Capitol Jay - Strangers In My House

Capitol Jay, a seven part baroque pop/ alternative country band from Minneapolis, recently released there first full length album.

If you're a fan of Wilco, Arcade Fire, or Calexico then you'll no doubt enjoy this 7-part collective's first full length offering. The band tackles themes of loss, love, religion and insecurity over a thick layer of violin, cello, and electric bass complimented with electric guitars.

You probably haven't heard of them, but you should give them a chance none the less. The album is available for free on their site.

Limerick Records

Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off The Lavender Bridge

Devonte Hynes is the man.
I mean, seriously...check out the album art. His hair is so...sexual.

According to Hynes, the album is in two halves; a mixture of his dreams and life experiences. The lavender in the album title refers to a piece of lavender that he would hold as a child while sleeping, to which he attributes many wonderful dreams.

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Limbeck - Limbeck

Lately it seems it's hard for any band to be original. It seems like everything is just a copy of a copy of something that may have been copied in the not to distant past. The same reprocessed music is being looped on radio stations across America and diluting one of the most powerful forms of expression. To me, it's exciting when I can find something so stunningly separated from all other forms of music.

Enter Limbeck.

The term genre-defining comes to mind. That genre would probably best be defined as alt-country. You may be asking yourself "What in the heavens above is Limbeck brand alt-country, Adam?" Well let me try to explain it to you son. It's like a car crash between California sunshine and Garth Brooks. Wilco was also a witness at the scene, summers on the beach was the first responder, and Willie Nelson took photos for insurance purposes.

Filled with cheery acoustic guitar and southern rock guitar fills Limbeck will give you that down-south feel, but pull you back to Cali in a heartbeat. Another country theme that seems expressed is the storytelling involved in each song. Whether it's a dream about a bird ("Bird Problems") or a bus ride through the city ("Reading the Street Signs") Limbeck produces these incredible light hearted stories with a meaning and purpose behind each one.

In the lyrics, watch for themes of transportation especially in "Let Me Come Home" and "Reading the Street Signs." If you take an interest into their previous releases, 2005's "Let Me Come Home" (yes, like the song title) and 2003's "Hi, Everything's Great," you'll see this theme throughout.

An overall lighthearted group of guys playing about their travels as a band in a genre that not too many bands find themselves in.

Local Show Alert: Limbeck will be playing an 18+ show at the 400 Bar on the 20th of February. Honestly one of the greatest live bands I have ever seen, Limbeck always does a good job of showing the world they love exactly what they're doing. Also, Evening Rig will be supporting, another alt-countryish band who were very belligerent on stage the last time I saw them playing with Limbeck.

400 Bar

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