Vulture Whale:
Wes McDonald – vocals, guitar
Lester Nuby – guitars, vocals
Keelan Parrish – bass
Jake Waitzman – drums
Welcome to my latest obsession involving Alabama and big guitars. Vulture Whale hail from Birmingham and sound like huge chunks of my record collection bolted the stacks and formed a band. There are moments that remind me of Dinosaur Jr. (“The Waves”), R.E.M. (“Head Turner”), The Neckbones (“Guillotine”), Bare Jr. (“Rainbow Lies”), and both singer Wes McDonald and the band in general have a slinky, sexy, My Morning Jacket thing goin’ on. Apparently, vulture whales feed on the flesh of kickass rock bands.
To celebrate my latest investment in 180 gram vinyl — VW’s new, self-titled album, which includes a free digital download, hint hint — here’s a couple of songs I’ve played about 300 times in the last week. If you likes, check out the links below. FYI, Vulture Whale are signed to Skybucket Records, also home to the mighty Dexateens. That would be Alabama for the win.
Vulture Whale – Sugar
Skybucket CD
Skybucket Vinyl
Vulture Whale – Sugar
What pop music should sound like. You got the lurching rhythms and angular guitars of early Archers Of Loaf (“Web In Front,” “Audiowhore”), girl group harmonies, a brief cameo by the la-la-las from “Trigger Cut,” and McDonald holds it all together with a great vocal, like a sans reverb Jim James. In fact, “Sugar” sounds like it might be kin to MMJ’s “Just Because I Do.” We might need to get DNA samples.
Vulture Whale – Land It
Skybucket CD
Vulture Whale – Land It
“I tried to come home once when I was a young man
I couldn’t remember right where I lived
Oh Annie, I might crash land it
I’m not coming in until I figure it out.”
Sure, I could talk about the Neil Young & Crazy Horse grandiosity. Or that, as an anthem, this stands toe-to-toe with “Teen Age Riot,” “Celebrated Summer,” and “One Big Holiday.” I could talk about brilliant dynamics, double lead guitars, lyrical rootlessness, and a half-dozen other things. But, the best thing about “Land It” is that it sounds like great sex. Dig it.
if there were any justice in the rock and roll world, this band (and pretty much all of the other artists featured in this lounge) would be on the tip of every tongue of every listener and blaring from every speaker….instead our little corner of the world will have to be satisfied with going to see them and realize that the only other people at the show are the opening act and corey flegel while dave matthews sells half a billion tickets for his next tour
Nice job as always, Lance. These guys are the real deal…
cf
A fabulous review/introduction. I have followed them since their inception, and they are the real deal. The mark of an awesome rock band is when you're friends with them but you forget that when you see them live and are up front singing words to songs like they're rock stars. Hopefully the future of rock and roll.
great band. great review.
Really super nice and encouraging to read kind words like these here. I, Jake, be the drummer in Vulture Whale, and I just have one minor correction: the name Wes invokes in “Land it” is actually Annie, not Eddie. I could tell you who Annie is, but maybe I'll just let Wes reveal that down the road. Please keep your eyes peeled for an EP we've got coming out hopefully this summer while everyone's still hot and slightly uncomfortable. Also- don't forget to check out the ridiculosity here: https://www.vulturewhale.com/blog
Thanks, Lance.
Rock!
Jake
If you like psychedelic rock with great songwriting check out my friends' in “STEAL THE PRIZE” they are letting people download their new album “I Want to Talk to God” for free…
Check the link below:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zadnl2tyod1
Why can't I get the digital download to work? I have the vinyl, and I have the little card with the web address and code for downloading, but I cant' get the page to open? Anyone have any ideas?
This is a response to JRR's question. Once you go to the website/URL on the Vulture Whale code, you should be able to type in the code. Now, if you cannot even get to the download page, that's a different problem . But if you can access the page, tt's possible that you may run into a confusing step. On some of the codes, the letter “O” looks like a ZERO or vice versa, so try typing the other character. Also, this download setup only allows you to download the file 3 times before expiring so make sure you save the file for permanent use.
If you have any more problems getting this to work, we'll gladly give you more assistance. Just give us an email at “info@skybucket.com”
Thanks for all your wonderful comments and support of Vulture Whale. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Travis Morgan
Skybucket Records
Birmingham, Alabama
Hot damn. Thanks Travis for the heads up. Just another reason why he and the Skybucket Mothership are busy kickin all y'alls asses with the rock.
Great recommendation… I bought it the other day after hearing about it here and it has been on constant rotation since… Apperently, the band reads these comments, so bring you act to Memphis, will ya?