True to the DIY aesthetic to their core, Northampton folk-punk trio Mallory emblazoned their Myspace page with a message informing us that every time their page is visited Fox News Corp. and Rubert Murdoch make a little bit of ad revenue, and that we should avoid visiting their page as much as possible. While acknowledging that electronic correspondence is faster and easier, the band suggests and endorses a different way to contact them.
Send them letters.
Mallory's latest acoustic/punk endeavor, “Strange Homes,” was released digitally in late March. The band's sophmore effort, “Strange Homes” follows 2007's “Lights in the Quarry” LP. Despite being tracked professionally at Sand Hill Recordings, “Strange Homes” is just as comfortably lo-fi as the live-recorded “Lights in the Quarry.”
If there's one major difference between “Lights” and “Homes,” it is the absence of any severe politi-punk core. Never shy about their DIY and anarchist beliefs, Mallory's first album featured politically motivated rallying cries bearing titles such as “This Song Kills Cops,” and “The Red, White, and Blues.”
“Strange Homes” is a different creature. The attitude is there, as are the throaty yelps and jangling banjos, but the theme of the album is something more human and introspective. This is the story of being confused and dazed when one finds themselves slowly sliding into modernity and mundanity. Summed well in “Someone Else's Eden,” the band sings: “I woke up in someone else's dream/of concrete streets and lined up men in tailored suits/ shaking hands under the sunset of an eroded landscape.”
While Mallory's lyrics and philosophy has always been congruent with DIY punk culture, their music does more to embrace the “folk” in folk-punk. Acoustic guitars, banjos, and tambourines are plentiful; there isn't a single drum line to be found on the album. The vocals and rough and earthy, blending and harmonizing in a charmingly dissonant way with one another.
The two live-recorded tracks on the album, “These Bones are on Loan” and the surprising cover of Animal Collective's “Fireworks” present to us the disorienting and frantic Mallory that was prevalent on “Lights in the Quarry.” The first of the two is one of the album's best tracks, laying wistful and harmonious vocals over a strummed tune reminiscent of traditional Irish folk pieces.
Much of the album is Americana inspired with a gypsy-like tint. Standout track “This Tide,” penned by folk singer and band friend Mogli, begins with a slow cadence and builds to a desperate and fast-paced chorus. The theme of self-questioning runs throughout, when the chorus sings “I'm not as idealistic as I used to be/and I'm not sure anymore how I feel about anarchy.”
A satisfying follow-up to their outstanding first album, “Strange Homes” follows along the same path as it's predecessor while being careful not to tread too heavily in the same territory. While Mallory's musical style has not changed much (a blessing), their lyrical themes have moved on to explore new areas.
The band's webpage boldly states “No copyright! Music should be as free as us.” They are true to their word. Both “Lights in the Quarry” and “Strange Homes” are available as free digital downloads at malloryband.org, with a Paypal donation accessible for those who feel moved to contribute.
Send them letters.
Mallory's latest acoustic/punk endeavor, “Strange Homes,” was released digitally in late March. The band's sophmore effort, “Strange Homes” follows 2007's “Lights in the Quarry” LP. Despite being tracked professionally at Sand Hill Recordings, “Strange Homes” is just as comfortably lo-fi as the live-recorded “Lights in the Quarry.”
If there's one major difference between “Lights” and “Homes,” it is the absence of any severe politi-punk core. Never shy about their DIY and anarchist beliefs, Mallory's first album featured politically motivated rallying cries bearing titles such as “This Song Kills Cops,” and “The Red, White, and Blues.”
“Strange Homes” is a different creature. The attitude is there, as are the throaty yelps and jangling banjos, but the theme of the album is something more human and introspective. This is the story of being confused and dazed when one finds themselves slowly sliding into modernity and mundanity. Summed well in “Someone Else's Eden,” the band sings: “I woke up in someone else's dream/of concrete streets and lined up men in tailored suits/ shaking hands under the sunset of an eroded landscape.”
While Mallory's lyrics and philosophy has always been congruent with DIY punk culture, their music does more to embrace the “folk” in folk-punk. Acoustic guitars, banjos, and tambourines are plentiful; there isn't a single drum line to be found on the album. The vocals and rough and earthy, blending and harmonizing in a charmingly dissonant way with one another.
The two live-recorded tracks on the album, “These Bones are on Loan” and the surprising cover of Animal Collective's “Fireworks” present to us the disorienting and frantic Mallory that was prevalent on “Lights in the Quarry.” The first of the two is one of the album's best tracks, laying wistful and harmonious vocals over a strummed tune reminiscent of traditional Irish folk pieces.
Much of the album is Americana inspired with a gypsy-like tint. Standout track “This Tide,” penned by folk singer and band friend Mogli, begins with a slow cadence and builds to a desperate and fast-paced chorus. The theme of self-questioning runs throughout, when the chorus sings “I'm not as idealistic as I used to be/and I'm not sure anymore how I feel about anarchy.”
A satisfying follow-up to their outstanding first album, “Strange Homes” follows along the same path as it's predecessor while being careful not to tread too heavily in the same territory. While Mallory's musical style has not changed much (a blessing), their lyrical themes have moved on to explore new areas.
The band's webpage boldly states “No copyright! Music should be as free as us.” They are true to their word. Both “Lights in the Quarry” and “Strange Homes” are available as free digital downloads at malloryband.org, with a Paypal donation accessible for those who feel moved to contribute.
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