The Fresh & Onlys: Play It Strange

Jay Bennett November 15, 2010 6:06PM

Artist: The Fresh & Onlys

Title: Play It Strange

Release date: October 12

Label: In the Red

And just like that, I find myself a little bored by the sound plied and, possibly, perfected by San Francisco's The Fresh & Onlys. It's the sound that has passed for garage rock for over a half-decade now -- one that favors country, folk, and psychedelic elements over the punk 'n' roll and trash aesthetics.

You can trace the 21st-century evolution of garage to Greg Cartwright's about-face in sound and style after his Oblivians (as essential a garage-punk band as there was in 1990s) broke up and he formed The Reigning Sound, a project that showed off Cartwright's songcraft and an understanding of American musical idioms (country and blue-eyed soul, for example) that went usually went unheard in 1990s garage rock.

Then, the Black Lips slipped some psychedelia into the mix a few years back, and here we are, entering 2011 with the standard garage rock band playing not speedy and sneering (or smirking) three-chord rock but a twangier, reverb-drenched, lysergic mid-tempo cross between The Stones (when they dabbled in country, that is) and Roky Erickson. In other words, a more true nod to Nuggets than any of the 1990s garage bands were.

But like I said, I'm kinda over it now and I have The Fresh & Onlys to blame. Though to be fair to TF&O, this year alone, bands like The Strange Boys and Harlem helped me along the way. As I listened to Play It Strange several times, I kept thinking of how they sound like a slightly more accessible version of The Goodnight Loving, who, to me, are the best of the many bands (outside of the standard-bearing Reigning Sound) doing the garage-Americana thing and released a more entertaining record than Play It Strange earlier this year.

For the psych-pop I hear in TF&O, I'll take Kelley Stoltz instead; for the country and old-timey flavor, I'll refer to Goodnight Loving; for the flower punk, I'll stick with Black Lips; and for the creeping 1980s influence, I'll take the Soft Pack.

There's nothing inherently wrong with Play It Strange. The band is strong and talented, the songs are decent, the ideas are abundant, and I generally like where The Fresh & Onlys are coming from. It's just that I feel like I've been there too often recently. I'll stick Play It Strange on my shelf and pull it out a couple of years from now and probably dig it a lot more than I do now.

The Fresh & Onlys - "Waterfall" by OctopusWindmill

Best song: "Waterfall" Rotation: Medium Deja Vu: Goodnight Loving's Supper Club I'd rather listen to: Gun Club's Fire of Love or Miami or Las Vegas Story Grade: C+

"Nothing Not New" is a yearlong project in which New Times editorial operations manager Jay Bennett, a 41-year-old music fan and musician, will listen only to music released in 2010. Each Monday through Friday, he will listen to one new record (no best ofs, reissues, or concert recordings) and write about it. Why? Because in the words of his editor, Martin Cizmar, he suffers from "aesthetic atrophy," a wasting away of one's ability to embrace new and different music as one ages. Read more about this all-too-common ailment here. The "Nothing Not New" Archives:

November 4 -- Salem: King Night (B+) November 3 -- Matt & Kim: Sidewalks (C-)

November 2 -- Gospel Claws: C-L-A-W-S (B+)

November 1 -- Elvis Costello: National Ransom (C)

October 27 -- The 88: The 88 (B)

October 26 -- Warpaint: The Fool (B+)

October 22 -- Screaming Females: Castle Talk (A-)

October 21 -- Junip: Fields (B)

October 20 -- Kelley Stoltz: To Dreamers (B+)

October 19 -- Kings of Leon: Come Around Sundown (C)

October 18 -- The Extra Lens: Undercard (B+)

October 15 -- Sufjan Stevens: The Age of Adz (D)

October 14 -- The Corin Tucker Band: 1,000 Years (B-)

October 13 -- The Moondoggies: Tidelands (C)

October 12 -- Belle and Sebastian: Write About Love (B)

October 11 -- The Old 97's: The Grand Theatre, Volume 1 (B)

October 8 -- Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest (A)

October 7 -- The Walkmen: Lisbon (C)

October 6 -- The Gay Blades: Savages (C-)

October 5 -- Grinderman: Grinderman 2 (A)

October 4 -- The Vaselines: Sex with an X (B-)

September 30 -- John Legend & the Roots: Wake Up! (B)

September 28 -- No Age: Everything in Between (A-)

September 15 -- Superchunk: Majesty Shredding (B+)

September 9 -- JP, Chrissie, & the Fairground Boys: Fidelity! (D-)

September 8 -- Interpol: Interpol (C-)

September 7 -- Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses: Junky Star (B)

August 31 -- Sonny and the Sunsets: Tomorrow Is Alright (B)

August 26 -- Ra Ra Riot: The Orchard (C-)

August 25 -- Dead Confederate: Sugar (D+)

August 24 -- Nothing Not New: Podcast #9

August 23 -- Magic Kids: Memphis (C)

August 18 -- Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan: Hawk (A-)

August 17 -- Street Sweepers Social Club: The Ghetto Blaster EP (C+)

