Ain't No Surprise

Local band’s second or third release. Blending of roots, blues, western and a taste of 60’s psyche/Motown. I really love this band. That said I’m sure they really hate being likened to early White Stripes but the vocal delivery and tone to most ears will bring that to mind. However, the more I listen to this the more I realize that a Marc Bolan/T Rex comparison is more appropriate. Unlike the Stripes/T Rex though, this has a west coast sincerity and authenticity. SF has had a deep culture, history, of excellent Americana, “alt.country”, whatever you want to call it and these guys carry the torch just fine. For fans of John Spencer to T Rex to Johnny Cash to Johnny Winter to the (white stripes). Top notch recording by SF’s best producers/engineers.

1) upbeat strummy, brings in chugga chugga subtle drums that turn into full on upbeat swampy western
2) slower dark blues swing, tom tom tribal beat, feedbacky bluesy guitar work
3) slight surf blues, White Stripes 60’s Motown do come to mind with the Wurlitzer
4) western upbeat alt rock, swinging and smarmy
5) rock out, has some psyche blues elements to it, noodly guitars, feedback
6) acoustic guitar ballad, Marc Bolan/T Rex really comes to mind here, some organ and tambourine and overdubs join in
7) total 60’s psyche rock flavor, bouncing Saturday morning television fun in 1968
8) blues rock, vocals are really starting to sound more like Marc Bolan than Jack White, total 70’s southern fried slightly funky rock, may I say Skynrd?
9) pretty guitar, a pleasant ballad
10) western folkie front porch feel, tambourine and guitar only, upbeat
11) dark and mysterious guitar to start, builds quietly with subtle droney backdrop and dubbed guitars, noodly, and a slow noise loop begins to build, more experimental