A Rose that Blooms Forever

There isn't one music project by Rose Melberg I haven't wanted to take on a picnic and pledge my undying love to. She is the master melody. Her sweet voice often paired with a fuzzy guitar has been labeled everything from a Riot Grrrl to twee to cuddle-core to sweater-Pop. We can all agree that whatever you want to call it, her myriad of musical identities have been consistently memorable including her newest band called Knife Pleats. If her Discogs page is accurate, she is on over 100 different releases so needless to say there is a TON of releases to explore.

Here are just a handful of them.

Flashback Thursday : Mecca Normal

There is something so impressive about a powerful two piece band, especially when it doesn't follow the traditional rules of what we think a band equals. In this case we have a remarkable guitar player named David Lester and vocalist Jean Smith. Together they make Mecca Normal, a band who have managed to prove that no other instrument is needed. The communication between fretted instrument and voice is more than enough.  This Vancouver duo has been producing music from 1984 that evokes thought and expels energy. In this stripped down form the power of each instrument, guitar and voice, are poignant. Lyrics are highlighted by the nature of this beast and are delivered through dramatic flashes. Captured in raw form, this kind of intensity isn't for everyone but being pushed to just outside my comfort zone on occasion gives music the kind of exciting dangerous element that rock and roll was invented for. Life is a balance of ugly chaos and moments of beauty, Mecca Normal manages to deliver both and if Patti Smith had a secret sister, I think Jean Smith might be her.