the dotmatrix project

The Independent Weekly reported about 200 local music albums released this year, and while I’ve only heard a fraction of these albums, I’d like to share with you the best of what I’ve heard. Included below is a playlist of songs from each album that I mention so you can sample as you read. If a local album you heard from this year is not included, please leave a comment and I will update the post.

As we get gong, let me raise my record player needle for a toast to this year, this decade and the music to come for we are fortunate to live in a region with such a rich, musical culture.

Artist: American Aquarium
Album: Dances for the Lonely
From: Raleigh
Dances for the Lonely sees AA take a more “bar-rock” direction. The album title says all you need to know about the subject matter; frontman BJ Barham sings from the heart about some of the (not so pleasant) results of a destroyed relationship.  But more importantly the band is incredibly tight on this record, blending well with the passion and wit BJ puts into his lyrics.

Artist: Aminal
Album: A Will To Fight/A Face To Fight
From: Chapel Hill
A double EP album — you can download A Face To Fight for free on their Myspace — of Americana-Rock.  It’s relaxed and friendly with a full sound.

Artist: The Beast
Album: Silence Fiction
From: Durham
Combine the son of a five-time Grammy-nominated jazz singer and three jazz-trained musicians from UNC and you get The Beast.  Silence Fiction captures the beauty of real hip-hop:  positive, up-beat lyrics and fantastic instrumentation.

Artist: Billy Sugarfix
Album: Summer Tempests
From: Chapel Hill
Awkward innocence, youthful and dark.  If you’ve seen Terry Gilliam’s Tideland, you’ll understand Billy Sugarfix.  The songs are poppy supported by a variety of instruments and sincere vocals.

Artist: Birds of Avalon
Album: Uncanny Valley
From: Raleigh
Psychedelic experimentalism is probably the best way to describe this album. If you dig a semi-classic rock combination of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, you’ll dig Uncanny Valley.

Artist: Bombadil
Album: Tarpits and Canyonlands
From: Durham
An incredibly full follow-up to A Buzz, A Buzz, Tarpits and Canyonlands captures Bombadil’s beauty, sadness and musical adventurism. It’s easy to see the band had a lot of fun putting this record together.  There is much more depth to the production on Tarpits as compared to their previous album and EP.  The band maintains their style of disguising really depressing songs through beautiful and typically upbeat instrumentation.  Whether a bold statement or not, this is their Sgt. Pepper.

Artist: Bowerbirds
Album: Upper Air
From: Raleigh
Upper Air picks up where Hymns for a Dark Horse left off, though it seems to have a warmer tone.  With songs that are slow and beautiful,  Upper Air is a perfect Sunday afternoon hammock album.

Artist: Embarrassing Fruits
Album: Community/Exploitation
From: Chapel Hill
Honest and thoughtful the Embarrassing Fruits recorded a great, subtle album.  Not only does it capture the witty personality of the band, but it also allows the listener to reminisce on past memories and high school routines.

Artist: Firecracker Jazz Band
Album: Red Hot Band
From: Asheville
There is something wonderful about Dixieland Jazz.  There are not enough bands with the talent and energy that FJB puts into their music.  Red Hot Band features Dixieland classics in true form: devious and playful.

Artist: Grappling Hook
Album:…and those who would like to keep us safe
From: Durham
If Les Claypool was normal, you would have Grappling Hook.  This is a high-energy album that combines stoner metal and punk with sweet organ jams and precise guitar, drum and bass attack.

Artist: Gray Young
Album: Firmament
From: Raleigh
Firmament is a very solid, well-flowing album that features beautiful, epic post-rock atmospherics.  The album is beautifully arranged, giving it a full sound that is laid back yet driven.  The music has purpose as opposed to a lot of post-rock that just seems to go absolutely nowhere.

Artist: Hammer No More The Fingers
Album: Looking For Bruce
From: Durham
Produced by DC punk legend J. Robbins, Looking For Bruce takes care of business.  It’s bouncy, energetic and catchy as hell.  The trio is often compared to a lot of alternative 90’s bands, yet Hammer definitely came into its own with Bruce.  All three members are well balanced throughout the entire album; their instruments fitting seamlessly.

