After another week of listening to countless albums by bands we've never heard, WGRE noticed another trend beyond a rehash of disco and rock: 1960's psychedelic rock.
This week WGRE will send Diane Coffee to your ears. Diane Coffee is the brainchild of music mastermind Shaun Fleming. Fleming was an actor before breaking into music, voice acting for productions such as "Kim Possible," "The Lion King" and "Lilo and Stitch." Now, Fleming is the drummer for indie-rock group Foxygen and lead for his solo project entitled Diane Coffee.
Diane Coffee released their debut album "My Friend Fish" on Oct. 29. After listening to greats like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Bill Withers, Fleming recorded this album in a matter of two weeks. Each song pays tribute to these groups from the 1960s.
The opening track, "Hymn," begins with an eerie organ that is joined by slow ballad style percussion and a distant vocal presence. It tells of love and hope. Next comes "Never Lonely," a groovy bass line next to upbeat drums marks an obvious single off the album.
By the third song, we are nearly brought to tears by "Tale of a Dead Dog," where Fleming describes seeing a dead dog on the side of the road in true 60s psychedelic fashion. Harmonies woven over pleasant finger pickings of the guitar make this song a must-listen.
Towards the latter half of the album, there is a break where tracks such as "All the Young Girls" and "When It's Known" slow the album down from an upbeat rock group to a mellow groove rock sound. But then, before we know it, Diane Coffee picks it up with "Eat Your Love (With Sriracha)."
The final song "Green", sings about beautiful love complimented by bells, tambourines, and, of course, a chill bass line. Its style dates back to The Beatles and their "Magical Mystery Tour." Diane Coffee hit it big with this complete debut album.
Earlier this week, WGRE Music Director Colin Neill, a senior, came to me with Diane Coffee's debut, telling me it was one of his favorite finds of the school year.
"This job is so rewarding," Neill said. "I love finding new music at WGRE, especially when it is this good." Neill loves coming into the WGRE offices and blaring whatever album he can get his hands on, looking for that next big thing.
In the past year, there have been several bands releasing music that fit this genre. There is a 1960s psychedelic revival sweeping through indie rock. Bands like Tame Impala, DIIV, Guards and the
Black Angels all fit this description. Even Fleming's previous band, Foxygen plays into the genre.
But is it a revival? This facet of rock music has been done before, all paying homage to the genius behind the Yardbirds and the Byrds. Brian Jonestown Massacre and A Band of Bees each played the same style rock in the early 2000s. Other bands such as Camera Obscura, The Apples in Stereo and Neutral Milk Hotel are considered descendants of the 1960s.
Psychedelic rock has been popular since it was conceived in the mid-1960s. And although we may not be in the middle of a psyche-revival, we do find ourselves in a resurgence of 1960s influenced psychedelic indie rock.
Check out Diane Coffee on WGRE or own your own. You will not regret it. And always keep on listening to WGRE on 91.5 FM to listen to the newest indie rock.
-- Austin is a junior English writing major from Terrace Park, Ohio.