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July 2005 Reviews by
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* babysue® Store * Donate * General Info * Links * LMNOP®
* Quotes * T-Shirts
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July 2005 Reviews by
RATING SYSTEM:
= GODDAMN!!!
= EXCELLENT
= VERY GOOD
= GOOD
= FAIR
= SHITTY
July 2005 Comment
Piece:
We were supposed to be on vacation this month.
We were supposed to be on vacation this month...but so much great stuff flooded into our post office box that we just couldn't stand to ignore it. Funny how music has its ups and downs. Some months tons of stuff comes out...and very little of it seems relevant or worthwhile. And then there are other months where there seems to be so much incredible music flying in our faces that it becomes difficult just to try and take it all in. Of course, in all of our evaluations...our own personal moods also come into play.
Such are the ebbs and flows of entertainment and technology...and mood swings.
When we were very small children we would eagerly wait to get our hands on a vinyl 45...virtually any record...being very lucky if we could talk our parents into letting us have one every couple of weeks or so. Nowadays...well, things sure have changed. Instead of spinning two or three records each month, we find ourselves plowing through continually growing stacks of free discs that are sent to us by kind open minded individuals and bands, super cool publicists (you know who you are), and enlightened businesses.
It's great. But you know what? We've become kinda spoiled.
Having all this music at our disposal every minute of every day has caused us to raise our standards in terms of quality and workmanship. Whereas we used to be rather easily entertained when we were kids...nowadays we only want to hear the best.
Fortunately these days there are a lot of artists who truly are the best. Sheesh...in this month's reviews alone we experienced brand new releases from Delaney, Entre Rios, Flotation Toy Warning, The Perishers, The Kallikak Family, Salim Nourallah, John Vanderslice, Denison Witmer, T. Rex, Sufjan Stevens, and Volebeats. Man oh man oh man oh man...it just doesn't get much better than this...
So...are we conscientious reviewers...or are we nothing more than GLUTINOUS PIGS...? We may never know the answer for sure, but one thing is certain...
Ahhh...this must be HEAVEN.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Avenged
Sevenfold - City of Evil (CD, Warner Bros., Progressive rock)
Judging by the cover of this disc and the appearance of the band members,
one would expect this CD to contain harsh death metal. You can't always
judge a CD by its cover, however...and this is definitely a case where the
music inside is a surprise. Instead of blaring out harsh hate noise, the
guys in this band play progressive pop music with only the slightest hints
of death metal. In actuality, these guys have more in common with progressive
bands of the 1970s than with the intense satanic metal bands of the 1990s.
But don't lump them into the limp wristed artsy rock category...because
the tunes on City of Evil still manage to pack a mighty punch at
times. The gentlemen in Avenged Sevenfold are playing for a very
young audience. They have lots of tattoos and look relatively rebellious.
The music, however, is basic pop with plenty of progressive rock jolts thrown
in for good measure. Features eleven tracks including "Beast and the
Harlot," "Bat Country," "The Wicked End," and "M.I.A."
(Rating: 4+++)
Beautiful Skin - Everything, All This, and More (CD, Gold
Standard Laboratories, Rock/pop)
Thank God the folks at Gold Standard Laboratories unearthed these
recordings...! Beautiful Skin was a short-lived New York band which
was originally the duo consisting of Nick Forte and Ross Totino.
After releasing their first album in 2000, Forte and Totino added two additional
band members (Charles Burst and Mitch Rackin) for touring
purposes. Not long afterwards the band broke up...but not before recording
an album's worth of tunes. Until now, those recordings were virtually forgotten.
This CD features wonderful forgotten treasures. These tunes recall artists
like Wire and very early Ultravox (before John Foxx
made his exit). Forte and Totino's tunes effectively combine a hard rock
attack with crazy electronics to create wonderfully insane tunes. Rather
than sounding like a disparate collection of lost tracks, Everything,
All This, and More spins with amazing consistency. Hearing these songs,
it sure makes you wish these guys had managed to stick it out. Killer cuts
include "Skin," "Lacerations," "Magic Solutions
to Life's Many Problems," and "Happy To Be Here." (Rating:
5++)
Beulah
- A Good Band is Easy To Kill (DVD, Music
Video Distributors, Pop/rock)
This DVD was created to document the final tour of the band Beulah
before they called it quits. The object of a good music DVD is to either
entertain those who are already fans of the artist(s)...or to draw those
in who aren't. We weren't familiar with Beulah prior to watching this disc.
Afterwards well...we definitely ended up feeling like we want to hear more
of their studio albums. Beulah was together for eight years and this DVD
features songs from all phases of the band's career...performed in a wild
variety of clubs in the United States and Canada. More than any other band,
their music reminds us very much of the Young Fresh Fellows. Opening
act John Vanderslice makes brief appearances here and there, making
us wish that someone would produce a concert video of him in performance.
Rather than being a mere concert feature, A Good Band is Easy To Kill
is a tour movie...in which snippets of footage from virtually all aspects
of touring are included. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing depends
on how you interpret it. If you've never toured with a small relatively
unknown band then this may seem unique and novel. For those have have endured
the torture of driving around playing in small clubs...well, at times this
can be a depressing reminder of what it is really like. The best
parts of this DVD are those in which the band happens to be "on"...playing
for an excited and appreciative crowd. The downside is that the disc contains
a lot of filler material of the band goofing around. Fortunately as the
movie plays out more and more concert footage eventually fills the screen...making
the last quarter of the movie the most rewarding part. Possibly the best
segments of this disc are the bonus clips of the band performing seventeen
(!) entire songs outside the context of the movie. This DVD requires a good
bit of skipping around to get to the juicy spots, but if you don't mind
hitting that fast forward and skip buttons a good bit...there are some really
neat tidbits sprinkled in here... (Rating: 4++++)
Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business (CD, A&M, Crap hop)
This album has an appropriate title. Question: How bad can music get? Answer:
Really, really, really bad. Incorporating all the worst ideas from
modern music, the folks in Black Eyed Peas are living proof of just
how stupid the public at large has become in terms of intelligence and taste.
Merging generic synthetic dance beats with one shitty white female vocalist
and three retarded black crap hop assholes, the band now has millions and
millions of fans...all of whom are too retarded to realize the inherent
vapid nature of the band's image and music. The folks in this group are
neither shocking nor funny...nor are they entertaining. This is shit...conveniently
disguised as audio...and then sold to all of those who are truly willing
to eat shit. Recommended for pathetic idiots. This means you. (Rating:
1)
Frank
Black - Honeycomb (CD, Back
Porch, Pop)
Has Frank Black transformed into a middle-of-the-road artist...?
Pixies fans will likely be horrified by Honeycomb. The album
bears little if any resemblance to Black's early groundbreaking twisted
hard pop. As such...if you liked Frank Black before...you probably won't
care for this album. But on the other hand, if you've never heard him before...chance
are that you will find Honeycomb a pleasant and smooth spin. Recorded
in Nashville, this album features eleven original tunes and three covers.
After giving this disc a few spins, we found that we rather liked a few
of the tunes. But we just couldn't help but compare this to Black's earlier
work. For a man whose music was once so original and unique...nowadays he's
sounding pretty much like everyone else. Kinda sad really...but after all
these years Frank may just be burned out on music. Not a bad album...but
not a great album either. Just pretty much...middle-of-the-road really...
(Rating: 3)
The
Black Halos - Alive Without Control
(CD, Liquor and Poker Music,
Hard rock)
Taking their cues from 1970s artists like The New York Dolls and
The Dead Boys, the guys in The Black Halos play loud rock
and roll music with determined attitude. These bad boys look extremely unhealthy.
