The Mountain [CD]

I have to start off by saying that when I reviewed the band's previous album here on Amazon, 2006's "All This Time", my review was censored by naming the band, if you can believe that, so I won't mention the band's name at all. The band came out of nowhere with 2 excellent albums released quickly one after another, 2005's "Stairs and Elevators" and 2006's "All This Time", to great critical acclaim, and since then a lot of things have happened. Singer-songwriter Erica Wennerstrom broke up with the band's bass-player and subsequently relocated from Cincinnati to Austin, TX, and now, finally after what seems like an eternity, and with a new line-up, Erica comes back with band's 3rd release.

"The Mountain" (11 tracks; 51 min.) introduces new elements to the band's sound, check out the opener and title track, which features a steel guitar. Check out also "Had To Go", a 7+ min. slow-burner of acoustic guitar, mandolin and violin, of all things, but somehow it works great. Most other tracks are more traditional to the band's sound. Check out the hard-charging (and very short) "Early In the Morning", the beautiful "Out At Sea" (first radio single), and the pensive "Wide Awake". The album closes with 2 great tunes, "Witchy Poo" and "Sway".

In all this is a very satisfying 3rd album for the band. Erica is evolving while staying true to the band's core sound. Meanwhile, the band continues to gather more and more attention. They have just embarked on a national tour in support of the new album and if you have a chance to see them, don't miss them. Their tour will make a stop in March here in greater Cincinnati at the Madison Theatre, and you can bet I will be there (I've seen the band quite a few times in the years they were based in Cincinnati.). If you are wondering where you can hear these guys, they get plenty of airplay on WOXY (Bam! The Future of Rock and Roll!), the internet-only station that plays the best indie-rock in the country, bar none (and mentioned in the thank-you's by the band in the album's liner notes).

It would seem Heartless Bastards have a heart, and it shows on their latest record The Mountain (Fat Possum Records) released back in February of this year. I shamefully, very belatedly, discovered it via an email I received from Spoonful (www.spooonful.com).

The email I received offered up the title cut The Mountain. All I had to do was hear this one song. The next thing I knew, I had my credit card in hand purchasing this album. The tune begins with a slowly strummed distorted rhythm guitar that soon introduces us to an eerie steel or slide guitar, or possibly both, wailing in the not so distant background. The guitar leads us into the astoundingly powerful voice of singer-songwriter Erika Wennerstrom.

Her somewhat deep voice, emitting from a small stature, lends a very unique quality to an already distinctively psychedelic sound. She possesses one of the most silky-smooth voices I've heard in a very long time. I would personally rank her up there with female singers such as Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders or Annie Lennox of The Eurythmics, even the underappreciated Grace Slick at times. These are three extremely heavy hitters for sure, and great company for an up and coming young singer, but her voice is truly that strong.

This record is the result of Ms. Wennerstrom relocating from Ohio to Austin in 2007, barricading herself in her apartment with guitar, paper, and pen, and writing these new songs. Each song on The Mountain possesses its own flavor, its very own unique style, yet very much The Heartless Bastards. One song may be a standard rock tune (Early in the Morning), the next will have a bluesy feel (Hold Your Head High), and then finally, we will hear banjos, mandolins, even a fiddle (Had to Go & So Quite) on at least a couple tunes.

Because of this record's obvious diversity there are places where it sort of reminds me of, and I'm really showing my age here, of Jefferson Starship's `Blows Against the Empire'. That record, released in 1970, had Jerry Garcia plucking away at the banjo and Papa John Creach playing fiddle on several cuts, and of course Grace Slick. I couldn't help but wonder if Heartless Bastards, or at least, Ms. Wennerstrom, hadn't listened to this record at some point during her journey to rock and roll stardom, and be at least slightly influenced by it.

Ms. Wennerstrom put together an excellent band in this endeavor, assembling bassist Jesse Ebaugh, original Heartless Bastards drummer Dave Colvin, and Matt Nathan on guitar. Erika Wennerstrom is the one constant in The Heartless Bastards, and that is how it should be. After all, she is the driving force of the band. She is the one who writes the music and she is the one who makes their sound unique.

Things seem to have really taken off for them of late and as a result, they have a crazy tour schedule coming up that starts out in Florida, will take them to the UK, then back to the states. The tour, for now, will end up at the ACL festival in Austin, Texas in October. I for one plan to be there, sitting front-row-center if at all possible.

The Mountain is exquisitely produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail of Dead) and is actually one of the best records I've heard this year. `Rebel' Rod says to absolutely, without hesitation; pick up The Mountain and any other Heartless Bastards albums you can get your little fingers on.

Contact `Rebel' Rod at rames@texastartribune.com

I ran across Heartless Bartards, because they are set to open for Jenny Lewis later this year when I see her. What a pleasant find. I truly have not been this excited about new music since I first heard the White Stripes back in their hey day. Give this a listen. You won't regret it!