Author Archives: Jack Mesenbourg

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About Jack Mesenbourg

Jack Mesenbourg is a writer, musician, photographer, and artist from Minneapolis. He has spent his years hopping around the country, scribbling notes & scratching pictures in poorly organized journals along the way. Traveling with him have been his passions and distractions such as music, gardening, baseball, cooking and finding good local beer. Hopefully his projects provide you with some insight, provoke some thinking or at least give you a little amusement.

Album Review- Wetflix – Demo

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In addition to the fact that the cover art here reminded me of an artist I knew quite some time ago…any time I can give a listen to a demo tape is a good day.   There has always been something about the raw bits and pieces of these offerings that greatly appeals to me. 

“Mandarinas” comes in hard and fast offering some classic punk-style lyrics and chord progressions.  I had a garage-party moment when I first heard it for sure.  That good vibe carries right on through this album with fuzzy guitars at the front and a clean but slightly subdued rhythm section.  There is an interesting change of pace when you hit “Fish Brain” as it has a little bit more of a sing-song quality to it before the aptly named “Screamie” punches out to the end.  The mixing is a little rough especially with the vocal tracks but hey, that just makes me like it all the more.  This album comes out courtesy of RIP Records (Miami, FL) and is well worth a listen & purchase.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://riprecords.bandcamp.com/album/demo-4

Your local establishments need you …please support them when you have a chance – community is powerful:) 

And please think about purchasing this song from them after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Alliance “Wingspan” from the album Alliance

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What can I say…give me some great saxophone and I am hooked from go. 

This track is their take on a Mulgrew Miller original from an album of the same name released in 1987.  I really enjoy the way the saxophone comes right in at the beginning and maintains a place near the front for the first half of this composition.  It has a slight edge of the frantic about it (to me anyway).  The piano section that starts around the 1:40 mark is a nice counterpoint, a little less edgy but not lulling anyone to sleep for sure.  An engaging drum solo clears the palate for about thirty seconds and then everyone comes back together to finish this track out.  The clarity of the individual moments on this song, combined with the great skill of the musicians together, really make for a good musical memory:) 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://shiftingparadigmrecords.bandcamp.com/album/alliance

As always, please get out and support all of your locals – community is powerful:)

And please think about purchasing this song from them after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Commit This To Memory “Variant” from the album Meant To Be

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Seeing an up-and-coming band start to get their music out into the universe again is always a special moment.   This band popped up a few years ago with their debut EP Home and then faded a bit (although maybe not in their local area…could have just been out of my view).  Anyway, back then I thought they had a good foundation to build on and this new album, which was released December 16th, builds on that for sure.  They were a little bit angsty on that debut EP (not a crime…just a function of age 🙂 and have grown a bit since that time.  

I selected this song because I find it to be an outlier in terms of their general sound which usually rides comfortably in the pop punk lane.   This track has more of a gravely tone & groove to it.  It opens with a rock-styled drum and guitar section and maintains that throughout with the vocals being a little more toward the punk side of things.  Overall, this is a well done, fast-paced song, direct and to the point at 2:49 in length.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://committhistomemory.bandcamp.com/

Please remember to support your local businesses, bands, musicians, artists…and people 🙂 …community is powerful!  

And please think about purchasing this song from them after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- wimps “City Lights” from the album City Lights

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This album dropped in mid-October but it took me awhile to get around to listening to it.  Overall this is a great set with short, to the point songs (the longest “Lake Washington” comes in at 3:18 and is quite an outlier on time) that deliver a clear, sometime humorous message.  This is relatable music for us all, good rhythms and melodies included:)  

This particular song pops in with the lyrics right away and they are accompanied by a simple, driving beat that easily convinces your foot to tap right along.   There is a great line in here that  captures the simple truth of us city dwellers…”can’t see stars from the city, but the city’s all I’ve got.”  This one will stick in your head for awhile…you have been warned! 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://thesewimps.bandcamp.com

Have you wandered out and supported your locals recently?  Please do…community is powerful 🙂 

And please think about purchasing this song from them after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Jackknife Powerbombs “Paid In Full” from the album Mors Certa Vita Incerta

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Ok, so sometimes it is good to just crack open a boomer and let it roll and you are going to get plenty of that on this track.  The info tag on their Bandcamp account includes a claim to be “equal parts Black Flag and Motorhead” and I think that is an apt description.  I hear more of the Motorhead on this track but you can pick up that BF groove on other selections.  

