Feathers
Very few bands have what it takes to leaven their stoner rock with equal parts melody and exploratory noise. Their exhilarating fourth album,Feathers, is the DC-based group's best album by far, thanks in no small part to the addition of second guitarist Cory Shane. Half the album is so good--and so eclectic--it brings to mind the bass-heavy assault of classic Blue Cheer and Sabbath, the sweet confectioner's space-pop of Jack Drag and Brian Jonestown Massacre, and the locked groove swagger of Comets on Fire and Black Mountain. Dead Meadow aren't afraid to melt genre conventions; "at Her Open Door," for instance, is very Zepp-y but trippy and sugar-y sweet—almost like Bumble Puppy, but way better. "Stacy's Song" is levitating and beautiful, a reverb-saturated tune that showcases singer-guitarist Jason Simon's distinctive vocals.--Mike McGonigal