Two views of the Josh Rouse Dingwalls show:
"The rigours of live performance do demand a certain degree of stage presence and projection ... on this showing Rouse and his band lacked the necessary sparkle to take them to the next level." David Sinclair in The Times yesterday.
"For one so inexpressive he makes a convincing rocker...he is well on his way." John Aizlewood in The Guardian today. I'm with John...

There's a feature/interview with Rouse just up at Nashville Scene - "he's had the kind of marginal success that's almost preferable to superstardom in the consumptive contemporary rock scene." And this flourishing 'under the radar' scene was examined in Tuesday's Chicago Tribune: "I stand to have financially the best year I've ever had in music. And I own my album! That's an unbelievably good feeling," says Joe Pernice...

Richard Hawley came down from Sheffield to play the groovy railway arches of the Cargo club last night. "Hello London - let's ballad!" was his opening line. And how we did. A gorgeous set succeeded in reproducing the reverb-heavy, nostalgic tones of his 2 releases. And the northern drollery was on tap throughout: "This one's our dance anthem - if you can waltz." The technical term, I believe, is 'top geezer' (and high marks to the venue, as well - cool in every sense)...

'[While his] fascination with pop hooks does manage to go a little too far on occasion, with the potential to run a solid alt-country number into the ground...I Break Chairs works much in the same way as the recent Hayden album to stake claim on the plateau of the likes of Pedro the Lion, Wilco, Richard Buckner, and Palace.' - LostAtSea on the new album from Damien Jurado...

Also currently on the trail of the "loosely arranged mixture of fuzzy guitar pop and twangy back-porch ballads" of the The Mendoza Line...

Thanks to Josh Rouse and band for a zinging show at Dingwalls last night. One of those acts whose music, a bit neat and tidy on disc, really takes off live. Words like 'bruised' and 'delicate' tend litter his record reviews; words like 'crunch' and 'crisply rocking' will do for his gigs. Personal highlight came only 3 numbers in with Feeling no pain - this is exactly the sort of noise I want to hear, up there with memories like Fountains of Wayne doing Radiation Vibe at the same venue a few years back. In concert at least, unreservedly recommended...

Be Good Tanyas - the backlash! Someone at the BBC's folk music site thinks they're the latest to don the Emperor's New Clothes: "In the promo material there's a quote from Time Out New York saying, 'We dare you not to fall in love with this bunch'. Hmm. I claim my prize." Can't disagree with some of the trenchant contrariness expressed. Given the simplicity of the BGTs approach, some of the tracks feel a bit overstretched. But the very lack of virtuosity is part of what appeals, hereabouts at least. They themselves freely acknowledge there's a stack of more "talented" artists even in Vancouver let alone Canada who are not getting the breaks like TBGTs. But, remembering the Sex Pistols, it's not just about musicianship and paying your dues. Emmylou, Nanci and the rest never did anything for reallyrather. It's actually rather cool that some folkies are a bit affronted by the Tanyas' style and the attention they're getting. The traditionals on 'Blue Horse' fall some way short of great originals like Don't you fall, The littlest birds, the almost indie-rocking Light enough to travel. Best of all maybe is Only in the past which could blossom further in the hands of a sultry soul diva...

Popping up in some odd places (recommended recently in Fortune magazine of all places) is Lapalco, the new release from Brendan Benson. Here's Delusions of Adequacy's view: "Lapalco is a wonderfully solid album from beginning to end. From catchy rock songs and toe-tapping gems to deeply reflective folk tracks, Benson crosses multiple guitar-based genres with his sense of 60's pop to great effect here. If the results are always going to be this good, maybe five years between albums isn't such a long time to wait after all. Recommended, especially to indie-pop junkies."

mp3 of the moment: Swinghammer's swish updating of The Association sound on The signature of Marilyn Churley...

Sagacity ahoy! Richard Hawley talks to The Irish Times: "It takes a lifetime to build up a reputation and just one evening drinking to lose it."
What are you likely to have on the shelf that'll point you in the direction he's taking? Maybe, maybe To the end on Blur's Parklife - add a bucketload of sonorousness, way better vocals (hardly difficult) and genuine sense of style...

(This is just a guess but wouldn't be surprised if RH cherished Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights as much as reallyrather does - 2nd series being edited right now, hurrah!...)

Staying with the Irish Times, reallyrather's eye was caught by an album review which ended, "Like the Pernice Brothers? Then meet their younger brother." Anyone going to see Josh Rouse in the UK soon can catch the artistic sibling in question, as Howie Beck opens the shows. And following the Beck trail will take you to another moody-but-melodic Canadian, Hayden whose National Skyscraper Park surfaced last year - sparse but melodic, bleak but mellow, "the slow guitar-centric Neil Young On The Beach vibe dominates..."

