Hiss Golden Messenger / Matt Suggs
Split 7''
Merge
2014
Rating: 8 pretty tigers out of 10
The Merge subscription series keeps on rollin' - this time with Hiss Golden Messenger and Matt Suggs. The HGM offering, "Rock Holy," is an upbeat track with MC Taylor's vocals dominating the scene as per usual. The better of the two songs is Sugg's "This Is My Light," reminding me of why I listened so obsessively to his album from 2000 "Golden Days Before They End." The former Butterglory frontman has a way of writing new indie pop songs that sound like late sixties / early seventies AM gold classics. This track is actually very upbeat for him, and way too short...it's been over ten years since he released a new record, hopefully this is a sign of things to come?
Butterglory
Wait for Me 2x7''
Merge
1995
Rating: 7 false faces out of 10
I've never had much to say about Butterglory, but I've always enjoyed their music. They were onbe of those Merge staples from my college years that always seemed to be around and no one had a bad word about them, but I never knew any big fans either. Every song on this double seven inch is good mid-nineties indie rock like I grew up on, with the final song "Chump or Champ?" probably my favorite. Worth a shot if you see it in a used bin somewhere (which is where my copy came from).
Butterglory
Alexander Bends 7''
Merge
1992
Rating: 7.5 swim trunks out of 10
There are five songs on this Butterglory seven inch, and the whole thing plays at 45rpm. What I'm saying is these are some short songs, none of them better than the title track - possibly Butterglory's best song. Very catchy. Frontman Matt Suggs would go on to release a couple of great solo records on Merge in the early 2000s.
