The Lounge was closed for the past few days, so I could get some R&R out at the Star Maker Machine Ranch. Shot some hoops, pondered the nature of MLB interleague play, and wrote about Ronnie Lane, The Minutemen, and Scott Miller. Check ’em out when you get a chance.
While R&Ring, I also spent some time with an actual 2008 release. Which got me to thinking. In an effort to bring The Adios Lounge even further into the 21st Century — with its ipods, Guitar Hero shenanigans, and dreaded Brooklyn hipster oligarchy — I will periodically introduce my loyal visitors to new acts operating at the fringes of the Pitchforkian Empire. “New,” of course, is a relative term, but suffice to say, I’m either talking about a new band or a new release by a veteran act whose career has been spent in near obscurity. So, with that, allow me to introduce y’all to a quartet from Jonesboro, Arkansas — about an hour west of Memphis — operating in the fine tradition of twangy, reverby primitivo a la The Sadies, Flat Duo Jets, and even The Cramps.
Ladies and gents, introducing … Plain Meanness.
The new album that started this mess is their recent release, The Sower And The Reaper. This bad boy is actually a concept album, a concept, I dare say, that’s almost Tarantino-esque. In fact, the theme bears marked similarities to the Kill Bill saga (pictured right), albeit from a guy’s POV. You know the story: Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl betrays boy with poisoned gin, unconscious boy is buried alive by girl and her evil new beau, girl feels guilty about said burying, boy miraculously escapes grave, chases down couple, and gets medieval on their asses. C’mon, who doesn’t love an old fashioned revenge fantasy?
Musically speaking, Plain Meanness could easily be confused with a rockabilly band. After all, the combination of Patrick Dailey’s reverby, Gretsch hollow-body, Derek Doyle’s thumpin’ upright bass, and drummer Greg Arnold’s love for the train beat is a proud Memphis tradition that goes back to Sam Phillips and his remarkable stable of talent in the 1950s. In fact, former Sun recording artist, Sonny Burgess, sings and testifies on “Shoveling Dirt On My Grave.” Kudos to whoever made that happen.
Grant Harbison
However, there was a reason I mentioned twang ‘n’ roll punk bands like The Sadies, Flat Duo Jets, and Cramps. Plain Meanness isn’t a pomade-and-tat retro act. Like those bands, to greater and lesser degree, they use rockabilly — or rockabilly’s twangy cousin, surf music — as a reference point to create a unique sound. In my opinion, the secret weapon to PM’s unique sound is horn player, Grant Harbison. His use of trumpets, trombones, and saxomophones is sometimes reminiscent of Calexico, who also use brass to add space to their tunes and, in PM’s case, to help flesh out songs that might otherwise suffer from over-familiarity. Actually, I think that’s what I love about The Sower And The Reaper. It’s a breath of fresh, yet familiar air, which if ain’t the MO of The Adios Lounge, should be.
Here’s a couple of samples from the Plain Meanness menu, which I chose for different reasons.
Plain Meanness – She’s Cremating Herself
Plain Meanness – She’s Cremating Herself
This track combines all that I like about PM and Sower in one convenient package. You get the surfy, reverby guitar, the driving train beat, the trumpet doubling the howling vocal part, a cool trumpet solo, and it all builds nicely toward a frenzied, borderline chaotic finish.
Plain Meanness – I’ve Got My Suitcase Packed Tonight
Plain Meanness – I’ve Got My Suitcase Packed Tonight
“Suitcase” is unique in the Sower repertoire in that it’s the album’s only proper country tune. Max Johnston of The Gourds sits in on fiddle, and taken together with Ira Pierce’s pedal steel, ends the album in lovely, thoughtful repose.
To hear more from these delightful Jonesborians, visit the Plain Meanness MySpace page or the Plain Meanness Facebook page. I also encourage all fans to support this grassroots operation by purchasing The Sower And The Reaper via CD Baby, where you can listen to samples of every song on the album. I defy you to find better customer service!