Hospital Ships - Oh, Ramona

Hospital Ships
Oh, Ramona
(10.2008, Graveface Records)
Verdict: Cute-tastic

Hospital Ships is the "solo" project of little Jordan Geiger. You know little Jordan, he is the lead singer and keyboardist for that band that was really mediocre and then got really way awesome and then got mediocre again, Minus Story. Oh ya, he also is the victorious trumpeteer for that one band that has always sucked, what's their name, Shearwater. Anyways, you've probably seen little Jordan before. He is the one that is, you know, pretty little. He looks like he is constantly on the verge of death, and he sounds like it too. I don't know what it is about dying things, but they are usually pretty endearing. Cute even. Yes, Jordan has that really cute death frailty working for him. On Oh, Ramona, even the songs sound pretty close to dissipation, with little triumphant moments of lingering vibrancy. Don't take this wrong, it works out fantastically on Oh, Ramona to make a very personal light pop album worth a thousand listens. The sequencing may be the biggest downfall, all though, even with differing sequencing the album may still feel a bit like a collection of singles rather than a complete holistic effort. But, then again, they are pretty great singles! So, feel free to skip and repeat tracks like crazy and soak in the layered simplistic cuteness in whatever order you wish!

-Sassigrass

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum

Black Moth Super Rainbow
Dandelion Gum
(2007, Graveface)
9.0/10

Imagine being in the place that "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" is about. You know, picture yourself in a boat on a river with tangerine trees and marmalade skies.... rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies, cellophane flowers, etc. Well, if that place had a soundtrack it wouldn't be to the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, it would be to Dandelion Gum. This mystical album is a wash of amazing sounds that pulse in and out of you as you listen. The synthesized vocals act as another instrument in the psychedelic pop electronica. It's a slow drunken album with a fairly lazy feel. I'm surprised we haven't seen more mention of Dandelion Gum this year. Raven Sings the Blues included it on his mid-year list (which you should check out) but other than that, this album is definitely not getting the credit it deserves. It's a treat of listening experience, one of the only recent electronica albums I fully enjoy front to back. And what's even more of a treat- Black Moth Super Rainbow has two upcoming shows in Salt Lake City.

-Sassigrass

Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Sun Lips"