Their skin is pale, their hair dark and messy, and they have vacant stares
that recall Sid Vicious and Johnny Thunders. These guys are
more than a mere image band, however. They can really play. On Alive
Without Control the band slams out thirteen hard rockers that are forceful
and intense. The guitars are loud as holy hell and the vocals are pumped
full of snotty attitude. This is a good album for folks who simply wanna
turn up the volume and rock out. There is one problem however...some of
the arena rock/overdone layered backup vocals detract from many of the tunes.
A simpler vocal approach would do wonders for this band. Good loud rock,
pure and simple. (Rating: 4+++)
Bodysong - Bodysong (DVD, Music
Video Distributors)
Bodysong is a different kind of experience. Written and directed
by Simon Pummell and featuring music by Jonny Greenwood (of
Radiohead), the film is jarring, funny, horrifying, puzzling, and
more. The initial scenes in the film are so disgusting that many folks will
probably be inclined to remove the disc before it really gets started. Disgusting
scenes of mothers giving birth flash on the screen at a frightening pace...a
sequence so nauseating that it is hard to put into words. Various snippets
of film featuring children follow...before the horror of adult behavior
takes center stage. This film is a collage of sorts in which Pummell combines
various film clips from a dizzying array of sources...everything from documentaries
to home movies. If you're looking for a DVD with actors and a plot...this
ain't it. This is an artsy project which attempts...and succeeds...in
shedding light on the complex enormity of the human experience. What is
perhaps most interesting about this project is that it isn't just
a DVD...the film is linked to a web site in which the stories of the hundreds
of seemingly nameless people featured are detailed. Folks with a weak stomach
will want to avoid this disc...included along the way are graphic, morbid
scenes of sex and death. While this film is, overall, a very depressing
reminder of how we live...it is also extremely riveting and enlightening.
(Rating: 5++)
Boyracer - Insults & Insights (CD EP, Kittridge,
Pop)
The nonstoppable Boyracer returns with yet another release. Stewart
Anderson has been at it now for about fifteen years...but you'd never
know it from listening to his band's latest EP. Insults & Insights
is a peculiar yet fresh collection of eight indie pop tracks. These simple,
hummable songs are counterbalanced by some very abrasive guitars that sometimes
seem to jump out of nowhere to assault the listener for no apparent reason.
Just as was the case with the band's earlier material on the Sarah and Slumberland
labels, these songs have an odd accidental sound that is strangely appealing.
Top picks: "Louise," "The Second Fiddle," "Roubideaux."
(Rating: 5)
Broken Spindles - Inside/Absent (CD, Saddle
Creek, Progressive pop)
As if playing bass in the bands The Faint and Beep Beep wasn't
enough, Joel Peterson also manages to find time to record and release
solo albums under the moniker Broken Spindles. Written during tours
with both bands, Inside/Absent is somewhat of a departure for Joel.
Some songs are more poppy than one would expect. And yet, overall, like
previous releases this album is odd and unpredictable. Peterson recorded
the album entirely on his own during March and April 2005. Thus, these songs
have the feel of an artist working alone in isolation. Inside/Absent
is a purely artistic endeavor in which Peterson explores his own mind and,
in the process, causes others to think and explore. Thought provoking tracks
include "Inward," "This Is An Introduction," "Birthday,"
and "Painted Boy Face." Odd, unusual, and peculiar. (Rating: 5)
Kai
Brown - Better Now (CD, How Now Brown
Cow, Pop)
Kai Brown played in a string of bands in his native Australia before
uprooting and moving to the United States to pursue a solo career. Better
Now is his first independently released solo album. Brown's songs recall
artists like John Cougar. His guitar-based pop tunes are unusually
accessible and peppered with definite threads of Americana. This young man
is already making connections here (members of Vertical Horizon and
The BoDeans make guest appearances on this album). Purely upbeat
and easy on the ears, Better Now could easily connect Brown with
a major label in the very near future. Cool cuts include "The Pain,"
"Up All Night," "Money & Love," and "See Through
Me." (Rating: 4++)
Don Campau - Pen Pals 3 (Double CD-R, Lonely
Whistle Music, Pop)
Talk about ambitious. This double CD-R set from home recording legend Don
Campau covers a lot of ground. The first disc features lyrics and vocals
by Campau with backing music by various pen pals. The second disc features
lyrics and vocals by various pen pals with backing music by Campau. Interesting
idea here. The pen pals include Jim Shelley, Michael J. Bowman,
Ken Clinger, Ray Carmen, Dino DiMuro, Charles Rice
Goff III, Russ Steadman, J. Mundok, Amy Denio,
Kevyn Dymond, Al Perry, Heather Perkins, Robin O'Brien,
and R. Stevie Moore. Policy prevents us from rating this release,
so you might just want to check it out for yourself... (Not Rated)
Careen - Crash Couture (Independently released CD, Pop/rock)
Smart, well-thought-out modern pop with a backbone. Portland, Oregon's Careen
have come up with a real winner here. Crash Couture is an uplifting
album full of pure feelgood tunes. The band's songs are slightly reminiscent
of Guided By Voices. Intelligent arrangements support killer melodic
lines to create tunes that are not only danceable but extraordinarily catchy
and hypnotic. The thick funky sound is provided courtesy of producer extraordinaire
Joe Chiccarelli. The great thing about this album is that the more
you spin it...the better it gets. Totally infectious tunes include
"Lights," "Better Now," "The Craze" (a particularly
impressive track), and "Vaporize." Killer stuff. (Rating: 5+)
Greg Carr - Technological Retreat - Mixes Vol. 1 (Limited Edition
CD, Innova Recordings,
Collage/cut-and-paste)
Long before the idea of collage and cut-and-paste music caught on, KFAI
(Minneapolis) radio disc jockey Greg Carr presented a late night
show from 1:00 to 6:00 AM in the late eighties. During the live show which
aired from 1985 to 1989, Carr mixed, mutated, blended, and combined sounds
and snippets from a wide variety of sources to create his own unique sound
collage. Technological Retreat - Mixes Vol. 1 is the first in a series
of discs designed to document the show. This disc is a weird spin...sounding
something like two or three radios and televisions being switched from channel
to channel during the course of an hour. It is difficult indeed to attempt
to rate something like this...so we won't. Instead, we prefer to leave it
up to the listener(s) to decide what to make of this. This is a limited
edition release...with only 500 signed copies being produced (!). (Not Rated)
Colony
of Watts - Mercenary Position (CD, Sector Five, Hard rock)
Hard rock done right. The problem with most bands in general (and
particularly when it comes to hard rock) is that they all tend to sound
very similar to one another. Accordingly, the facts of the situation make
one really appreciate a band like Wisconsin's Colony of Watts. Packing
a mighty different sound with a harder punch than your average band, these
guys have talent and imagination. Mercenary Position, the band's
debut full-length, is a charged up collection of eleven hard rocking tunes.
The playing is spirited and tight...and the songs have real staying power.
Killer tracks include "Sell Your Land," "White Prussian,"
and "Die Young." Intensely satisfying. (Rating: 5)
Cop With Panty On - Sniff These Tampons Or We'll Arrest Every Goddamn One Of
You (DVD, VDM, Documentary)
This DVD is documentary what is portraying cop with panty. Cop with panty
once very rare thing, but that thing is of past. Now many cop have panty.
Policeman usual thing is to help control and enforcement of law. But when
group of cop are getting together what for party of purpose, thing sudden
for change. Extra policeman on duty for panty patrol. All kind of thing
get fresh for pout when citizen find out. Newspaper print story about panty
abuse and court get involvement. Then explosive media frenzy about how thing
go wrong too much. Start to fret, start to worry...then put panty on head
for escape. Bonus material at end of DVD contain fried noodle with fish.
