Recent Discoveries: Earlimart, Beck, The Hold Steady

Earlimart

I don’t know how this band evaded my consciousness, but I’m pleased that I finally stumbled upon them. The music is very indie-pop oriented, with frequently slow-burning tempos, lush guitar-centric music, and stunning male/female vocal interplay. This isn’t music for head bangers (although interesting electric guitar heroics do show up from time to time) . It’s music for a Sunday morning stroll along the river. Their newest album, Hymn and Her, is earning rave reviews all over the ‘web, but you should also check out their earlier releases, especially Treble and Tremble and Mentor Tormentor.

Beck

I never got into Beck back in the 90’s when he was played every hour on the hour on the local college radio station. For some reason, I thought he wasn’t for real. I guess I was wrong, because after several albums, he’s still around and has released a gem. Modern Guilt is melodic, energetic, and expertly produced by Danger Mouse. Those who like to rock will find enough her to enjoy, but the lonely housewives will really dig this record. It’s dark in spots, but the melodies and beats do plenty to alleviate the depression.

The Hold Steady

If you are a fan of Springsteen or The Killers, you might like the Hold Steady. The music is big, but the vocals take a bit of getting used to. Front man Craig Finn doesn’t even try to sing. Instead, he rants and raves about summer, religion, magazines, even Jamaica on their new album Stay Positive. It’s hard to say if this music has the lasting value of Springsteen, but it’s great that a modern band is reaching for the big brass ring.