It is not a surprise that I was happy to hear about some more music being released by this under-appreciated songwriter and his great band and associated musicians. I have previously reviewed their Rail Vodka release and that one is worth your time also …give it a listen:)
This EP features some previously released material but is still a good collection and an entry point if you have not heard any of of Carr’s music prior to this album. “Party Town USA” came out as a single release in 2021 and has a nice, clean vibe to it with an airy atmosphere and a strong drum beat through the middle of the track. “Ronnie” is up next and this song has seen several versions over the years (although I still prefer the original from “Reinventing the Dumbass”…but hey, I am a vintage-style person after all). How did it take me this long to understand the line about Third Eye Blind? I always wondered what “melted ice and Third Eye Blind” even meant…but hey…I hear it all loud and clear now! The third track is “Just South of Heaven,” and is the version from 2021 which is mixed & produced in a much more mainstream fashion than what was on the 2020 EP Neapolitan Man. This later take is definitely more accessible but that 2020 edition, which is much slower and has a disquieting yet comforting metronomic feel to it, is my preference. This album closes on “Being Zack Morris” and is a version that I do not think I have heard before…it is a strong one, a well developed song with a nice piano accompaniment.
As always Jordan Carr delivers direct, pointed songs of life, love and the general messiness of living with much heart and strong arrangements…I always feel like he sings song for and about folks like me:)
This might not be my favorite song from these musicians (for that please see “western world” off their echinacea album…a strangely haunting song with a great bass line) but I wanted to put it up here as DG is calling it done after all this time. Even during times when I was trying to puzzle out exactly what they were up to I always found the sonic experiment they offered up to be very interesting.
This one leads off with a nice guitar part (that evoked a little Smashing Pumpkins in me) and heads into the lyrics covered by a subdued drum beat before picking up a little atmosphere mid-song. That sonic buzz sticks after that with several nice distortion clouds cutting in..and then it drops right off…good-bye.
Thanks to Double Grave for the very interesting ride over the years and best wishes for your futures:)
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:)
Song Review – Tightwire “Bad Things” from the album Head Full of Snakes
I have long liked a band that can get to the point, deliver a power-punching song and then get out gracefully. I suppose that harkens back to the early days of my music listening which included the early Clash records and a bunch of groups in a similar vein. The Clash got through “White Riot” and “What’s My Name” in under two minutes apiece and that to me was spectacular songwriting. Here we have Tightwire who I have liked for several years for the same reason…I do not think they have ever written a song that hits the three minute mark. I also think that the addition of Noelle Stolp has really worked to fill out the sound of this epic band.
“Bad Things” jumps right off with some pummeling drums and a nice guitar overlaying a twangy melody line. It fills out nicely once the vocals start with their usual sing-along pop-punk style working well and supported with a heavy bass line that give this track a booming background feel. There are a couple of nice breaks in the sound along the way that fit right in…and they are out in just under two minutes…awesome!
The first time I heard this band must have been back in the 2000’s, maybe around 2015. I came across their EP Mason Jar and was struck by the song “I’ve Been Waiting.” At the time I did not listen to much bluegrass-style music and the feel and tone of that song was something quite different for me. I did lose track of them after that and then came across a set of singles they had released early this year…happy day 🙂
This track seems a little more in the vein of alt-country than strict bluegrass but not in that “rock alt-country” style…more on the different, more intricate side of country music, trending toward folk. It is a really good combination of genres and the musicians in The Last Revel play powerfully and with purpose. From a simple guitar and vocal start the song grows with violin, drum and bass to a mournful melody with a simple back-beat. Lyrically there is nothing complicated, just a simple story powerfully delivered.
I just felt the need to start out the year 2023 with a shout-out to one of my very favorite Minnesota musical groups. I know that this one goes back a long ways but hey, you still really need to check it out. Whether going solo or with his group The Boys, Jordan Carr can sing some very meaningful songs.
This particular track has its very obvious meaning whether you know the whole story behind it or not. You can check out the video on Youtube to get some context if you have the time. The lyrics are stark enough and woven well into what starts out as a simple guitar moment. It is well developed as time moves along into a much deeper song, cutting into a punchy rhythm section and several soaring guitar moments from Jordan Riggs.
And a lyric like “I miss you in a way that makes me talk to the sky…” well, is just damn good.
I was super happy to hear that this band has a new release coming up in June and took the opportunity to purchase this song which was out early. Most of the reviews you read out there about Graveyard Club reference comparisons to The Cure, New Order and the like…and I really have no complaint with that as there is a definite connection. For me through, their music does a great job of melding the influences of bands such as that with their own brand of energy and music composition.
The way the drums lead off this song draws you right in and the synth gives a positive lift of underlying energy. You have a sense of running somewhere and then the vocal comes in to tell a story that I am honestly still trying to figure out…which just makes it more fascinating to me:) It is one of those songs that likely has a very different meaning to various listeners. And high-five for the brassy guitars that ring out several times along the way…very dramatic! My only complaint is that the vocal mastering is a little muddy but there is always the chance that this was intentional as it does add a layer of texture.
