Chorus.fm Record of the Week Club • Page 51

@cshadows2887 giving you the heads-up now since you might not visit this thread too often that it's your turn tomorrow! would love for you to choose a record for next week.

 

Shit, I've been slacking on this thread. Life gets crazy.

I don't feel like I've earned having a pick but if you guys do want one, I think I'd go with a band I've been on a kick with lately and never see a lot of chatter about:

John Butler Trio - Sunrise Over Sea

 

I've always been a moderate fan. Own a couple records I enjoy but not super passionate about them. I just caught them at Fenway though and holy shit. I'm a convert.

 

lol John Butler Trio was huge here, my mum would know like 5 songs. I saw them play at Parramatta park at a free festival, I drove in and met my friends there but there was one too many to fit in the car on the way home, I didnt mind if they wanted to squeeze in but they said theyd get the train. They got mugged walking to the train.

 

I was recently reminded of this guy Craig who went by El Jeffe on ap.net and was just such a positive influence in how I explored music. When my Nana died he reached out to me and told me about this phrase kia kaha that I've kinda needed again recently. It was something so out-of-the-blue kind that I've never forgotten it.

And I used to be able to bullshit with him about how great John Butler was all the time.

Maybe the best guitarist I've ever seen live and catching them touring this record was really formative for me falling in love with live music.

Listened again for the first time in forever and I think it still holds up. Perfect middle ground between jam band and singer-songwriter.

 

With apologies, some comments I should have had when these were picked:

I'm pretty selective with reggae, and even moreso with dub, but this is such a good pick. There's something about the vocals that just really stays with you.

Fucking great pick. I've only heard a couple records from him but this one is the best so far. The funk is just relentless. And Ginger may have been an asshole, but he really had the goods.

Dude I hadn't thought about this album in forever. It really hit me at such a perfect time when it came out. I distinctly remember my first listen being in headphones at like 1am and when the Whitney Houston interpolation hit it just spontaneously made me cry. Thanks for reminding me about this one.

I heard this awhile back (may very well have been at your recommendation) and while it didn't click with me, it's still one of the most unique records I've ever heard. I remember its sound and vibe better than lots of albums I nominally "liked more".

This record is damn near perfect. The key is how much he commits to the bit. It may be satire, but he sings "Cleveland, city of light, city of magic" he sounds like he means it. So it makes this perfect dichotomy of making you feel something real AND chuckle at the same time. It's so worth getting past associations with his Pixar work to one of the most one-of-a-kind American songwriters. Also his string arrangements are goddamn peerless.

 

Of course! That song is one of my favorites. Hits every time

 

Never listened to John Butler Trio before! But jammy singer-songwriter vibes sounds great. Excited to dig in

 

Available Light has been a really nice listen. Very calming. I had it on a few times after some long days and it as perfect. The standout track for me is Transparencies. I love the way the melodies dances around. The Moon At Noon is another good example, but I like how the piano on that one can feel both disjointed and melodic. I can see myself going to this frequently to unwind.

 

John Butler Trio is one of those names I see around but know nothing about, excited to check it out!

 

I’ve heard a few JBT albums, but Sunrise Over Sea is not one I’ve listened to. Should be fun.

 

I will give the heads-up that his lyrics can be a bit on-the-nose hippy stuff, but honestly lyrics about saving the environment and the rich being damned to hell certainly make me roll my eyes less now than they did 20 years ago.

 

I'm very behind - I liked the Into the Wild soundtrack a lot. It didn't feel very sountrack-y at all, some really great songwriting on there, favorites included Guaranteed, Society, No Ceiling. I like his voice a lot - very common opinion I'm sure.

I want to give these albums the attention they deserve especially the most recent 2 so bear with me but I'm trying...

 

hitting play now on John Butler Trio

 

about halfway through and this is cool, not something I'd typically listen to which is not a critique. really strong, transportive Australian vibes. didn't really expect this kind of sound from the name which made me think it'd be more of a jazz/fusion thing. that bluesy acoustic guitar playing is fucking great and groovy as hell. some proggy moments which are dope that I wasn't expecting at all.

Hello is a banger and a half

 

had to pause and finish the rest of the album later in the day. second half is great and the last few songs really take it up a notch. those last few tracks are stunners. eclectic, great guitar album.

admittedly at times his voice gets a little too Dave Matthews for me, but I could see that growing on me. i really appreciated the technical skill throughout. will be sure to play this again later in the week without breaking in the middle

 

If youre digging the vibe but looking for a different voice Id recommend Xaiver Rudd. Similar Australian roots style but leans more towards the folk side, less but virtuosic guitar more didgeridoo.

Spirit Bird is a good album to start

 

JBT was a rollickin' good time, like @OotyPa said it really goes in the back half (I was a little worried about a ten minute closer but I dug it).

 

It's obviously a bit different but one thought that came back at different points was wishing RHCP had written an album anywhere near this fun in the last 25+ years.

Foot tapping almost all the way through, even through the longer, more explorative tracks. Bags of personality in the guitar playing. Very nice pick. Favourite tracks are Betterman and Sometimes.

 

I am out of the loop with Australian music. Feel like I only know King Gizzard and David Kilgour (both great)

 

Oh add Courtney Bartnett, Ceres, and Genesis Owusu to that list.

 

Didn't know Genesis Owusu was Australian

 

Trying to think who'd be my favourite Australian act and HTRK are the one coming to mind.

 

If the vocal affectations are a bit much for you (and I get it, though I'm just so used to it now), the follow-up albums dialed it back a little, imo.

Also, if you ever get the chance to see him do this live, it's as close as I've had to a religious experience:

 

Went back to a pair:

I was actually pleasantly surprised how much I loved Into the Wild. I saw the movie and didn't remember the soundtrack leaping out at me...er....17 years ago. And while I love his most recent solo record, I wasn't wild about Ukulele Songs. But I've gotten much more into Pearl Jam this year doing some homework listening prior to seeing them live and these songs really have the same emotional core as his best stuff. "Rise" and "Guaranteed" in particular are terrific.

I cannot get down with Chocolate and Cheese. 100% they have talent. In particular, whoever is playing lead guitar. I guess I'm just really picky when it comes to music that heavily utilizes humor. I love Fountains of Wayne and Warren Zevon where there's still an emotional core in the humor. But Ween leans much more towards Zappa, where I find it emotionally impenetrable. That said, I like the one that sounds like Elliott Smith and "What Deaner Was Talking About" was a winner and I'd like "Buenas Tardes Amigo" a lot if it weren't for the exaggerated Speedy Gonzalez accent.