Centro-Matic - 'Fort Recovery'

We all fell in love with Centro-Matic during ACL ’04, when they opened the DBT show at La Zona Rosa. Then we slipped off to catch their set the next day at the festival (I've got some nerd-tastic photos from the foot of the stage). The pride of Denton, Texas – Slobberbone RIP – has just released a new record called Fort Recovery. The ever-prolific Will Johnson – who also releases solo records and has a moodier side project known as South San Gabriel – brings some of his best songs yet to the proceedings. By most critical accounts, some of that South San Gabriel sound has permeated Fort Recovery, lending it a more nuanced sound than some of Centro-Matic’s previous work. I wouldn’t say this is a huge departure from their last record Love You Just The Same, but little instrumental touches (cellos, keys, etc.) are less self-consciously incorporated throughout.

Whether this blurs the lines between Centro-Matic and Johnson’s other projects is something I’ll leave to the music geeks at The University of North Texas. In the meantime, I’ll be cranking Fort Recovery in the car and you can check out the band at their excellent (and frequently updated) website. The slide shows are particularly impressive (puppies!).

Centro-Matic’s albums can be a little hard to track down, but iTunes is well-stocked. You can also buy direct from the band, or from its label Misra Records. Amazon can also take care of your Centro-Matic needs, but their records are often not in stock for immediate delivery.