Howlin Rain
(American)
Comets on Fire's Ethan Miller can't possibly remember the 1960s, and maybe that's the secret to Magnificent Fiend's dead-on, day-glo channeling of the decade of love. The unmistakable scent of patchouli wafts from the viscous guitar lines and swirling organs in "Dancers at the End of Time." You can hear a bit of Comets on Fire's mad chaos in the interstices here, but not much. This is, after all, Miller's band for structured songs. And what songs! In "Lord Have Mercy," a cast of thousands swirls gospel, blues, funk and soul into one Peter Max-vivid vibe. "Goodbye Ruby" shape shifts from porno-quality, wah-wah laced funk into a soaring, circling guitar solo worthy of Duane and Dickey in their prime.
These cuts are so old-fashioned, they're almost fresh by default. In the end, though, what's remarkable is not how well Howlin Rain remembers the 1960s, but how completely it forgets everything that came after. (Consumer note: the band is issuing the vinyl version of the album via indie label Birdman.)
Standout Tracks: “Lord Have Mercy,” “Goodbye Ruby” JENNIFER KELLY
