Flatbasset Radio's Album Of The Week for the week of September 29th-October 5th, 2014:
Rogue Valley - Geese In The Flyway
01. Mountain Laurels
02. Centralia, PA
03. Grand Central Station
04. Et al.
05. Cleaning Slates
06. Singing Grasshopper, Gathering Ant
07. The Rutting Moon
08. Somewhere In Massachusetts
09. Geese In The Flyway
10. Cape May
11. The Bottom Of The Riverbed
12. Disappearing Ink
Well, if you haven't been outside in the last few days you may not have noticed, but autumn is officially upon us. Time to break out those peacoats and practical hats, Minnesotans, and enjoy the best & most brief season the state has to offer.
Of course, if you've been following along to Flatbasset Radio, you probably know that the changing of the season means it's time to return to Rogue Valley. For those who haven't been following along, back in 2010-11 Rogue Valley released four albums (one for each season). So far I've spent weeks with Crater Lake (spring) and The Bookseller's House (summer). Up now, Geese In The Flyway.
As you can probably tell from the title of the album, Geese In The Flyway is definitely an autumn record. Chris Koza's folky-pop songs focus on topics that suit this season. Themes of movement, change, loss, and nostalgia drift through each song on the album.
Have a look at those song titles. Geese In The Flyway is an east coast travel record. I don't know the circumstances behind this, but given the concept of an "Autumn Album," this migration east makes sense (unless you're actually a bird, in which case, please don't migrate east. That's not how it works).
Honestly, as enjoyable as Crater Lake & The Bookseller's House are, this is the first of the Rogue Valley series that genuinely feels like the band has realized their concept. Many of Koza's songs are melodically breezy (suggesting the waning sunshine of summer), but are lyrically heavy, as if the chilling weather had forced him to spend long days inside, contemplating the events of a whirlwind summer. It may not be a "concept record" in the traditional sense, but it's certainly a thematic one, and Rogue Valley nails it.
If you're interested in checking out the album for yourself it's available as a "Name Your Price" download at Rogue Valley's Bandcamp page. I highly suggest you pick it up before all the leaves are on the ground.
