Shellshag - 18 Sycamore (New Vinyl LP)
This is 18 Sycamore, by Brooklyn's definitive DIY duo, Shellshag. Released on their personal long-running Starcleaner Records label, which I believe is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, 18 Sycamore is a double LP. Think of it as DIY's Speakerboxxx/the Love Below, in which each member of a storied duo takes a disc and makes it their own.
Made to accompany their film of the same name, this is inherently a very touching album, telling the story of their shared musical journey through these songs and stitched together footage of them and their friends through the years. Even for a someone like myself who wasn't around for those early days, it's incredibly difficult not to tear up hearing these songs, and seeing the film. Like everything involving them I've ever encountered, the love for the music and for each other is so pervasive that you can't help but to be moved. One of the best indications of an artist's character, in my opinion, is the people they associate with and their relationship to the successive waves of musicians that start after them.
By this measure, Shellshag are some of the finest folks you'll meet. I actually first heard Shellshag on their split with This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, and would continue to run into them in conversation with figures like Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females. Furthermore, even having moved out of the city, I got to see them several times in the past year, as they toured with AJJ and Kimya Dawson, as well as joining Sean Bonnette for his solo shows this past March.
Their live show is something not to be missed. Shell on guitar, Shag on drums, with their fabled Pyramid of Sound custom built by Shellhead himself. I'll be in Brooklyn next Friday, partially fried for the prior night's Bridge City Sinners show, but ready for a glorious hometown Shellshag performance. It should be known that there's no greater live experience than seeing an artist on their home turf, and that sentiment is amplified with these two.
Tracklist
01. Music Box
02. I Write the Song
03. Little Miss Special
04. Here Come the Fans
05. Waiting by the Line
06. Albert Payson Terhune
07. Coo Coo
08. Biggest Wish
09. She Smiles
10. Seasons
11. Bad
12. Seaweed
13. Burned
14. Oops
15. Dog vs. Butterfly
16. Dumb Room
17. Combat
18. I’ll See You Later
19. Rearrange
20. You Are So Beautiful
21. Van
22. Yes, I’m Still Thinking of You
23. Round the Block
24. I Know
25. Pritty Ditty
26. Yes, I’m Still ...