You want take out? We have plenty nice take out for you today. (Rating:
1)
Michael Dean Damron - A Perfect Day For A Funeral (CD, In
Music We Trust, Pop)
Michael Dean Damron is best known as the lead vocalist in the band
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House. A Perfect Day For A Funeral,
Damron's first solo album, presents the softer and more pensive side of
his personality. The tunes on this album sound something like a cross between
John Cougar and Paul Westerburg. Damron isn't writing songs
to challenge people and break new barriers. Instead, he is providing the
type of solid Americana-inspired pop music that goes over well with most
folks. His loose raspy vocal style is perfectly suited for the type of tunes
he writes. Eleven tracks here including "Little Girl Blue," "Montana,"
"Blame It On The Whiskey," and "New Paint." (Rating:
4+++)
Daphne
Loves Derby - On the Strength of All Convicted
(Advance CD, Outlook Music,
Pop/rock)
Kent, Washington's Daphne Loves Derby is truly a result of the Internet
age. The band got their start on the download sites purevolume.com
and myspace.com. After their
tunes became popular downloads, they then had the clout to land themselves--more
or less--on the label of their choosing. The band made the decision to go
with the independent label Outlook...and before long they had completed
their first full-length. The gentlemen in this band play dreamy, pensive,
upbeat pop music driven by fuzzy guitars. Unlike other guitar bands of the
day, however, their pop tunes (thankfully) have more in common with artists
like Ben Folds than with flavor-of-the-month acts like Blink 182.
Despite the fact that they deliver some major punches with their music,
these fellows seem more concerned with song structures, lyrics, and melodies
than simply turning up way too loud and going crazy. In other words, this
is smart modern pop/rock for thinking listeners. On the Strength
of All Convicted is a pure upbeat experience...full of catchy hummable
melodies and driving rhythms. Eleven kickass cuts here, including "Sundays,"
"Hammers and Hearts," "Birthday Gallery," "Middle
Middle," and "What We Have Been Waiting For." (Rating: 5+)
Delaney
- Delaney (CD, Pehr Label,
Soft pop)
Hmmm...this certainly is a different kind of album from a different
kind of artist. Singer/songwriter Christelle Delaney calls
Paris, France her home. Instead of doing what everyone else does, Christelle
has the honesty and courage to sing her songs in her native language. This
will, unfortunately, alienate most American listeners as the average music
fan in this country just can't take it when someone sings in a foreign language.
Personally, however, we love French pop particularly when
it is sung in French...and no one does it quite like Christelle Delaney.
Singing in a deep, distant voice reminiscent of Nico, Ms. Delaney
delivers tunes that are decidedly non-commercial, rather peculiar...yet
aesthetically pleasing. Whether singing on her own alone with a guitar or
with a backup band, Christelle has an unusual personality and unique view
of the world. This album is so different in so many subtle ways that it
is actually rather difficult to describe...yet it is easily some of the
best progressive French pop we've heard in years. Fantastic cuts include
"A Toute Alerte," "A Salamanque," and "Ne Rien
Faire S'Entreprend." Recommended. (Rating: 5+++)
Dirty
On Purpose - Sleep Late for a Better Tomorrow
(CD EP, North Street,
Pop)
Dirty On Purpose is an up-and-coming New York-based quintet with
a catchy and hypnotic sound. The folks in this band play music that sounds
something like a cross between Oh, OK and Low. Strange that
the basic tracks for this EP were recorded December 2003...and are only
now seeing the light of day (?). Simultaneously moody and poppy, the five
songs on this EP are fresh and inviting. These folks have a lot of people
talking...and Sleep Late for a Better Tomorrow explains why. Features
"All New Friends," "Mind Blindness," "Cheat Death,"
"Girls & Sunshine," and "Spider Eyes." Neat. (Rating:
5+)
Entre Rios - Onda (CD, Darla
/ Elefant, Electronic pop)
The words "electronic pop" usually bring to mind images of sterile,
generic, boring music. There are always exceptions, of course...and Buenos
Aires-based trio Entre Rios is an obvious exception to the rule.
Despite the fact that the band uses programmed sounds and rhythms they somehow
manage to inject subtle funk and soul into their songs...giving their music
a wonderful organic feel. Onda is perhaps the trio's most direct
and accessible album yet. Smooth hummable melodies glide over impeccably
prepared arrangements to create a pure feelgood experience. Light and airy...yet
provocative, soothing, and slightly surreal...Onda is an album that
is certain to put the listener in a great frame of mind. The band consists
of Sebastian Carreras (lyrics), Gabriel Lucena (music), and
Isol (vocals). These folks have a unique sound and style that clearly
separates them from the pack. Eleven tracks here...including "Cerca
& Extrano," "Claro Que Si," "La Luna," and
"Sobra." Highly recommended. (Rating: 5+++)
The
Evil Queens - First It Boils, Then it Spills
(Advance CD, Addison,
Rock)
After spending a mere two days each recording their first two albums, the
guys in The Evil Queens adopted a different approach for this album...which
took about a year to record. Contrary to the images the band name might
conjure up, this is not a group of androgynous homosexuals. These bad boys
play loud, heavy, stoner rock that is reminiscent of bands like Fu Manchu.
Unlike many hard rock bands of the twenty-first century, the guys in The
Evil Queens do not play generic overblown speed/metal/noise. Despite
the fact that they play hard, their music is, first and foremost, pure rock
and roll. Explosive rhythms...killer overdriven guitars...and a supremely
macho vocalist...combine to create an upbeat and intense wall of sound.
Heavy rockers include "Valentine," "American Cancer,"
"The Government Has Cloned You," and "Requiem For Antonio
Pants." (Rating: 4++++)
Fart Sensations - Sticky Brown Splotches Tell the Tale (CD, Bant-AO,
Potty music)
Music for children to shit by. Ohio-based Fart Sensations are taking
advantage of stupid parents everywhere by recording music that is supposed
to make children shit better. Sticky Brown Splotches Tell the Tale
is a concept album of sorts...telling the tale of a dyslexic two-legged
bunny who can't find a proper place to shit in the woods. When he finally
comes to the right pooping area, symphonic music blares away...giving children
everywhere the A-OK to go ahead and deliver the goods as necessary. Twelve
tracks here including "My Boo Boo and My Other Boo Boo," "Wiping
It All Away," "One Day My Feces Will Be Big and Firm Like Mommy's
and Daddy's," and "Shitting Over The Rainbows of Doodoo"
(Rating: 1)
The Fleshtones - Beachhead (CD, Yep
Roc, Rock)
Few, if any, garage bands from the 1970s have survived intact. The Fleshtones
have incredible staying power. Instead of breaking up or giving up, these
guys continue to provide some of the best and most genuine garage rock the
United States has to offer. Now on the Yep Roc label, the fellows in this
band show no signs of letting up. Actually and in fact, Beachhead
ranks right up there with the band's best recordings. What separates The
Fleshtones from other bands who have been around for as long as they have
is the fact that they have never sold out nor have they adjusted their music
to suit a larger audience (which is what most artists do over time). Beachhead
features the same fresh, upbeat, simple tunes that the band's fans have
come to know and love. Instead of adding complicating factors to their songs,
these guys still manage to deliver quality tunes straight from the hip.
Eleven kickass tunes here...including "Bigger & Better," "You
Don't Know," "She Looks Like a Woman," and "Late September
Moon." (Rating: 5+)
Flotation
Toy Warning - Bluffer's Guide to the Flight
Deck (CD, MISRA, Soft
progressive pop)
The debut album from London's curiously-titled Flotation Toy Warning.
To put it bluntly, Bluffer's Guide to the Flight Deck is going to
stump most listeners. The five gentlemen in this band aren't going for any
normally defined or easily categorizable sound.While the music might best
be described as progressive pop, the confusion sets in when one tries to
determine exactly what other progressive pop bands these guys sound
like. Some appropriate comparisons have been tossed around by others...The
Flaming Lips, Van Dyke Parks, and Sparklehorse...but in
the end, this album doesn't really sound much like any of these...or anyone
else for that matter (although on some tracks we hear definite traces of
The Frogs...particularly in terms of vocals). The band members
assemble their tunes using technology, found instruments (?), and traditional
instruments...but it is ultimately the songs themselves that make this album
such an unusual spin. Dreamy, classic, atmospheric, puzzling, and funny...Bluffer's
Guide to the Flight Deck isn't like anything else currently on the menu.
