The first thing I look for in music regardless of genre or mainstream popularity, is honesty. If I feel that the music is coming from the heart and it’s sincere then I will respect it. I may not always like it but I will at least applaud it for it’s earnestness. This is why I like Elephant Micah, the alter-ego of Joe O’connell. I first wrote about him here where he was kind of enough to grant us an interview and a couple of mp3′s. Since that interview he still hasn’t created a myspace or facebook page and is still intent of getting his music heard by the old fashioned method of word of mouth. Well, this seems to be working as he has an abundance of live dates from now up until at least May.
His latest offerings really show his versatility as a songwriter but also his various musical styles.With Echoer’s intent we have an album which was recorded using more traditional recording methods and is eight tracks of sparse, intense beauty. During the interview Joe did with us I mentioned he reminded me of Low, early Smog and J.Tillman. Well out of those three this album has a definite J.Tillman ring to it although with a less whispery vocal style, especially on the stand out track for me, field notes, but there is definitely elements throughout the whole album, still life blues is another really beautifully written and composed song, you find yourself falling into it and then pressing the rewind button a few times. Personally, I think this is Joe’s best work yet mainly because I think each song flows into each other brilliantly, you hardley notice the gaps in between but you will have to decide for yourself because even at such a young age he has released umpteen albums.
Then we have The songs of bible birds which (and stick with me here) is, or at least was meant to be an album of bible bird covers, bible birds being a band that Joe himself invented when asked once if he had ever seen the bible bird man in Indiana. So in other words he’s covering his own songs, or at least that was the plan. Full story here. Eventually though what we do get though is an album that Joe in his own words says was produced using ‘weird recording methods’ originally back in 2006 but has only become avialable now after some tinkering which Joe is finally happy with. I perhaps should have listened to this album first and then Echoer’s Intent because the final products are very very different, especially in the sound which has some hissing in the background, sometimes distant vocals which are hard to pick out but after i played it first time I immediately played it again and then again and now I’m loving every pop, crackle and hiss. In fact, after a while you just hear the music, Joe with some female backing vocals (Beth Remis),odd sounds bellowing from a pump organ and although a very challenging album to listen to, it improves more and more with each hearing, I’m loving it. As I said, it’s honest to a fault but it’s also trying something different which I think is rather refreshing as well as challenging, both for the listener and the creator. I admit though, I would love to hear these songs live and get another take on them.
As both albums are only 8 tracks long I am only putting up the mp3′s that Joe himself offers on his website because if I was to put up a different one and then another blog does the same there could be half the album across the internet and for someone who is completely D.I.Y, this would be unfair. So please, if you like this then go and buy the album or if you buy both together you get them for cheaper. Please, enjoy and go see him play at any one of these shows. By doing so you will be supporting a totally independant artist and a really talented one at that.
March 2010.
26 Louisville, KY at the Lounge w/ Joe Manning
27 Nashville, TN at Betty’s w/ Kelli Hix
28 Memphis, TN at the Buccaneer w/ the Warble
29 Oxford, MS at TBA
APRIL
1 New Orleans, LA at Sidearm Gallery w/ Hurray for the Riff Raff
3 Athens, GA at TBA w/ Bubbly Mommy Gun, Steven Trimmer
4 Chattanooga, TN at JJ’s
6 Somewhere, TN at Ida
7 Asheville, NC at Harvest Records
8 Knoxville, TN at the Pilot Light
9 Lexington, KY at the Hive
III. ROUGH ROUTING
All shows with Mark Trecka except where noted (*)
13 Grinnell, IA at Grinnell College
15 North Manchester, IN at the Firehouse
16 Buffalo, NY at Sugar City
17 Rochester, NY at Casa Del Awesome
18 Montague, MA at the Book Mill w/ Oweihops
19 Portland, ME at TBA
21 Boston, MA at TBA
22 New Paltz, NY at the Inn
23 Purchase, NY at SUNY Purchase
24 New York, NY at TBA
26 New York, NY at Bruar Falls w/ P.G. Six*
28 Philadelphia, PA at Robin’s w/ Strand of Oaks
29 Baltimore, MD at 2640 Space w/ Small Sur
30 Columbus, OH at TBA w/ Time & Temperature, Deadsea
MAY
1 Chicago, IL at TBA
Love this guy!! Definitely check him out if you are anywhere near the shows!