldham (aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy) has a devoted underground following. And because of that, I thought I’d be floored by The Wonder Show of the World, seeing that it’s my first experience with the man. I wasn’t, even though there is nothing — zero — wrong with this record. It’s slyly beautiful without glomming it on. It’s technical in the right places and simple in the right places. On some songs, Oldham and his band are able to achieve the same chilling quietness as Iron & Wine (without being so whispery). Songs are lyrical poems and tall tales of wonder and amusement. It is in the lyrics that Oldham is at his strongest and wittiest. Like on “That’s What Our Love Is,” he sings, “the smell of your box on my mustache.” Wait, what? Oh. Oh my. That came out of nowhere and totally made me blush.

Recommended Download: “Troublesome Houses”