As such...we can highly recommend this disc without reservation. Unusual,
imaginative, and very cool. (Rating: 5+++)
Halfway - Farewell to the Fainthearted (CD, Laughing
Outlaw / Reverberation,
Pop)
Australia's Halfway could easily pass for an American group. This
band features no less than seven permanent members as well as four guest
artists. The country-flavored pop tunes on Farewell to the Fainthearted
recall other middle-of-the-road artists such as The Eagles and Wilco.
The band's ultra-hummable songs feature a variety of traditional bluegrass
and country instruments including pedal steel guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo,
and more. Upbeat and accessible, this album features twelve feelgood pop
tunes that feature smart arrangements and lyrics that come from the heart.
Includes "Patience Back," "Compromise for a Country Girl,"
and "Call Anytime." Smooth and easy. (Rating: 4++++)
Colin
Hay - Going Somewhere (CD, Compass, Pop)
As the man behind the band Men At Work, Colin Hay's music
should already be familiar to many people. But those same folks will likely
be surprised by the tunes on Going Somewhere. Originally released
in 2000, the folks at Compass have reissued this album due to critical response
and overall demand...adding two bonus tracks in the process. Whereas Men
At Work was a purely pop endeavor, on his own Colin Hay doesn't seem as
concerned with writing hit tunes. As such, this album has a much more laidback
sound and feel. Presenting his songs using nothing more than a single acoustic
guitar and one vocal track, Hay proves that his songs stand up well on their
own without extra padding and unnecessary overdubs. The style of the tunes
on this album recall both Bob Dylan and Huey Lewis. Melodies
and lyrics take center stage...as Hay lets his personal side shine through.
Considering the sparse recording style, this album has a surprisingly full
and dense sound. This is most likely because of the excellent Colin's exceptional
voice. Absorbing tracks include "Beautiful World," "Going
Somewhere," "Don't Wait Up," and "I Don't Know Why."
(Rating: 5)
Von
Hemmling - Wild Hemmling (Independently
released CD, Skewed underground pop)
This is the first and only CD featuring material recorded by Von Hemmling,
one of the founding bands in the Elephant Six Collective. This anthology
features material recorded between 1995 and 2004 at the Pet Sounds Studio.
There's an incredible amount of material to digest here...26 tracks in all.
Recorded in between various recording sessions with Elephant Six bands,
these songs are obviously meant to be appreciated by a small, esoteric audience.
Von Hemmling's tunes are strange and often fragmented...and the instruments
in many cases sound as if they were recorded spontaneously. Created as a
pure artistic endeavor, the songs on Wild Hemmling are almost certainly
destined for obscurity. And that may have been the songwriter's exact purpose
to begin with...to create truly underground music. We aren't even going
to begin to try to rate this...what can be made of tunes like "That's
What You Get for Praying 1997," "Peanut Butter Lymphoma,"
and "Suck, C*nt, Cock, F*ck, and Price 1997"...??? (Not Rated)
Robert
Gordon - Satisfied Mind (CD, Koch, Pop)
Originally a member of Tuff Darts in the 1970s, Robert Gordon
eventually opted to take off on his own. His mission: To reinvent rockabilly
and present it in a way that could be appreciated by younger listeners.
Gordon records music that comes straight from the 1950s...owing a great
deal to the King of Rock, Elvis Presley (his Fresh Fish Special
album even featured Presley's backup singers The Jordanaires). Despite
the fact that decades have passed since he began his solo career, Robert
still has the same spark that has always made his music so refreshing. This
spark could be the fact that his music sounds so genuine and authentic...or
it could just be the fact that this man obviously still loves what he does.
Satisfied Mind finds Gordon in fine form. He's still surrounding
himself with some of the best players around and his voice still sizzles
with energy. Fourteen cool cuts here including "Dear One," "Little
Boy Sad," "When I Found You," and "These Boots Are Made
For Walking." Great fifties revival stuff. (Rating: 5)
Houston
Calls - A Collection of Short Stories
(CD, Rushmore / Drive-Thru, Pop/rock)
The debut album from Northern New Jersey's Houston Calls. This album
is, in a word, punchy. Produced by the one and only Ed Rose,
this disc is brimming to overflow with loud, fast, smart, hooky pop music.
Prior to this release, the band put out two independent EPs and toured the
United States. Now they're ready for the big time. A Collection of Short
Stories features eleven fast catchy buzzsaw pop tunes. The band's music
is upbeat and positive...and should appeal to young fans of alternative
rock. The band consists of Tom Keiger (vocals, guitar), Jarrett
Seltzer (bass), Ryohei "Okie" Okamoto (keyboards, vocals),
Kenny Ryan (guitar), and Joshua Grigsby (drums). Adrenaline
fueled tracks include "Sunrise Goodbyes," "Bob and Bonnie,"
"One More Won't Hurt," and "The Better Part of Valor."
(Rating: 4++++)
John
Wilkes Booze - Telescopic Eyes Glance the
Future Sick (CD, Kill Rock
Stars, Rock)
Citing some of the odder musicians of the past few decades as major influences,
the guys in John Wilkes Booze impressed a lot of folks with their
previous concept album entitled 5 Pillars of Soul. As a matter of
fact, we were fortunate enough to be included among those folks. And fortunately
for everyone, Telescopic Eyes Glance the Future Sick is cut from
the same basic fabric. This band's skewed garage pop/rock is driven to another
level by peculiar vocals and mind expanding lyrics. Add the fact that the
tunes have a strange bluesy influence...and you have a modern band that
manages to reinvent the ideas of their favorite artists all the while retaining
their own unique identity. The songs are neither easy nor conventional...but
rather a skewed mutation of the very idea of rock. The main difference between
Pillars and Future Sick is the inclusion of some experimental
mood pieces. The inclusion of these selections works well and adds yet another
layer to the band's conceptual sound. One of the very best hard art rock
bands around...the fellows in John Wilkes booze continue to do everything
right. Hypnotic tracks include "Gonna Die Tonight," "War
Drums," "Cultural Hurricane," "Know Your Enemy,"
"Can't Take It," and "So Much Mahal." Recommended. (Rating:
5++)
The Kallikak Family - May 23rd 2007 (CD, Tell-All,
Progressive/electronic/experimental)
Very, very, very strange. This CD initially caught our attention
because it is on the increasingly intriguing tiny San Francisco label Tell-All.
But we were inevitably drawn in by the obtuse and ultimately bizarre sounds
of The Kallikak Family. Adequately describing May 23rd 2007
would be a formidable task. These compositions go so far off the map...back
and forth from one genre and style to another...that it is difficult to
sum up this album as a whole. According to the press release, this album
"explores the meaning of specific days and locations in the life of
one person, all leading up to May 23rd 2007, the date on which a
fortune teller predicted the artist's death." Okay then...that explains
everything (!!!???!!). We're not even going to try and explain
this album because it is virtually impossible to do so. But we can say this.
Whereas the average ultra-experimental album tends to be grating and unlistenable...this
one is engaging and entertaining from start to finish. While we can't exactly
explain why...we are extremely impressed with this album because it is so
different...and it satisfies. Seventeen bizarre tracks. Recommended.
(Rating: 5+++)
The
Makers - Everybody Rise! (CD, Kill Rock Stars, Rock)
Prior to hearing this disc, we were already big fans of The Makers.
