Axis: Sova, Motor Earth (Drag City Records)
Up till now I’d been ignoring the Drag City imprint’s output, mainly owing to the fact that they seemed to be a struggling, small-potatoes thingamajig I didn’t have time or space for. But they’ve snuck up on me and become relevant, specializing in acts that fit in well under the company name, such as this one, slinging 1960s-psychedelic hard rock with way too much soloing going on, the kind of sounds you hear when grandpa jams old Mountain tunes with his Elks Lodge buddies, perfect for those too-many-band nights at the Palladium in Worcester, Mass., if it were still around. All this isn’t to say it’s awesome; it’s a cross between Band of Skulls and The Sword, the latter reference on the vocal side, being that it sounds like the singer is singing through an answering machine. Part of this record wants to be the Rolling Stones, while we’re at it, and that part actually works. 1960s acid-rock isn’t due back anytime soon, but this stuff does offer its services to the front lines. B