New Series: 3x2 Volume 1

A NEW SERIES: two writers each make their case for three underrated records.

Photo by Eric Murray on Unsplash

Good morning!

Today, we’re kicking off a series where we shine a spotlight on some of our favorite underrated records.

You ever had a record that you loved, but for whatever reason, no one else did? I'm not talking about what we might consider a guilty pleasure (though those are rad, too). I mean records you knew in your bones your peers would love only to see them fall flat. Or they were a hit in your circle, but that's as far as it went.

In this monthly series, Sam Colt and I will each share our picks for titles that haven't received their due. You'll recognize Sam's name from our On Repeat and Friends Best of Series and also our Top 100 of all-time series last fall. These posts will adopt the latter's format; I will make my case for my three picks and my reaction to Sam's. Sam's page will do the reverse.

Going forward, we’ll narrow it down to something a little more specific like genre, artist, or other terms, but for now, we went with the completely specific/not at all random "first three records that came to mind," or at least I did, anyway. Starting next month, we will also alternate who choose each issue’s theme. I am also taking suggestions on what to call this thing.

From Sam:

Each month, we’ll put forward three albums and our responses to each. Every installation of this series will have a different theme, with Kevin and I alternating between who picks the theme. So to kick things off, we’re rolling with three slightly under-the-radar albums that are absolutely worth checking out. Hope you enjoy them, and let us know what you think in the comments, or if you have any ideas for monthly album themes.

That said, the ultimate goal is to find new listeners and fans for the featured records. I hope you find value in reading them and find a new favorite record or two.

When you’re done here make sure to check out This Is a Newsletter!

Let's get to it!

KA—

The Judybats-Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow

I have a confession: I love going to shows by myself. You can sit/stand where you like. You don't have to worry if the people you're with are enjoying themselves. You can dance with abandon. But, it wasn't always like this…until I saw The Judybats.

The short version is this: it was a great show, I had a wonderful time, and not a single soul cared one whit that I was there solo. To this day, they are also the nicest band I've ever seen. I mean that literally. I don't know if it was part of the bit or just Southern hospitality, but they seemed genuinely blown away and grateful that we were there. I was used to having stuff thrown at me at shows, but compliments weren't one of them.

It was a nice change.

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I worked in a record store in high school, and this landed on our mandatory in-store playlist. That can often mean the death knell for a record—to this day, there are several that I'd be okay with never hearing again (take a bow, 4 Non-Blondes), but this isn't one of 'em. The contrast between the breezy music and earnest lyrics grabbed me, and 30ish years later, I still haven't let go.

"Our Story" is a great track that showcases frontman Jeff Heiskell's vocals and storytelling early on. Love in all its forms (lost love, unrequited, etc.) is a recurrent theme, but so are musings on rural life. The latter is the sort of thing best served by a band from Knoxville.

"Saturday" is another highlight and is an early template for countless 90s indie bands that would follow. The closing track, "When Things Get Slow Around Here" is almost a lullaby, and listening, you can imagine sitting on a porch watching the wisps of fog (or humidity) roll in over the field laid out before you. The only clunker here is Witches Night, and its fatal flaw is that it goes on just a bit too long.

So what happened? Why didn't this record take off? If I had to guess, it was down to timing. Heiskell sounds a lot more like Morrissey than he does, say, Eddie Vedder. The music is more polished than what we were eating up at that point; the lyrics maybe too vulnerable. And who else was working the word "cantilevered" into their songs back then, anyway?

The band made a couple of more records before splitting up. These days, Heiskell is a realtor, and I occasionally see him touting one of his listings on social media. I'm not in the market for a new house, but if the Judybats put out a new reocrd, I'd be first in line. See what the all the fuss is here.

Sam’s pick and my take: Cola - Deep in View

Sam and I both wanted to ease our way into this series, and I think I've gotten the better end of the deal. Simply put, I love this group. Helping him make this record's case is a treat for me. I'm a sucker for a good bit of post-punk, and Cola is just what I need. The band's latest release, The Gloss, *just* missed my AOTY list. In any other year, it likely would've been a lock.

Deep in View is a record stuck with the pandemic project label—sort of. That's how the record got its start. The band Ought wound down, and Tim Darcy and Ben Sitidworthy joined Evan Cartwright late of US Girls. The three began bouncing ideas off each other and swapping tapes, and before you knew it, Deep In View was here.

