Masterpiece

Tracks
Written By Michael Gutierrez

Big Thief’s first full-length Masterpiece has a kind of cringe-worthy title that level-headed bands tend to avoid on their maiden voyage. But after four follow up LPs, each finding bigger audiences, you can’t say the band didn’t demonstrate some degree of foresight.

The 4-piece was onto something. Flashback with HDN to listen to this early classic “Masterpiece” from Big Thief. After a wonderfully scraggly opener to establish their lo-fi, indie folk credentials, the band ratchets it up into an arena-ready (well, at least amphitheater-ready) rocker with a throwback swagger worthy of Crazy Horse.

Adrianne Lenker’s vocals are in fine form, demonstrating the chops to make herself heard over the distortion-drenched howlers.

Share, stream, buy to your heart’s content.

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Skylar Gudasz: “No Body”
Skylar Gudasz: “No Body”

Mellotron!

The Honey Dewdrops: “Goodbye”
The Honey Dewdrops: “Goodbye”

Straight Americana out of Baltimore.

Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko: “Doname”
Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko: “Doname”

A soulful call and response between the flute and the kora.

Jonathan Suazo: “Héroes”
Jonathan Suazo: “Héroes”

Afro-caribbean jazz with percussion aplenty.

ME N U: “Sorcery”
ME N U: “Sorcery”

This band gives you a RIYL list.

GONE.: “Tidal”
GONE.: “Tidal”

A medium tempo entry into bummer rock.

Daniel Noah Miller: “People Get Ready”
Daniel Noah Miller: “People Get Ready”

A live solo ditty from an artist you know from Lewis Del Mar.

Cortez: “No Heroes”
Cortez: “No Heroes”

No liner notes on the Bandcamp page?

The Daylilies: “Pétillant”
The Daylilies: “Pétillant”

Bubbly, sparkling like a wine.

Rosier: “other forms”
Rosier: “other forms”

Alt pop fibrillations from north of the border.

Miracle Blood: “Hello Hell”
Miracle Blood: “Hello Hell”

A gnarly punk metal ripper.

Lia Kohl: “Plane”
Lia Kohl: “Plane”

Kind of like the sound of sawing Superman’s crystal Fortress of Solitude in half.

Constant Smiles: “Connection”
Constant Smiles: “Connection”

A medium tempo pop picker with moody, sodden vocal stylings.

Illuminati Hotties: “What’s The Fuzz”
Illuminati Hotties: “What’s The Fuzz”

Tender punk! Cooler than Tinder punk.

Flake: “Yellow”
Flake: “Yellow”

“Moses” is kind of cool.

Lo Moon: “Water”
Lo Moon: “Water”

Pretty good, eh?

Michael Gutierrez
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