It seems particularly fitting that the band has now found themselves on
the Kill Rock Stars roster. Hailing from Spokane, Washington, The Makers'
music has somehow unfortunately eluded most folks. This could be simply
due to the fact that there are so many rock bands around...or due to the
fact that the guys in this band aren't into dumb gimmicks or selling themselves
for money. Instead, The Makers simply play rip-roaring great rock without
unnecessary frills. This band plays with the same focused fury that made
Redd Kross such a favorite here in babysueland in the 1990s.
All the necessary elements are here: great tunes, throbbing rhythms, infectious
guitars, and gripping vocals. Everybody Rise! features the return
of original member Timothy Killingsworth and new drummer Aaron
Saye. This album is not a collection of sloppy underground rock crappers.
It is, instead, a collection of new rock classics for thinking individuals
who like their music played stylishly fresh and loud. This unique disc contains
eleven satisfying cuts including "Matter of Degrees," "Everybody
Rise," "Ordinary Human Love," and "She Walks in Color."
Refreshingly genuine. (Rating: 5++)
MC5
- Kick Out the Jams (DVD, Music
Video Distributors, Hard rock)
Kick Out the Jams is a bit different from what you normally find
in a music DVD. Rather than being a biography or a live concert, this disc
features a collage of sounds and images from the MC5 in their heyday,
lovingly cut and pasted together by Destroy All Monsters co-founder
Cary Loren. Live audio of the band plays while various images fade
in and out...rare film clips of the band playing live, flashing psychedelic
colors, home film clips of the band at play, and various odd segments featuring
the hippies and weirdos of the era. Explosive in the best way possible,
MC5 tunes were not only very far out at the time they were recorded...but
they have stood the test of time well. Few bands incorporated so many sounds
and styles as these guys. Their music embraced acid rock, hard rock, pop,
and psychedelia...while their image was glittery, wild, and peculiar. The
disc closes with a piece entitled "John Sinclair Live at Crazy Jim's
11/19/03" in which John Sinclair recalls various memories of
the band. The ideal thing would be to go back in time and experience these
guys live. Seeing as how that is unfortunately impossible, this disc effectively
gives the viewer an idea of what that experience might have been like. Hmmm...interesting...
(Rating: 5)
Mercurine - Waiting For Another Fall (Independently produced CD,
Pop)
Mercurine is Mera Roberts (vocals, programming) and Byron
Brown (guitar, programming). Roberts was previously in the bands black
tape for a blue girl, Faith and the Muse, Cassandra Complex,
and Obliva. Brown was previously in Kommunity FK, The Superfiends,
and New Ambassadors of Love. Waiting For Another Fall is the
second full-length from the duo, the follow up to their debut Music Is
Chemical (2003). Roberts and Brown write and record pop that recalls
1980s new wave combined with hints of 1990s industrial rock. At the forefront
are Mera's vocals...which provide an easy focal point for Mercurine tunes.
Some of the songs on this album are surprisingly commercial and hummable...while
others are more artsy and surreal. We prefer the odder material where the
vocals almost seem to merge with the instruments. Nine cuts here including
"Bluemouse," "Nu Groove," and "Another Ending."
(Rating: 4+++)
Miss Mary
- Ready 2 Pop (CD, Waxfruit
/ Stereorrific / Dren, Pop)
True to the claim of the press release, Miss Mary's music is reminiscent
of current artists like Sahara Hotnights and Raveonettes.
Miss Mary was formerly the singer and guitarist in the band The Oscillators.
Now a solo artist, this young lady is providing hard driving modern pop
peppered with fresh and subtle jolts of technology. Despite the fact that
some of her tunes sound a bit abrasive in terms of instruments, her smooth
vocals rise above it all and absorb the listener's attention. Ready 2
Pop is outlandishly upbeat and hummable, yet there are subtle traits
bubbling underneath the surface that make the songs stand up to many repeated
spins. Slightly sexy cuts include "The One," "My Friend,"
"Ordinary, All The Same," and "Dreaming Of You." Includes
two bonus tracks. (Rating: 5)
Modern
Giant - Satellite Nights (CD, Popboomerang, Pop)
Modern Giant was formed from the remnants of the bands Half Miler
and Disneyfist. Blasting out of the gate with one of the best tunes
of the year ("I'm Not Broken"), this Australian band immediately
caught our attention. Sporting a sound not unlike The New Pornographers,
Australia's Modern Giant is a four piece group with tunes that are absolutely
jammed with lyrics. The folks in this band tend to pack lots of words into
their songs...lots and lots of words. Whereas the average band expands
their tunes with lengthy instrumental passages...these folks flesh out their
tunes with extra...words. Fortunately...they actually have something
to say. While the rest of the tunes don't quite reach the peak of the first
track, there are some really juicy cuts here...including "Hell Is Other
People," "If I Close My Eyes," "San Sebastian,"
and "Angie Hart." There are only a couple of tracks that don't
quite work ("Tie One On" and "I Thought That You Were Somebody
Else")...but overall, this is a very solid album from a very entertaining
band. (Rating: 4++++)
The
Nervous Return - Wake Up Dead (CD, La Salle, Pop/rock)
If you loved the first two or three XTC albums (before the band softened
their sound) and the first couple of albums from Squeeze (before
the band sold out)...chances are you'll go nuts over Wake Up Dead.
The Nervous Return is one of the first groups signed to Blink-182
drummer Travis Barker's new La Salle label. Based in Los Angeles,
the fellows in this band mix catchy hooks with a bold, brash, masculine
sound that is instantly addictive. This album artfully blends the harsh
with the harmonic. This is smart loud pop/rock with a difference.
Combining elements of rock, metal, pop, new wave, glam rock, and psychedelia...these
guys seem to move effortlessly from one genre to another (often several
times in the course of a single tune). If you think all loud pop bands sound
the same, think again. Wake Up Dead is a welcome reminder that creativity
is not dead...it just always seems to linger in the background. Killer cuts
include "Dramahead," "Siberian Queer," "So and
So From Such and Such," and "Skin Flavored Lollypops." Great
stuff. (Rating: 5++)
Salim
Nourallah - Beautiful Noise (CD, Western Vinyl, Pop)
Salim Nourallah is one of the greatest songwriters of our time...and
yet at this point in time he remains virtually unknown. Beautiful Noise,
Nourallah's second album, is another wonderfully effective, mind-boggling
collection of classic soft pop. Anyone who ever loved Ray Davies
(The Kinks) and very early Paul McCartney will likely go absolutely
nuts over these tunes. Salim writes songs that are instantly likable
and inevitably sound better and better the more you hear them. Super smooth,
smart, and absorbing, Beautiful Noise sheds light on a man who is
peaking early in his career. Nourallah's tunes are definitely not
underground indie slop pop. This young man writes absorbing tunes with real
substance. In a perfect world, each and every one of the songs on this album
would be a hit. Things being as they are...Beautiful Noise will probably
only be appreciated by a small but incredibly passionate audience. Extraordinary
tunes...each presented with refreshingly simple sincerity. This will easily
end up being one of the best albums of 2005. Highly recommended. (Rating:
6)
Palaxy
Tracks - 12 Rooms (CD, Peek-A-Boo,
Progressive pop)
Some might categorize this band as emo...but we won't...because
we don't use that obnoxious word. Rather and instead, we would prefer
to abuse and overuse italics. These guys make great music.
Really great. But what we really appreciate are the lyrics.
Instead of the usual crummy thoughtless idiotic lines one usually hears...these
fellows manage to come up with intelligent words that actually mean
something. And that is rare these days. Rare indeed. Because
you see, dear readers, most people can't write anything that matters.
Writing things that matter isn't easy. And neither is anything else.