Selling out in the very best sense of the phrase, Cotton Mather 's Borderline gig has a big cross thru it at Ticketweb...

The Be Good Tanyas have added a 'showcase' at Canada House (Trafalgar Sq.) Thurs Feb 28 - no idea who gets to go..

A favourite pocket cartoon shows a couple of tramps sitting on a bench with three shadowy figures approaching in the distance. "Typical", one says to the other, "you wait ages for Godot, then three come along at once." Beginning to feel the same about gigs in London this Spring. Take the first week in March - already holding for Pete Yorn, Cotton Mather and Mates of State, now Mazarin decide to stop off on their way back home to the US. And the miracle of it all is that they don't clash - the diary now reads:

Mon 4 March Mazarin / Upstairs at The Garage
Tue 5 March Cotton Mather / Borderline
Wed 6 March Mates of State / Arts Cafe
Thu 7 March Pete Yorn / Garage

SXSW, who needs it!

These indie-pop couples they're everywhere (White Stripes, Utah Carol, Quasi, etc). reallyrather's vote for 'Best in Show' in this category probably has to go the remarkable Mates of State, the organ-and-drums combo from SF. Get the bunting out Mother, Kori & Jason are bringing their full-on pop harmonies to the UK - 5 dates in March - resistance, as they say, is futile...

Someone down in Denton, Tx., is putting together a v. nice gallery site of local bands in action. When you consider that the local scene includes Slobberbone, Centro-matic, Lift To Experience, etc there's no shortage of worthy subjects. Best of the lot tho' are the noisy images of the great Little Grizzly - "This band is so good they don't have to sing in key"...

Weekend revision: Jewels & Fools by I'm Not Sally...

'Song-oriented' is the slightly baffling tag often attached to the kind of acts gathered hereabouts (not sure what the opposite of 'song-oriented' would be?). Presumably it refers to a tendency towards neatly constructed numbers (coming in at around, say, 3mins30) with minimal instrumental grandstanding or divergence from 'the tune'. Whatever, it's a handy search term when trawling around for better sounds and helped turn up someone who could maybe be called the female Pete Yorn. She's certainly got the looks, the major label deal, the contacts (Dave & Brent from The Tyde, and Jon Brion help out on the album), even a similarly-styled album title. Best of all, tho', she's got the songs and the voice - get The herethereafter by Miranda Lee Richards: "She has the voice of an angel, and her sublime folk-psychedelic songs linger like wistful memories" - AMG Music Guide...

Talking of PY, musicforthemorningafter is currently at no.3 on the Gavin US TripleA airplay chart (behind Ryan Adams and the brand new Chris Isaak) - not bad for a record that came out last March...

Gingersol'sTrain Wreck reviewed...

From New York, meet The Damnwells..."Though they have only been a band for a few months, they sound like they grew up together making crunchy guitar pop with a hint of twang..."
"Their songs draw equally from classic rock, folk, indie and even grunge sensibilities..". The rather ace Get Out While You Can is here...

Pete Yorn returns to UK - Manchester Uni. 4 March, London Garage 7 March...

4 stars from the Guardian for the Be Good Tanyas...

Marah's new record, "Float Away With The Friday Night Gods" is tentatively slated for release on Artemis Records on May 21 ... the band have added a 3rd night at the Borderline...

Don't miss Richard Hawley guesting on the Johnnie Walker show on BBC Radio2 Monday 18 Feb...

Barsuk offer The Long Winters' debut the worst you can do is harm at $10 till the end of March - just say 'please and thank you'...
First out of the blocks with a review, Seattle Weekly (Feb7)...

UK national The Observer rates The Be Good Tanyas's Blue Horse CD of the Week ("..organic music really does taste and sound better")...Oh, and so does Birmingham's Sunday Mercury ("..credible and utterly captivating")...

The unerringly discerning Undertow organization is profiled in SwizzleStick. Just added to their management roster (which includes Nadine, Dolly Varden, Will Johnson of Centro-matic, Varnaline, etc) is The Long Winters...with their debut being snapped up by the equally sassy Barsuk (home to Death Cab For Cutie, Rilo Kiley, etc), gotta be worth taking a chance with...

Interviews galore for the Be Goods back home...Victoria Times 9 Feb...The Province 6 Feb...Vancouver Sun 31 Jan...

The Be Good Tanyas hit the charts! Well, they've slipped quietly into the Billboard Internet Sales Top 20 (at no19) for the week of Feb 2...

Lemonpeeler's debut still picking up admirers: "Lemonpeeler play a similar kind of accessible and independent pop'n'roll as the Lemonheads, with a tasteful pedal steel and rhythm guitar to showcase their love for American roots music...resulting in harmonious vocals and well-crafted pop tunes, much in the style of the Jayhawks era before Mark Olson left" (Kindamuzik 28 Jan)