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(September Podcast 128kbps mp3 file 17MB) SEPTEMBER 2006 ISSUE #87 
A
Guide To The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Trail
The "Crooked Road" is a long stretch of highway in southwestern Virginia, a routed that is dotted with small towns that hold the heart of traditional Virginian (and American) music. This book by music historian and documentarian Joe Wilson is a beautifully thorough exploration of the historical and modern day musicians of this area and the culture which gave them inspiration. Wilson begins his book with a basic history of traditional American music, showing how instruments like the banjo and guitar came into popularity, and how this particular area of Virginia became the musical nervous center in the United States. From there, he takes us on an exhaustive tour of places to visit on the Crooked Road, covering 10 separate counties. This part of the book reads like an extended travel itinerary, listing festivals, places to hear music, places to buy music and instruments, places to stay, and places to eat along the way. The amount of information is staggering, and you could literally spend the better part of a year making your way through the stops listed in the book. I even doubt you would have time to see and experience it all if you tried. The book also includes a two CD set of music from the Crooked Road, both old and contemporary. Wilson continues playing the part of tour guide, providing a narrational introduction to each song, and giving us valuable context for the upcoming track. The music is a terrific mix of artists and styles, some of which are culled from private collections and are hard-to-find outside of this collection. This is not only a valuable reference for those interested in Virginia's musical heritage, it is also a great resource for traditional music fans who happen to like to travel and experience the people and places firsthand. MISH MASH Mandate: Living History
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HEY BANDS! OPEN YOUR ONLINE T-SHIRT SHOP FOR FREE!
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AutoVaughn
If it weren't for the fact that they're so darn good at it, AutoVaughn could easily be dismissed as just another modern rock band that's enamored with 80s new wave splashed with guitar rock. Yes, they're riding that bandwagon, but the tunes are built on solid, catchy pop that grabs you and just won't let go. So, all has been forgiven. Lead singer Darren Potuck delivers his vocals with smart and European intentions, enunciating each word clearly and avoiding histrionics and volume for a matter-of-fact tone that is purely no nonsense. It fits the band's overall sound like a glove, which is the perfect mix of big guitars and driving rhythms. Even though there's no real new ground broken here, there's a darkness and moodiness which keeps the album on edge throughout, helping to keep it interesting from beginning to end on successive listens without wearing thin. This combination of catchy pop and anxiety shine through on the song "One More Time", a great little song which should be making the rounds on college radio by the time you ready this. MISH MASH Mandate: Ride The Wave
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The Exploding
Madonna
I'm not sure where to begin with this one, but suffice it to say that The Exploding Madonna is all about noise. Not just random noise, but a controlled noise which is highly structured in its attack. It's a cacophonous mix of guitars, synthesizers, and distorted vocals, burying the listener in a complex and overwhelming wall of absolute sound. The irony comes in the fact that the songs have their central basis in pop rock, albeit this foundation is buried under layer upon layer of massive sound, which in turn gives the overall appearance of progressive rock. This works in spite of the obvious musical contradictions, as some sort of hybrid musical monster. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take an aspirin. MISH MASH Mandate: Monster Mash
Joy's music is anything but joyful, plodding along with a somewhat depressing and lonely movement. The songs bite with a country-fried sneer, wafting up through the air like the heat from a rural asphalt road in summertime. Song titles like Love Is Lonesome and Death And Doubt leave little wiggle room in this attitude assessment. Even though the production is modern and well done, the band's basic and bare approach reminds me of older country and blues songs from the early 20th Century, almost as if they were recorded on somebody's back porch. It's a hollow and haunting sound, which only embellishes the overall feeling of loneliness. At the same time, there is a strange sense of optimism which peeks through now and then, almost buoying us up from sinking too low. MISH MASH Mandate: Optimist's Club The Strange The Strange Self-Released 7 song CD
This one is chalking up to be one of my favorite releases of the year. When I first put on The Strange, I found myself wondering why this power trio reminded me of Led Zeppelin. Then it occurred to me: lead singer Brent McKay sounds a lot like Robert Plant. Not the screaming, swaggering Robert Plant, but the quiet, bluesy and mysterious Robert Plant. Think Led Zeppelin III. The music has a hint of that, also, but it doesn't overdo it---it's a nice dynamic mix of acoustic and electric guitars and piano which owes more to Radiohead than Physical Graffiti. The great thing about this disc is the smoldering slow burn which never lets up throughout the album. It's an anxious feeling that rides in and out of each song like a wave, focusing all your attention on McKay and his incredible vocals. By far, the best example of this can be found in the song Texas, where all the elements work flawlessly together The Strange Website The North Buncombe Years Self-Released 10 song CD
MISH MASH Mandate: Stringing Along Steel String Theory Website Jazzhole Poet's Walk Beave Music 10 song CD
The band gives a nod to the sounds of yesteryear, borrowing and reviving the funky soul of the 60s and 70s, all the while adding a modern twist of attitude and rhythm---even covering and updating Boz Scaggs' Lowdown. It's not so much retro as it is respectful, building upon the past with skillful intention.
Peal Beautiful Baby Elephant Micheal J. Media 10 song CD
They know their job, and they do it well. The songwriting is tight and direct with no nonsense, light and airy with just the right amount of angst. Thankfully it doesn't come across as too calculated, as the band knows how to make the tunes dance and bounce along with a fresh sounding resolve. It sounds like they're having fun, and it shows.
Peal Website © 2006 Mish Mash Music Reviews, All Rights Reserved
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