Cementing The Seams

With this post I think it's safe to say that The Gifted Children have probably gotten the most attention of any other band on this blog and it's for a damn good reason.  Actually two.  First, they are, as I'm sure I've mentioned before, probably the most prolific indie group (?) in the whole wide world and great, but most importantly, they are unique and relevant unlike most of what would qualify "indie" pop/rock these days. The Gifted Children are a sortof collaborative effort of DIY musicians orchestrated by one guy who release a flood of music every year ranging from one end of the indie spectrum to the other and release it by themselves on their own label (Tinhorn Planet).  Secondly, said guy/label sent me a bunch of new (and some old) stuff to fill my brain with just to see what I thought.  Like actual, physical CDs and vinyl which is as cool is it was unexpected. 

I think a little bit of luck was involved when I first heard The Gifted Children, when the one-two pop-rock punch that begins their 2008 full-length "Always Stay Sweet" hit the appropriate part of my skull I was hooked.  Listening to other releases from 2008 (there was like ten), it is possible that had I not heard "Always Stay Sweet" first (still possibly their strongest release that I've heard) I MAY have MAYBE overlooked them, which would have been pretty criminal considering their output since that release.  In 2009 The Gifted Children began with some undeniably solid material which they released for free (and I covered a few monthes back) and they're ending it one a high note.  If they are anything The Gifted Children are ambitious and are embarking on probably their most ambitious project yet.  "One Clear Minute" is a series of EPs released on 7" vinyl (a first, surprisingly) on which every song is less than one minute long.  Honestly this seems like where they are the most comfortable, as quick hooky pop songs are definitely their forte.  Only the first has been officially released, and to be frank it's one of the best EP's I've heard this year.  Volume 2 comes out this week.  So pick it up.

Also released recently was "My Museum Pieces" which is probably the closest thing to a follow-up to "Always Stay Sweet" that they have released this year.  But look for a proper review of that in the near future.

The Gifted Children on Myspace

Get a sampler cd (has stuff from a bunch of different releases)

Buy and download their music at their homepage

I’m not really a proponent of indie folk/country. In fact, other than some of the genres more recently notable and highly regarded acts (Silver Jews, Fleet Foxes, Bonnie “Prince” Billy), I’d say that I do a pretty good job ignoring it. Occasionally I end up regretting this. Like, a lot. This is also almost certainly why Howe Gelb has flown under my radar for so long. I know this because Gelb isn’t exactly a musical recluse. Giant Sand alone has been releasing records since the 1980’s and Gelb has been involved in various projects for just as long, including releasing solo records and playing in the better known Calexico (a band I actually have listened to before, on purpose). Anyway, apparently this guy is really a force, but I’d have never noticed. Something about Provisions caught my attention though. I can only assume that it’s because it is really accessible to the uninitiated, but maybe I’m selling myself short. What I like about Provisions is its variety, the album starts Waylon and ends Waits. A mixture of country (and I mean country. See: “Can Do”) and wacky roots blues (“Increment of Love” and “Muck Machine” could just as easily have appeared on Rain Dogs) the songs range from delightfully tacky to eerily gritty and everything in between. As a complete package it reminds me a lot of one of my favorite records, “Tanglewood Numbers” by Silver Jews, perhaps this is actually why I like it so much. Appearances by genre sweethearts Neko Case and M. Ward might give you a better idea of what to expect.

For Fans of: Silver Jews, Calexico

Giant Sand on Myspace