For awhile I thought Clutch was the only true rock band out there that could hold their own against the legends of the past. Such naive thoughts usually result in excellent finds.
Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound and Graveyard are not reviving anything, they, like the mighty Clutch, are forerunners ushering in a new age of good rock.
Graveyard - Graveyard (2008)
Sweden's Graveyard released what could be considered one of the best throwbacks to early day rock in the ways of Blue Cheer, Armageddon, Gun, Atomic Rooster and so on. Progressive in it's precision and soulful in its delivery, Graveyard is the nostalgia that every bitter and jaded hipster from the days of yore longs for.
This is another one of those "They do it better" deals. It's rare I can pop in a disc of what could be considered 'Rock' these days and actually get something from it. Graveyard, unlike a lot of self proclaimed eclectic psych rock out there, actually give direction to their sound while encompassing the spirit of those who came before them. By spirit I'm referring to the actual sound. They were able to get that vintage raw atmospheric feeling that carries both depth and clarity. Admittedly this album has plenty of hooks that due well to keep one entertained but in the midst of their catchy song writing there are intricacies and swellings that expand the music to a level more than just ear grabbing pop rock.
I like rock bands that give emphasis on being direct in the traditional song sense while also being able to give your ears multiple directions of focus that collectively end in a wonderment. Songs don't have to be these goofy jam sessions everyone cums over. Music can be just as involved in a 4 minute period as that of a 20 minute.
Ever go into an LP store full of men wrapped up in the past? Hearing them mutter and sputter on about great guitarists and bands that no one can hold a flame to and so forth? This is an act that could easily persuade an obnoxious geezer that the 'kids' of today can rock. Not that such bands would have to prove themselves to such stubbornness.
I hope I can be that old guy some day.
Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound - Ekranoplan (2007)
This band was a good find. A particular user on a particular program I use usually has a bunch of bands I have yet to discover. I raid his stuff every once in awhile, and while some sucks, and some is okay, some are remembered. Assemble Head certainly remained.
This is some great floaty psych rock that once again, has direction. I'm in no way putting down experimentation within studio albums, that can be fun, but it's this kind of song writing that only needs to do one thing, start at point A and end at point B. At the end of the journey is greatness. Conceivably Assemble Head write songs that could potentially never end. Every passage has new potential to develop into something even more extravagant, and usually does.
Mellowness aplenty, the band takes a gradual approach to the whole classic rock thing. Very 'chill' material if you will. There is no forcing of wild solos, no big riffing or clashing drum madness, they simply go with the flow and their songs indeed flow. There is much enjoyment that comes from their delicately weaved rhythms and I would go as far as to compare their flow to that of a river. In what I consider a 'delightful' listening experience, Assemble Head groove and fly amongst the trees, carrying you gently through the wilderness and then they drop you off in a great place.
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Let this be a lesson to those goofy bands lacking tact like Phish whose on again off again tours only occur when they run out of drug money in which case they need to hope to Christ their audience is under the influence long enough to enjoy one of the empty and drawn out messes they call a 'jam'.
I'm probably spinning my wheels with this rant but Phish are a perfect example of the contradiction that exists in music, and their fans live out that same contradiction every time they follow these overrated jackasses around on one of their 'tours'. How free spirited of them.
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