Massy Ferguson
By Mike O’Cull
Seattle’s Massy Ferguson gives out with its perfect, patented blend of country and rock spirits on the group’s new effort Joe’s Meat & Grocery. The record comes out independently February 4th, 2022 and is the sixth full-length studio album of their dozen-year career. Their sound is a particular strain of amped-up Americana equally informed by country and the hard-edged rock music Seattle gave to the world. The genres might seem to be uneasy roommates but, once you hear this bunch, it all makes sense. The songs are authentically strong, the energy is high, and the indelible hooks just keep on coming. Ken Stringfellow (R.E.M, Big Star, The Posies) produced these sessions and did fine work capturing one of the most compelling roots bands currently in existence.
The life and character behind Massy Ferguson comes from the creative relationship shared by bass-playing frontmen Ethan Anderson and guitarist Adam Monda. The two musicians have a gift for telling stories of small towns, cities, and every mile of road in between. Their songs focus on individual moments in each other’s lives and fit together in a bar band montage sort of way, inviting us in to witness and interpret it all.
Joe’s Meat and Grocery leans more to the rock and roll side of how they see things and comes off tough and real from its first note to its last. The set takes its title from the family store Monda’s grandfather ran in early-1900s Wenatchee, Washington and fits this music well. Anderson and Monda illuminate crucial moments, hard times, and the wisdom we earn by making countless mistakes in a personal way that’s also easy to see yourself in. Turning your life’s intimate details into something the entire universe can feel is the hallmark of great songwriting and Massy Ferguson has it.
The record opens with the almost-Southern Rock highway jam “Miles Away.” Anderson’s warm, present vocal tones sit on top of tight rhythm guitar and piano parts that quickly get this one up to speed. “We were broke before this sickness and I don’t think that will change” he sings, articulating the existential despair many Americans have lived inside of for far too long. Still, the song’s expansive chorus and sweet harmonies will lift you up and keep you looking down the road. The noise rock ending is a nice surprise, too.
“Save What Couldn’t Be Saved” is a hard luck tale about facing the self-made brick wall people often build in their own paths and keep smashing into. It fits a sad, blunt country lyric over a Blind Melon-ish riff and breaks down into a floating shoe gaze bridge. Lesser bands would fumble a song like this but Massy Ferguson makes it all simple and clear.
“I Don’t Know Why” is an absolute burner of a track built on a fast rock pocket that asks a lot of important questions that are more introspective than the song’s up-tempo feel would indicate. Glorious vocals and guitar lines fill the arrangement and give it a touch of Fleetwood Mac’s 70s best.
“Leave If You Want To” is pure American rock music done right. It’s a fast song performed with proper abandon that paints itself with crunching guitars, high-toned steel playing, and a punk rock soul. It’s a major knockout punch in an album full of them and shows Massy Ferguson at its top-level peak. Joe’s Meat & Grocery is a long, joyful listen for lovers of modern-day roots rock done with power and commitment. Every song on it lives in a world of its own that could only be built by these two impressive songwriters. Stop what you’re doing right now and go dig into one of 2022’s early contenders.
Watch “Miles Away”
Massy Ferguson website
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