Artist: I Was Totally Destroying It
Album: Horror Vacui
From: Chapel Hill
The sophomore album from IWTDI is much more of a complete sounding album than their self-titled release.  It combines the collaboration pop-rock of the New Pornographers and the synth-punk attitude of Metric.

Artist: Impossible Arms
Album: Ripped In No Time
From: Carrboro
Impossible Arms cover a lot of ground on their debut album.  On Ripped you will find fast paced punk, lo-fi, sludge and a bit of folk.

Artist: The Kingsbury Manx
Album: Ascenseur Ouvert!
From: Chapel Hill
The Manx recorded a pop-folk masterpiece.  Swirling guitars, keys, vibes and more all come together in a beautifully subtle manner, complimenting the vocal reverb harmonies.  Also, Walk on Water is probably one of the most beautiful songs released this year.

Artist: Lemming Malloy
Album: Return of the Norfolk Regiment
From: Chapel Hill
Ever heard of steampunk-themed progressive rock?  That would be Lemming Malloy.  Fuzzy guitar and lush organ supports the steampunk attitude that will cause you to get lost in some of the album’s bouncy jams.

Artist: Lonnie Walker
Album: These Old Times
From: Raleigh/Greenville
Lonnie Walker’s debut combines awkward folk and reckless punk into an angsty, yet beautiful and poetic album with very well placed guitar and keys.

Artist: The Love Language
Album: The Love Language
From: Chapel Hill
The Love Language is the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed album that inspired Merge to sign the band.  The album is a lo-fi, 60’s revival with echoes of Neutral Milk Hotel and the Strokes, recorded by front-man Stuart McLamb before he assembled a band to play live.

Artist: Luego
Album: Taped-together Stories
From: Durham
After changing Luego’s sound over the years, it seems that Patrick Phelan finally found what he has been searching for.  The result in Luego’s debut is that of a good southern-rock driving album.

Artist: Max Indian
Album: You Can Go Anywhere, Do Anything
From: Chapel Hill
Max Indian’s debut is full of really catchy pop-rock. Like the Love Language, the production is a bit lo-fi and distorted, but the songs are very well written and they will get stuck in your head.

Artist: Megafaun
Album: Gather, Form, Fly
From: Durham
After Justin Vernon left DeYarmond Edison to go on his own with Bon Iver, three remained.  This is the freak-folk trio’s sophomore album as Megafaun and it is stunning.  The vocal harmonies reflect CSNY and instrumental experimentalism that is almost the folk equivalent of free jazz come together to create a unique aural experience.

Artist: Midtown Dickens
Album: Lanterns
From: Durham
Since the debut Oh, Yell! the Midtown Dickens trio grew, and the growth is shown in Lanterns.  Oh, Yell! was a very homegrown, anti-folk album and Lanterns expands on the bands talents with a much more developed and produced sound.  It is a fun album that tackles some big life issues in a playful manner.

Artist: Nathan Oliver
Album: Cloud Animals
From: Chapel Hill
Another sophomore album released this year, Nathan Oliver (the name of the band, not the person) covers a lot of musical ground with Cloud Animals.  It blends some Bright-Eyes-ish folk with catchy pop-rock.

Artist: New Town Drunks
Album: The Ballad of Stayed and Gone
From: Carrboro
This is an incredibly pleasant folk rock album from the duo-accompanied by various supporting musicians. The Ballad of Stayed and Gone captures the essence of a good time, making the listeners want to drink and dance.

Artist: North Elementary
Album: Not for Everyone, Just for You
From: Chapel Hill
Not for Everyone, Just for You is a relaxing pop rock album that explores a lot of territory in 9 songs.  Amongst lo-fi experimentalism, folk and a little dip of progressive rock, there is atmospheric consistency.

Artist: The Old Ceremony
Album: Walk on Thin Air
From: Chapel Hill
Previous Old Ceremony albums have been incredibly playful and passionate.  Walk on Thin Air does what the previous albums have done with tighter production and seriousness.  It’s personal and playful at the same time, encapsulated by the beauty of its supporting instrumentation.

Artist: Paleface
Album: The Show Is On The Road
From: Concord
Another fun album from the lively duo of Paleface & Mo that captures their attitude when playing live, The Show is on the Road contains fast- paced, punky folk songs and slower, beautiful ballads both full of dark sincerity and intense passion.

