Monthly Archives: August 2013

Ball of Wax 33 Songs: Sun Tunnels – “Commit-Spike”

Sun Tunnels, the musical alter ego of Louis O’Callaghan, trades in the highest grade of indie rock classicism and singer-songwriter goodness. His songs do more than evoke everything you love about Built to Spill, Neutral Milk Hotel, or Elliot Smith … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: Virgin of the Birds – “Victor Bockris”

I have to confess that listening to Virgin of the Birds songs occasionally leaves me feeling like I’m in a conversation with someone much smarter than I at a party. He keeps making these clever and obscure cultural references (not … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: Olie Eshleman – “Gamma Progression Street”

Ball of Wax veteran and Corespondents founding member Olie Eshleman contributes a guitar-driven instrumental track to volume 33 with “Gamma Progression Street” The song is carried by a series of guitars (maybe 3?) vamping atop processed, stomping drums. Filling in the … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: Lowmen Markos – “White City”

This recording – a sort of centerpiece to Ball of Wax 33 – is a wonderful example of what happens when you get a group of gifted musicians playing live together in a room with one of Seattle’s best engineers. … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: The Luna Moth – “33333”

The Luna Moth‘s “33333” pretty much hits the musical spot for me right now. Clocking in at a title-appropriate 3:33, the track has a looping, hypnotic pull while still feeling very much performed and improvised. Driven by a pretty bass … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: The Mantis Opera – “I Never Went Surfing”

Ball of Wax 33 features a few artists that I had never heard before receiving their submissions, among them The Mantis Opera. I don’t know how Mantis Opera mastermind Allister Kellaway found us all the way from Falmouth (Cornwall, UK), … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: The Elevator Boys – “When You’re With Him”

Volume 33 really is all over the map, both musically and geographically. We went through Arizona and California before we hit a couple Seattle artists, and then we jaunted through Nashville with Friendship Commanders. Well we’re back in the Southwest … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: Friendship Commanders – “Bad to See You”

As Jon so astutely gleaned yesterday from my song “33 Slade St.,” I was once in a band that rehearsed in a house at that address – and in fact we took our name from it. This volume, as part … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: Levi Fuller – “33 Slade St.”

“33 Slade St.,” by Ball of Wax founder and DIY well spring Levi Fuller, is a protest song of the most localized sort. The lyrics offer a clear narrative about the annoyance and hardship brought on by noisy neighbors rehearsing as … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: Gibraltar – “Gibraltar”

Seattle’s own Gibraltar brings the dark, clangy pop with their contribution to Ball of Wax 33. The song, also named “Gibraltar,” is moody, tightly wound and reminiscent of bands like the Afghan Whigs and Clinic. There’s some cool, percussive piano … Continue reading

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