Guitar Is Not Dead — September 2024: MJ Lenderman, Frankie Cosmos, Ratboys
Six-string happiness is awaiting with these artists
It has become a nice tradition to present artists in this series who never tire of using the guitar. The ones we are presenting today have all been in the rock’n’roll business for quite a few years. And yet they are still bringing fresh, interesting ideas to the table. Because no matter how often some critics claim the opposite: the guitar is not dead.
MJ Lenderman: the return of the slacker
“I’ve never seen the Mona Lisa/I’ve nevеr really left my room” MJ Lenderman sings in ‘Bark at the Moon’, the closing track of his new album ‘Manning Fireworks’. In only two lines, Lenderman revives the typical slacker attitude from the 90s.
However, this is only half the truth. The sound that Lenderman evokes is indeed reminiscent of the blissful 90s — Pavement, Evan Dando, Dinosaur Jr. come to mind. When it comes to Lenderman’s work ethic, however, he is a far cry from the “I don’t care” attitude of the slacker generation. He has released five albums plus various EPs since 2019. Not including a few albums with Wednesday, of which he is also a part. Both solo and with his band, he is really picking up speed and now seems to be reaping the well-deserved rewards for his hard work.
Frankie Cosmos: welcome to Greta’s world
Greta Kline (yes, she is Kevin Kline’s daughter) started making music at a very early age. The New York DIY and anti-folk scene was an important influence for her and her project Frankie Cosmos which devoted itself entirely to, well, Kline’s cosmos. Packaged in irresistibly light-hearted, acoustic folk-pop gems that you want to listen to again and again. New York Magazine even named her debut “Zentropy” the pop album of the year.
But Greta deKlines (sorry for the pun) to stand still. And so Frankie Cosmos has now grown into a band. The sound has become more sophisticated without giving up its foundation. This band remains exciting, that much is certain.
Ratboys: a mixture that works
A textbook country piece, followed by a noise rock outburst par excellence and rounded off with heart-warming feel-good pop — it seems as if Ratboys can’t make up their minds. But miraculously, everything that says Ratboys on it fits together as if by magic.
The Chicago-based outfit started as a duo in college and has since expanded to a full-fledged band. A band who is on a constant mission to prove how well their mixture works. They have done so on already five albums — and hopefully will on many more.
Want some more? Check out this playlist full of new and fresh guitar-driven indie tunes!
