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Author Archives: Jon Rooney
Ball of Wax 34 Songs: Unai Azkune – “Bálsamo de Tigre”
Unai Azkune is, as far as I know, Ball of Wax‘s first Spanish contributor. “Bálsamo de Tigre” is a simple, moving song featuring only voice (sung in English) and some deft fingerstyle nylon-string acoustic guitar. There’s something really great and effective … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 34 Songs: whole halves – “Snowflakes”
whole halves‘ “Snowflakes” waltzes at a restrained, patient pace and features little more than a couple of voices and a couple of acoustic guitars. While not as glacial in its pacing, “Snowflakes” is reminiscent of Low’s more immediate and engaging … Continue reading
Posted in Ball of Wax, Check Out This Song
Tagged ball of wax 34, bret alain phillips, hale may, whole halves
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Ball of Wax 34 Songs: Caroline Keys – “Les Grillons (Labor with Enthusiasm)”
Caroline Keys’s “Les Grillons (Labor with Enthusiasm)” is an original and uniquely satisfying contribution to Ball of Wax 34. It opens with some sort of found sound layer (a church sermon? a political rally?) then quickly introduces a mandolin playing … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 34 Songs: Sam Russell with the Harborrats – “The Lexington Waltz”
Beloved Ball of Wax veteran Sam Russell and his Harborrats contribute a real beauty of a country waltz to volume 34 with “The Lexington Waltz.” Everything is in its right place – from the warm, upfront vocals to the sad … Continue reading
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Tagged ball of wax 34, sam russell, the harborrats, waltzes
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Ball of Wax 34 Songs: GreenhornBluehorn – “Great River”
Like Emiko Blalock’s “Fairuza”, “Great River” is composed of just voice and acoustic guitar. “Great River” carries a hazy, Topanga Canyon-esque sense of longing across five minutes of strumming and singing that’s more meditative than sprawling. Local Seattle band GreenhornBluehorn … Continue reading
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Tagged ball of wax 34, greenhornbluehorn, waltzes
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Ball of Wax 34 Songs: Levi Fuller & the Library – “Say it Again”
Levi Fuller and his Library continue their booming campaign of bombast with “Say it Again.” I’m really into Levi’s current rock band-powered phase. He’s maintained his touch with delicate parts and meditative drifts, but added a whole new dimension of … Continue reading
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Tagged ball of wax 34, levi fuller and the library
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Ball of Wax 34 Songs: Lys Guillorn – “Hard Corners”
Lys Guillorn, last heard way back on Ball of Wax Volume 1 (!), has finally returned to the fold and her “Hard Corners” kicks off volume 34. As is the theme of this volume, “Hard Corners” is in 3/4 (or … Continue reading
Album Review: The Foghorns – The Big F EP
The Foghorns – The Big F (self-released, 2013) Seattle-area staples and Ball of Wax abettors the Foghorns began selling the Big F EP from the merch table at their recent Conor Byrne show with Levi Fuller & the Library and … Continue reading
Album Review: Levi Fuller & the Library – Social Music EP
Levi Fuller & the Library – Social Music EP (2013, self-released) It’s been four years since our fearless leader Levi Fuller’s Colossal, a semi-cephalopodic collection of songs – many of which first appeared in a nascent form on Ball of … Continue reading
Posted in Album Reviews, Bands You Should Know, Community
Tagged levi fuller and the library
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Ball of Wax 33 Songs: Michael Wohl – “Lonesome No More”
Michael Wohl closes out Ball of Wax 33 with a meditative solo acoustic instrumental, “Lonesome No More.” “Lonesome No More” transitions from slowly strummed, partially arpeggiated chords to a more intricate, reverb-drenched figure to folk and country picking and back … Continue reading
Posted in Ball of Wax, Bands You Should Know, Check Out This Song
Tagged ball of wax 33, Michael Wohl
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