August 16 -- Lissie: Catching a Tiger (B)

August 13 -- Odds 'n' Sods: Chely Wright, Tom Jones, Norman, and more

August 12 -- Jimmy Eat World: Invented (C-)

August 11 -- Snake! Snake! Snakes!: Snake! Snake! Snakes! EP (B)

August 10 -- The Budos Band: The Budos Band III (A-)

August 5 -- Arcade Fire: The Suburbs (B)

August 3 -- Wavves: King of the Beach (B+)

July 29 -- Odds 'n' Sods: Cowboy Junkies, Winnie Cooper, and more

July 28 -- The Goodnight Loving: Supper Club (A-)

July 27 -- Menomena: Mines (B+)

July 26 -- Best Coast: Crazy for You (D+)

July 23 -- Vitamin String Quartet: Performs Lady Gaga (C)

July 22 -- The Books: The Way Out (B+)

July 21 -- Francis and the Lights: It'll Be Better (C)

July 20 -- Secret Cities: Pink Graffiti (D)

July 19 -- Sun Kil Moon: Admiral Fell Promises (C-)

July 16 -- Odds 'n' Sods: Liz Phair, Steel Train, Kylie Minogue, and more

July 15 -- Mystery Jets: Serotonin (B+)

July 14 -- Authority Zero: Stories of Survival (C+)

July 13 -- Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse: Dark Night of the Soul (B+)

July 12 -- Crowded House: Intriguer (B)

July 8 -- Ty Segall: Melted (B+)

July 7 -- Pierce the Veil: Selfish Machines (D-)

July 6 -- 13 Must-Hear Songs from the First Half of 2010

July 2 -- Katzenjammer: Le Pop (B)

June 30 -- Wolf Parade: Expo 86 (B-)

June 29 -- Scissor Sisters: Night Work (B+)

June 24 -- Foals: Total Life Forever (D+)

June 23 -- Pernice Brothers: Goodbye, Killer (A-)

June 22 -- The Roots: How I Got Over (B+)

June 21 -- Danzig: Deth Red Sabaoth (D)

June 18 -- The Chemical Brothers: Further (B+)

June 17 -- Eyes Set to Kill: Broken Frames (C)

June 16 -- Devo: Something for Everybody (B+)

June 15 -- The Gaslight Anthem: American Slang (C-)

June 14 -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Mojo (C)

June 11 -- Odds 'n' Sods: The Dig, The Cringe, Delta Spirit, Stereo Total, and more

June 10 -- Gemma Ray: It's a Shame About Gemma Ray (A-)

June 9 -- Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today (B)

June 8 -- Against Me!: White Crosses (C)

June 7 -- Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer of the Void (B-)

June 4 -- The Melvins: The Bride Screamed Murder (B-)

June 3 -- Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles II (B-)

June 2 -- The Cool Kids: Tacklebox (B-)

May 27 -- What Cheer? Brigade: We Blow You Suck (D)

May 26 -- Stone Tempe Pilots: Stone Temple Pilots (C)

May 25 -- Karen Elson: The Ghost Who Walks (C+)

May 24 -- Damien Jurado: Saint Bartlett (B)

May 21 -- Woven Bones: In and Out and Back Again (B-)

May 20 -- Band of Horses: Infinite Arms (B-)

May 19 -- Sleigh Bells: Treats (D-)

May 18 -- The Black Keys: Brothers (B+)

May 17 -- LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening (A-)

May 14 -- Odds 'n' Sods: CocoRosie, Natalie Merchant, The Sadies, and more

May 13 -- Male Bonding: Nothing Hurts (B)

May 12 -- Flying Lotus: Cosmogramma (B-)

May 11 -- The Dead Weather: Sea of Cowards (A)

May 10 -- The National: High Violet (B+)

May 7 -- Shapiro: Shapiro (C)

May 6 -- Gogol Bordello: Trans-Continental Hustle (C-)

May 5 -- Broken Social Scene: Forgiveness Rock Record (A-)

May 4 -- The New Pornographers: Together (B-)

May 3 -- The Hold Steady: Heaven Is Whenever (A-)

April 30 -- Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: I Learned the Hard Way (A)

April 29 -- Hole: Nobody's Daughter (D+)

April 28 -- Odds 'n' Sods: Toro y Moi, Merle Haggard, Freedy Johnston, and more

April 27 -- Unnatural Helpers: Cracked Love & Other Drugs (B+)

April 26 -- Harlan T. Bobo: Sucker (A-)

April 23 -- Roky Erickson and Okkervil River: True Love Cast Out All Evil (A-)

April 22 -- Caribou: Swim (D)

April 21 -- The Apples in Stereo: Travellers in Space and Time (C-)

April 20 -- Jakob Dylan: Women + Country (D+)

April 19 -- Cornershop: Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast (C)

April 16 -- Frightened Rabbit: The Winter of Mixed Drinks (B+)

April 15 -- Coheed and Cambria: Year of the Black Rainbow (D-)

