All Ears: The Tontons - Golden
What’s this? A review? That’s correct, our dear friend Adam P. Newton has taken the time to evaluate The Tontons’ Golden EP for everyone. Look for more from Mr. Newton here in the future.
The Tontons
Golden
Self-Released; 2011
Call me a blatant homer, but I would like to think that I’m a champion of Houston’s music scene. Despite the fact that Space City gets a bum rap in national music press and our lack of proper zoning allows celebrated venues to get bought out by developers looking to make a quick buck or three, we have a great deal to be proud of in our 600 square miles. Case in point – The Tontons have been rocking stages for nearly four years now, and the band continues to hone its sound and attract new fans at ever turn. The group’s sound is a rich amalgam of blues, soul, and rock that never fails to attract new fans of various demographic stripes, as it’s rather difficult to resist a such a tuneful blend of fantastic vocals and strong guitar work.
On the band’s new EP, Golden, the quartet flips the script from its 2009 self-titled full-length by ratcheting up the sultry, sexy coos of Asli Omar, while displaying the growth and maturity of the musicianship. Instead of overt ‘70s psych barnburners like “Leon” or “1812,” we’re instead graced with fresh, straight-ahead pop-rock tunes like “So Young,” “Vietnam,” and the title cut, and there’s plenty of soul and catchy goodness to please a variety of sonic palates. There’s a greater discipline on display as well: the guitar licks are clean and robust, the drums are big and crisp, and there’s a plethora of support instrumentation in the way of keyboard fills, horn bleats, and more.
To my ears, it’s rather obvious that the band has drawn some inspiration from fellow Houstonians Wild Moccasins, but I also hear the resounding influences of Sharon Jones, Adele, Grupo Fantasma, and Mana, and this convinces me that The Tontons have really expanded its own musical tastes in the past several months. Moreover, the production is on-point, and it serves to highlight Omar’s pipes as well as the inherent danceable grooves that power the songs. Golden is a great example of what an EP should be: it showcases the best of the band’s material; it’s bursting to full with hooks and great ideas; and most importantly, it’s fun, engaging, and leaves you wanting more with each spin. I really do think that this five-song project could help The Tontons break into larger markets and gain increased exposure for their bluesy brand of indie rock.
All Ears: Bright Men Of Learning - Fired
There are many songwriters in this world at this point; heck even a 16 year-old girl who pens a tune about homework is technically a songwriter. But for each swath of songwriters, there are few storytellers. Fortunately, however, we are graced with persons like Bright Men Of Learning’s Marshall Preddy, whose lyrics on the band’s new record, Fired, breach cinematic in scope. The album feels like a heart set loose for a decade who has just returned and set its adventures to song. Album closer “Western Hearts” - a world-weary tale of a senator doing “the best thing he can do” - is just begging for a music video.
Fired’s dusty, definitely Western but not country sound feels warm, comfortable and familiar without becoming boring, tired or trite. The album brings to mind Ryan Adams and Tom Petty, without feeling that too much is owed to either. We’d heard a few of the band’s earlier tunes, but it feels like they’ve really nailed it on this album - there’s not a sleeper here. Perhaps it is Preddy’s gravelly, seemingly always exhausted voice that pulls us into the stories, or the balance of the trio of guitars at work throughout the record without ever overwhelming each other.
Harmonies, lap steel, whoa-ohs, expressive but restrictive guitar interplay and some sharp percussion arrangements provide a solid foundation for what is an excellently constructed album that’s sure to sit high on our Best of 2010 list. Sure, we could pick a favorite song or four, but the fact of the matter is that we’re more than happy to just let this album sit on repeat - something we’ve done several times over the few weeks since it hit our inbox. Do yourself a favor and buy it now. To paraphrase Preddy’s lyrics on “Left Behind” - we like where they’re going, and we’ve marked our calendars.
Bright Men Of Learning plays an album release show for Fired at Rudyard’s this Saturday, September 18th. Opening acts include Orange Is In and Jim Beazy, and the $8 cover will also get you a download card for the album. In addition, the band will be playing an in-store at Cactus Music at 3 pm on Saturday, which is absolutely free. Fired will also be available on LP, which can be purchased online, or at Cactus Music and Sound Exchange. Don’t skip it.
[Ed. Note: We had a whole review typed up and lost it to a browser crash. Sadness. This pretty much embodies that one, but we had to rush it as we’ve got to get to work. Sorry if it doesn’t feel terribly polished, but we love this album.]
