A recap of recent under-the-radar music releases
Handsome and the Humbles – “Draw Some Blood”
When Josh Smith relocated to Texas in July 2023, it threatened to put the band on permanent hiatus. Fortunately, the divide caused by distance didn’t put an end to their collective efforts after all. A new album was still in the planning stages (albeit for quite some time), and it took the two Joshes – Smith and co-conspirator Josh Hutson – to put it together long-distance. Between the two of them, they managed to play all the instruments save for only a few exceptions, and the result is an album that clearly lives up to the standards the band has maintained over the course of its career.
Although the title might indicate some hostile intent – and that’s Smith’s father, a former professional wrestler, pictured on the cover – “Draw Some Blood” maintains the anthemic stance of earlier epochs, with songs such as “St. Therese,” “Foolish Promises,” “Arlene” and “Bonneville” exuding the same rousing, riveting sound that initially established them as one of Knoxville’s most dynamic draws. “Texarkana” and the title track allow for emotional respite, but the exuberance and impact never diminish.
(www.handsomeandthehumbles.com)
Tim O’Connell – “Gems”
Although the cover photo of a nearly bare-chested woman that adorns the cover of this new EP may suggest something a bit more sexy and suggestive, in truth “Gems” is an engaging effort made up of mostly mellow and meandering songs that have an autumnal feel. An award-winning Nashville-based singer-songwriter, O’Connell’s songs have been recorded by artists in seven different countries, with Johnny Cash being chief among them. He also has been responsible for a number of fine albums in recent years, and in a certain way, this new EP is the culmination of those efforts.
The first song of the set, “My Heart Goes With You,” sounds like it could be a late-night standard, one that crooners like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra might once have recorded. It basks in warmth and romance before opening the door to a series of positive and poignant melodies bearing inviting titles like “Give ‘Em Hugs,” “Good Enough (A Farmer’s Dream)” and “Once Upon a Dream.” Taken in tandem, it’s an inviting, adult-centric set of songs, one that points to O’Connell’s propensity for sharing sweet and soothing sounds.
(www.timoconnell.bandzoogle.com)
Sparks – “Mad!”
Age hasn’t diminished Sparks’ penchant for eccentricity and idiosyncrasy. So more than 50 years after making their mark in the U.K., former American expatriates Ron and Russell Mael continue to serve up amusement and entertainment without regard to current tastes or trends. As the title of their latest album indicates, they specialize in madcap humor, often detouring towards the bizarre as they delve into the unexpected. Their melodies still retain the good-humored appeal that’s defined their quirky catalog since the beginning, but now it seems they’re viewed with the respect befitting of their status as avant-garde rock’s favorite elder statesmen.
The world’s adapted to them rather than the other way around. They’re weirdly wonderful, and given the Mael brothers’ decidedly peculiar personas, there’s more to enjoy than merely the music. “Gotta run, gotta fly, gonna do things my own way,” Ron declares on the first track “Do Things My Own Way,” and it’s evident from the outset that’s precisely the way the record will unfold. His trademark falsetto is still sharp and clear, and while most of the songs twist and turn, “Running Up a Tab at the Hot for the Fab,” “My Devotion” and “Don’t Dog It” are oddly engaging. Mad? Maybe. But irresistibly intriguing, nonetheless.
Alison Tucker – “Where You Used to Be”
Tucker could be considered a renaissance woman. Or, at the very least, a dedicated multitasker. She’s worked as a writer, poet, woodworker and high-tech geek, and her career as a musician was put on hold for an extended time following 20 years working in the corporate world and another 14 years as a stay-at-home mom. With the release of the aptly named “Where You Used to Be,” she’s finally found the freedom to fulfill her desire to make music. A storyteller by nature, her songs are soothing and sublime, sharing both quiet contentment and a sense of restless yearning.
The latter is especially evident with “Three Quarter Time” and “Filling Up the Spaces,” each of which finds Tucker imagining a life she’s evidently dreamed of for some time. “More Time,” in turn, expresses a sense of satisfaction with an upbeat feel. Even when desire seems to have her overwhelmed, as expressed on “Let Me Go,” she shares her feelings with ease and affability. On the other hand, “Long Sleeves” comes across like a lullaby, another example of Tucker’s grace and charm. A delightful debut, this effort bodes well for the artist’s future.
Wonderlick – “Wonderlick Goes to War”
The fifth album by the duo of Jay Blumenfield and Tim Quirk conveys a clear message: that humans are capable of achievement even in times of distress. It doesn’t dismiss those who sink to new lows but instead attempts to connect the dots between the two extremes. Nevertheless, this isn’t a preachy or pontificating set of songs. As always, Wonderlick creates exceedingly accessible melodies.
An offshoot of the popular punk-pop band Too Much Joy, the pair has created a distinct template for the music they’ve made since the group’s separation. Given the combination of messaging and music, this might be its most intriguing effort yet. Granted, the scattershot rhythm of a song like “Niagara Falls, 1969” and the odd timing of “Vinko Bogatau” come across as quirky to a certain degree, but there’s an elusive inherent charm, as well. “I Am a Children’s Book” is slightly more subdued, while “Popping Pills,” “Hollow Bodies,” “Rhinoceros” and “Wag Your Tale” are decisive and determined. Such is the ebb and flow of the album overall.
lee@blanknews.com
