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Hey, can I just say, "I told you so" when these guys are famous? 'Cause frankly, it's about time they got more notice, and I'm thinking this might be the album to finally push them into the limelight. Add to that a opening slot on the recent Iron & Wine/Calexico tour, and I'm ready for a good "nyah nyah" session.
Fast Rise and Fall of the South is the North Carolina band's third album, although they've been together since 1999. Their opening track "Harness and Wheel" is so good, it makes me crazy! "Oh No" has a bit of a Mercury Rev-ish sound, with its heavy piano sound and the playful "bom-bom-bom"'s in the background. "Ruined" is fast and strummy like a folky Kinks-song. "Zero G" reminds me of Painful-era Yo La Tengo, with its melancholy organ and plaintive vocals.
Needless to say, with those kinds of comparisions, this is one album I highly recommend, especially for the season! The band's rich textured folky sound, and beautiful melodies are so right for this cool, autumn weather. Sigh! (j.10.05)
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This CD has been out for a while, but I wanted to review it anyway. Years ago, back in Austin, I read about The Kingsbury Manx and someone likened them to one of my all-time faves, Ida. So, I wrote their name on my Hello Kitty notepad of "Bands to Check Out" and kept an ear open for them. They played a show, and we almost went, but at the last minute something came up. I looked for their CDs in used bins. And then finally, years later, I found this one. And now I'm kicking myself for not going to their shows or paying full-price for their CDs in the first place!!!
This is SO GOOD. I don't know where that Ida comparison came from though. Frankly, I hear a lot of Lenola, with the weird noise-effects, and gloriously lush production (thanks to Brian Paulson who worked with Slint and Polvo in the past). Sometimes they remind me of Retsin, with their languid, almost-country-esque sound. They also kinda call to my mind a quieter Shins at times, with their folkier, acoustic-based tunes, but Mike doesn't quite know about that comparison. ; ) Mike suggested they sound like Ladybug Transistor, minus the girls. I can hear that, too!
But basically, Kingsbury Manx perform these beautiful, gorgeous songs, with tons of layers, guitars and pedal steel and flute, and then the guys in the band layering on these amazing 60's-esque harmonies over that. It's quiet, reflective, and lovely. One of my favorite CDs right now! (j.09.02)
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