Dig ‘in: Makthaverskan, Tweedy, The Moles
INCOMING
Makthaverskan - För Allting (Run For Cover LP)
After following a similar naming strategy as Led Zeppelin for their first three albums, Gothenburg’s Makthaverskan has broken rank, much like the heavy metal icons, and changed up the branding. Instead of releasing an untitled record like Zep, the group has christened their fourth album För Allting, which translates to For Everything. True to its title, För Allting is the most fully realized, all encompassing Makthaverskan record to date. There’s the anthemic propulsion of “This Time,” the punchy pop of “Tomorrow,” the and the clamoring crunch of “All I’ve Ever Wanted To Say.” Throughout it all Maja Milner’s voice reaches out to the heavens despite chronicling persistent despair that provides the impression of a hell-on-earth existence. Here’s hoping time will be kind for this band who also come from a land of ice and snow! - Bruce Novak
black watch - Here & There (ATOM Records LP)
I would be hard-pressed to name another band approaching thirty five years in existence with the consistent engrossing output of the black watch that’s somehow managed to escape the greater music community’s notice. Fortunately the group remains undeterred and even self-deprecating by titling their greatest hits collection released in 2019 as 31 Years Of Obscurity. Be as it may, Here & There marks the band’s twentieth LP and it’s yet another effort deserving to be heard to all points far and wide. John Andrew Fredrick is the driving force behind the group—an English professor and published author who’s grasp of language imbues his songs with a cinematic grandeur. There’s a romanticism in Fredrick’s work that comes across as wistful yet optimistic. To borrow a phrase from Nick Lowe, this is pure pop for now people that echoes the past, but celebrates the present. - Bruce Novak
Clear History - bad advice good people (Upset The Rhythm EP)
Perhaps because of their recent formation, Clear History maintains a degree of anonymity that their chosen name may allude to. While it’s apparent that this mixed raced and gendered trio hailing from Berlin has an affinity for ‘80s post-punk, their debut EP also contains traces of Crass label era agitation (“PRESENTS!”) and ‘70s lower Manhattan punk grime (“the mall”). In other words, while their future trajectory is hard to predict, bad advice good people is a worthy jumping off point. I suspect they’re not the type of band prone to look before they make their next leap. Let it rip, Clear History! - Bruce Novak
UPCOMING
Slow Pulp
Where: Lincoln Hall / Directions
When: December 17, 8:00 PM
Slow Pulp wrap up their current tour with a return to their adopted home and a welcoming sold out audience. Unlike the frenetic, linear stories that abound in pulp fiction, Slow Pulp’s songs unfold gradually and often set a more melancholic mood than a descent into madness. Emily Massey’s vocals provide a cocooning effect; enveloping the listener in an immersive comfort zone. Their show holds the promise of a regenerative effect—a warm embrace before the inevitably departure back outside to the cold, crisp winter air. - Bruce Novak
Beach Bunny
Where: Riviera / Directions
When: December 18, 6:30 PM
I’m super stoked to be seeing Beach Bunny at the Riv on Saturday. They’ll be wrapping up their current tour with a big sold-out show in hometown Chicago! Lili Trifilio has been a busy Bunny over the last two years, releasing the band’s debut album Honeymoon in February 2020 and a 4-song EP Blame Game in January this year. Lili’s directly-emotional songwriting skills are readily apparent on both records and the band’s upbeat indie pop sound is just fun. With Matt Henkels on guitar, Anthony Vaccaro on bass and drummer Jon Alvarado, this should be something of a victory celebration for the band and their rapidly-expanding audience. - Tom Novak
Tweedy
Where: Metro / Directions
When: December 22-23, 6:30 PM
What’s better than one Tweedy? How about 3! Tweedy is Jeff Tweedy's family band, featuring his sons Spencer on the drums, and Sammy on backing vocals. Coinciding with the reimagining of last year's "solo" Jeff Tweedy album Love is The King as the live album Live is The King, Tweedy will be playing at the Metro with Liam Kazar, James Elkington, and Ohmme's Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart. Tweedy have played shows together in and around Chicago over the past year, most recently playing a drive-in show on June 4th in Bridgeview, and truly brings Jeff Tweedy's solo material to life with the help of his friends. -Mark Joyner
UNCOVERED
The Moles - Flashbacks and Dream Sequences: The Story of The Moles (Fire Records compilation)
The original Moles line-up originated in Sydney before moving on to London and was able to release one full album (1991’s Untune The Sky) along with a couple of EPs and singles before splintering in 1994. Afterwards, principal songwriter Richard Davies relocated to New York to assemble the band’s second LP, Instinct, with the Clean’s Hamish Kilgour sitting in on drums. All of those recordings are compiled for this release that came out for 2014’s Record Store Day. Davies has always possessed the talent to deliver gorgeous pop songs while also having an experimental bent that surfaced more prominently once he assumed sole reigns of the band. He was a forerunner to the orchestral pop movement and a key inspiration for The Flaming Lips’ bent sound transformation from their grungy roots. After his tenure with the Moles, Davies partnered with Eric Matthews briefly in Cardinal and then released a trio of excellent solo records up through the year 2000. In 2016 he resurrected The Moles name for his Tonight Music release with a new band that featured Sebadoh’s Bob Fay and Sugar’s Malcom Travis. - Bruce Novak
We recommend listening along over at our Spotify page. Here’s this week’s content: