Song Picks of the Week – July 21, 2020

Every Tuesday the Bard editors post our favorite song discoveries from local artists around the Intermountain West. For an archive of past picks, check Song Picks of the Week.

1) Oxidate by Brother. | Genre: Indie Rock

Our first pick of the week comes from Brother., a Provo-based Indie Rock band that has been kicking around for a few years. Written by vocalist/guitarist Chuck Emery, “Oxidate” has a melodic rhythm that makes me think of Death Cab for Cutie. The lyric seems to speak to a life with no regrets, where everyone oxidizes—gets a bit tarnished with age perhaps? Emery’s vulnerable vocal styling contrasts nicely with the humor in the song’s video, where we follow bandmate Nate (Nathan) Standage literally spending the day rolling around Salt Lake City. “Oxidate” was produced, recorded and mixed by Emery and Standage. Listen to more music from Brother. on Spotify and learn more about the band at brotherofficial.net. – Scott Cullins

2) Favorite Dream by Balls Capone | Genre: Folk Rock

I first heard of Balls Capone when I ran into Balls’ guitarist Jimmy Lauscher at Guitar Czar and asked him what he was up to. Fast forward to April 2020 and Balls Capone’s new CD release, The Cats Cheat at Cards.

In “My Favorite Dream,” our protagonist seems to pursue a mysterious dark-haired woman. As he floats on “a breathless ocean,” he never seems to catch up with the elusive figure in his dream. The band claims to be a folk rock band, but “My Favorite Dream,” has a newgrass sound. The banjo and bass create a mesmerizing rhythm that take me back to late nights at the Grand Targhee Bluegrass festival…wandering around from jam to jam in the woods. Vocalist/guitarist Patrick Neville delivers a solid vocal performance, the background vox are spot on and there’s some nice flatpicking to nail that bluegrass sound.

With CD Baby no longer selling CD’s, it seem the only place to buy Balls Capone music in Bandcamp, where you can purchase a digital CD for $12. – Scott Cullins

3) Buffalo by The Penitent Man | Genre: Stoner Rock, Prog

The Penitent Man bills themselves as a five-piece stoner rock/blues band. Listening to “Buffalo,” I get it. But for me, the song ‘reads’ more like a progressive jam with a plenty of dynamic texture. There are melodies and harmonies remincient of Alice in Chains, and I love the pre-chorus(?) where the band introduces a banjo. The lyric, “Hide your face with a disguise, sorrow speaks right through your eyes” reminds me so much like one of my favorite and somewhat obscure prog rock bands, Porcupine Tree.

“Buffalo” is almost 10 minutes long, so kickback with your headphones, get your stoner band prep on, and get ready for a sweet ride. Follow The Penitent Man on Facebook, purchase music at The Penitent Man bandcamp page for a “name-your-price” fee, or on vinyl for $20, and stream their music on Spotify and Apple Music. – Scott Cullins