New Mexico by Cougar Island
Recorded in the hyper-religious hills of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, Cougar Island’s first album in 5 years is filled with the sounds and reference points from the fringes of art-rock, if only offset by plethora of hooks that would make only a tackle box blush.
The many post-love songs and sounds contained on this album beg the listener to return repeatedly for future exploration:
- The tape beings to curl immediately as Over and Over starts the warm march towards the buzzsaw fuzz guitars of Bookworms.
- The Ladies could provide an apt soundtrack to a 90’s soap opera, if only more unsettling for the future of the players. An anthem of warning for old white male lawmakers and their sinister pals.
- Pete Shelley’s ghost is alive and well, giving us guidance through Secret Communication.
- The lap steel of MLK Day twangs and echos the country-infused previews we found in early CI tunes (See: Wet Behind the Ears) performed at mainstays Empty Bottle and Lincoln Hall in Chicago.
- The architecture of Frank Lloyd Right speaks for itself. The outward appearance is based on functionality but the true features are on full display within.
- CI decided to bring in a few new artists to fill out the melodies on New Mexico. The ethereal backing vocals of Lauren Grant (The Answers) and wooly organ/keys of Alex Kannan (The Reformers) add elements of heavenly clarity that elevate Cougar Island from the dank garage lineage that they were founded upon, but yet, refuse to shed.
This is new New Mexico. Step into the tape hiss.
– Tony Morris III, Editor, Hyperbolic Times Zine (Issue: March, 2021)
Tracklist
| 1. | Over and Over | 2:29 |
| 2. | Bookworms | 2:32 |
| 3. | Nine Years | 3:24 |
| 4. | Lonely | 3:34 |
| 5. | Secret Communication | 2:35 |
| 6. | MLK Day | 2:35 |
| 7. | Velvet Freak | 2:55 |
| 8. | Frank Lloyd Rite | 3:43 |
| 9. | Favorite Son | 2:37 |
| 10. | Teenage Country | 2:30 |
| 11. | The Ladies | 4:22 |
| 12. | Rock and Roll All Night | 2:09 |
| 13. | Soul Tonight | 3:07 |
Credits
COUGAR ISLAND is:
Gavin Watts - vocals, guitars, bass, and keys (organ, piano, synths)
Joel Kerr - drums and percussion
Featuring:
Alex Kannan - organ and synthesizers
Lauren Grant - backing vocals
----
All songs written by Gavin Watts. Arranged and performed by Gavin Watts & Joel Kerr in Cloudcroft, NM in July, 2020.
Recorded by Gavin Watts
Mastered by Mikey Young
----
Album photo by Juan Iglesias (@oneiglesias)
Album design by Gavin Watts (@gavin_watts_happening)
Released on Watts Happening Records, 2021
www.TheWattsHappening.com
