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Most of the compilations I’ve heard lately are a muddle of bands that all sound the same - boring and terrible. When I got Apartment Music, I recognized Kid Dakota, but was afraid I was in for another lukewarm experience. I was wrong.
With Apartment Music, Free Election Records does what few indie labels of their size can do, put out a fucking solid comp. From start to finish there is not one questionable or forced song on this collection. With Apartment Music, the tiny Minnesota label has also released an astoundingly efficient view of their catalog featuring two tracks from seven of the eight bands on their label, including The Owls, Florida, Mike Brady, and Work of Saws.
The Owls are similar to Low with a brooding sadness that isn’t forced. Florida is a quirky group of songwriters that make music sound like a high school science experiment. Mike Brady (Florida’s guitar player and backing vocalist) appears solo in a different form, coming across as lazy and cynical, but endearingly untrained and sad (think Sam Coomes with a folk sensibility). Work of Saws' “The Moving Roots” and “Texa Tonka Annex” would fit perfectly on a Wes Anderson film with their strange acoustic sensibilities. Though these four bands are unique in themselves, the remaining melancholy front of Kid Dakota, Quillan Roe, and The Ashtray Hearts entirely won me over.
Kid Dakota’s “Get Her Out of My Heart” is one of the most moving songs I’ve heard in a long time and my favorite on the comp. Slow bass chords chug through the introduction of the verse and meander sadly around Darren Jackson’s vocal surrender. The chorus is best experienced at high volume; it just hurts to listen to him wail, “Hey…that’s okay it doesn’t matter anyway…down the line we might be friends again someday…”
Quillan Roe's blues sensibility comes through in his sad and seductive jazz and folk stylings. With “Ain’t the Movies,” I can just see him locking himself in his room after a bittersweet party and recording over a programmed beat just to calm his nerves. His second offering “Do You Have To Go?” finds Quillan playing the role of seducer in a love triangle soulfully sighing "I want you to stay."
The Ashtray Hearts are the highlight of the comp, bringing alt-folk and bluegrass together with the somber vocals of Dan Richmond. Both of the Ashtray Hearts' contributions exude mature songwriting. “Still Shaking” has a walking banjo line and warm accordion that when combined with the lyrics, “I’d give anything to be there with you; sitting in the back yard, waste another night,” have a silencing effect. Their second offering “Necessary Planes” is a slow waltz with convincing lyrics and delivery. I love the simple imagery in the words “I feel safe in this collection of corner, where the sound just bounces around,” and “I’m tired of driving till the freeway ends.” The Ashtray Hearts definitely piqued my curiosity to hear more.
It must be the weather in Minneapolis that’s breeding this slew of depressingly introspective songwriters. Whatever it is, Free Election Records have found the right mix to keep me wanting more.
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