Me and All My Talented Friends

August 1, 2011 — atlanta music, jim combs, john mcnicholas, mary o harrison, sensitive chaos, supervisor of the loveless average, the good graces, virginia plane

One of the best things about living in Atlanta is there’s creative inspiration everywhere you look. After I moved here in 2004, I fortunately very quickly fell in with some really talented folks (it started with my involvement in Chickens and Pigs and basically snowballed from there). It pushed me to be more creative and find new outlets; if it weren’t for the great songwriting of my friend Mary O. Harrison, for example, I’m not sure I would have ever started The Good Graces. A few of these friends have recently released some really outstanding records, so I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing that proud parent (or proud younger sister) feeling as I listened to them and attended their respective CD release shows. Here’s a quick rundown of my talented friends’ recent outputs.

Sensitive Chaos – Seeker After Patterns
Sensitive Chaos is the brainchild of Jim Combs, who also plays keys in The Good Graces. The best, most accurate review I can give of Jim’s record is what I told him after the first time I heard it. I was driving to my friend Nina’s while listening to it. And I got lost. Three times. Not because I didn’t know where she lived, but because I was that lost in the music. Hypnotic, atmospheric, and very relaxing, it’s the perfect soundtrack to chilling out after a hot day. Or, driving around aimlessly.

If you’re a fan of ambient music be sure to check out Jim’s City Skies series at Kavarna (and also online at StillStream), where he brings in some of the best electronic-based musicians from all over the country (and sometimes even the world). 

Supervisor of the Loveless Average – Songs About Cities
Supervisor of the Loveless Average, or Supervisor for short, or SOTLA for the acronym-inclined, is John McNicholas (guitarist with The Good Graces), Elizabeth Elkins (The Swear, Grandville Automatic), and Marco Corales (Dutch Angle). Together they craft 90s, Minneapolis-inspired indie rock for the masses. Admittedly it took me a minute to get used to the very pro production on this record. But once I did I realized it suited the songs perfectly. This is a true guitar record, with lots of great interplay between John and former band member Mike Boutté. At times sounding a bit like Pavement, and other times sounding like that rare alt radio hit that’s just commercial enough to get mainstream airplay but just cool enough to keep you from changing stations (and I mean that in a good way, really), Songs About Cities is an awesome debut guaranteed to get stuck in your head.

For a limited time, you can download SOTLA’s EP for any price you choose on their Bandcamp page.

Supervisor of the Loveless Average – Baltimore Bound mp3

Virginia Plane - S/T
Virginia Plane is singer-songwriter Mary O. Harrison (formerly of Charm School and then Mary O. Harrison and the Tiny Tears) along with friends Tracy Clark (The Preakness), McGregor Button (Russian Spy Camera), and Govind Dixit (also from Charm School). Their 7-song debut is a superb collection of endearing, catchy folk-pop songs that highlight Mary O’s pretty vocals and captivating, introspective lyrics. Sometimes childlike (“I wish my dad was here, I wish I knew what to do”) and often nostalgic and visual (“Each year I remember …   I will walk through the new green fields of this world like an old-fashioned girl”), listening to Virginia Plane is much like relaxing on your porch with a glass of lemonade and your favorite book. Extra cool points: The record was released by Atlanta’s Two Sheds Music, whose roster reads like who’s who of Atlanta songwriting geniuses—Blake Rainey, Jupiter Watts, The Preakness, and The Yum Yum Tree to name just a few.

Mary O. is embarking on a solo tour beginning tomorrow (Aug. 2), so be sure to check her website for dates and go see her if she comes to your town.

Virginia Plane – Old Fashioned Girl mp3