ANTI- Records
Released: April 20th, 2010
Roky Erickson used to front the best psyche-rock band of all time, the 13th Floor Elevators. If you don't know who they are then fuck off and read something else please. This is his latest solo album in 14 years and it's backed by fellow Austin TX band, Okkervil River who I am also a huge fan of.
The music is a very modern, warped take on americana (post-americana?). Meaning that while most of album sounds exactly like what you think a 65 year old former mental patient fronting the alt-americana Okkervil River, there are moments that are warped, shifted and distorted (not just in the guitar way). These moments remind me a lot of Six Organs of Admittance in the traditional American rock tradition that Ben Chasney brings not his preoccupation with the psychedelic.
The intro, outro and the songs "John Lawman", Birds'd Crash", "Please Judge" in particular show this warped take on the genre. I'm not sure how much this is due to Okkervil River contribution or just Roky's slanted outlook due to his storied past. Anyways those are the best songs as far as making this a unique effort. The rest of the songs sound as if Roky is just singing for Okkervil River. Some of these songs are actually quite good. Especially the catchiest track on the album, "Goodbye Sweet Dreams".
Oh and as a side note: Roky looks like this drunk Danish guy named Peter who works in the same building that I work in. The dude is hilarious, he comes in half in the bag, blabbering on in-comprehensively in a Danish accent about some sort of non-sense. He's like a drunk, Danish version of Santa Claus. Thats who Roky reminds me of in the photo.
Similar: Six Organs of Admittance, The Band, 13th Floor Elevators
Rating: 7.0
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