“Electric Slave is what people are today with their faces buried in their iPhones and the only way to hold a conversation is through text. The next step is to plug it in to your damned head. Nothing is up front anymore and people are de socializing.”—Black Joe Lewis
The best parts of Akron/Family‘s Sub Verses exist nicely in this space between comfort and the unknown, between growing and looking back on what you’ve done. “Whole World is Watching” is a sweaty, bluesed-out shuffle. It’s playful, the sound of friends dancing their way through the late hours of a house party, but the metallic echo the vocals are soaked in hint at some distant want, some need to break free they once had but are now, perhaps, setting aside in favor of community. “Until the Morning” is the clearest example of the notion of shelter here, a much more intimate exchange between two people dealing with past hurt, one at the door of the friend, the other inviting that visitor in. There’s a familiarity—“just throw your coat down anywhere”—but the greatest trick the song pulls off is how its early quiet feels awkward, even reticent, until the song blooms into mutual comfort, recognition of a long-built bond.—Matthew Fiander
In case you couldn’t guess, Travis and Nichols are heavily influenced by Jones’ vocal techniques, so it’s the perfect pair to record a tribute. Head over to RandyTravis.com to hear the full tune. It’s also available for download on iTunes.
“It was an honor when I received a request to record this tribute to George Jones, and after I heard how well Keith Gattis had written “Tonight I’m Playin’ Possum,” I was excited to record it. Thanks to Joe Nichols for coming in and helping on this project,” says Travis
From the looks of the video (spliced images of camera phone and news footage showing the recent riots that took place in Turkey), rappers Rahdan, Buğra Milat and Kerim Erduran take aim at the powers that be with “Yatsı Vakti”, a hypnotic pulse of hip-hop grooves and gunslinging Southern twang. With a sampled riff of a slide guitar providing the sole hook, an air of presentiment hangs over the sombre rhymes as the three trade verse for verse in an uneasy exchange of politics and passion. At once optimistic and solemn, the song strikes a curious balance between youthful rebellion and a wise-beyond-their-years outlook that is remarkably successful in its confluence of emotional upheaval and workmanship-like determination. The fact that it is incredibly catchy doesn’t hurt the song at all. Considering how much of an impact Turkey’s riots have had on the nation, “Yatsı Vakti” will most likely be one in a slew of tracks to flower in light of the recent events. But for now, it takes first place as Turkey’s response to Johnny Cash’s adage of why you should never take your guns to town.
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