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Category Archives: Ball of Wax
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
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
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
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
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
Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Caroline Keys – “Dance Wax”
Proper steel guitar from a Montana country artist sets the scene for this tasteful, gentle seduction without promise of tomorrow song. An understated but damned polished arrangement, Caroline Keys‘s “Dance Wax” feels rooted to a place, with honest small town … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Who Is John Smith – “Chasing Frogs”
The joy of limitations. Who Is John Smith‘s “Chasing Frogs,” featuring polyrhythms that might have been tapped out on an acoustic guitar [actually that’s Yaw Amponsah on hand drums and prempremsoa -ed.] against a set of pinched guitar chords, is mesmerizing. … Continue reading
Posted in Ball of Wax, Check Out This Song
Tagged Greg Campbell, James Whetzel, Who Is John Smith, Yaw Amponsah
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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Peter Colclasure – “County K”
When he’s not flying to Seattle to squeeze the accordion with the Foghorns* or writing clever/righteous/wistful pop songs or DJing on Santa Clara college radio or rocking the keys with San Jose band Cola*, Peter Colclasure is sitting down at … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Steven Arntson – “Minor Yodel”
Writer/musician Steven Arntson makes his Ball of Wax debut with the aptly titled “Minor Yodel,” a brief, tantalizing dollop of concertina and voice (Arnston is backed up by our pal Anne Mathews of the Lonely Coast) that leaves one wanting … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Michele Khazak – “A Song for the Willful”
If not for its one reference to texting on a cellphone (and a contemporary eff bomb) you might think this track from Michele Khazak was recorded many decades ago. With its minimalist piano over a gothic, soulful blues vocal and … Continue reading