For you see, in this world nothing is easy. Which brings us
back to 12 Rooms. Soft. Pensive. Soothing. Smart. All
of these are proper descriptive words for Palaxy Tracks. And so
much more insightful and honest than emo (which all thinking
people do, of course, find to be an incredibly obnoxious word). This
album is an exercise in subtlety. An intricately prepared lyric
book is included so that one can easily contemplate the meaning of the
lyrics. Dreamy, insightful, and solid...12 Rooms is a cool and wonderfully
inviting album. Features twelve tracks, including "Speech With Animals,"
"Grey Snake," "Lamplighter," "The Criminal Mind,"
and "Twelve Rooms." Excellent stuff. Different. (Rating:
5+)
The Partridge Family - We Eat Bloody Flesh and We Drink Fresh Warm Piss (CD,
Dannyboy, Pop/death metal)
Bubblegum dinosaurs The Partridge Family return with a somewhat...um....different
sound and image. Folks who remember the television family as super clean
and fresh will be horribly disappointed by the strange turn of events in
the band's career. Listen in horror as the band tosses off disgusting hard
rockers with titles like "Robins Are Turd Birds," "We Take
Acid For The Hell Of It," "Incest Is Cooler Than The Jackson Five,"
"Happy Pussy," and "Rape the President's Whore Twins."
In the bonus video, Ms. Partridge runs around completely naked while the
rest of the band cuts her up with tiny little sharp knives. They then roast
her over an open fire and eat her while singing, leaving her breasts to
rot away quickly in the solid sunshine. If this is what God intended for
this family, then so be it. Thank you God. Thank you for sending The Partridge
Family back to us. (Rating: 1)
The
Perishers - Let There Be Morning (CD,
Nettwerk, Soft progressive
pop)
Smooth, dreamy, reflective, and effective progressive pop. The four men
who call themselves The Perishers don't seem concerned with following
current trends in popular music. Let There Be Morning is an intricately
crafted collection of well-written tunes. The band's melodies are strong...but
they have even more of an impact than normal because of the exceptional
arrangements. Despite the fact that the overall sound is soft and laidback,
a great deal of thought and energy went into the recording of these songs.
Subtle instrumentation and acute attention to detail make these compositions
really shine. Main songwriter/lead vocalist Ola Kulft has a real
and genuine presence...making Let There Be Morning a superb spin
with exceptional lyric content. Top picks: "Weekends," "A
Reminder," "Trouble Sleeping," "Let There Be Morning."
(Rating: 5+++)
Iggy Pop
- A Million in Prizes: The Iggy Pop Anthology (Advance double CD-R,
Virgin / EMI, Rock/pop)
Long overdue, this double disc retrospective is a loving tribute to Detroit's
king of sleaze, Iggy Pop. Featuring 38 tracks, these two CDs cover
everything...from Mr. Pop's early days with The Stooges through his
illustrious and compelling solo career. Longtime Iggy fans (such as ourselves)
no doubt already have all of these tunes as the discs feature the more well-known
and popular tracks. Pop's last few efforts haven't done so well in terms
of sales...so perhaps this CD set will have the effect of making fans pick
up the newer releases. Few artists have had the longevity and staying power
of Iggy Pop. Despite the fact that he's been at it for decades, the man
remains with his credibility totally intact. While others have come and
gone, Iggy has never sold out or lowered his standards. In addition to the
obvious tracks ("1969," "Now I Wanna Be Your Dog," "China
Girl," "Lust for Live", etc.), the disc also features two
tunes recorded live in 1993 ("TV Eye" and "Loose").
(Rating: 5+)
T.
Raumschmiere - Blitzkrieg Pop (CD, Mute, Electronic rock/pop/ambient)
Aggressive electronic rock in the vein of Nine Inch Nails. T.
Raumschmiere calls Blitzkrieg Pop a "punk-rock ambient record."
"Sick Like Me," the first single from the album, certainly fits
the punk category. The song is an intense exercise in merging metallic industrial
noise with the feel of punk rock. It's a real screamer of a track with impressive
energy. What makes this album interesting is the fact that the louder numbers
are offset by more offbeat experimental tracks. So...instead of an album
with one sound...this sounds something like two styles merged into one.
Our favorite tracks are the stranger ones ("Untitled," "Rumpelkammer,"
"Der Grottenholm"). Raumschmiere seems to be at his best when
he's not concerned about commercial appeal...opting instead to just let
things happen spontaneously. Blitzkrieg Pop is an adventurous album
that reinvents the genres that influenced it. Unusual and inventive. (Rating:
5)
Holden
Richards - What I Gave Away (Independently
released CD, Pop)
For every well known musician in the world there are several thousand toiling
away in relative obscurity. Despite the fact that he has been writing and
recording for many years, North Carolina's Holden Richards remains
virtually unknown. And that is a shame...because this man writes and records
some absolutely wonderful pop music. Richards was previously in the bands
The Pound Notes, One Plus Two, and The Swamis. What
I Gave Away is a pure pop album. The tunes ring with chiming guitars
and hummable melodies. This is not underground crap, but rather pop music
in the classic sense. There are no weird sounds nor dumb studio tricks to
get in the way of the melodies. If properly marketed, many of these tracks
could easily be digested by the general public. We get the feeling that--whether
he is ever commercially successful or not--Mr. Richards will continue making
music for all the right reasons. Upbeat tracks include "What I Gave
Away," "Stop the Clock," and "Walking Through Walls."
Smooth and easy. (Rating: 5)
Rufio - The Comfort of Home (CD, Nitro,
Pop/rock)
Smart hard melodic pop. Produced by Mike Green and mixed by Joe
Barresi, The Comfort of Home is a highly polished collection
of hard hitting pop tunes with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The
guys in Orange County, California 's Rufio have a big, thick sound
that is characterized by interesting guitars and heavy layered vocals. For
better or for worse, these fellows play music that will appeal to a very
young audience (most middle-aged folks probably won't be able to follow
the slightly spastic swerves on this album). Kids who like it fast and furious
will find a lot to like here. Instead of sounding like another generic twenty-first
century band that does nothing more than hash out the same old crap...these
guys fuel their music with their own unique energy and vision, making The
Comfort of Home a delightfully rewarding spin. Kickass cuts include
"Out of Control," "A Simple Line," "Questions and
Answers," and "My Escape." (Rating: 5)
Darrell
Scott, Danny Thompson,
& Kenny Malone - Live
in NC (CD, Full Light, Country/pop)
Darrell Scott is one of the most important and influential country/pop
artists of the past decade. Not only has he written tunes that have been
recorded by artists that include Tim McGraw, Dixie Chicks,
Travis Tritt, and Sara Evans...but he has also played with
a vast array of top notch musicians including Kate Rusby, Jim
Lauderdale, Faith Hill, Steve Earle, and Randy Travis...and
that's just the beginning. But while he has managed a great deal of commercial
success, Scott's music is anything but commercial crap. His soulful
country-influenced soft pop tunes are poignant, personal, reflective, and
completely genuine. Not only does he play a wild variety of instruments...but
the man has a voice that is so soulful that you have to hear it to believe
it. Live in NC is Scott's first live album and it captures all the
magic of his live concerts. While success seems to ruin many musical artists,
thus far it does not seem to have had any negative effects on Darrell
and his music. The nine tracks on this album showcase a man with real talent...as
well as a man who is sincere in what he is doing. Memorable cuts
include "Miracle of Living," "River Take Me," "Helen
of Troy, PA," and "Wayfaring Pilgrim." Outstanding. (Rating:
5+)
Brandi
Shearer - The Sycamore (CD, Vinyl
Tiger Music, Soft moody pop)
This young lady has been through a lot with her musical career thus
far. Brandi Shearer grew up in rural Oregon, eventually moving to
Europe for a few years before returning to the states...finally ending up
in San Francisco. The press release that accompanied this album presented
some odd stories that have happened to her along the way...but they probably
actually ended up adding character to Brandi's music. The Sycamore
is an exceptionally well written and well executed independently released
album. Her soft, personal, mature tunes recall Leonard Cohen, Sarah
McLaughlin, and even Carole King at times. Some folks are beginning
to take notice of Brandi's music...as some very positive reviews have begun
bubbling up underneath the surface. This album can only further ignite those
initial flames. There's not a single bad apple among these eleven tracks.
