Simon Joyner’s twelfth record, “Out into the Snow” is a Bob Dylan-esque nod to Americana, alt-country, and indie pop. His vocals scream of Dylan’s influence so much that one would think that he lend his pipes to the record. Like his predecessor, Bright Eyes, Joyner journeys into the more pop regions of the world. Except his vocals are so goddamn awful that it makes listening to the album as enjoyable as a good fingernails-to-chalkboard event amplified through a loud PA system.
Not really sure what the album title is about? Well who cares, it’s all about great indie/alt. country damn it. The passion of indie music got it right, and so shall we. Easily an album that one can point towards the influence of Johnny Cash (those deep vocals are truly zany) and The Velvet Underground, “Victory Shorts” by Absentee is an album rich in romantic ideals and poor in easy to chew pop nuance for which we’re abundantly thankful. Produced, engineered, and mixed by Nick Terry whose recent notables include the Libertines and Bernard Butler, “Victory Shorts” is a mediation on the mind and body’s odd quirks via smart lyrics and careful composure. Great for those of you unsatisfied that the Cure isn’t making good music anymore who can’t stand that Snoop Dogg was allowed to remix Johnny Cash.
