Modern Qualifier 49 – Maximum Balloon, Doug Hream Blunt, Tyler Childers, Joshua Ray Walker

From the 2010 Maximum Balloon solo project by TVOTR’s David Sitek. Nominated by garrymck.
From the 2015 reissue (so yes, this is a stray from ANCIENT – sorry!) of the outsider funkster’s 80s work. Nominated by Bill A.
From the Kentucky musician’s 2022 set Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven? Nominated by Jamie W.
A 2022 single by the Dallas country singer. Also nominated by Jamie W. (Sorry!)

[ays_poll id=”93″]

Modern Qualifier 50 – Lady Aicha, Suntou Susso, Hesa, DJ Kleytinha & MC Pipokinho

Modern Qualifier 48 – Chelsea Wolfe, Wu Lu, The Mars Volta, Mastodon

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vinnycrackers

25 May 2023 13:07

It’s like half a curated group for me!
Two more of my not polled 2022 favorites. This Tyler Childers is a masterpiece of trad country with his ragged emotional voice taking it up several notches. Meanwhile Joshua Ray Walker is quietly writing some great songs and is a charming live performer.

I have no idea what I’m voting for *esp since I also like Theophilus London and don’t think I’ve heard this track.

actualee simpson

25 May 2023 14:40

Strong group. I’m always surprised the Maximum Balloon album wasn’t a bigger deal, given its superstar collab cred at the time, though maybe it fell too far outside of the early 00s NYC rock zeitgeist in 2010 (even though I think the 2009-ness of 2009’s critical crop is a pretty straight line). Went with GB Doug Hream Blunt, though, sounds like what would happen if Van Hunt had Wesley Willis’s sense of humor.

j_e_l

25 May 2023 15:59

I enjoyed the two country songs here! Tyler was a bit too long. I liked Joshua’s song, he has the better voice – though it’s a bit cringe, but it’s all about the confidence to be cringe, so you have to applaud that

j_e_l

25 May 2023 16:00

Reply to j_e_l

Plus I’m a sucker for a cheesy sax

bartlebooth45

25 May 2023 22:31

I like the smooth slightly creepy Rockwell-ish vibes of Gentle Persuasion best but it does outstay its welcome a tad when it’s pushing seven minutes.

SmoothBrain

26 May 2023 01:53

‘Gentle Persuasion’ is me again, this time on behalf of my girlfriend. It’s probably her signature tune of the last 5 years. I think she heard it on ‘High Maintenance’. I love the gentle groove and the lengthy solos.

Tom

26 May 2023 11:45

Ooooh a 4 way tie! Feels appropriate too, this was an even group and it took a while for me to land on “Sexy After Dark” as my vote. Because I am shallow I was put off Maximum Balloon a bit by the terrible Banksy-esque sleeve 🙂

wmterhaar

26 May 2023 19:02

30 seconds into ‘Gentle Persuasion’: “Ooh, nice groove.”
2 minutes into ‘Gentle Persuasion’: “It goes on a bit long now.”
4 minutes into ‘Gentle Persuasion’: “GIVE ME MORE FREAKY PROGSOLO, NOW!”
At the end of ‘Gentle Persuasion’: “This should have gone on for half an hour with way more solo’s, krautrock-stylo. GB for sure.”

komodomymanor

29 May 2023 13:39

Doug and Joshua are both terrific, glad one is going through. Love to hear a song like ‘Sexy After Dark’ that sounds classic and completely modern, and his singing is great. As is Doug’s psychedelic funk Knopfler styling.

stabilimentum

29 May 2023 23:43

Ah! I was at first undecided, but I’m going with Maximum Balloon on the technicality that “Gentle Persuasion” is not Modern. But it is indeed a GB. Good times! Great group overall!

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Modern Qualifier 49 – Maximum Balloon, Doug Hream Blunt, Tyler Childers, Joshua Ray Walker

Modern Qualifier 50 – Lady Aicha, Suntou Susso, Hesa, DJ Kleytinha & MC Pipokinho

Modern Qualifier 48 – Chelsea Wolfe, Wu Lu, The Mars Volta, Mastodon

The Discourse