Drums from go on this one, rolling guitar and a heavy bass that bleeds to the front on occasion, “Paid In Full” does not let up at all for the full 3:36 of allotted time.  Some nice solo work mid-song gives this one a little space and the vocals ring true to the midwest that these musicians call home.  Oh yes…and they wear cool shirts…just saying. 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://jacknifepowerbombs.bandcamp.com

Please remember to support your local folks…community is powerful 🙂 

And please think about purchasing this song from them after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Good Reverend “Hell of a Dog” from the album Deliverance

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I just ran across this group on Bandcamp and so far have not found much additional info…I guess I will just have to track down a show and see what is up:) 

This one comes in on guitar with a little bit of the edgier Pearl Jam vibe for a few seconds.  That gives way to a slightly hypnotic heavy drum and guitar groove that takes you through the first part of the track.  There is an interesting pacing change at the chorus to add some variety after which…well, some interesting things happen.   A bit of slow chant-style lyrics covered by a moody ambiance, a soaring approach to the second chorus, and then we travel off the beaten track a little bit to a final forty-five seconds of controlled chaos.  Very satisfying! 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://thegoodreverend.bandcamp.com/

Yes…as always, please remember to support your local musicians – they need you!  And community is powerful 🙂

Song Review- Durand Jones & the Indications “Smile” from the album Live at Paste

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This band has such a great sound and two fantastic singers (Durand Jones & Aaron Frazer) who each bring their own distinctive voice for this group.   There is a wide range of musical talent here also that really keeps you engaged.  Their music is that kind of pleasant, groovy, funky rhythm and melody that can keep you bopping along through your day or provide a great nighttime ambiance.  

A few bass notes and a hearty howl start this one out with a little tambourine jangle for accompaniment.  The rhythm and melody stay fairly simple throughout most of this track with Jones’ voice really at the front.   The sound is clean and clear with good separation on the instrument tracks. The guitar cuts thorough nicely at several places to add a pleasant counterpunch to the vocals and rhythm.  

If you want to check out a track from this group that has Frazer on vocals give a listen to “The Way That I Do” 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://durandjonesandtheindications.bandcamp.com/music

Hey…it might be getting colder…but your locals still need your support…community is powerful! 

Album Review & General Plea-The Bobby Lees – Skin Suit 

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I had to get this out due to a disturbing but understandable post by this fantastic band…namely a message indicating that they were going to play out their current tour schedule (through December 20th at the the Bowery Ballroom in NYC) and then would be going on indefinite hiatus.  Their post included references to the general state of the music industry these days – you can check that post on their FB page. 

This album is their most recent and is such a solid production all the way through.  From the abrupt starts and stops of “Move,” to the booming cacophony of “Riddle Daddy,” and the disconcerting squeal and almost hip-swaying rhythm of “Blank Generation”…well, it is just a lot of damn good music.   There are some poignant messages in those lyrics also so listen closely:) 

The Bobby Lees have always been such an eclectic mix of styles, volume and sounds…hopefully they come back but until then please give them some attention when you have a minute.

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://thebobbylees.bandcamp.com/

And please remember to support your local artists…they need you and you need them :)…community is powerful 

Song Review – CLASS “Behind the Ball” from the album If You’ve Got Nothing

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There is something incredibly cool and groovy going on with this band.  They do a fantastic job of calling back to several iconic punk & rock styles wrapped within their own original creations.  As an example the opening lyrics section of this track immediately brought me back to the first Clash album (…and yes, I get it…CLASS…Clash…but still) especially some of the songs on the UK version like Deny and Protex Blue.  

“Behind the Ball” is one of those tracks that gets right to the point and has a tight arrangement that keep your attention all the way through.  Old-style punk in tone with power & rhythm to the front and a clean vocal line…a good listen and no filler.   This release has a little cleaner mastering also than their prior releases (which you should check out also…there is a great song called “Box My Own Shadow” on Epoca de los Vaqueros ).

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://nowthatsclass.bandcamp.com/

Your local businesses, artists, groups…that all need you, so please get out there and support them ….community is powerful:)

Song Review – Sugar Tradition “Don’t Leave Me” from the album More Sugar 

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Holy Wowwerz and welcome Detroit Sound!  These cats are some kind of groovy and explosive blend of 60’s psychedelic, Detroit Wheels rock and garage band thrash…and it works like magic!   

From the first seconds of this track, a feedback bleed in that lasts just long enough, Sugar Tradition has your 100% attention.  A booming rhythm section sets the pace and is layered over by fuzzy guitar and vocals that lead you right along the way in this aggressive and bumpy explosion of sound.  And then…that chaos at the end (was that a cat screaming?) is a great send off toward your next adventure…which I might suggest could be the rest of this fantastic album:) 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://sugartradition.bandcamp.com/

Please remember to go out and support your locals…community is powerful:)