The Weird Weeds

I Miss This (Autobus)

This Austin trio’s previous two albums felt around for jazz, experimental, and improv, drawing their instruments out in oft-unsettling configurations. On I Miss This, their first for local label Autobus, they’ve gotten past the cocoon stage and emerged more tactile. Opener “You Drive Me Crazy” is almost Disney-esque, a pretty boy/girl love song with harmonies – not something Weird Weeds have tried before, but it works. Guitarist Sandy Ewen, one of Austin’s most overlooked talents, lets her voice shine and lull on the title track, echoing Syd Barrett in parts, and her junk-box guitar style fills “Green Thread” with Hitchcockian drones against Aaron Russell’s plucking. Drummer Nick Hennies expands his playing, absolutely thundering on “A Goose,” the song in which Weird Weeds finally detour into a breakdown of awesome proportions. I Miss This is Weird Weeds finally, well, growing. (Saturday, March 15, Central Presbyterian Church, 12mid.)

***.5

This article appears in March 14 • 2008.

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