Aural Fitness

The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient

In response to the The Line of Best Fit’s exclusive album stream of Slave Ambient, I will give a few first reactions.

I first started listening to the War on Drugs after their second EP, Barrel of Batteries, was linked to by one of my favorite music blogs, Berkeley Place. It was a great little EP, with soothing ambient interludes that made for a smooth and enjoyable listening experience. I desperately wanted the full-length album, Wagonwheel Blues, to retain the feel and pure enjoyable relaxation that was so apparent in the EP. For the most part, I was satisfied, but the full album just didn’t capture the energy that was in the EP. Sadly, the band has shifted away from the post-punk roots so apparent  “A Needle In Your Eye” and “Arms Like Boulders,” cranked the reverb and blindly rushed into a new album.

In summary, I’m disappointed. Not because of the ambient genre has so little to offer - that is certainly not the case - but because devoting oneself too much to one genre is limiting and is bound to stifle the growth of a band with so much potential. I think this album has the potential to grow the War on Drugs’ audience base, but for me it is stagnant and lacks the energy I’ve come to expect.

I will be giving the album several more listens as the day goes on, but I don’t expect to give a more positive review. If you like what you hear, order the album from Secretly Canadian or Rough Trade.

The Reverend John Delore - Little John the Conqueror

I originally thought that my favorite music blog, Berkeley Place, turned me on to The Reverend John Delore, but I’m 100% wrong. Ekko, in his infinite wisdom, did not direct me to this artist, nor can I remember why I originally decided to pick up “Ode to an American Urn,” RJD’s debut album. At any rate, it’s a great album, and left me wishing for more.

Fortunately, The Reverend John Delore delivered with a new album this week, entitled “Little John the Conqueror.” It is a similar vein of country/southern-infused rock, with enough pain to pull it out of the mainstream. Contrary to my usual standards of painful, slow and depressing country & folk music, both albums contain solid pop hooks - albeit combined with some of the pain I expect from a good country-ish artist (see Delore’s cover of “Iodine” off “American Urn” or “When I Think of Home” on “Little John”) - but don’t skimp on a upbeat summertime feeling either (do I sense some Elvis Costello influence in “Wayside?”). You can rock out to this all summer in your backyard.

AND since it’s on Bandcamp, you can download it RIGHT NOW in any format you want AND listen to it for free in its entirety. There is also the limited edition vinyl record album, which I will likely jump on after my next paycheck.

So, if you like what I’ve written, go to RJD’s Bandcamp page and give it a listen, and perhaps a download. He deserves it. You deserve it.