New Albums: UMass-based band Shakusky have been making waves in this past year with their post-hardcore sound, and after last year’s Lancaster Market they return true to form with their album Transient, released May 25. The two albums take on rather different lyrical tones thanks to the departure of former lead singer Steven Arcieri, whose obtuse, fractured, yet always entertaining lyrics about love, the vagaries of life, and who-knows-what-else at the forefront of the bands’ sound have given way to a more even approach where the instrumentals take as much precedence as the vocals, and the lyrics have a more cohesive theme about the changing of the seasons.
Musically, the band hasn’t changed too much, with songs such as “Melt of Winter” bringing back guitarists Mark Hillier and Eli Albanese’s seamless guitar interplay that was used to great effect on Lancaster Market, with neither Hillier nor Albanese being hesitant to noodle, despite a lack of out-and-out guitar solos on the record. Bassist Lenny Schwartz and drummer Liam Cregan also shine on the album, particularly on “Buried Alone (seed)” which sees Cregan doing some very intricate yet powerful drumming in the first part of the song, and on “Ice Jams the Flood,” which sees the Schwartz and Cregan locking into a powerful riff for the first part of the song, and then the band navigate through metric shifts that hook the listener’s ear. You can listen to the EP here, or buy a physical copy at any one of their frequent shows in the area.
In a completely different musical vein, Ariana Grande’s new album My Everything is a tour de force in another aspect completely, showcasing the chanteuse’s vocal and stylistic range and differentiating her from being just a mini-Mariah Carey (which, given Carey’s vocal prowess, is a feat in itself). On My Everything, Grande uses her range to great effect, especially on songs like the album’s lead single “Problem,” with a climb up to the chorus seeing her reach stratospheric heights and build up a ton of energy in the song, which is in no short supply to begin with in this song thanks to the sax and drum loops. One of this album’s other strengths is how Grande plays off her collaborators, which include mainstream luminaries The Weeknd, Big Sean, Childish Gambino, and Iggy Azalea, especially in songs like “Break Free” in a collaboration with EDM artist Zedd. Overall, though, it’s a very calculated record. Much of the emotional urgency and depth of character that could be present on this record is eschewed for the sheer exuberance and radio-friendly songcraft. Still, it’s by no means a sophomore slump.
What I’ve Been Listening To: Over the summer, I played shows with a few pretty cool groups, but one of the best was the Little War Twins, a duo based out of Boston that calls themselves “mystic power pop.” They put on one of the best shows I’d seen that summer in terms of pure energy and musical conviction, with guitarist Gaetana Brown and drummer Trick putting everything into what they were performing. Check out “Fire Burning” off their new EP for a look into what they’re about. Next, I saw a concert video of Santana at Tanglewood in 1970 that shows the band at its peak, perhaps even better than their Woodstock performance. It also shows that Western Mass was, is, and will be a sweet spot for music. Finally, another duo I performed with over the summer was Nouveau-Expo from San Francisco, who were on a tour performing piano-based rock across the country that they just recently finished. Pianist and singer Kayleigh Mack and singer/guitarist Alex Fostar released their album These Woods in 2011, an album full of great indie-rock songs such as “A & A” and “Upturn in Texas,” really showcasing Mack’s voice and the group’s impeccable songcraft. Even though they had a full band back then, the duo makes it sound just as magical nowadays. Check them out!
Local Music Happenings:
1) Red Velvet Ribbon, Shaelyn McGrory, and Watts’ Closet will be playing an 18+ show at The O’s in Sunderland on Friday, September 26th. Come and enjoy some great musicians, pool, and drinks.
2) The Freshgrass festival is happening on September 19-20th in North Adams at Mass MoCA. Artists such as Trampled By Turtles and Bela Fleck will be playing, as well as some sweet picking by tons of others. If you like a little twang, definitely check this out.
3) The UMass Farmers’ Market will be having student performers at its markets on Fridays all through the semester. Stop by the Goodell Lawn between noon and 4 on Fridays to hear your fellow students make some music.