Album Reviews New Music: john bustine
by Campfires & Battlefields
2 comments
Toad 2.0
John Bustine – Waltzes & Pleas
C&B here. And so here we go again. Hello all.
“Local” music scenes aren’t strictly local anymore, are they? I live near Washington, D.C., but because of stuff I’ve heard hereabouts I’m now the proud owner of records by such Edinburgh luminaries as Meursault, Withered Hand, Cancel The Astronauts and The Savings & Loan, I’ve extracted a promise from Eagleowl to send me a copy of their EP once it sees the light of day, and I’ve even garnered a sarcastic myspace comment from Euan of the Kays Lavelle who, despite a popular misconception, are not shit at all but actually rather grand. My life is thereby enriched. And therefore it is time to return the favor a bit and introduce y’all to a guy that I consider to be one of the really elite musicians from the place where I live.
His name is John Bustine and he’s got a magnificent record out called “Waltzes and Pleas” from Gypsy Eyes Records, a newish label in D.C. that boasts a pretty phenomenal stable of musicians. Bustine’s profile page on the Gypsy Eyes website describes his songs as “fairytales written for malevolent youth,” and that just about captures it I think. His voice is top notch, aggressive but fragile. His tunes are hook-laden and rooted in alt-country or anti-folk or whatever, but he’s not afraid to shred with the ol’ gee-tar now and again, and his lyrics are acerbic, libidinous, blasphemous, and riddled with delicious profanity. There is a definite air of menace lurking just below the surface. Can you say “Grammy”?
When I first bought this record back in February, I loaded it onto my rig and just went about my business, not thinking too much about it. Then a few weeks later I’d be on the train to work and a glorious unfamiliar tune would shuffle its way into my ears, bringing a smile to my lips and a tap to my toe. Every time this happened I would light up the screen to discover that it was another John Bustine tune. Now I’m a fan, flat out, and my greatest difficulty has been to choose the right tunes to proselytize, because they’re all just superb. John Bustine is living proof that the dissolute life is well worth living. I hereby give a piece of him to you, because I’m all about love.
John Bustine – Graceless Birds of Death
John Bustine – Where Has Your Husband Gone Donna
MySpace | More mp3s | Buy the Album From Gypsy Eyes Records
Testify brotha! Testify! I’m delighted you like it, Euan. It really is an implausibly good record from top to bottom. No baseball songs, but there’s time.
Let me just say this. With your first post you have introduced me to something I find rather fabulous and intend to find out more about. This is great music. 2 very different tracks but both equally appealing. thank you C&B and thanks for the nice comment about the kays – not something you see every day on song by toad!!