CLASH THE TRUTH BY BEACH FOSSILS

Clash The Truth By Beach Fossils

While Beach Fossils' eponymous 2010 debut taught us what an Indie version of Surf Rock would sound like if it was played through a tin can—the results were very successful, by the way—2013's Clash The Truth substitutes the surf rock for late 80's post punk textures similar to those by pre-Loveless My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, This Mortal Coil and Jesus & Mary Chain.  The result is a stunning, melancholy, introspective record which could easily serve as the soundtrack for teenage stoners, a kid spending yet another day alone in his attic and girls folding jeans at Urban Outfitters.  That's a wide spectrum, but Clash The Truth has such an addicting sound, the perfect combination of mopey and exuberant, that it will likely move a lot of people—though probably not to the cash registers.

Clocking in at, in my opinion, the perfect album length (just over 35 minutes,) there are not any great songs on Clash The Truth.  That's not a digression, actually—there were not any great songs on their debut, either.  But, Beach Fossils succeed on a variety of good songs like "Careless," "Shallow" and "In Vertigo;" okay songs with lots of muscle and texture like "Generational Synthetic" and the title track; beautiful, acoustic songs like the charming, purposefully out-of-tune "Sleep Apnea" and the few somewhat haunting instrumental passages like "Modern Holiday," "Brighter" and "Ascension."

Do all these sonic changes and 14 new songs make Clash The Truth an improvement on Beach Fossils' debut? No, actually.  Rather, the album shows a new, different side to a band that sounded perfectly fine and comfortable doing what they were doing.  A better question is, do I prefer Clash The Truth to 2010's Beach Fossils.

Yes.  

Clash The Truth By Beach Fossils

And, why not?

Beach Fossils

THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS BY MATMOS

The Marriage Of True Minds By Matmos

A missed opportunity—if there even was an opportunity, that is.  There's so much creativity and ambition here.  And you know something? That is awesome and we need to encourage some of the most talented artists to take a lesson from Matmos's uncompromisingly, inventive artistry.  We do—we really, really do.  Unfortunately, if Matmos has any talent, they aren't showing a lot of it on The Marriage Of True Minds.  

It wouldn't kill them to write a song or two.  Or, maybe it would.  Maybe their songwriting capabilities are so inept that this blend of club music, which sounds like it was recorded in rainforest in outer space, is the only kind of art they are capable of making.  If so, they definitely have a future in crafting unbelievable productions for seriously talented artists.  However, if Marriage is the only sort of thing they intend on making, it isn't very compelling music.  At its best, it sounds supremely incandescent.  At worst, it sounds like a teenager is experimenting with layering beats, effects and voice transformers in Garageband while reciting some very pitiful poetry.
 

Maybe I'm being too hard on this duo.  After all, they're not trying to be Neil Diamond.  But, I'll say it again, it wouldn't kill them to write a song or two.  If they attempted to make a few "songs" a bit more direct, it might make their pretentious monologues about triangles feel a bit less infuriating and a bit more interesting.

But, again, maybe I'm being too hard on this duo.  After all, this is one of those special albums where there is no rule book.  I have no problem with those kind of artists—if they're really good.  But, there are plenty of more talented rule breakers who you should listen to before Matmos.

Despite some very exciting moments—and there are a few here and there—The Marriage Of True Minds feels too bland too much of the time.  So, I can't recommend it.  But, a lot of critics do.  So, take a listen and let me know what's up.  

The Marriage Of True Minds By Matmos

RISING SONS FEATURING TAJ MAHAL AND RY COODER

Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal And Ry Cooder

The title almost says it all.  Rising Sons also included future member of The Byrds and The Rolling Thunder Revue Kevin Kelley, as well as veteran session drummer Ed Cassidy of Spirit—he was in his mid 40's here and he sounds like he loves playing with a bunch of kids!

But let's face it, if you're looking at this page, you came because you're wondering if a collaboration between two guitar legends, Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, is worth listening to.  I have good news for you.  Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal And Ry Cooder is not simply worth listening to.  Rather, if those two names mean anything to you, it's essential listening.

The guitar interplay is fantastic and is what you would expect from two virtuosos.  But, this recording, which combines 22 tracks recorded between 1965 and 1966, is more than a guitar showcase.  There are a lot of worthy cuts on here, which are treated with both plenty of integrity and originality.  

Recommended tracks include: "If The River Was Whiskey," "Let The Good Times Roll," "11th Street Overcrossing," "Tulsa Country," "The Girl With Green Eyes" and "Take A Giant Step"—the latter two would have fit perfectly onto Workingman's Dead by Grateful Dead.

According to Richie Unterburger of the All Music Guide, "this archival release has value above and beyond historical interest." 

True. 

Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal And Ry Cooder