Category:
Rock

Try if you like:
Black Mountain, Brian Jonestown Massacre

•   Vampire
•   While We Were Dreaming

I can't but drop my jaw at artists like Stephen McBean. They've got so much on their plate with all their different projects, and you'd figure that with being spread this thin you might just falter a little. But no, McBean's projects are always quality and leave you with that slack jaw feeling. Outside Love is no different. It's the new full-length from his Pink Mountaintops project. 

The album starts off with a bit of a throwback to his last Pink Mountaintops album, Axis of Evol. It's called "Axis: Thrones of Love" and it sets the bar high for the rest of the album. The second track "Execution" reminds me of something Magnetic Fields would attempt. It has a hypnotic percussion with a fuzzy production of music over top. At one point I could have sworn I was listening to either Nick Cave or Iggy pop ("The Gayest Of Sunbeams") but for the most part Outside Love is quite a laid back affair. The songs are brilliantly written. He calls on a plethora of other musicians to help him out on Outside Love. Listen to the lovely Ashley Webber on the achingly beautiful "While We Were Dreaming", reminding me of Emmylou Harris without the twang.

Canada seems to be graced with these musicians who thrive on multiple projects. Look at all the members of New Pornographers or Broken Social Scene and you'll see what I mean. These musicians make me proud to be Canadian. Add Pink Mountaintops and Black Mountain to the list.