Artist: The Pneurotics
Album: Second Skin
From: Chapel Hill
Second Skin is much more put together than the debut Forty, and it really reflects the guitar talent that Rich McLaughlin possesses.  The album is a fresh combination of sounds from the 70’s and the 90’s.

Artist: Polvo
Album: In Prism
From: Chapel Hill
Polvo recently reunited and recorded a fantastic album that drives through your ears with purpose.  Polvo does something right.  The guitar licks are catchy and right on target.  As forefathers of “math rock,” Polvo came back to school all the imitators on how it’s done.

Artist: Possum Jenkins
Album: Collection of Bad Habits
From: Boone
Collection of Bad Habits is a collection of tightly organized songs that make alt-country great.  Good fast songs that you want to crank up on your car’s stereo and passionate ballads.

Artist: Red Collar
Album: Pilgrim
From: Durham
Ever wonder what a 9-5 work day or a life would sound like put to song? That’s Pilgrim. Pilgrim captures the day and the life of the workingman through anthemic Punk gems.  Produced by legend Bryan Paulson (Wilco, Beck, Superchunk, etc.), the album definitely has a full and well-directed sound that will stay stuck in your head.

Artist: Ryan Gustafson
Album: Donkey
From: Durham
Donkey is Ryan Gustafson’s debut album after the split of rock outfit Boxbomb.  It is arranged wonderfully, and the music is beautiful folk rock that inspires you to sing along.  Pop this album in your car and just drive.

Artist: Tab-One
Album: The Tabloids
From: Raleigh
Tab-One of Kooley High’s solo release is well produced and laid back.  Soothing rap over pleasant jazz samples creates a nice, cool atmosphere.  Like the Beast, Tab-One is exactly what hip-hop should be.

Finally, I’d like to give a few mentions to local groups with new releases that I have not yet had the privilage of hearing: Invisible, House of Fools, The Alcazar Hotel, and The Bronzed Chorus.

And one of DMP’s very own photographers, Doug Klesch, kicked off the evening by covering The Black Keys!

15 years since he last performed and you’d never know it.

I tried to make this post brief.  For a more detailed account of the night’s performances, check out Nash Roberts’s take on the evening.  Also, for the newbies, here’s our promo entrance page to sign up for an account with Amiestreet and receive free money to support our local artists.

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April 2009 marked the thirteenth show in the series and the one year anniversary of the dotmatrix project.  This show was truly special.  We had two exceptional performances that evening.  Each expressing it’s own unique sound.  Each featuring an incredibly talented female vocalist/pianist.

Filthybird

Photo by Mark Smith

Renee Mendoza (with vocals and on keyboard) and Brian Haran (on electric guitar) got married a while back and their band took a little hiatus.  We were very proud to have gotten the chance to welcome them back to the stage in Greensboro, NC.  Shawn Smith (on drums) and Mike Duehring (on bass) fill out out the other half of Filthybird.

Filthybird has been described as “loud, yet subtle and distinctly joyful rock.”  They are, for all intents and purposes, a Psychedelic Folk Rock band.  Their music is simultaneously mental and emotional.  Their performance, I think, can best be described as “unfettered and electrifying.”

Photo by Mark Smith

Right now, you can check out their DMP set on AmieStreet.  Be on the lookout for more great music from these guys.  Get Filthybird!

Photo by Kevin Belton

ALBUM CREDITS
Recording Engineers: Don Ravon, Dan Bayer
Mixing Engineer: Don Ravon
Cover Design: Sean Coon
Cover Photograph: Kevin Belton

Albina Savoy

Photo by Mark Smith

Albina Savoy is a three-piece collaboration with Crystal Bright (primarily on keys), Barry Cantrell (on guitar), and Jon McLean (on double bass).  The group also utilizes accordion, cello and the saw to create sweetly layered compositions.  They opened the April DMP show with their sweet, soothing and dramatic style.

As Nash Roberts eloquently describes, much of their set included songs demonstrating “not only attention to melody, but striking lyricism.”  A perfect example is Emeline, a song featuring Barry Cantrell on lead vocals.  It whispers at the soul of the philosopher left to reflect on love and loss and the human experience.

