The first single from that album is "High Ground" featuring Issac Brock (of Modest Mouse) and it's a slight departure from her solo debut album that tingles with echoes of Azure Ray. Which is expected as she comprised half of the band. "High Ground" is a foray into what Saddle Creek considers "haunting bluegrass" but I see it as an ode to the banjo. As the chorus swells with Brock's voice on backup vocals, the banjo is brought to the forefront of the song until all we hear is a mesh of vocals and the ting of steel banjo strings. Haunting? No, this is a stampede of sounds.
As a bonus, here's throwback to the Azure Ray days. This video questions their visual artistic skills. Is this supposed to be a goth version of Thelma and Louise but with scooters instead of a convertible? Or is this a replacement to the opening credits for Shannon Doherty's supernatual show "Charmed"? At least, it would replace that god-awful remix of The Smith's "How Soon is Now?"
P.S. My concert calender this past weekend was kindly filled with the Wooden Birds, Great Lake Swimmers, and Sunny Day Real Estate. The Wooden Birds were wonderful live. Although if you weren't aware, you would have assumed the American Analog Set released a new album. That's how similar the song arrangements are. As for Great Lake Swimmers? I'm sorry but the lead singer needs to learn how to enunciate. Who does he think he is? Jeremy Enigk? Nein, I say, nein.
Up next on the calender are Adele Diane, Dead Man's Bones, Choir of Young Believers, and quite possible Monsters of Folk. Though I've reduced their album to much, much less than the sums of their parts, I still wouldn't mind seeing them live. (Conor Oberst, three times this year? It might make up for missing him at Coachella. Might.)
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