Mailbox Music: Bomb, Bomb, Bomb.....

Bombadil

"teach me your alphabet so i can break your code"

In My Mailbox Today -- A Buzz, A Buzz from North Carolina's Bombadil.
The coolest part == it doesn't come out until April 29th!

These guys contacted me about a week ago, asking if i would be interested in an advance copy of their first full-length release. Uhh, i guess i'll take a free CD.......
Bombadil has recently been signed to Ramseur Records (The Avett Brothers, The Everybodyfields) - whom, upon the aquistion of this new record, i've decided is the best emerging record label in the country. They sign unique, energetic, and super-talented acts from around their home base of NC.

i decided not to download any Bombadil tracks off The Hype, nor did i stream anything from their MySpace - i wanted to hear the album with no preconceptions at all - all i knew about 'em was the description given to me via their e-mail:

"We are proud of our folk roots, but we also like to incorporate elements of everything from bolivian folk tunes to psychedelic rock.We've been described recently as 'A long-lost Elephant 6 band who spent the last 10 years listening to mid-60s Dylan.'"

Popped the CD in on my way to school this morning, and what i heard was like a surprising, but well-needed water balloon to the face. It broke me out of the monotony that is this semester, and put me in an energized, good mood. This fearless, inventive four-piece band from Durham, NC employs a gaggle of instruments including: guitar, piano, mando, banjo, organ, xylophone, trumpet, flute, and some pretty interesting percussion. The vocals wander throughout the members of the band and are, at times, as spontaneous as the music. But somehow, through all the chaos, you come away with some pleasing indie-folk tunes. The opener is the calmest effort on the disc - a simple, but engaging little piano song:

mp3: Bombadil - Trip Out West

Bombadil's utter disregard for conventional song structure causes them to exude a certain type of confidence and bravery that seems to be a running theme in everything Ramseur puts out:

mp3: Bombadil - Rosetta Stone

Just for fun, and to feed my wandering mind, i Googled Bombadil, and found out that Tom Bombadil was a character in The Lord of the Rings (book, not movie). i am, by no means, a sci-fi fan, but apparently he was some sort of hobbit:

"Tom Bombadil is a spry fellow, with a quick, playful wit. He has a jolly, carefree attitude, and very little seems to concern him"

Whether or not the guys in Bombadil knew that, the description of Tom is equally a perfect depiction of their musical style.

mp3: Bombadil - Cavaliers Har Hur

pick up A Buzz, A Buzz on April 29th...