"Crutch" - Craig Bancoff
From the album Eden
Click here to listen, right-click to save.
There are times in my life when I've felt so vulnerable, so incredibly fragile that it seemed the smallest movement, the slightest breeze would leave me shattered. Craig Bancoff writes music like that. "Crutch" is as fragile as a Faberge egg, and just as beautiful. It begins with this soft, precious plucking of guitar strings that sounds like a whisper. Craig enters with his gentle father voice that sounds something of a cross between Tom Petty and Ryan Adams. An organ swirls quietly in the back like a nursery rhyme. When things finally crank up a bit its still closer to story time in the library than a night at Good Time Charlies.
It is a lovely, beautiful song that while fragile glows with craftsmanship.
The new album, Eden, is out now. You can hear more on his Myspace page, or his official website.
"Taller Children" - Elizabeth & the Catapult
From the album Taller Children
Click here to listen, right-click to save.
From the fragile to the brash, we cover it all here on Radio Free MP3. I'm generally attracted to two types of songs immediately. The first is the sort of gentle, folksy acoustic number like I wrote about above and the second is a bouncy, catchy pop dance number. Enter Elizabeth & the Catapult. "Taller Children" makes me put on my dancing shoes and keeps them on until I crash under the weight of my own exhaustion.
Thick bass lines roll out the back beat while Suzanne Vega-esque vocals bark out some diva tones. In between are fat horn rolls, sparkling keyboard trills, and a ravaging guitar squawk. The sounds clash, meld and rock my ears into submission. Beg for more, people, beg for more.
Article comments
1 - Marni Robbins
Wow! I couldn't agree more with your review of Crutch. You have such a great way of describing the song and the album.
2 - Mat Brewster
Thank you very much. Its a very cool song/album.
3 - Juliet S.
What a great way to describe Craig's music!! "Fragile as a fabrege egg and just beautiful" You nailed it! Great review.