The arrangements are sparse and precise...and Shearer's vocals are right
on target on every single cut. The more you hear Brandi's tunes...the deeper
her messages sink in. Gripping cuts include "Can You Hear Me,"
"Portrait," "I've Had Enough," "Monster In Love,"
and "Would You Care to Dance." Refreshing...full of real substance.
(Rating: 5+)
Sixty Acres - Banjos and Sunshine (CD, Dren,
Pop)
Reissue of the first Sixty Acres album originally released in 1997
with six bonus tracks added ("Long Way Down," "No Lights,
No Sirens," "Cats in a Bag," "Middle of Nowhere,"
"Silence Before the Sound," "Lyin'"). Banjos and
Sunshine presented Americana pop before it was trendy and fashionable.
The thirteen original tracks are reminiscent of bands like Sun Volt.
The melodies are strong, the vocals exceptional, and the arrangements are
simple and to-the-point. The more you spin this album...the better it
gets. Pure feelgood pop tunes include "Colors," "ATF,"
"Cold Turkey," and "House of Cards." Upbeat and sincere.
(Rating: 5)
So
L'il - Dear Kathy, (CD, Goodbye Better, Progressive pop)
Brooklyn trio So L'il sound something like a modern version of Oh,
OK with electronics added for good measure...but they're actually much
stranger than that. The band consists of Robin Mapes, Ben Malkin,
and Evan Sobel...three individuals whose main motivation is obviously
not commercial success. Dear Kathy, (yes, a comma is included
in the title) is a very peculiar spin. At times the tunes seem almost normal...but
more often than not the poppier elements are drenched in electronics and
atmospheric sounds that give the tracks a weird progressive slant that is
difficult to digest. The best way we can describe this album is to say that
it sounds like what you might hear if you pressed your ear up to your computer
and there was a pop band playing inside...something like a more subdued
technology-based Jesus and Mary Chain (?!?). If you are seeking familiar
and easy music, you won't find it here. Dear Kathy, is perplexing
and confusing...but even more so, it challenges and entertains the listener
with unfamiliar ideas and sounds. While not for everyone, these tunes are
certain to grab a very small audience and hold them securely in a trance.
Includes "Enamel Animal," "Birds," "Receive,"
and "The Outwordly Ugly Secretly Beautiful." Really weird cerebral
stuff...! (Rating: 5)
Sufjan
Stevens - Illinoise (CD, Asthmatic Kitty, Progressive pop)
Rarely do our opinions parallel those of the music community at large. But
despite the fact that everyone seems to love Sufjan Stevens these
days...we still do. Success hasn't spoiled the man yet...and Illinoise
is yet another stellar collection of superb, inventive tunes. This is the
follow up to Michigan, which was the first in a series of 50 albums
Sufjan plans to record (one for each state). Lots of folks were, understandably,
blown away by Michigan. The album stood squarely on its own as one
of the best albums of the decade. Thus, following up the album would not
be an easy task for an ordinary individual. But Stevens is by no means ordinary.
Instead of delivering a mere follow-up, he has written and recorded a magnificent
and thoroughly rewarding album that rivals Michigan. Many compare
his music with Nick Drake and Elliott Smith...the in actuality,
Sufjan's music sounds like few other artists we have heard. His intelligent,
articulately arranged tunes are smooth, easy, and dreamlike. This man does
his homework. Before recording an album, he does research to gather information
and ideas about each state before beginning the project. Illinoise will
surely please Sufjan's growing legion of fans. Twenty fantastic tracks from
a man who never lets his fans down. Highly recommended. (Rating: 6)
George Strait - Somewhere Down In Texas (CD, Country)
The dullest man in country music just keeps getting...duller and duller
and duller. (Rating: 1)
Summer
Lawns - First We Waited...Then It Started
(CD, Stunning Models
on Display / Isidore,
Progressive pop)
Brooklyn, New York based Summer Lawns is an articulate progressive
pop quartet. First We Waited...Then It Started features nine strangely
subtle and fragile compositions. True to the claim of the accompanying press
release, the band's music is reminiscent of artists like Nick Drake,
Yo La Tengo, and Low. Dreamy and hypnotic, the subdued tunes
on this album are peculiar and enlightening and they tend to settle in the
listener's subconscious...eventually taking up permanent residence. Unlike
many new art bands, Summer Lawns tunes have staying power. These folks write
intelligent compositions with real substance. The band consists of Jeremy
Linzee, Matt Heslinga, Laurel Birkey, and Kieran Kelly.
Amazingly mature in terms of focus and overall sound, First We Waited
is a thoroughly absorbing album full of intriguing melodic twists. Includes
"Piano Song," "This Little Light of Mine," and "How
to Furnish Life in the Desert." Great stuff. (Rating: 5)
T. Rex
- Born To Boogie (Double DVD, Rock/pop)
At long last...finally...Born To Boogie has been reissued
on DVD (!).This would be a big deal anyway, but it's an even BIGGER
deal because this double DVD package features TWO ENTIRE FULL-LENGTH
CONCERTS filmed by Ringo Starr and his crew. We can only thank
our lucky stars that Ringo was there to film these shows. Otherwise there
might not even be a decent quality documentation of the band at their
peak. These concerts capture Marc Bolan at the point where he had
become a supernova...burning so brightly that there was no way he could
sustain such an intense public persona. Marc was so unique and so charismatic
in the early 1970s that he could entertain a crowd with his mere presence.
The original Born to Boogie film itself has been lovingly restored
with acute attention to detail...but the two bonus concerts are what make
this package a MUST HAVE. As advertised, these discs really are "the
ultimate T. Rex experience." Marc Bolan in the prime of his life and
career. So...if you weren't there...watching this footage most certainly
IS the next best thing. The concerts feature multi-camera angles that give
the viewer a chance to see the band from several perspectives. Remixed by
Tony Visconti, the sound quality is superb throughout. Among the
additional goodies included is an ultra rare bit of film featuring a very
early Tyrannosaurus Rex performing Sarah Crazy Child for a
tiny audience in a small, smoky club in the 1960s. Truly amazing. If you
never cared for T. Rex well...you probably aren't even the slightest bit
interested in this. But for those who have been touched by Bolan's words,
music, and personal magic...this package is guaranteed to give you CHILLS.
Watch in amazement as Marc effortlessly plays four roles simultaneously.
Not only does he constantly switch back and forth between rhythm guitar
and lead guitar while singing...but he is also the quintessential dancing
showman and the constant focal point for everyone within eyeshot and earshot.
Utter sheer brilliance and purely magnetic stage presence. The bottom line
is this. If you have always been disappointed with live T. Rex audio and
video...this is one instance where you WILL NOT be disappointed.
This box set is a chilling and insightful reminder that Bolan
remains the greatest vocalist, songwriter, poet, lyricist, and all around
entertainer of all time. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (Rating: 10+++)
John
Vanderslice - Pixel Revolt (Advance
CD, Barsuk, Pop)
Pixel Revolt is being touted as the album fans have waited for John
Vanderslice to record. But in our minds, prior to this release he had
already recorded three albums that we had waited for him to record.
Vanderslice has been a favorite in babysueland for years...and Pixel
Revolt is as good or better than anything he has recorded. For those
unfamiliar with the man, John writes and records personalized mid-tempo
pop with a heavy accent on inventive arrangements and pensive lyrics. Those
who already know his music will most certainly already be planning on scooping
this up as soon as it becomes available (August 23, 2005). The biggest difference
between this album and previous releases is how smooth the tunes are. Possibly
the result of writing and recording and producing for so long, Mr. Vanderslice
has managed to come up with a batch of tunes that are ultimately soothing
and just slightly surreal...while still retaining all the elements that
made his music so intriguing in the first place. Assisting Vanderslice on
this album is John Darnielle (of The Mountain Goats). Pixel
Revolt will easily end up being on many "best of" lists for
2005. This album will stand up to thousands of spins. Stellar tracks include
"Letter to the East Coast," "Plymouth Rock," "Trance
Manual," "Farwell Transmission," and "The Golden Gate."