April 14 -- Foxy Shazam: Foxy Shazam (D, later changed to a B)

April 13 -- MGMT: Congratulations (B+)

April 12 -- Odds 'n' Sods: Robyn Hitchcock, RJD2, Scorpions, and More

April 9 -- Murder by Death: Good Morning, Magpie (B-)

April 8 -- Harlem: Hippies (C+)

April 7 -- Slow Club: Yeah, So (B)

April 6 -- Black Francis: NonStopErotik (B+)

April 5 -- Growing: Pumps! (F)

April 2 -- Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs: Medicine County (B)

April 1 -- Dum Dum Girls: I Will Be (A-)

March 31 -- The Dillinger Escape Plan: Option Paralysis (B+)

March 30 -- Local Natives: Gorilla Manor (B)

March 29 -- The Bird and the Bee: Interpreting the Masters: Hall & Oates (C)

March 26 -- Eddy Current Suppression Ring: Rush to Relax (C+)

March 25 -- Let's Wrestle: In the Court of the Wrestling Let's (B)

March 24 -- Goldfrapp: Head First (D)

March 23 -- She & Him: Volume 2 (A-)

March 22 -- Broken Bells: Broken Bells (C+)

March 19 -- Locksley: Be In Love (B)

March 18 -- jj: jj no. 3 (C-)

March 17 -- Xiu Xiu: Dear God, I Hate Myself (D+)

March 16 -- Drive By Truckers: The Big To-Do (B-)

March 15 -- April Smith and the Great Picture Show: Songs for a Sinking Ship (C)

March 12 -- The Morning Benders: Big Echo (C+)

March 11 -- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Beat the Devil's Tattoos (B)

March 10 -- Acrassicauda: Only the Dead See the End of War (C-)

March 9 -- Titus Andronicus: The Monitor (B+)

March 8 -- Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: The Brutalist Bricks (A)

March 5 -- Liars: Sisterworld (A-)

March 4 -- Gorillaz: Plastic Beach (A-)

March 3 -- Johnny Cash: American VI: Ain't No Grave (B+)

March 2 -- High on Fire: Snakes for the Divine (C)

March 1 -- Joanna Newsom: Have One on Me (C)

Feb. 26 -- Freeway & Jake One: The Stimulus Package (D)

Feb. 25 -- Past Lives: Tapestry of Webs (B-)

Feb. 24 -- Shout Out Louds: Work (B)

Feb. 23 -- Brian Jonestown Massacre: Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? (B+)

Feb. 22 -- Shearwater: The Golden Archipelago (D+)

Feb. 19 -- The Strange Boys: Be Brave (B+)

Feb. 18 -- Tindersticks: Falling Down a Mountain (A)

Feb. 17 -- Lightspeed Champion: Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You (C-)

Feb. 16 -- Adam Green: Minor Love (B-)

Feb. 15 -- Juliana Hatfield: Peace & Love (B+)

Feb. 12 -- Massive Attack: Heligoland (C-)

Feb. 11 -- The Watson Twins: Talking to You, Talking to Me (C-)

Feb. 10 -- Hot Chip: One Life Stand (B+)

Feb. 9 -- You Say Party! We Say Die!: XXXX (B+)

Feb. 8 -- Allison Moorer: Crows (B)

Feb. 5 -- Joe Pug: Messenger (C)

Feb. 4 -- The Soft Pack: The Soft Pack (A)

Feb. 3 -- Polysics: Absolute Polysics (B-)

Feb. 2 -- Pierced Arrows: Descending Shadows (A-)

Feb. 1 -- The Brunettes: Paper Doll (B-)

Jan. 29 -- Basia Bulat: Heart of My Own (C)

Jan. 28 -- Priestess: Prior to the Fire (B)

Jan. 27 -- The Magnetic Fields: Realism (B)

Jan. 26 -- Four Tet: There Is Love in You (D)

Jan. 25 -- Delphic: Acolyte (C+)

Jan. 22 -- The Hot Rats: Turn Ons (B+)

Jan. 21 -- Los Campesinos!: Romance Is Boring (A-)

Jan. 20 -- Midlake: The Courage of Others (D-)

Jan. 19 -- Laura Veirs: July Flame (B+)

Jan. 18 -- Beach House: Teen Dream (C)

Jan. 15 -- Charlotte Gainsbourg: IRM (B)

Jan. 14 -- OK Go: Of the Blue Colour of the Sky (D)

Jan. 13 -- Eels: End Times (A-)

Jan. 12 -- Spoon: Transference (B)

Jan. 11 -- Editors: In This Light and On This Evening (D+)

Jan. 8 -- Surfer Blood: Astro Coast (B+)

Jan. 7 -- Yeasayer: Odd Blood (C-)

Jan. 6 -- Cold War Kids: Behave Yourself EP (B+)

Jan. 5 -- Vampire Weekend: Contra (D+)

Jan. 4 -- Texas Tornados: Está Bueno! (B)

Jan. 1 -- Scanners: Submarine (B-)

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Jay Bennett

Contact: Jay Bennett

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