Fun song to listen to and well done – it definitely gets my recommendation.
Always check the B-side first…something I started doing a long time ago to mixed results but it paid off well here. Not that there really is a B-side these days in many cases..but you get the point. Not to say I have any objection to “Panoramic”…I just like this track better 🙂
There is something very poignant in the stark way in which this song begins. And it is not just the discordant keys but also the way that the vocal cuts in over the top. It sets an immediate mood…mournful, accepting…maybe a little sad humor. The words here are simple yet evocative – lines such as “you like how it covers up the trash with the snow,” tell you much about the scene and also about the people involved in the story.
The instrumentation is good here also, starting off slowly and building as it moves along. It is a nice sonic journey that adds to the atmosphere and tone of this entire track. And I really like that tight drum in the second half…hammering away…very nice.
The last 40 seconds or so of this get a little too muddled for me but there is also a message there which does work…just a personal issue for me I guess:) And at the very end there is a very graceful final 10 seconds that cleans it all up very well…kind of a static good-bye.
Overall, there are a lot of good musical layers in this song. These musicians, who have turned out such great music both together and separately over the years, shine through here and I would definitely recommend it.
The Arches just released a new album called “Abandoned” – I checked it out and here are my thoughts 🙂
First of all – that cover art is great and especially eye-catching to me as I am an “urban decay and abandoned industrial things” photographer myself. Check out their Bandcamp page for a higher resolution photo – It is quite a stark image. I also think there is a mysterious cat lurking in one of those upstairs portholes…or an extremely large rat…what you do think?
anyway…
The set starts out with “Just Killing Time” which has a slight haunting quality to it, especially as the lyrical refrain “I know you’re no good, I know you’re no good for me,” floats over the music. This is probably the most “pop” song on the album although I suspect The Arches may not be aiming for pop notoriety…it just struck me that way when I listened to it.
There are some good drum beats on the next track “Rise UP” which gives it an “anthem you can dance to” feeling. That song then bleeds over well into “Mikola.” It is one of those great transitions that I always try to put into playlists I make…they just fit next to each other. Now, I have no idea what that word means or what meaning it might have to the band…but do not look it up on Urban Dictionary if you are a PG-rated person!
The next track, “Baby Face Assassin,” is a music-only number that really caught my attention. It had me making up my own lyrics, albeit a simple “there’s a baby face assassin coming for me, and I think that it’s time to leave” as I closed my eyes and got a little lost in the composition.
The next two songs were the toughest part of the record for me. “Apocalypsing” really had me scratching my head a bit…although that usually means I missed the point so I suspect some of you out there will love it. The following track “Stuck in a Loop” has a kind of eerie discordance inside of it running alongside a very pleasant keyboard melody. It left me feeling just a little bit uneasy.
The album finishes up with “Time Will Tell’ (a dreamy atmospheric type song) and “Mikola Outro” which sends you on your way in a contemplative mood, possibly feeling slightly lost and thoughtful. It had that effect on me anyway.
Overall, this is an interesting record which delivers a variety of emotions as you listen to it. It clocks in at a tight and well-composed twenty-one minutes. On their Bandcamp site for this album The Arches comment that, “There is beauty in loss and abandonment, in everything.” These songs delivered a sense of that beauty while also leaving me just a little bit uneasy.
The next morning Leo was not feeling much better but had pretty much given up on complaining to the jail personnel. On the 18th U.S Marshals came to get him and moved him over to their holding cell at the federal building in downtown Minneapolis. They did think he looked ill enough to call for a doctor though and Leo received some medical attention prior to his preliminary hearing on October 19th. After that he was transported back to the Hennepin County jail to await his next court appearance. He did not eat anything on the 20th and by that evening, when he met with his lawyer, his skin was noticeably grey. The attorney was concerned and offered to arrange for some medical treatment but Leo had other things to discuss.
l humbert hearing
“Have you talked to my wife?” he asked in a soft, low voice.
“I tried, I really did. But she isn’t at the house and it looks like most of the things inside are gone. I peeked in a few windows when no one answered, ya know? Looked cleared out and the neighbors said a moving truck was there a few days ago.”
“No notes or nothing?”
“Nothing Leo. And I tried your sister but, well, quite frankly she doesn’t want anything to do with you. You sure about not wanting a doctor? I can get one in here. You look like hell.”
“Ah, it’s too late,” Leo replied with a feeble wave of his hand, “not much time left I don’t think. We need to talk about that guy I told you about, that bomb-maker. You gotta help find him and bring him in. Here’s a few,”
“Listen,” the lawyer interjected, “I know you are fired up about finding this guy. Right now, let’s just try to get you into a medical ward, ok? I think we need to focus on your case and getting you better also.”
“It don’t matter about me right now, I gotta make sure someone gets that guy.”
“I’ll be back in touch Leo, right now I have to go see another client,” the lawyer replied and quickly gathered up papers into his briefcase.
“It ain’t gonna be ok I tell ya,” Leo muttered, “you gotta get this info from me now.”
“I’ll get it next time, ok?”
