Each Measure Feature: Block
FEATURE
One of the most notable moments in the indie scene this year has been Block’s decision to rerelease his entire catalogue, breathing new life into an already vivacious body of work. Block’s name is already known in anti-folk circles – he’s been described as one of the genre’s original trailblazers – but his reissued catalogue is destined to drive a resurgence of interest in his legacy.
For the April 25th rerelease of his 2006 album The Last Single Guy [Deluxe Edition] (the second of Block’s four reissues), he teamed up with artist, producer, and ECR music Group President Blake Morgan to remix and remaster each track, updating them with fresh audio quality while maintaining their original charm. The reissue contains new versions of memorable tracks like “Color of Heaven” and “Sweet Potato Pie.” It also includes three previously unreleased tracks: “Hands Up”, “Cream Crackered”, and “Run Run Run.” For me, the standout among these bonus tracks was “Run Run Run,” which blends a psychedelia-infused sound with an ironic sense of humor.
What strikes me most about the album is its eclecticism. The sound refuses to be constrained to a single genre. There are shades of folk, country, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and punk rock, but Block doesn’t seem interested in identifying with any one of these. He lets his diverse influences inform his sound organically as they become germane to his themes. The end result is an evocative portrait of Americana, populated with vivid and colorful characters. In only 17 tracks, the album captures the breadth of musical traditions that have touched Block throughout his journey.
The common thread that ties the album together is Block’s raw sincerity. He described the album as “a time capsule to a chaotic time in my life. It’s sort of a musical diary of my rock bottom.”The album does an excellent job of representing a moment in time and exploring it from multiple angles, and it affords us a privileged peek into the artist’s inner world.
For the me, the best way to sum up The Last Single Guy [Deluxe Edition] is to call it a sonic road trip. It takes us on a journey through a rich musical landscape, delivering us to our destination with a fresh perspective on life.
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