Any album that includes the description “featuring monster saxophonist Rob Haight” gets an immediate thumbs up in my book. Can we all just agree Nashville needs more downtempo hip-hop with monster saxophonists? I think we can. Or maybe Caveman the Wise just knocked it out the park and there’s no room for improvement. Only one way to find out.

That little rant is actually selling this seven songs short. It’s so much better than just a saxophone jaunt.. it’s an incredibly engaging work of music.

Apparently this new Cy Barkley record has been out since September and I’m just now hearing it. The perils of not living in Nashville fulltime means that, occasionally these things slip through the cracks and that is a damn shame because the sooner you hear about this record, the better off you’ll be. It’s the bombastic, punk-influenced, energetic guitar rock that you want it to be. Expectations achieved.

Please read these words from Dwight Farrell, aka Count Bass D himself, regarding the album:

My compositions from 1996-1997 were of a newlywed in his early twenties on the verge of fatherhood. I did not understand how far reaching my art would be. It was a heavy time for me and I attempted to leave a work behind that would clear up some of who I thought I was as opposed to what Pre-Life Crisis presented me as. Of all Count Bass D projects, Art For Sale emotionally moves listeners most. I am humbled by the sincerity of comments made about this project and glad I’m still alive to hear what people thought of it. There may ever be beautiful harmony in my life, but I hope GOD grants mercy to my soul here and where my spirit will be when I die. 

Count Bass D may not live in the area anymore but Art For Sale is a little historical gem from the late 90’s Murfreesboro music scene that feels as fresh today as it did when it was released. It also feels as different today as it did when originally released… it’s not purely rap or hip-hop or R&B or jazz or pop but it’s a mixture of all these things that reveals itself in a way that few other albums, ever, present themselves as.

This deluxe re-release is a nice reminder that ageless albums can still be made and Art for Sale is absolutely one of them.

In honor of being an openly critical place, I will admit that I was pretty disappointed in the latest Magnolia Sons artwork. They’ve done such a great job so far with aping the R&B style that this divergence seems like a mild disappointment. 

That being said, the song is absolutely tops, so maybe they were just focusing their efforts on the main thing you need to enjoy.. the music.

Technically, Uncle Skeleton no longer resides in Nashville but you know what? Neither do I! We have roots there and it will always be the place we call home. So, that being said, I don’t feel too wrong about posting about the new album, Too Young, Too Old. 

That aside, it’s the most “realized” album yet – the pop songs are sunnier, the bossa nova songs are more melancholy and the ambient songs are zone out than before. It is, in a word, great.

The album is available on an awesome clear gold vinyl, digital download or streaming on Rdio and Spotify. 

This latest EP from Cinema Cycle is a lowkey, melancholy, striving-for-sweetness bit of indie composition. Pretty perfect for these colder and colder nights.

first track off the forthcoming mixtape… color me intrigued!

it’s been roughly ten years since this album was originally released and now it’s been given the Deluxe Re-Release treatment from new label Refiner’s Fire. This version of the album includes all eight original tracks, two unreleased original demos and a handful of live tracks from the early years of the band. Turns out, the songs stand the test of time and feel as compelling now as they did then – assuming you’re a fan of Sunny Day Real Estate and classical influences mashed together.