Album Review: Real People, Great Radio Vol. 2
Indie by definition and indie in spirit, Real People, Great Radio Vol. 2 is a compilation featuring Asheville musical artists. Curated, sponsored and put together by community radio station AshevilleFM 103.3, the album was made with the assistance of Citizen Vinyl and Drop of Sun Studios.
Some of the sessions are self-produced, and some feature the production skills of Citizen Vinyl head Gar Ragland. Most of the ten tracks are studio recoridngs, but two of the tracks document live performances. The music is predictably varied. Pilgrim Party Girl’s “WPPG” is a spare, electronic work. Wagging (a group featuring Harvest Records co-owner Mark Capon) is featured on “Marigold” a delightful and understated slice of pop featuring a strong melody and fetching vocals; it’s among the most tuneful and accessible cuts n the collection.
Milli Mo (Malik Simon) serves up some languorous, downtempo hip hop with “Sesh To.” Things take a wonderfully avant garde turn with “Wind Cults” from the Lion/Naucke/Nguyen Trio; as abstract as the recording is, it draws the listener in with its sweeping sonics and hypnotic percussion. Tina & Her Pony showcases the crystalline vocals of Tina Collins; her classic country approach on “Soul Child” is a thing of beauty.
The first instance of real rock on the set is “Things I Should Have Said” from Tongues of Fire; yelping vocals and a pile-driving rhythm add up to an energetic and impassioned punk that captures the live vibe in a studio setting. Another avant-garde performance – this time captured live and without post-production overdubs – is Kris Gruda’s skronky, atonal “Tk05.” Fascinating to be sure, but not for the faint of heart.
Cave Grave recorded their death metal/noise/sludge track “Only the Infinite Remain” at Static Age, one of Asheville’s downtown record stores. Harsh vocals and shards of feedback characterize the brief track. From there it’s some clip-clop country from Jessie & the Jinx. Their “Cheaters Waltz” is either a parody of a particular kind of c&w or a skilled example of the real thing. (You decide; I can’t be sure.) Scattered among the tracks in multiple pieces is “The Sewing Machine” by Farewell Phoenix; it’s atmospheric and spooky, with a placid and mesmerizing ambient character that suggests a Brian Eno influence.
Wonderfully eclectic, Real People, Great Radio Vol. 2 underscores just how diverse the music scene in Western North Carolina truly is (and it does so while steering clear of jam bands!) Kudos to everyone involved with the project, designed in part as a fundraising initiative for AshevilleFM.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day for several years). The more than 5000 interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- some 40 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums is available now. Read even more about him here.