40-Year-Old Virgin Songs
Buva's All This Humming: Buva's Tom Wolfe is an admirer of Brian Wilson, Revolver-era Beatles and Gram Parsons (or is that the Eagles?). Buva's All This Humming (Hi-fi In Motion) gorgeously navigates the gentle waters between Pet Sounds and Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed," a sweet-kneed album of soft boy vocals and swirling arrangements that ring in your memory like a good dream. And Buva doesn't come by this muse accidentally.
A down-and-outer hovering on LA's musical fringes before hitting it off with Peter Farrelly (of Farrelly brothers fame), Wolfe has contributed music to such blockbusters as The 40 Year Old Virgin, Donnie Darko, There's Something About Mary, and the upcoming Farrelly film, Kingpin. Like Jon Brion and Aimee Mann, Wolf is a master at creating cinematic moods and lovesick tone poems within glowing, gently pulsating production epics. Playing all the instruments himself (except for the guitar of Beck's Lyle Workman), Wolf spins Mellotron, drums, guitars, glockenspiels and the kitchen sink into a lush, Senssuround world of melodic bliss.
Raised in Pennsylvania Dutch country, Wolfe (who is no relation to the famous white-coated author) relocated to La La where his demos came to the attention of Andy Chase (Ivy, Tahiti 80), who produced Buva's 2003 debut, Daydream. KCRW's Nic Harcourt praised the release, spinning it in regular rotation on his all important morning radio program.
All This Humming cements Wolf's rep as major domo of sonic splendor, creating a daydream nation for all those who long for sweet melodies, gentle rhythms and memorable tunes. Prepare your MP3 player for the backwards guitars, twinkling bells and shiny happy message of "She Makes Me Fall Down." "Out Of My Mouth" recalls Fountains of Wayne, if they had the gusto to reimagine The Beatles' "If I Needed Someone" or George Harrison's "Give Me Love." The song's glistening harmonies send shivers with angelic ascension. "Just Step Away" furthers Buva's bliss, a hush of brushed drums, clarinets, Mellotron and steel guitars creating a dew eyed, misty morning classic. And Buva rocks out too, "Something That I Need To Hear" cruising high and mighty, a driving tune for weekend escapes. Check Buvaphonic.com for more magic.
Buva: " Out Of My Mouth" (MP3, 3:46)
Rosewood water, country rock ways: Twisting back through time is today's theme, and the Rosewood Thieves match that idea perfectly. Stumbling out as if from some mid-'70s California desert with whiskey and women on their minds, the Rosewood Thieves' Lonesome EP (due out November 20) recalls the Eagles' first album, the Flying Burrito Brothers and perhaps Country Joe & the Fish. It's barroom acoustic music for sleepyheads and drunkards, tinkling tunes for sing-alongs and campfires, dusty tributes to Americana songs of yesteryear. Just check the vintage '60s-era Columbia type cover of their first release, from The Decker House. Songs from Big Pink anyone?
Recorded in a family basement during a Pocono Mountains snowstorm that left the band stranded and up to their longjohns in time and tea, Lonesome documents a band left to their instruments and nothing else. Trapped for all intents and purposes, the Rosewood Thieves, led by principal singer/songwriter Erick Jordan, eventually shrugged off the cold and got down to work. The EP follows an earlier release, From the Decker House, released by the now defunct V2 records in ‘06. Charismatic, dark, and perfect for your own family sing-along, "Murder Ballad in G Minor" will help you mend your wicked ways.