Photos by Mark Smith

Unfortunately, their performance that evening was one of the last opportunities to hear Albina Savoy live. The three-piece is no longer performing together.  However, as is the case with most musicians I know, that doesn’t mean Barry, Jon or Crystal won’t be making a splash elsewhere on the music scene.  Be on the lookout for future projects.  For now, you can enjoy some of their work together by checking out their live album on AmieStreet or Last.Fm.

Photo by Kevin Belton

ALBUM CREDITS
Recording Engineers: Don Ravon, Dan Bayer
Mixing Engineer: Dan Bayer
Cover Design: Sean Coon
Cover Photograph: Kevin Belton

To say it was a magical evening late last February when Jim Avett took to the stage for our little project, storytelling his way through a number of classic tunes, both covers and originals, would be an understatement at best. Even Jim’s kids, the skyrocketing Avett Brothers, sat in for a few tunes. Chills went through everyone as the script was flipped and the boys backed up their dad in the spotlight.

photo by Elizabeth Lemon

Eventually, the time came to bring Greensboro’s own musical legend, Scott Manring, to the stage. Harvey did an amazing job in the video of capturing the back story of how Signs was birthed between these two gentlemen. I particularly enjoyed watching their faces as they felt time slipping back to the days of its original recording some 30 years ago.

Sheer exuberance.

MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS

Director: Harvey K. Robinson, monkeywhale productions
Director Photography:: Harvey K. Robinson
Editor: Zach Hadgraft
Camera: Mark Wagoner, Alex Maness, Blake Faucette
Gaffer: Jonathan Faw
Grips: Matty Sheets, Barry Staples, David Moore
Sound: Danny Bayer, Don Ravon

We’re still working on Jim’s live album, but it’ll come out soon enough. Patience…

Alice Gerrard joins past DMP performer Laurelyn Dossett and Diana Jones for a short series of concerts December through February, 2010.

Inspired by the “In the Round” sessions at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, these award-winning writers will perform together and take turns singing songs and telling the stories behind them.

7:30 pm December 9
EMFfringe at Triad Stage
Tickets: $20. Order online.

More dates are scheduled for December and February.

Alice Gerrard is a talent of legendary status. In a career spanning some 40 years, she has known, learned from, and performed with many of the old-time and bluegrass greats, especially her groundbreaking collaboration with Appalachian singer Hazel Dickens during the 1960s and 70s. The duo produced four classic LPs (reissued by Rounder and Smithsonian Folkways on CD) and influenced scores of young women singers. Alice in turn, has earned worldwide respect for her own important contributions to the music as a singer and songwriter, as the founder of the Old-Time Herald magazine, for her advocacy of traditional music, and for the work she has done with traditional music as a musician, record producer, and documentor. It all started when the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music changed her life back in 1959…she’s been writing new chapters ever since.

Diana Jones‘ songwriting has a powerful connection to the sounds of old-time Appalachia. One of her songs, “Henry Russell’s Last Words,” has been recorded by Joan Baez, while another, “If I Had a Gun,” has been recorded by Gretchen Peters. Diana’s own versions of those songs can be heard on her new album, released on Proper Records, “Better Times Will Come,” an ambitious effort that consolidates and extends the leap forward of her previous recordings. According to the New York Times “…Better Times Will Come, her unvarnished new album, marks both the culmination of this process and the arrival of a fresh and distinctive voice….She sings of the hard times, murderous urges and chilling loneliness that haunt the old Anglo-Celtic ballads but, with one exception, sets her plain-spoken narratives resolutely in the present…”

Songwriter Laurelyn Dossett lives and writes in the Piedmont of North Carolina, and her songs tend to reflect the stories of the region, both traditional and contemporary. One of the most sought-after voices in creative collaborations, she co-founded Polecat Creek with singing partner Kari Sickenberger, and has partnered with playwright Preston Lane on four successful plays featuring regional folklore and original music. One of these songs, “Anna Lee” was featured on Levon Helm’s Grammy-winning record, Dirt Farmer. She is also a regular performer at regional music festivals such as Merlefest, a guest on the radio show Prairie Home Companion, and most recently, a writer and performer with the North Carolina Symphony. She is the 2009 recipient of the North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship for songwriting.