I haven't seen much talk around here yet about the Concussions' new release on Double Crown, which is a real shame, since this is a simply PHENOMENAL album! A masterpiece, even, and I really don't think that's an exaggeration in any way, shape or form. The Concussions are a Grand-Rapids-MI-based band that have their own take on instrumental rock'n'roll, certainly surf-influenced though not really surf. They are good friends with Pete Curry, and three of them are even in a garage band with him, the Fuzzrites (with Pete on drums). Tommy, one of the two co-lead-guitarists, the other being Dave, also sometimes plays in the Neanderthals with Eddie Angel and Pete, so the connections to the Los Straitjackets family are pretty strong. And I have NO DOUBT that fans of Los Straits would absolutely love the Concussions' previous CD on Double Crown, "Magic Fingers".

"Fall In Love With..." is quite a bit different than "Magic Fingers", though. It's a very mellow album, full of romantic moods, befitting the title. It's actually part of a concept, as they will be releasing a follow-up CD next year, tentatively titled "Break Up With the Concussions" , and then packaging the two together on vinyl at some later point. "Fall In Love With" features 8 songs, and clocks in at 20 minutes, so it's a mini-album, but it's packed to the hilt with fantastic music in those 20 minutes.

It opens with what must be the most beautiful song I've heard in years, "Dreamsickle", written by Dave, and I'm guessing featuring him on lead. This song is as light and warm as a summer breeze, remarkably delicate with a truly compelling melody, and masteful playing by the whole band. It effectively sets the mood for the whole album, which is one of a very soft touch. Bill on drums (whose day-gig is as a percussionist for a symphony orchestra!) is barely hitting the drums on the entire album. The tones are all very clear and recorded at low levels to really bring out the intimacy of the music. The guitar tones, BTW, are quite diverse. Tommy told me two weeks ago he mostly used his vintage Premier and Magnavox amps, so many of the guitar sounds tend to be slightly gritty and lo-fi, though there's a great deal of variety in that regard. And though both Tommy and Dave use Fender reverb units, reverb is kept fairly light on most songs, or is even completely absent on occasion. Even if the guitar tones are a bit gritty, the overall recording is crystal-clear and very warm-sounding, recorded in Tommy's own all-analog, fully-pro studio.

Some of my other favorites are the remarkable "Phantom Limbs", written by Tommy, which has a bit of a Midnight Cowboy, mid-to-late-'60s lounge vibe, especially once the harmony and counterpoint trombones and timpani come in. The arranging on this song, well, really on all the songs, is just masterful, drawing maximum mood and feeling out of the songs. The song switches back and forth between the moody, minor-key verse and a a brighter-sounding 'chorus', and is really a gem. There's also the somewhat Shadows-influenced "Mrs. Beasley's Lament", written by Tommy, which switches back and forth from a heavily-echoed (and I mean HEAVILY) - by an original early '60s Klemt Echollette - lead to a gritty sounding baritone in a gorgeous uplifting melody.

There are also two songs, both written by Dave, with a bit of a bossa nova influence, too - "Champagne Problem" starts off with the distinctive bossa-nova beat and then goes into a fairly melancholy melody that to my ears bears a bit of an early-'60s British-instro sound, but is really quite unique. The melody on this track is almost Beatlesque in its smooth flow between different parts - Dave is really a melodic master, wow. Truly beautiful, as is the next song with the most awesome title I've heard in a long time: "How To Strip For Your Girlfriend's Girlfriend". This track is pure bossa-nova, the only difference being that the melody is played on a dry-sounding electric guitar rather than a nylon-string acoustic. The piano arpeggios in the background throughout the song are just stunning and incredibly effective, and Christopher's bass playing is very jazzy and uplifting. I really LOVE THIS SONG! Wow. It takes serious talent to write and perform songs like this, and it shows that the Concsussions are a truly world-class band.

The album ends with another gem, "Everyone's Fast Asleep", written by Tommy. This is a Shadows-styled ballad with an acoustic rhythm guitar, and lead guitar that starts off dry but gets heavily echo-ey again as the song progresses. Another astounding melody that could make a grown man get teary-eyed, with an incredible bridge that really elevates the song - into a sheer masterpiece. Love also the xylophone (I think?), probably played by Bill, which is interspersed throughout the song and which ends it and the album in a most gorgeous way.

Another simply mind-blowing release this year, in what's proving to be a bumper-crop year in our beloved genre. If you want some more beauty in your life, this CD is the ticket. Remarkable amount of talent on display here. Go Concussions! I cannot tell you how happy it makes me that they are based so close to me and that we get to play shows with this amazing band. Really looking forward to the next time we get to play together, as well as to the next chapter in this love story!

Ivan
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Last edited: Sep 20, 2012 13:41:17

Wow, I don't know what to say except thank you Ivan! YOu know how much I think of you, your playing, tone and your band....coming from you, this is really great! I'm looking forward to when we can play together again soon..

I think its one of those records that don't hit the listener right away.....it takes a while to get it.....It was a fun record to make...real quick, didn't over-think it. We will be starting on the antithesis of "Fall In Love" late fall.
thank you again
dc

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Just ordered all three albums-looking forward to listening!

I got this at the SG101 convention, but I have so much music to listen to, its been put on the "to listen to stack"
but after this review, I will listen tonight.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Well, that sold me.

BTW, Ivan, following up on our conversation with Dave at Fong Fest... Mrs. Beasley was Buffy's doll from the show Family Affair:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Affair

doll

I am still digging this album a lot! It is still in heavy rotation since Fong Fest.

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Last edited: Sep 24, 2012 21:08:30

I wanted to chime back in with something more substantive, since that last line seemed to shoot this thread in the face. I've been a fan of The Concussions since "Introducing..." (or is it "Meet The Concussions"...?), which I believe I bought on the recommendation of a very nice fellow and guitar player who is no longer with us named Randy Bewley, of the Athens, GA band Pylon. He and I worked together for a while and we always talked bands and kooky guitars, both of which he was a fan of. I liked the disc and it led to me later getting "Magic Fingers" from Double Crown, which I like even more and has stayed in regular rotation since I bought it.

I'll try not to regurgitate too much of what Ivan said, but his comments regarding the musicianship and variety, especially the variety of guitar sounds, are spot on. I knew of their association with Los Straitjackets and it's an obvious comparison to make, but I'd make it with the caveat that these guys definitely have their own feel, character, and aesthetic that's part of and at the same time apart from LS in the broader genre of instrumental rock. They manage to accomplish the rather difficult feat of being unique within the parameters of a pretty well-defined genre of music, plus incorporating a lot of other tricks and influences without the whole thing ever once becoming confused. I am particularly a fan of the jazzier tunes on "Magic Fingers," which surprised me since that's not typically my preference. I am getting together an order for Sean at Double Crown right now, and "Fall In Love With..." is gonna be in it.

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Personally, I can't WAIT to break up with the Concussions! Er, I mean, I can't WAIT for "Break Up with the Concussions." I hear this track might be on it...

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Bought this CD a couple of weeks ago. Really enjoy it!

It sounds so vintage and dead-on true. Very pretty but mean guitar tone at the same time, if that makes sense.

The unusual chord arrangements are very cool. Witchiepoo's Jewelry Box is just brilliant.

A couple of the songs remind me of the Sprague Brothers; Champagne Problem - any intentional nod to Pink Champagne?

I really get a kick out of the band's humor in the song titles, although my wife says maybe that's a guy thing.

You know you're listening to something special when a song presses those emotional buttons. This CD does that. Great job!

Paul

Annnnnd?

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