Then the man was gone and the jail guards took Leo back to his cell where he collapsed into his hard bunk and fell asleep. He did not line up for the morning roll call on the 21st and a guard found him semi-alert in his bed. They left him lying there through breakfast and then, when he did not want to get up to go to lunch, forcibly carried him from his cell to the meal line. Munching his way slowly through a ham sandwich Leo sat alone at the edge of a table. They also had to carry him back to his cell when meal time was over and the guard who closed his cell door turned back to speak to him.
“You’re making this all harder than it needs to be Humbert,” the guard said, “you ain’t gonna make any friends here if we have to carry you to every damn meal.”
Leo sighed first, then replied, “I’m sick, you know that right. It’s pretty damn obvious if you look at me. Maybe one of you should finally get me a doctor.”
“I heard about you complaining about being sick and I’ll agree you look it. I thought they were getting you one? That should’a happened already.”
“Well, it didn’t,” Leo answered, “and I doubt it will. I don’t think anyone here is listening.”
The guard ambled away without a reply to that and Leo drifted off to sleep. He did get himself up for dinner and although he did not eat much that seemed to make the guards happy. He made a phone call that evening attempting to reach his lawyer and wrote a short note that was later found in his cell. The contents of that note have never been revealed although it is thought to have been directed to his attorney. On the 22nd Leo continued to comply with getting himself up for meals and tried several more times to reach his lawyer. After the evening meal he played two hands of cribbage in the common area and then went back to his cell.
At 6:52 pm jail guard Henry Willis, who had been working there for nine years, announced that he was going on his break a few minutes early. Due to another guard having left sick a few hours earlier, and no replacement being available, this left just one guard on-duty at the front desk area of the jail. That guard, Jerry Timmons, had only been working there for three months, having just come off his probationary period of employment.
“Yeah sure thing Henry, I’ll keep the place in shape for ya,” he replied to Willis’ announcement.
Ten minutes later a man entered through the side door, a way that official persons, deputies and medical staff usually used to access the jail. The man, past middle-age and about six feet tall displaying wisps of sandy blonde hair under a large brim fedora, walked up to the desk and announced he was a doctor.
“Ah, hello. I don’t recall seeing any orders up about a medical visit,” Timmons replied. “You sure you’re in the right place?”
“I am,” the man replied and then stood silently, green eyes blinking back at the guard.
“Ok, well, I’ll look again. Who are you here to see?”
“Some sick prisoner obviously, I think they said his name was Homberg.”
Timmons was looking through the daily log book and other papers but thought he recognized the name. “Humbert? Leo Humbert?”
“Yeah, sounds right,” the man replied while glancing at his pocket watch. “How about you let me in to see him before any more of my night gets wasted?”
“I still don’t see it here, you know, the order for a medical on Humbert. It’s always in here.”
“Ok kid, no offense, but I come here all the time. I don’t recognize you, so maybe you’re new. But they sent me to see this guy so let’s just get it over with, ok? It’s probably damn indigestion anyways.”
Timmons glanced down at the orders book again, up at the doctor, over to the door and then back at the doctor. The man had a resigned, nonchalant look on his face and did not raise any of the young guards suspicions. After several more seconds Timmons let him in, forgetting to have the doctor sign the official visitor log.
“I’ll walk you down doctor, just hang on until my partner gets back, ok?”
“What’s the cell number? I can just walk down there and ask him a few questions. Like I said, it’s probably indigestion.”
“Well, yeah, it’s 104.”
The doctor walked off at a brisk pace once Timmons opened the interior cell walkway door for him and was surprisingly back at the same gate about two minutes later, rapping his knuckles again the bars. Timmons hurried over to let him back through to the secured area.
“That was very fast doctor. Is he ok?”
“Oh yes, he’s just fine. Quite a faker. I’m going to return to my own dinner now if that’s ok with you,” the doctor replied, gesturing toward the secured exit door.
“Of course, yes sir. Hope you have a good night,” Timmons replied cheerfully and unlocked the door.
Ten minutes later Henry Willis returned, realized something unusual had taken place in his absence and rushed down to Leo’s cell. He found him lying on the floor, gasping for breath and with his eyes starting to roll back into his head. He opened the cell and went in to attempt to help but when he leaned down Leo grabbed his shirt and hissed into his ear.
“Remember that hotel fire, 1940, it was murder, look up the clock-maker. Find him.”
After that declaration Leo become unresponsive and he died a few hours later at the hospital. The official cause of death was never released although allusions to it being related to diabetic shock were made in the press and by jail authorities.
Leo Humbert, a historical curiosity and a bit on an enigma, was buried on October 26, 1967 at Sunset Memorial Park. Amanda faded into historical obscurity and Stanley Bittenhopper was never caught or heard from again.
The End.
For those of you who want to know, this is the article that started this long journey along with a few other documents relating to the story of Leo Humbert’s life.
l humbert final articleL Humbert FBI 1L Humbert FBI 2L Humbert fingerprintsL Humbert intake 1L Humbert intake 2L Humbert early record listingL Humbert early MBCAL Humbert prison card
jack mesenbourg 