Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus
Bloom
Transubstans Records

It might be a little tough to get by the name, but once you accept the fact that Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus isn’t the title of a long lost Hardy Boys mystery novel in which sleuthing teenage brothers Frank and Joe Hardy spoil an international spy ring led by an award-winning British actor and his band of no-good, rich, white skaters from the coast, and that they are indeed a loose n’ groovy psych-rock band from Stockholm, Sweden, then things suddenly become mystically boss. Bloom, their second album and first on label Transubstans after self-releasing their 2007 debut Elefanta, is an incredibly soulful jam that focuses the majority of its attention on delivering its hazy, swirling melodies in a clear and present manner instead of burying them behind layers of fuzz and mud like most acid trippers are apt to do; songs like the organ-fried clock-melters “Skin Deep” and “IAOA” are propelled by an earthy, bluesy force, “Tales of the Future” and “Cosmo Tropic” require some serious hip shakes before that third eye of yours will open, and the Zeppelin-esque “Fernando” might one day replace “Stairway to Heaven” as the last song at Swedish proms. But where JI&TRM really excel is, believe it or not, in their ability to channel the amplified love of Jeff Buckley, as “Elefanta,” “Golden Hours,” and the title track each swell with an unnervingly delicate beauty reminiscent of the late musician’s sound, elevating Bloom beyond a trippy rock n’ roll record into something much more magical. Highly recommended.

Listen to “Golden Hours” from Bloom!

J Mascis
Several Shades of Why
Sub Pop

You know, if I’m not careful, this blog is gonna go soft in a hurry, what with all the acoustic/indie stuff I’ve been reviewing lately, and I’d be especially concerned if Several Shades of Why had been released by anyone other than J Mascis, but it’s because this is a J Mascis release that it’s suitable consumption for such a hairy hole as this. From his look to his sound, the man has been iconic (and laconic) for nearly 30 years, and now that he’s abandoned the comfort of one of his myriad bands (Dinosaur Jr., Witch, Sweet Apple, etc.) and chosen to try his hand at a delicately beautiful sound, we should pay attention. Several Shades of Why is, for all intents and purposes, J’s first solo studio record (Martin + Me was live covers, then there were those records with his Friends and The Fog), although he was helped out by such notable musicians as Kurt Vile, Sophie Trudeau (A Silver Mount Zion), Kurt Fedora, Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession), and others. That roll call is probably too nerdy and hip for most, but trust me when I tell you that the songs are all J, his strained, alternative voice callously caressing the deep n’ dark melodies to create a collusion of dopey vagueness and intimate intricacies with every breath and chord. Simply put, it’s signature J done quieter than normal, where the nondescript titles (“Not Enough,” “Is it Done,” “Can I,” etc.) reveal very little and the easy ambiguity hides nothing at all.

Listen to “Where Are You” from Several Shades of Why!

The Main Street Gospel
Love Will Have Her Revenge
Tee Pee

Blowin’ in on the winds of yesteryear is The Main Street Gospel, a country-psych band with ties to Brian Jonestown Massacre and a sound so steeped in nostalgia and tradition you gotta blow the dust off of it just to discover the true treasure it really is. Love Will Have Her Revenge, the Ohio trio’s debut, is a laid back approach to the usual foot-stomp of mustache rock, and gets its point across by way of delicate pop melodies, tin cup blues, and breezy jams. While none of the songs here are exceptionally overpowering in their virility, they do have amazing breadth, depth, and reach, like the thick roots of an old and impressive tree. Not only that, but they shake and hum at times with a journeyman vibe, as the longest songs on deck (“Fool’s Gold,” “Ready to Shine,” and “She’s a Disease”) draw you into a solitary world of lonely rural squatting and the hallucinations it might induce with their 70s-inspired freak-folk rock. You’ll be able to hear a wide array of influences on this one, like Neil Young, Wilco, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dead Meadow, and Blood Meridian, but in the end it’s just good ol’ rock n’ roll — vulnerable, honest, heartfelt, and a tad trippy.

Check out  MSG performing the title track from Love Will Have Her Revenge!