Effortlessly combining symphonic chamber pop with the most raw, visceral and expert melodic acrobatics, Loch Lommond employs the distinct use of harmonic vocals, mandolin, theremin, bass clarinet, and all manner of exclamatory percussion minutia to foil the even more distinct and arresting voice of lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Ritchie Young. Luring the listener with the unique range and power of his voice, Young is able to switch from high-pitched fragility to alto thunder in the turn of a phrase, yet he knows the power of restraint intuitively, saving vocal tornadoes for emotional apexes buoyed by string swells and moving arrangements.
Love / Alone Again Or
I really like Love’s Alone Again, Or. There is an awesome trumpet solo in it and the string arrangements are beautiful. Also, it has been used in a couple of great movies, one of which is Bottle Rocket. The rest of the album is great, too.
XTC / There Is No Language In Our Lungs
Sadly, my current favorite song, this didn’t make it on an iPod for this tour. It is on English Settlement, by XTC, one of my favorite bands. I can sum up this song by saying if you simply focus on the hi-hat and the snare drum, your mind will be blown. However, the rest of what the band is doing is badass too.
Bee Gees / Holiday
The first time I heard this song, I was absolutely blown away. I had no clue that early Bee Gees were so beautiful and heartfelt. I was only aware of them as the disco band I was raised on.
Cass McCombs / Harmonia
Right now, I’m completely obsessed with Cass’s new album, Catacombs. But this song in particular completely blows my mind. The guitars sound perfect, the bass and drums are grooving away, and the vocals and lyrics are just heart-stoppingly perfect. There’s also an amazing pedal steel solo that goes on for way longer than it should. But it works. I used to be lukewarm on the guy, but I’m now a card-carrying fanatic.
Tin Hat Trio / Fear of The South
This is my fall back track for driving, and it’s especially nice listening to at dusk. This tour, I put it on while we drove through Utah and it was possibly the best setting. Fear of The South has an amazing interplay of instruments — including guitar, violin, accordion, and tuba — and a perfect ‘driving’ rhythm,
especially while driving through giant Red Rock mountains.
Neil Young / Tired Eyes
I listened to this song while passing through Utah. I was drinking a Tiger Woods Gator-Aid and eating a string cheese. I thought about calling friends I haven’t talked to in a while, but I get car-sick when I try to use my phone on the highway.
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