Truly fantastic stuff. Highly recommended. (Rating: 6)
Volebeats - Like Her (CD, Turquoise
Mountain, Pop)
The seventh full-length release from Volebeats. Heavily influenced
by the British Invasion, the gentlemen in this band write and record surprisingly
catchy and sincere pop tunes that come from the heart. The band consists
of Jeff Oakes, Scott Michalski, Russell Ledford, John
Nash (who is also in Electric Six and babysue favorite
The Witches), and Matthew Smith (who is also in babysue
favorite Outrageous Cherry). Though this band has been around since
1987, they have put out relatively few albums during the course of their
career. This could be due to the fact that the members have other projects
going on simultaneously. In any event, fans of this band are probably always
ready for more...and Like Her is certain to satisfy their needs.
Folks who are already into Smith's other band (Outrageous Cherry) will find
a lot to love here. The band's tunes feature chiming guitars, creative melodies,
and the some of the purest vocals around. Volebeats tunes are simple and
clean, allowing the listener to concentrate on the exceptional melodies
and lyrics. Great tracks include "Like Her," "Can It Really
Be?", "In The Garden," "Touch Me One Time," and
"Time Travel." Killer from start to finish. (Rating: 5++)
Denison
Witmer - Are You A Dreamer? (CD, The Militia Group, Pop)
We just knew there was something special about Denison Witmer
the first time we heard his music. A couple of years have gone by...and
now others obviously share this same feeling. Witmer has covered a lot of
ground recently. Nowadays he's obviously hanging out with the right people.
Featured on this album are Don Peris and Karen Peris (of babysue
favorite The Innocence Mission), Sufjan Stevens (another babysue
favorite), James McAlister, and Shara Worden. In addition,
Witmer has been touring recently with Copeland (yet another
of our top favorites). Are You A Dreamer? continues in the same tradition
Witmer has created for himself. The album presents ten soft classic pop
tunes. The songs are smart and effective...and they feature perfectly crafted
arrangements. What sets this man apart from so many others is the fact that
his music could easily be appreciated by millions of people...if they only
had the chance to hear him. Top notch cuts include "Little Flowers,"
"Everything But Sleep," "East From West," and "Finding
Your Feet Again." (Rating: 5++)
Yellowcard - Where We Stand (CD, Takeover,
Rock)
This is one of two albums the band Yellowcard released while they
were still in high school (before frontman Ryan Key joined). Originally
released in 1999, Where We Stand offers a good snapshot of the band
in their early days. One can't help but be impressed by the fact that folks
so young could create a project such as this. The songs are solid and the
playing is tight and focused. Yellowcard fans should find this to be a very
interesting collection of tunes as it offers a glimpse of what the band
was like before they hit it big. In addition to the ten tracks, this disc
also includes a mini photo album and a video performance featuring the original
lineup. Includes "Lesson Learned," "Uphill Both Ways,"
"Doesn't Matter," "On The Brink." (Rating: 4+++)
Yinky Yinky Sassy Poo - Stinky Stinky Yassy Foo (CD, BCTR, Rooster doodle)
This is not music. This is Yinky Yinky Sassy Poo. The name is stupid.
So are the "tracks" that are included on this CD. You can't find
this anywhere. In fact, you won't ever find anything anywhere. This
is the end. The end of your consciousness. We have now taken over.
When you sleep, you will hear this refrain: "Little pop stars in
the sky, little pop stars kink and die." There is no obvious conclusion
to anything. There are no solutions to problems. There is only peace. Peace
and tranquility in sleep. Night comes quickly and hides the waste. The waste
blows over the cold shoulders of the horizon...taking those in who are clever
enough to ignore.
The remnants of everything lay in the palm of your hand. Observe them closely with resolve...because there is no tomorrow.
Hey, there ain't really no band called this. So...go ask your local retailer for the new Yinky Yinky Sassy Poo album. Do it before midnight TONIGHT!
We've been watching too many episodes of Lost In Space this month...and now it's beginning to show (!). Danger, Will Robinson...DANGER!!!
(Rating: 1)
Agape - Agape
Alcibiades Jones - Refraction mirage
American Zen - Level 1
Glyn Bailey - Toys from Balsa
Bill - Bat man
Biohazard - Means to an end
The Boroughs - Ostrich
Bunnygrunt - Karen hater's club
The Burning Effigies - Pipe dream
Chicago Blues Explosion - Buried alive in the blues
The Chicharones - When pigs fly
CKY - An answer can be found (sampler)
Whitney Cline - Bring on the rain
Crimson Sweet - Eat the night
Cult of Sue Todd - Nothing noteworthy happened today
Daikaiju - Daikaiju
Damage - Velocity
Dexter Danger - Hellafornia
Dark Skin - Flo food
DeNunzio - Continuous vaudeville
Dimension Mix - A tribute to Dimension 5 Records
Dog Men Poets - Dog Men Poets
Drums & Tuba - The Peleton
Echo Revolution - In the wire
Ellery - Make your troubles mine
Esthero - Wikked lil' grrls (sampler)
Fine China - The jaws of life
The Garden Party - Pointed at the sky
Gigantic - Some suburban road
The Grievous Angels - The Grievous Angels
Sara Hamilton - Call my name
Heavy Duty Felt - for the time being
Hootie and the Blowfish - Looking for lucky
Husky Bus - What done to Husky Bus?
Khali Hustle - Tha story behind tha scarz
Khierstin - Lost in this
Indicia - Identifying marks
The Indigo Vaginas - Politics and fishes
Innaway - Innaway
Issobella - Surrogate emotions of the silverscreen
The January Taxi - Keep quiet, they might hear us
Joe Kile - Kings avenue
David Levin - Stepping on my hat
Life Before This - Life Before This
Lowlights - Dark end road
Steven Mark - Aloneaphobe
Mayaflyer - All the stars
Adam McIntyre - Nothing means anything
The Mispent - All there is, is now
Mopa - Mopa
The Muggs - The Muggs
The Myriad - You can't trust a ladder
The Naptown Amplifier Co. - Captain Ahab's graveside seafood stand
Near Miss / Reeve Oliver / The Matches - 3-way issue #2
New Estate - Considering...
Nita - Let's dance
North Atlantic Explorers - Skylines
Nuclear Assault - Third world genocide
Patriotic Country - 2
Players Club - Coextinction
Eliot Popkin - Endless ride
Red Pony Clock / Cat & Dog Dialogue - Split CD
Rockers - 25th anniversary edition (DVD)
The Route 66 Killers - Murder on beaver street
Charlie Scopoletti - Charlie Scopoletti
Stephen Sebastian - Play
Shadow Project - And then there was death (DVD)
Silversun pickups - Pikul
Songs From a Big Town - Songs From a Big Town
The Starvations - Gravity's a bitch
The Subjects - The Subjects
Sumitra - Indian girl
Swamy / Astro & Glyde - Le souk Sunday sessions
Tan Sleeve - American blood
Towers of London - F*ck it up
Two girls - Rock n' roll songs about rock and roll
The Unheard Of - The struggle
Uptown Creepers - What they want
Various Artists - Listen to Bob Dylan - A tribute
Veta - The weight of an empty room
Steve Walsh - Shadowman
Wooden Hand - Harem of the sundrem & the witness figg
Wooden Hand and the Vanishing Voice - Xiao
World Leader Pretend - Punches
Wunky Tunky Boofer - Wunky Tunky Boofer
Kathy Zimmer - Dreamin'
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