Cougar Microbes are marching in like army ants…

This is the classic “underdog” inclusion to my top albums. Despite not having the same financial backing that other artists on this list had few releases in 2009 could match Yoni Gordon and the Goods for sheer passion. ‘Turning Chaos Into A Career‘ works as an album because it many dynamics yet maintains an an endearing socially conscious lyrical theme.

Back in November I labelled ‘Turning Chaos Into A Career‘ as ‘a rough diamond in amongst 2009 more prominent releases’. It is deservedly included in the Cougar Microbes top albums.

TRACK:

Yoni Gordon and the Goods – Dead But Not Forgotten

Yesterday’s Yoni Gordon post reminded me I received the video for The So So Glos‘ rather ace ‘My Block‘ track a few weeks ago. Taken from their recent Tourism/Terrorism album, the video follows frontman Alex Levine as he takes a mischievous walk around the block.

TRACKS:

The So So Glos –  My Block

I had managed to avoid making any reference to the festive period up until this moment…. but when Cougar Microbes favourites Yoni Gordon and the Goods sent me their charity single I knew I would have to break that rule.

Yoni and co. are putting our a Christmas single this week. The A-side is a a cover of the Pogues classic “Fairytale of New York” which features Mr Franz Nicolay (of The Hold Steady fame) and special guest vocalist Emilyn Brodsky.  The other song is a full band reworking of the 2005 track ‘On All Night‘

The band are asking for a five dollar donation to Feeding America for downloading the songs.  Feeding America is a charity that partners with local foodbanks throughout the country in order to help out million of Americans that are going without food this season.

Get it here, Pass on the message and happy holidays from the Cougar team.

TRACKS:

Yoni Gordon and The Goods – Fairytale Of New York

Yoni Gordon and The Goods‘ latest album ‘Turning Chaos Into A Career‘ has had me returning for repeated listens above and beyond the call of duty. The passionate frontman and his gang showcase a comprehensive set of songs and an album that doesn’t lag at any stage.

The band are frequently accosted to ‘Ted Leo & The Pharmacists‘ and I can see where this comparison comes from but with this release they may break out of  this shadow. It is more likely that aspiring to recreate the sentiments of his heroes, namely Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello, has seen Yoni expand his horizons. This is immediately noticeable with upbeat opener ‘Dead But Not Forgotten‘ with its ambitious structure and inclusion of organs and bells as well as a full on campfire worthy clap and chant ending.

Yoni‘s nasal voice, slightly reminiscent of Ben Weasel from Screeching Weasel, is certainly an acquired taste but serves as a reminder that the band’s roots were planted in the punk movement. However, the introduction of folk and dub elements give these tracks an inventive spark and moves them beyond their original scope.

The title track as well as ‘His Nation in Decline‘ and ‘Test Of Time‘ take on this mantra introducing syncopated verses and memorable guitar riffs that are as good as anything Bedouin Soundclash, The Dead 60′s and other Clash disciples have released in recent years. Besides, even when the band return to a tried and tested “punk and roll” formula on a couple of moments it is done with enough enthusiasm and lyrical wit to keep it from sounding generic.

‘Polish Hill‘ is a slow building mix of  violins, accordions, big bass drums and lightly strummed guitars that grows into a wonderful folk crescendo.  The track was a brave inclusion on the album and is the bands most challenging moment. It is a sweeping tribute (I presume) to Polish Hill in his native New York and comes close to recreating Springsteen‘s idealist observation of every day people and forays into Americana.  This was a risky inclusion as it could have looked out of place next to the rest of the tracks but ultimately the common lyrical theme links it with the rest of the album seamlessly.

Tracks like ‘Army Time Is Over‘ and ‘Election Year (2008)‘  inject a dose of politics next to the ever present social consciousness theme. These topics are clearly important to Yoni and he is ably expresses his views clearly without shoving them down the listeners throat leaving the lasting impression of a passionate young man who wears his heart on his sleeves.

When I first listened to Yoni Gordon & The Goods I didn’t imagine it would make such a lasting impression on me. Gradually after repeated listens the album has grown on me and could merit a surprise inclusion on my Best Of 2009 list. ‘Turning Chaos Into A Career‘ is a rough diamond in amongst 2009 more prominent releases.

TRACKS:

Yoni Gordon and The Goods -Dead But Not Forgotten