Two women, two great voices, two videos:

Two women, two great voices, two videos:

The first is Shenandoah Davis (Right), based out of Seattle. An incomparable voice and talent who I only found out about a few weeks ago after meeting her at a show at The Ella Street where she was playing with Portland's own Adrienne Hatkin (Left) from Autopilot is for Lovers (More on Adrienne in a moment.)

Here's a video for Shenandoah's song "We; Camera"

Also, pre orders are available for "Two Cover Songs" a seven inch available soon:

http://offtemporecords.com/shenandoah-davis-two-cover-songs-7-pre-orders/

The second is Adrienne Hatkin of Autopilot is for Lovers. I asked Adrienne why she likes to play songs in minor keys so much and she said it was because she's angsty as fuck! I can never tell if she's joking. . .

Here is a video for Autopilot is for Lovers song Whale Belly:

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Excellent is not good enough! The Autopilot Is For Lovers album review.

From the title of Morrissey's album Vauxhall and I and the lyrics to his track "Reader Meets Author", some drew the conclusion that he was firing a musical shot across the bow of his almost supernaturally gifted biographer Johnny Rogan, with whom he'd had a love/(mostly)hate relationship over the years. Now, I'm no Mr. Rogan to Autopilot For Lovers' Moz, potential wishes for me to die in a fire aside, but there is a tempting parallel to draw. The title of their new album from Bladen County Records is To The Wolves. As in their band being thrown? Just who are these wolves? The listening public? Pompadoured critics? Literal lupines? I've 'reassured' Adrienne, AIFL's frontwoman, that with their brand of folk/pop/whatever she has nothing to fear in this town, and with this great new disc I think I will be proved right. But will cutting a really good album be enough? Let's take a look.

In my assessment of AIFL's previous album, I expressed a thought that perhaps they were needing a little road grime, something to add depth to their sound. Maybe I was hoping that this album meant that they were going to grow a pelt, heft some rough-hewn axe and devolve To The Wolves. So to speak. They've actually gone the other way- TTW is a very polished album. It sounds great, sophisticated and professional, befitting a band beginning to seize the zeitgizzle in our hot little hamlet.

For me personally, this is the reason that I don't think the album will mean much to me. Portland is crowded with this type of folky stuff, and it certainly seems to be many people's cups of tea. It's great, but not Tony the Tiger grrrreat, and I think it comes back to what I've posited before. There are no risks being taken here. All this 'noir-pop' stuff is territory that has been well-covered and is well-liked here and now. Adding a studio gloss without big-time artistic gravitas, as on To The Wolves, serves only in some cases to steer Autopilot Is For Lovers in the direction of emotive nineties girlie alternative. We don't need any more Heather Novas or Tracy Bonhams, so I'm just warning you kids that it is a slippery slope.

After some repeat listens, the album did grow on me overall, but I did notice something. The lead vocal cadences tend to sound the same, and I think that gets its root in Adrienne Hatkin's lead instrument, the accordion, which also finds its way onto most of the songs on TTW. Now, there is nothing wrong with this instrument- it has graced many fine metal albums such as Voivod's Angel Rat or The Hills Fell Silent by Portland's own Paranaut. Its omnipresence here, and the sameness of its rhythms does nothing to help break Autopilot out of the throng.

So what's the final assessment? Despite my personal disagreements with the band and general level of disinterest in the genre, I find that Autopilot Is For Lovers' To The Wolves is a top notch album of Portland folk pop, one that will appeal greatly not only to the highly attuned audience here in PDX, but people all over as the world's ears get less and less tinny. It's also a sophomore sign that this a band that needs to dig way deeper and get way riskier in order to produce something truly captivating.

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why do portland bands always have to be the coolest?

My favorite thing about the Portland music scene is the number of amazing musicians that also happen to be incredible, nice, and interesting folks. Seriously, it amazes me. This weekend, I had the pleasure to see one of my favorite bands and friends play: Autopilot is For Lovers. If you haven't seen them or listened to them yet, I assure you you're missing out. Autopilot is For Lovers play dirge-like, multi-instrumental eclectic folk. A lot of words to describe them, but every syllable is worth it. With a seemingly consistent rotating cast of musicians, Stirling Myles joined them on bass this weekend. You never know who will show up. One of the most appealing qualities of Autopilot's music is that the songs have many possibile instrument pairings to perform them. One show you may see Adrienne playing accordian, Paul playing drums, and Matt playing violia and the next see Adrienne playing banjo, Mathew playing drums, Emily on violin, and Paul playing glockenspiel. All combinations rock.

Autopilot has just released a new EP, titled: "Sore Eyes". You can pick it up on the net or even better yet, see them live, strike up a conversation with them, and get one personally from them. You can catch Autopilot is For Lovers tonight at Slabtown with I Was Totally Destroying It. Paul will also be doing a short tour with The Builders and The Butchers next week.

Also playing with Autopilot on Friday at The Waypost, Wooden Indian Burial Ground. Another band which I would describe as multi-instrumental eclectic folk. This was the first time I saw WIBG live, they fuckin rocked. My roommate and I had an opportunity to duck out from the cops at a party with them later that night and struck up a conversation. We came to the conclusion that they are indeed "cool cats". They have also just released a new album titled: "My Bones They Are Naked". Catch them live at Rererato on June 16.

Finally, this brings me to Explode Into Colors. Explode Into Colors have quickly become my favorite Portland band, I saw them play at Dekum Manor during the Summer Of Love concert series and was blown away. They are the band I was looking for in town, the band that will play the percussive, japanese noise influenced, dance, awesome-out-of-this-fuckin-planet tunes that I love. I'm a big fan of OOIOO and The Boredoms, so this is best shit ever. My roommates and I were on a holy grail quest to catch them live this weekend, but was not able to do so. They werent able to play the Hot Boat show Friday and we werent really into hanging out at Worksound on Saturday. Fortunately!!! We were able to meet up with them and talk. I feel like such a fanboy. Definitely, come see them play on June 18th with The New Bloods and Yellow Fever at Dekum Manor, again!

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