So, what do they sound like? Imagine a fusion of Telvision and Parquet Courts, whose favorite record is Wire's Pink Flag. It's post-punk at its most angular. Darcy's got a version of the talk/sing thing going that works well on top of the riffs and Motorik beats. Start with "At Pace" and go from there. Learn more about Cola here.

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Swervedriver- Raise

If you watched MTV's 120 Minutes, you may remember "Rave Down" from this record. That's where I first heard it, and I'm not sure I heard it anywhere else. But it made a massive impact on me and is still a record I listen to today.

It's easy to call Swervedriver a shoegaze band, but that's unfair and inaccurate. Sure, there's plenty of reverb and swirling guitars for days here, but this had a harder edge than MBV or Slowdive. "Rave Down" is great, but opener "Sci-Flyer" is another standout that starts the record off at about 6000 RPMs and never really slows down. Lost in those full-throttle sounds are some profound lyrics.

“Rave Down” is about the crushing ennui that is part of living in a small town (or, in this writer's case, suburbia). If you've ever driven around just to have something to do, the words'll resonate. That's another difference between Raise and albums like Loveless; it sounds like something at home being played in a car.

Part of what made this a hard sell is that it didn't sound like anything else. Hyping something you can't describe can be tricky business. The other fatal flaw was in the timing of the release. September of 1991 was a great month for music, but when you're going up against the likes of Nevermind, Blood Sugar Sex Magick, and Ten, something's gotta give. See for yourself why I love this record.

Sam’s pick and my take: Fuubutsushi - Meridians

With elements of jazz, ambient, and a much more spare sound, Meridians is everything Raise isn't. That's not a bad thing, of course. Just make sure not to get whiplash if you go straight from one to the other like I did. This gorgeous record is perfect for soundtracking a dinner party or your neighborhood's chillest coffee shop. I'd never heard of this band before and likely wouldn't have found them in a million years had Sam not picked, but I'm sure glad he got it on my radar. Find your next deep work/dinner party soundtrack here.

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The New Pornographers- Continue As Guest

Thirteen months ago, I wrote the following as I crowned Continue As Guest my favorite record for 2023 (for those interested, the original review is here).

The band has had the market cornered on bubbling just under the surface for years. On Continue As Guest, everything came together for what I thought was one of their most solid efforts to date. I was sure of it, but that’s not quite how it went. If anything, my love for this record has only grown.

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Few bands can say they’ve reached the twin peaks of extensive discography and fevered fan base the way The New Pornographers have.

This combination becomes fertilizer for lively- and often extremely pedantic- discussions about a favorite record, era, lineup, etc. Everyone has their opinions, and for my money, everyone is right! But I’ll say this: Continue As Guest is arguably one of the best records yet from a band known for consistently putting out solid work.

The New Pornographers excel at composing complex sounds and words without making you overthink. For listeners used to anthemic and outsized hooks, Continue As Guest will take a listen or two before it clicks. But the band will win you over, as they invariably do.

I often find myself writing, “Just go buy this record” as a placeholder until I can better articulate my thoughts. Sometimes, I wish I could leave it at that. This is one of those cases.

Getting a group as talented as this all moving in the right direction rarely happens, but Continue As Guest is evidence that the exception proves the rule. Need a dose of sublime power pop? I’ve got you covered.

Sam’s pick and my take: Celeste - Not Your Muse (Deluxe)

Another new to me record. My biggest takeaway is that I'm unsure what I'm listening to. Is it a pop record? A jazz album? A soul LP? One minute, there's a torch song; the next, something off-kilter like "Strange." A couple of songs later, we're listening to a propulsive tack like "Stop This Flame (my favorite on the record). Can I describe a jazz(ish) song as a banger? At other points, she reminded me of Amy Winehouse. Whether she's crooning, singing softly, or in full above, her voice is incredible and oozing with self-assurance. Her talent is undeniable. This type of record isn't normally in my wheelhouse, but it's a worthwhile listen. Hear more of Celeste’s work here.

That’s a wrap! What are your thoughts on these records? Do you own any of them? Share your thoughts in the comments! And if you have any ideas on future themes, please share those as well!

Thanks for being here,

Kevin—