Monthly Archives: August 2017

Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Eric Anders – “Big World Abide”

Just as we were releasing our “Songs of Resistance” volume (to benefit NW Immigrant Rights Project), California singer-songwriter Eric Anders was putting the finishing touches on Eleven Nine, his collection of artfully crafted anti-Trump songs (to benefit Lambda Legal). “Big … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: The Winterlings – “The Dead”

[With this post, we’re welcoming a new writer to the Ball of Wax fold. I’m pleased to introduce Aurora Fonseca-Llloyd, who has already upped the literary ante around here with this first review. -ed.] Seattle-based indie folk duo The Winterlings … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Anika Reichert & Matthew Brown – “Burn Down”

Ball of Wax newcomer Anika Reichert joins Seattle-to-Hamburg transplant Matthew Brown on “Burn Down,” a smoldering* piece of synth-and-drum-machine-based pop. The sedate, yet propulsive backing tracks are somewhere between John Carpenter and Depeche Mode (a pretty damn good place to … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax Songs: Robert Deeble – “Uncertain”

Robert Deeble has been with Ball of Wax since the very beginning – Volume 3, to be precise – and over the past few years he’s been gradually sharing sneak peeks with us from his long-awaited and soon-to-be-released album, Beloved, … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: James Kelly Pitts – “Right Foot Blue”

“Right Foot Blue” is newish BoW regular James Kelly Pitts’s third appearance in these parts. I’ve admired his approach to songwriting and production since receiving his first submission, “Night Shift,” but two adjectives that I haven’t previously connected to his … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: The Ex-Optimists – “DeSoto Down”

From College Station, Texas, The Ex-Optimists know how to plow into a power pop tune. Somehow I’d forgotten that the father of power pop, Buddy Holly, honed his craft in Texas. For this revved up rock tune, there’s a hint … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Chris Moore – “Relentless”

“Relentless” feels a little like a working title for a song. And as this song by Chris Moore begins, with strummed guitar and a spare kick drum, there is the feeling of a demo. The opening images, that of being … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: The Heligoats – “Little Gain”

It starts quietly enough, crisp acoustic guitars strumming stereo left and right, then the vocals come in, plaintively wondering where the time went (tell me about it?). Two and a half minutes later, The Heligoats‘ “Little Gain” has gained quite … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Strong Sun Moon – “Lovebird”

Mike Antone and Camelia Jade are mainstays of a Snoqualmie Valley folk scene loosely centered around the Black Dog Cafe. They’ve been writing and playing together for a long time, the last several years among other longtime collaborators in a … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Darryl Blood – “Dead Memories”

Smooth as molasses on a hot summer day (if you will), Darryl Blood‘s “Dead Memories” is laid back and perfect. It’s the sound of afternoon light through a dirty window falling on a shag carpet. It’s the soundtrack to your … Continue reading

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