Bowerbirds
“Upper Air”
3.5 out of 5

The story of how Bowerbirds came to be is one that involves girlfriends, boyfriends, birds and probably a lot of ‘aww’s if you were to hear it straight from them. With songs inspired by the rustic nature surrounding Phil Moore and his cabin as he bird-watched in the woods, Bowerbirds sound is, if nothing else, hard to pin down. Many have tried and failed to describe their sound, claiming it as everything from beard rock (whatever that is) to acid folk. Most people land somewhere in between and dub it freak folk, but I don’t think that’d exactly it either.

All failed attempts at genre pigeonholing aside, Bowerbirds take acoustic guitars, pianos, accordions and lovely he/she harmonizing vocals and turn it into something (literally) indescribable. Unlike their last release, Hymns for a Dark Horse, Upper Air is more personal with a handful of straight up love songs which, unlike most, actually have love behind the strumming and singing.

Don’t let Bowerbirds love fool you though, because as they proved with their last record, they’ve got some serious talent and a knack for relaxing you immediately upon first gorgeous harmony.

Key Tracks: “Teeth,” “Northern Lights,” “Beneath Your Tree”

-MV

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Magnolia Electric Co.“Josephine”
3 out of 5

Magnolia Electric Co. is essentially a vehicle for songwriter Jason Molina, much the way Sam Beam operates under Iron and Wine, or Conor Oberst as Bright Eyes. Molina has been releasing music under various monikers since 1997 (as Songs: Ohia) before switching to his current guise in 2003. Though he’s flown under the radar for much of his career, Josephine may finally bring this prolific songwriter the praise he deserves.

Much of the inspiration for the record comes from the 2007 death of Evan Farrell, Molina’s touring bassist. Aside from this loss, the topic of loneliness often appears as a theme in the songwriting. Josephine is a heartfelt, emotionally dense record that draws numerous parallels to the output of like-minded songwriter Will Oldham. In a historical sense, Molina draws inspiration from the muses of Willie Nelson and Warren Zevon. An ode is written to the former on track 6, “Song For Willie.”

While the Electric Company’s sound is often too varied to pigeonhole as ‘alt-country,’ Molina uses his steel guitar and horn section as the instruments of choice on the record’s strongest songs. What ultimately prevents Josephine from reaching its full potential, however, is a sequence of 5 or 6 unmemorable tracks in the record’s second half. Still, fans of the twangy side of indie rock should enjoy this underrated songwriter’s latest offering.

Key Tracks: “O! Grace”

-CP