Album Review: Timber Timbre- Hot Dreams

        Timber Timbre have released four studio albums before the release of Hot Dreams. The first two albums from this Canadian group, Cedar Shakes and Medicinals, are deep into the sound of very lo-fi folk/ americana music. Their self-titled 2009 album saw a drastic change in tone and overall sound. The first two albums felt like a sad man sitting around the campfire singing songs of woe on his 35 year old guitar. The 2009 release felt like a ghost whispering to you in a church. With a new found love for reverb and cinematic scale, Timber Timbre jumped into a sound that felt much more like what they wanted to produce. And if that album wasn't creepy enough, in 2011 Timber Timbre released Creep On Creepin' On. It's very rare for an album's title to match the feel and mood of the record as well as this one does. With an even bigger scale then Timber Timbre and a new found sexiness to the music, during 2011 this was one of my favorite records of the year, and since then, I've only come to enjoy the album more and more with every listen.
        The 5th studio album from Timber Timbre lives up to the hype I've surrounded it in. And like Creep On Creepin' On, Hot Dreams' music and tone lives up to the name. Hot Dreams signifies for Timber Timbre a settling in with a sound. Now when I say this, I don't mean it as a bad thing. The first four records from Timber Timbre all felt like different bands were making them, even with Taylor Kirk's brooding voice front and center in all of them. From Creep On Creepin' On to Hot Dreams feels like the most natural transition from the band to date. When listening to Hot Dreams I feel like I'm listening to the band that created Creep On Creepin' On, and with this record, Timber Timbre has evolved from the weird creepy man in the shadows to the band very much like in the music video for "Hot Dreams", Timber Timbre on this record feel like those guys that play smooth music in the strip club.
        From the first moments of Hot Dreams, the one word to describe the feeling is cinematic. I feel like I'm listening to the soundtrack for an 1970's horror b-movie, equal parts terror and sex. Timber Timbre have used their continually evolving love towards reverb and big sound to create A record that, even in a year of an onslaught of great releases, that will stand with the best. I highly enjoy the ever so slightly (and I do mean "ever so slightly") lighter sound with the new addition of sexiness and smoothness to the music. I also enjoy small return of an influence from folk/ americana. The evolution of Timber Timbre's sound has me listening to this record, and again, very much like after there last release, wanting to hear the next album right now. Although, that does not mean that this is a record without it's flaws. The songs on this record keep me involved for the majority, but there are points on this record where the lyricism is not as strong as Timber Timbre usually writes. Songs like "Grand Canyon" (even though I like the return to the folk/americana roots) and "Low Commotion" can for me at least begin to feel somewhat lyrically lacking. Now that being said, I enjoy both these tracks very much, and I wouldn't cut them from the record. I just feel that these songs sometimes lose my interest for little bits at a time.
        Overall, I loved Hot Dreams, The continuation of their creepy sound with a new sexy flare. Although this new flare was probably my favorite thing about this album, in the end it also weirdly is my least favorite part of the record. Creep On Creepin' On was a record that was completely about the terror and creepiness of the music, and it kept me intrigued from the first second to the last. Although, this new flare makes songs like "Hot Dreams" a contender for song of the year, I keep wanting to return to Creep On Creepin' On. Maybe this is just me being a mega fanboy of their last record. Nevertheless, I love this new record. It currently sits with my favorite of the year so far. And my biggest hope for Timber Timbre is that after four great, heavily under appreciated albums, this album will make it's way into the ears of many people, and that it gets the acclaim that not only this record, but the band deserves.

8.75/10      

Peaces, Godspeed, and Stay Golden

  -Evan

Swans- "A Little God In My Hands"

        One of the last things I posted on this blog before I went on hiatus was my review of Swans' masterpiece of a record The Seer. It's been so long since that post that Michael Gira and the gang have recorded a new album entitled To Be Kind (due out on May 13th). The first song released for the record is titled "A Little God In My Hands", it features plenty of creepy, thought provoking lyrics that we've come to expect from Swans, a soundscape that is somewhat reminiscent of Rain Dogs era Tom Waits, and an overall eerie, claustrophobic feel. And I love every single moment of it. Also, just to entice you into buying this album more, special guests include Annie Clark (St. Vincent)!!!! I'm incredibly excited to hear the entirety of this record, The Seer was one of my favorite records I've ever heard, and with 2014 already producing some incredible albums so far, I wouldn't be surprised if this record is absolutely incredible. Check out the single below and put some money in the piggy bank to go and pick up the triple LP on May 13th, I know I will.

Peaces, Godspeed, and Stay Golden
 -Evan

Well, this is awkward. (guess who finally decided to show) 3/30/14

        Well, how do I start this? It has been over a year since I've posted on this. For the very few and far between that have ever seen this page, I'd like to personally apologize for abandoning you. I'm also aware that before this year (and a quarter) hiatus happened I abandoned for about six months. When Carl and I started this blog we were freshman in high school who were bored being only able to share (good) music with ourselves. As time moved on Carl went to another school and motivation dwindled as far as the blog goes. As I sit here now, I am a sleep deprived, semi- insomniac, junior in high school that would like to go to college to hopefully make something like music journalism my job one day.
        As this pat year (and a quarter!) has gone by, I feel like I have grown as a person, musically, intellectually, and also as a writer. So, I'm asking for forgiveness from anyone that has ever looked at this joke of a blog in the past, anyone who has seen the date on the last post and thought poorly of me. With this forgiveness I hope to revive this now long dead publication, and not just for a few months, well, at least, that's the plan.
        I plan on writing on here as constantly as I possibly can. Bringing you reviews, lists, and new music from the underground music world. I'm not promising anything with a specific schedule, last time that was the formula I followed and look where that got me. This blog will be for music of my liking, and (dependent of the review) sometimes disliking. I don't plan on posting any news stories unless they are a magnitude of which I cannot ignore. If you come to read this blog plan on seeing written (meaning actually thought out) reviews of new albums, lists of music stuff just for the hell of it, and new music I find and enjoy while surfing the inter-web deep into yet another sleepless night.
        As of right now, I'm not sure if Carl will be able to return to the blogosphere. I will be in touch with him and will ask him to return to the site. As of right now, this bored, delusional, sleep-deprived music geek will be leading the way. I hope, that this revival will bring new fans to the blog and recapture those who I left behind. I hope especially, whether you are new to this blog, and this post really has no personal value to you, or you are a fan of the past, you will join me as I try to push you to new music, pull you away from bad music, and shove you towards the music that I love.

Peaces, Godspeed, and Stay Golden
 -Evan