Smile Politely

B-Sides: June 2013

Smile Politely Writers

Colonel – Snow Fall to Sun Bower

Colonel, the stage name of local folk-ambient-styled performer Colin Mosely, settles in for ten mellow tracks on the release Snow Fall to Sun Bower, the full-length follow-up to last fall’s eponymous EP. Simple acoustic guitar lines accentuated with ethereal effects run throughout, creating a drowsy, dreamy soundscape. Vocals add to the mix and provide some interesting melodic touches (as well as lyrical content), but the stars of the album become the acoustic guitar lines, dynamics, and tonal textures. The guitar parts are crisp, clean, and well-executed (and in their most basic form bear some similarity to the work of local guitar instrumentalist Michael Kammin), and the order of the tracks flows nicely from #1 all the way through. This is a rainy-day album best enjoyed on a gray Central Illinois afternoon (of which we have several), sipping coffee in front of a large picture window. Highlight tracks include “All the Animals” and “Waiting.” — Jason Brown

Klevah — The W8

If I had to choose a word to describe Champaign-Urbana’s rap scene, I would have to pick “enigmatic.” Just up I-57, the Chicago scene is established and well-defined as perhaps the best in the country. Perhaps some of this talent could find its way into Champaign’s scene, I thought to myself. What I have discovered, however, in my limited but enjoyable time investigating the Champaign hip-hop culture, is a system that’s remarkable and vibrant enough to stand on its own. Champaign’s (albeit small) scene consists some bright stars (and some not-so-bright stars) who provide a constant network of shows and mixtapes to keep us entertained. Arguably one of the most talented in this scene is Urbana-born female MC Klevah, who dropped her debut tape, The W8.
 
Klevah stands at the helm of Champaign’s rap culture with the likes of Epic Records-signee Young Blue and local favorite Jay Moses (both of whom are featured on The W8). While it is rare to find a rapper from C-U, and even more exceptional to find a female rapper from C-U, the hype surrounding Klevah is surprisingly reserved. All one has to do is listen to the first track of her tape to witness her diversity and versatility behind the mic. As the tape plays on, however, Klevah’s ability to excel behind all type of production becomes even more evident. She mixes styles, seamlessly switching between hazy, stream-of-consciousness rhymes, catchy hooks, and some of the most surprisingly impressive lyrical work I’ve heard in a while. This tape truly is a treat, and I would recommend fans of local and non-local music alike to get in tune with The W8. — Boswell Hutson
 

C-U/Chicago punk crew Bailout is, without question, a very angry band. Their new full length, Adult Body, does nothing to change that knowledge. Only five out of the ten songs clock in at over a minute long. The message is direct: Everything is fucked up, both in a personal and public sense. The self-titled track begins with the line “too nice to talk and too shy to fuck/ who would have thought I’d be so out of luck?” Throughout the record, this sort of sentiment is writ large, asking “when did humanity become so fucking crippled?” on “Wasted Land” and reminding listeners that “business gives you the upper hand,” but only by “selling out your fellow man” on “Corruption City.” It’s a rarity that a band pulls off these sorts of lyrics without seeming preachy, but their raw energy and honesty carry them through. All in all, Bailout is loud, Bailout is pissed off, and Bailout is something you need to hear. — Kirby Jayes

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B-Sides is a monthly article designated for local albums released that might get overlooked for feature articles, but are definitely worth the listen. If you’re interested in your band’s record being featured on B-Sides, let us know at [email protected]. Note: Although some releases featured in B-Sides are towards the end of last month, we sometimes bump them to the next month.

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