Greenville Scene

The first track, “Carl Zann,” features a dramatic intro that reminds me of a battle scene in a musical or opera. While every song utilizes the vast differences between Gowan and Murphee’s vocal styles to create different moods and transitions, “Heaven” takes full advantage of the contrast.

“Der Giftgingeist” epitomizes the storytelling style that often pops up on the album, while “Wave Goodbye” provides a kind of Medieval meets Southern Gospel feel.

When it comes to pure musical talent, these guys definitely don’t run short. While their website says they “employ upwards of a dozen different instruments” in their live shows, I could have sworn they used about 30, and that they had more than two people playing. Even with their musical prowess, Wasted Wine still provides a stripped down, almost back porch sound with a bit of a dark twist

The only real weakness to this album is the length of the songs. Everything flows nicely, but for 10 tracks, nearly 48 minutes is pushing it pretty hard

Overall, Wasted Wine is definitely worth a gander. And When You Wake Up… is streaming for free on wastedwine.com if you want to preview the entire album, and they have a full slate of shows in the Greenville area in the next few months.

www.wastedwine.com
www.myspace.com/magyarsounds

William F. Gibbs
My Fellow Sophisticates

by: Keith Groover

I’ll get this out of the way . . . buy this album. You won’t regret it, unless you’re the type of person who just can’t stand really good music. Greenville Scene says it’s good — therefore it’s good. If you need more persuasion than my dubious appeal to authority, keep on reading.

William F. Gibbs has recorded an album full of catchy, memorable, and well-performed songs. This guy is no amateur trying to macbook his way to stardom, he’s the real deal, and he has a crack team of musicians to help him along. The sound of My Fellow Sophisticates could loosely be described as Americana, but it’s really an amalgamation of various kinds of folk and pop with a touch of English rock. There are shuffling rhythms, complex chord changes, and a never-ending attention to melody. And there’s a pretty rockin’ disco song, too.

The album starts with a fade-in of a honky-tonk piano which gives way to an electric guitar hook, then proceeds to demonstrate one of the album’s most distinctive traits; elaborate instrumentation. Besides the piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and drums, this song features a muted trumpet, a bowed upright bass, and some gospel-tinged background vocals. On other tracks you’ll hear flutes, strings, melodica, and organs, but the main instruments are acoustic guitar, piano, and Gibbs’ versatile and able voice.

Virtually every song demonstrates a different aspect of Gibbs’ singing style, from the funky almost-rapping of “Streetfighter” (the disco song) to “LA Money”, which is a song that would (almost) be comfortably sung by an American Idol. There’s the soft and hushed voice used on the quiet and deeply affecting “Oh Pollyanna”, and even a short burst of scatting on “Here Comes Your Steamboat Brother! Here Comes Your Freightline Sister!” Throughout, Gibbs doesn’t mind changing up his enunciation to fit the mood of a song (my personal favorite is “Oh Poly-ay-nah, there at the pee-ay-nah” from “Oh Pollyanna”.) Gibbs also has a very rich and strong falsetto, which he uses to great effect throughout the album.

About half the songs are fairly melancholic mid-tempo or slow numbers, and the other half have a double-time peppiness to them, often crossing the line over to something that could easily be arranged for a gospel choir. This is true of what is probably my favorite track, “Brother John”, which starts off with some long and somber chords, gives way to a story about an unbelieving priest, and climaxes with a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, barn-burning finale.

So, to sum up, this is the kind of album that I was hoping to find when I started working for Greenville Scene. I hope that you support this artist and the local scene by buying this album, and make sure to go see him in concert if you get a chance.

www.myspace.com/wfgibbs

Reverb is back - at 109 Augusta Rd. Greenville. The re-opening concert is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - 3 days and 33 hours of music. $3 donation per day. The line-up as listed on their myspace page is:

1.Tree Creature 2.Sublimator 3.Lid Emba 4Oddknock 5.Somasen 6..Quetatatl 7.Backseat Dreamer 8.Gentle Suit 9.Morbous 10.the 10th Letter 11.Brian Greene 12.Charles St. Lucas 12.Chezzeface 13.Coma Cinema 14.Nahaza 15.DABLES 16.BRANDEN ABUSHNAB with Andrew Mcdade 17.3P1L3PT1C F1T 18.Fire Island Alaska 19.Backseat Dreamer 20.BRAINcastle 21.Montey Craig 22.Rocket number nine zoom zoom 23.Postulate Syndrome 24.Sorry Entertainer 25.Preacher’s Gun 26.Lethal Theory 27.Closet Monster 28.The Snacks (7 more for reserve) others tba

Happy 4th of July! Here’s your weekly Listen To This brought to you by Michelle.

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal - from Fleet Foxes
If you haven’t heard this song yet, do yourself a favor a go download it for free! Wonderful harmonies on this song. I really want this album.

Kunk - We Are Not Who You Think We Are - (single)
This was song of the day this week at KEXP. Pretty catchy.

Shearwater - Rooks - from Rook
Beautiful. Download this song for free on their Myspace page.

Mates of State - The Re-Arranger - from Re-Arrange Us
I just can’t get this song out of my head.

Wolf Parade - Call It A Ritual - from At Mount Zoomer
Download this song plus 4 others! (click the link)