The Never Records jewel-tipped record lathe has been steadily etching the analog soundwaves of New Orleans musicians for the last 5 weeks. I reviewed 65 of the tracks to see how many gems I could find. While all of the in-store recorded singles reviewed are rare (physical edition of 2), some had the cut, clarity, color and carat that gives reason to head to the online music mine and dig them up.
Alex Camero
With a super hero hook and license platerattling beats, Alex Camero’s track will make a car ride to the grocery store feel like a lap around Canal Street during the Bayou Classic.
Bodhi3
Free, jazz, mellow, tiki-barber-blue, note, coaster, ride, free, jazz, mellow, Saxophone Saxophone Saxophone. You know, a real soul patch grower.
Chris, Seth and Ted’s Excellent Skateboard Adventure
A recorded and distorted skate sesh inside Never Records. If Lebowski listens to bowling on his walkman to get his head right, these sounds of skating on dust just might help you stick that nollie heelflip.
The Courtyard Kings
If Woody Allen was late for a gig and had to run, this gypsy swinger might be the accompanying soundtrack to set the pace. Good enough to break the fourth wall and ask the band to play it again.
Dummy Dumpster
A post-punk junker that smolders like a trash fire until an aerosol can guitar frenzy explodes and extinguishes the entire blaze.
Food Prime Id
An electro thumper that makes me want to make my own dance club by moving the ottoman, dimming the lights and staring into a strobing Dora the Explorer flashlight. “Daddy is busy, I will get you some juice in 9 minutes and 30 seconds.”
Gold and the Rush
A boozy, end-of-rope declaration that puts destruction at the top of the to-do list. The guitar solo on the back end gives a little hint of promise to try and rise above the smoke and debris.
Isidro
A dubby, dancehall and distorted underwater listen that pops off with the sound of hydraulic robot arms waving in the air.
James Andrews
This mambo jam sounds like it was recorded in a haunted New Orleans study. A foot tapper full of good vibes that reach far beyond this world. There is recorded proof of making contact with another dimension as you eventually hear happy spirits clapping.
Katey Red
An almost a capella bounce blast from Ms. Red. Raw as the vocal tracks on Return to the 36 Chambers but with the sweet smell of Dior and Bywater bar well drinks.
Kay Swiss and the Keddz
Sizzurp-sipping garage punk hopper that has serious replay potential. If you believe doing something again and again will make something happy happen, then listen to the track once more. It is true.
Kiyoko McCrae
A train yard sooty ode that shuffle-steps down the rails. The lovelorn harmonicaaccompanied vocals make you wonder which station the love interest was at last, and if the leap onto the boxcar to hunt him down was worth the trouble.
Little Maker
Horns, strings and a Dixie croon that pulls the seersucker stripes out of whatever you are wearing. Make sure you have a hand free while listening to this song because at any time, someone may toss you a cane or summer brim as you swagger by.
Luke Winslow King
A Delta blues number that reassures lower lying ladies coastal erosion ain’t no thing. A universe trekking tale that promises “There is no place on a map we can’t hide,” as long as a special someone is by your side.
Malone Brothers
This is an East Texas gumbo cooked in a Georgia crockpot rocker. It has the feel that at any given time during the 5 minute cook-off, another ingredient will jump into the pot and stir it up.
Meta The Man
A progressive groove that makes me wish there were more dragons and wizards painted on the sides of vans.
Miss Mec and Be Singer
A spooky little ditty about the dangers of being deep in the woods on a dark night. Consider yourself forewarned; you might get something tangled in your hair.
Slag Ice
Drone can come in many ways but never have I heard it from a trombone. This exercise in brass doom will make the graveyard shift at the drawbridge sound like J.J. Johnson.
Terrible Summer
The solo rock guitarist on this track wears his heart on his rolled-up sleeve, next to his smokes. I can only hope there was an American flag bandana tied to the mic stand while this guttural display of emotion was being recorded.
Uncle Chris
An all four longboard wheels to the Santa Monica boardwalk pusher that refuses to stop shredding. People might think you are crying over a girl as you carve past, but you know that SPF 20 burns the eyes and that she will regret what she did.
The Wasted Lives
Western swing with domesticated weapons. An upbeat lesson in wrong and right with frontier cookware acting as an equalizer. Little woman + big iron skillet vs no good old man = marital bliss.
