Often, I troll YouTube to find new music. Even if I don't find a cool new artist worth sharing, I always have a good time. However, a few weeks ago, I came across a new artist who's sound is incredibly familiar, new, and impossibly innovative.
Week 2's MYSKA brings us 30-year-old Chicago native, Ezra Furman.
Ezra Furman was born in 1986, but his music reminds me of the rock sounds of the Ramones and the R&B boldness of Sam & Dave. If that isn't niche enough, Ezra Furman & the Boy-Friends achieve these sounds with guitars, keyboards, and saxophone. One of the most fascinating things about Ezra may be that he's a gender fluid Jewish person, but the music far outshines his snazzy choices in fashion.
Furman's group spans many textures, from the thin subtlety of My Zero to the bold rock sounds of Lousy Connection. Give these tunes a listen, and I bet you will enjoy the old sounds with a new touch up.
Ezra Furman's music is very much made with homage to the rock scene in the 40's, but there is some part of it that is very distinctly modern. Something tells me it's the saxophonist, Tim Sandusky, but I'm not sure yet. However, Furman has had two music groups, his current Ezra Furman & the Boy-Friends, and from 2006-2011 he was the lead man of Ezra Furman and the Harpoons.
While Furman was with the Harpoons, he remained fairly underground, but in 2013, with the Boy-Friends, he released the album "Day of the Dog." That album would garner him quite a bit of press in the UK, with Michael Hann of the Guardian saying: ‘Ezra Furman has made an album of classicist rock’n’roll that never feels like an exercise, but a living, breathing piece of self expression.’ Hann also gave the group a 5/5 review. In the NME magazine, one reviewer gave Furman an 8/10, calling him ‘a bratty, ragged take on New York Dolls, Spector-era Ramones and E Street Band carnival rock. An unexpected gem’.
Next week's MYSKA will be in the Hip-Hop genre, so please stay tuned for next week. If you like this series, please consider following my articles, and sharing them with your friends. Spread the good word about good music!!!
