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A week ago Thursday, Great Scott got a thick slab of prime Ohio grass-fed rock in the form of Gil Mantera’s Party Dream. So I thought it might be nice to take a closer look at the musical rumblings in the state that decided the 2004 presidential elections — specifically Akron’s Audio Eagle Records, the just-a-baby label that’s home to Mantera and is owned and operated by Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney.
Gil Mantera’s Party Dream, “Alligator Missionsâ€
On a previous visit to Boston from Youngstown, Gil Mantera and his Party Dream turned out a pretty major throng of beat-hungry youngsters with a dance itch it seemed only he could scratch. “Alligator Missions†is one reason why. It veers from tight-bolted electro-pop to Rapturous guitar thralls in just three minutes. Unfiltered party juice.
The Strange Division, “New Way of Thinkingâ€
Exuberantly snarly guitar pop for anyone with a soft spot for the chuggier output of fellow Ohioans and spiritual forebears Pere Ubu — oh, and maybe some XTC. This track comes off a newly released Audio Eagle compilation of Ohio bands, but the tunes on their own plot of MySpace are just as good, if not better.
Houseguest, “Heir of the Dogâ€
Remember when Guided by Voices were really good? Well, forget that for a sec because Houseguest are really good right now. Like GbV, they’re chronically catchy, and they have a similarly frayed set of production values, but they don’t leave you with that lingering sense that you’re a sucker and will listen to anything.
Beaten Awake, “Ghost Bought a Bicycleâ€
Let’s Get Simplified is chock full of gruff, lolling county-tinged rock. Sometimes, as on this track, Beaten Awake come off like a slightly sassier Silver Jews — which, yes, sounds just terrible on paper, but the undulating bass synth, twangy guitars, and tremulous vocals make for a hearty treat.
Topics:
Download
, Silver Jews
, Pere Ubu
