Take the Shouting Matches for a Spin [stream]

Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) has teamed up with friends Phil Cook (formerly DeYarmond Edison with Vernon, currently Megafaun) and Brian Moen (Peter Wolf Crier) to form blues-rock trio, The Shouting Matches. They released Grownass Man on April 9. Fans of the genre will immediately take to this record, yet also note that the record isn’t breaking any new ground. Instead, the trio is proving their capability at putting out gritty, Southern blues with ease. Grownass Man sounds like a side-project for all three highly talented musicians and pals, who enjoy good ol’ rusty blues and decided to act on it. Of course, with Vernon on board, the collaboration hasn’t by any means fallen under the radar – they just played Coachella.

Despite Vernon stowing away his signature Bon Iver falsetto sensitivity, his flair for spinning simple into supreme shows its face a tad here and there. Listening to Grownass Man was simply solid and fun until track number five, “Seven Sisters,” began to play, and suddenly it was something a little more. Something about that riff, something about the way he sings, “I can’t find my lover…” Bon Iver breaks the surface here (no doubt Megafaun and Peter Wolf Crier fans hear Cook and Moen’s fingerprints spring up at moments, too). This track and country slow jam “I’ll Be True” are my favorites of the record.

Vernon’s side projects have yet to disappoint, and while the others (Gayngs, Volcano Choir) have been more experimental and taste-specific, The Shouting Matches are a band with wide range and accessibility. Personally, I have yet to discover a flavor of Vernon that I dislike, and The Shouting Matches are no exception. So dip your toes into this backyard BBQ of a record by listening to “Seven Sisters,” then, if you feel so inclined, download Grownass Man on iTunes.