Musicians are sometimes weird beings. Sometimes they're really weird. Bill Orcutt used to be in a band called Harry Pussy. They're a noise band. Obviously. And they're one of the most critically acclaimed noise bands. So for A New Way To Pay Old Debts, this Miami native drop-tuned an old acoustic guitar and played the blues. Obviously. This album has a lot of soul. Orcutt really just put it all out there. He hammers on the strings and plucks with vigor. And it's scratchy and piercing, like the sound of a metal being pressed up against a buzz saw. This album is pure noise. One thing is for sure though, he is talented. This album brings out the best in Orcutt as he improvises with proficiency, never showing signs of deficiency (rhyme!). If you were to plug in and force yourself to get beyond the noise to hear the individual notes, this album gets really good. The musician in me gives it a 4.2/5. The listener in me gives it a 2.5/5. Favorite songs: Pocket Underground, Street Peaches, and A New Way To Pay Old Debts. There is not much information about this guy online, but here is something better. If you like that, then you'll like his album. If not, stay far away.
The time it took me to think about what I was going to write about for the first album and the time it took me to write it was time spent listening to The Bird and the Bee's self-titled album. Inara George is fanciful and devilish on this album. Take this for example. Or this. Or this for that matter (sorry for the weird video). Or even this. My favorite is the second. She reminds me of St. Vincent. Or St. Vincent reminds me of her (this video is CRAZY by the way; definitely take a look). SSTT.. VVIINNCCEENNTT. If you like those, she has two wonderful albums: Marry Me and Actor. Enjoy.
Best, Jonathan
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