Album of the Week: Ty Segall – Freedom’s Goblin Freedom’s Goblin by Ty Segall If you have been reading this review column for the past couple of years, there’s one thing that you should realize by now. At least once a year I’m going to write about a certain musician’s new album due to his immense talent and his continuously prolific output. That certain musician is Los Angeles garage rock phenom Ty Segall, and his 10th album Freedom’s Goblin came out Jan 26 via Drag City Records. The album is a lot more wide-ranging and experimental than his previous releases. Nothing sounds similar to another, and that says a lot for a record that has 19 songs on it. Certain albums can take the mind on an adventure and Freedom’s Goblin achieves that through its variety. It goes from one end of the spectrum to the other with tunes encompassing jazz, punk, new wave and acoustic styles. It’s ingenious and schizophrenic at the same time. Usually a record follows an identity, but this one is the antithesis of that. Segall’s new artistic output is truly all over the place and that’s what makes it so amazing. One trait that a musical savant will always possess is an incredible amount of fearlessness: They’ll write a song how they want without conforming to what’s “popular” or “trendy.” It’s a testament to them staying true to themselves while also making a conscious effort to progress as an artist. There’s a sense of sheer individuality that’s inspiring and makes one wish others would emulate. Segall has always been one to do his own thing and never be swayed by the mainstream. For a closer look, let’s examine my top tracks off of the Album of the Week: “5 Ft Tall” has an unplugged beginning and then it gets electrifying with vibrant rhythms and raucous riffs; the energy is massive and it’s a sizzling song that the ears will want to hear at a high volume on repeat. Reminiscent of the storied New York City late ‘70s No Wave scene is “Talkin 3,” and fans of James Chance & The Contortions will enjoy the blaring sax and chaotic vibe. A funky synth disco sound makes up the weirdness of “Despoiler Cadaver” with vintage English new wave flair. Sadly, Ty Segall has no shows announced in the New England area as of this writing, but 2018 is still in its infancy so who knows? Maybe some dates will be unveiled in the coming months and one of them will be in our neck of the woods. Segall live is a must-see experience, so when he’s coming through your town you better go. For now, get yourself a copy of Freedom’s Goblin: It’s an album that has a whole lot to offer and then some. Bandcamp: tysegall.bandcamp.com/album/freedoms-goblin Web site: ty-segall.com Album of the Week: Matthew Stubbs and the Antiguas Matthew Stubbs and the Antiguas Over the past couple of months, there’s been a band from Boston that has nearly everyone affiliated with the city’s music scene talking about them. They’re known as Matthew Stubbs and the Antiguas, and they have a groovy instrumental sound that fuses psychedelic rock, acid jazz and funky blues. It’s the kind of music that leaves a lasting impression and they’re independently releasing their self-titled debut album Jan 26. Each track offers something different while the rhythms stay consistently tight. This album definitely has what it takes to be considered one of the top releases in New England when 2018 comes to a close. Blues fans might know Stubbs from his time as the guitarist for the legendary harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite since 2007. His band’s debut has a bombastic vibe that’s reminiscent of big-time blues music. It’s a quality that grabs hold of the ears and keeps the listener hooked. The bombasticness comes from drummer Chris Rivelli bringing the down beats and bassist Mark Hickox providing the line that each song walks on. Just Lopes’ skill on organ perfects the psychedelic sheen that covers the entire album. Lopes really shines on organ during “Death Grip” – there’s a bit of noir due to the song’s structure: It’ll make one think that it should be part of a soundtrack for a classic gangster flick. “El Segundo” has a Latin aesthetic that’s smooth as felt fabric on a newly swept floor; Rivelli’s drumming is the rock-solid foundation that makes this track truly special. Distorted and feverish is the best way to describe “John Doe” as Stubbs rips stunning riffs off his guitar. Stubbs and his band will be ringing in the release of their self-titled album on the same day of its official release at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, MA. Blues phenom Julie Rhodes will be opening things up, so it’s highly suggested to show up early. When you arrive, grab a copy of the new record and make sure to have a good time. Then play it in your favorite audio apparatus when you leave and see what the fuss is all about. “Death Grip” stream: youtube.com/watch?v=gDxKgE3fcyI Event page: facebook.com/events/434780530269751 Web site: matthewstubbs.net Album of the Week: The Prefab Messiahs – Psychsploitation Today Psychsploitation Today by The Prefab Messiahs Worcester, MA, psych-rock act The Prefab Messiahs were a bit ahead of their time when they started out during the early ‘80s. They were doing a weird take on hypnotic ‘60s pop and raw garage rock during a time where somber post-punk and electro-fueled new wave were dominating the music spectrum. After a couple of decades of languishing in New England rock’s storied past, the band got back together in 2012 and put out their first album in over 30 years with Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive in 2015. Their follow-up titled Psychsploitation Today is coming out Jan 26 via Lolipop & Burger Records, and it’s a gem of an album. There’s a multi-dimensional arrangement that goes along with sheer electricity accented by a variety of distorted feedback. A big reason why the album has such a groovy sound comes from Doc Michaud on organ. It’s a blast from the past musically with unbridled fuzz to add the perfect touch. Zerox Feinberg’s voice is sapid while also giving Psychsploitation Today a laid-back vibe reminiscent of other psych-rock incarnations. The element giving each track an exciting feeling is the melding of drummer Ned Egg’s and bassist Trip Thompson’s talents. Their consistently tight rhythms are a rock-hard base for the band’s contagiously fun tunes. When it comes to bands coming back after decades of absence, what plays a part in the reunion? Nostalgia and wanting to relive a time of youthfulness. The internet providing easy accessibility for musicians to distribute their music along with the coinciding rise in indie labels probably play a part, too. For the real answer, you’d have to ask The Prefab Messiahs to hear what their reasons are. There’s no complaining from me about them getting back together, and the proof comes from my top tracks off of the Album of the Week: With an upbeat tone comes “Sometimes Sunnydaze” – the harmonizing from Feinberg, Thompson and Michaud is hypnotic during a song that can seem contradicting but in a clever way. “Monster Riff” is a party starter with an abundance of energy and a classic dose of rock ‘n’ roll rebellion. The most old- school-style track on the album is definitely “Having A Rave Up,” another party anthem but also reminiscent of rock’s classic age during the late ‘50s. As of this article, The Prefab Messiahs don’t have any shows announced in the immediate future, but you can be sure that they’ll be tearing it up in music venues all over the place throughout 2018. The next time they’re playing live, make sure to catch the show and don’t forget to grab a copy of Psychsploitation Today. It’s a shredder of an album that’ll shock the senses and melt brains. “Sometimes Sunnydaze” stream: https://theprefabmessiahs.bandcamp.com/track/sometimes-sunnydaze-single Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrefabMessiahs Album of the Week: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Wrong Creatures Wrong Creatures by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club In an age where the mass populace is questioning rock ‘n’ roll’s legitimacy due to the mass proliferation of pop and due to hip-hop’s rise in record sales, bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are still sticking around. The group from Los Angeles have always set themselves apart from their contemporaries with a leather-clad sound that fuses shoegaze, blues and punk together to create something infectious. Their eighth album, Wrong Creatures, is being released via Vagrant Records on Jan 12 and tbe aesthetic it conveys echoes the famous adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” that the band has followed for nearly 20 years. It’s a hypnotic rock record that’ll put the ears in a trance. There’s also a case to be made that this is the closest to a blues album the band has ever done. Like many bands, the trio of Robert Levon Been, Peter Hayes and Leah Shapiro went into the studio to capture Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s live experience.