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Recent Music ReviewsFriday, November 6 2009
Say Anything: Say AnythingMax Bemis and co. have returned with one of the most self-referential albums to ever grace the emo-rock canon, and lo' and behold, it's one of Bemis' best. Wolfmother: Cosmic EggThis is not a new castle, but it's a fairly impressive renovation of the existing foundations. The Swell Season: Strict JoyThe duo from Once return with a fine new album. It's mostly about how their real-life relationship fell apart, but with strong songwriting and gorgeous singing. Neon Indian: Psychic ChasmsSynth pop, effects-heavy rock, and dreamlike euphoria are the driving forces behind Neon Indian’s pleasurable and bright look at pop psychedelia. Karen O and the Kids: Where The Wild Things AreKaren O’s lively soundtrack sounds best where the wild things aren’t: in the most straightforward bits of childlike indie-pop. Slaraffenland: We’re on Your SideThis slightly unclassifiable Danish quintet are good to have on your side, like a friend whose support is rock-solid if uneffusive. Gloria Jones: Share My LoveWith generous remastering by Reel Music, the luster of Share My Love is ever-glistening. A rare gem from the Motown catalog finally gets its due. Thursday, November 5 2009Molina and Johnson: Molina and JohnsonFew get more lonesome on record than Will Johnson (Centro-matic) and Jason Molina (Magnolia Electric Co.). Vince Guaraldi: The Definitive Vince GuaraldiAn individual at Coca-Cola's ad agency proposes the idea of a Charlie Brown Christmas Special, with music by Vince Guaraldi. And a new American institution was born... Spiral Stairs: The Real FeelScott Kannberg's solo debut is aesthetically assured but ultimately a little empty. Sliimy: Paint Your FaceElectric pop confections by a twee Frenchman that sings like an English woman. Cale Parks: To Swift MarsTo Swift Mars samples the ‘80s pop zeitgeist to various effect, but is strongest in its least nostalgic moments. Jim Byrnes: My Walking StickThe American-born Canadian actor/blues musician's songs are as textured as his vocals. Wednesday, November 4 2009
Morrissey: SwordsMorrissey's uneasy expression on the cover notwithstanding, Swords is a worthy collection of 18 b-sides from his last three studio albums. Various Artists: Light on the South SideSounds like golden outtakes from lost sessions where James Brown's backing band got together with Booker T and the MGs at the Stax studios with an insanely talented batch of unknown singers. Brilliant Colors: IntroducingIntroducing might make a case for Brilliant Colors being a knock-off group, a carbon copy of the Vivian Girls with subtle differences. But Brilliant Colors are a good carbon copy. Mayer Hawthorne: A Strange ArrangementIt's that classic biblical tale: little known DJ from suburban Michigan takes on soul god from Motown. And the winner is... AA Bondy: When the Devil’s LooseBondy fuses imagery of moonlit nights and limitless oceans with religious mysticism to evoke a beauty in nihilism. The Cave Singers: Welcome JoyThe Cave Singers attain an unheralded harmony between the back porch and the road on their sophomore masterpiece. Roman Candle: Oh Tall Tree in the EarHere are 11 refreshingly earnest and brazenly straightforward anthems that both rattle your floor and stick in your head. To this reviewer's ears, Roman Candle happily play non-hyphenated, non-adjective-ized Rock and Roll. Tuesday, November 3 2009
Julian Casablancas: Phrazes for the YoungThe singer-songwriter of the Strokes has finally released his solo debut. The wait was worth it. Idlewild: Post Electric BluesFormer Scottish noiseniks get better with age on their sixth album -- available as a free download. Lackthereof: A Lackthereof Retrospective or I Was a Christian Emo TwentysomethingThis compilation offers more than its title suggests, even making an emo Christian compelling. The Black Heart Procession: SixStill bleak after all these years, the Black Heart Procession has failed to, well, proceed much. Jamie T: Kings & QueensI’m sorry, I know England loves this guy, but something about him rings false. David Mead: Almost and AlwaysGentle-rock softy crafts a pop-standards beauty for the Paul Anka lover in your home. Amy Speace: The Killer in MeYes, Amy Speace is another girl with a guitar. But on this album, she proves that she's more than fierce enough to rock the scowl that she bares on its front cover. Monday, November 2 2009
Weezer: RaditudeWeezer are now writing nothing but unabashed pop songs, aiming for nothing but the top of the charts and hoping you'll come along for the ride to multi-platinum glory. Word of advice: don't. Max Richter: MemoryhouseFat Cat reissues Max Richter's debut album from 2002. Tickley Feather: Hors D’oeuvresPsychedelic experiments from Paw Tracks up-and-comer. Soulico: Exotic on the SpeakerDeftly incorporates a multitude of rhythmic structures and vocal styles that are distinctly Middle Eastern, hip-hop, or, as the case may be, both. Kris Kristofferson: Closer to the BoneDon't look so sad. Kris Kristofferson keeps on turning out warm and tender songs, like the shadows on the wall. The Donnas: Greatest Hits Volume 16For partiers, perverts, and the girl power posse, Greatest Hits: Volume 16 is a must have. For everyone else -- well, if you don't love them by now, this ain't gonna hook your gills. Rhonda Vincent: Destination LifeThe full-throated bluegrass singer in her first studio outing with her wonderful touring band. Friday, October 30 2009
Bad Lieutenant: Never Cry Another TearA new, guitar-based band from these Manchester vets. It's New Order minus Peter Hook! Or 1/2 The Other Two + Bernard Sumner! Kings of Convenience: Declaration of DependenceQuiet is no longer the new loud and the Kings may need to up their game if they're to leave work of lasting value. Henry Threadgill: This Brings Us To, Volume 1Henry Threadgill's new release is not music for everyone, but it is music for anyone. Nouvelle Vague: 3Diminishing returns are beginning to set in for Nouvelle Vague's French pop reinterpretations. Beastie Boys: Hello NastyIf Hello Nasty seems less unusual than it did on its appearance in 1998, its inventiveness should not be overlooked. The Black Dahlia Murder: DeflorateAfter years of underachieving, the popular Detroit band starts to live up to expectations on their fourth album. The Reverend Horton Heat: Laughin’ & Cryin’ with the Reverend Horton HeatLaughin' & Cryin' finds the Rev back with a brand new barrel of licks, playing the rockabilly rodeo clown. Thursday, October 29 2009
Chuck Prophet: Let Freedom RingBetween his top-notch previous albums and his work with other artists, Chuck Prophet had already developed a superior artistic cache before Let Freedom Ring, but this is hands down his best work. Flight of the Conchords: I Told You I Was FreakyFlight of the Conchords' new album, like their second season, is frustratingly uneven. BK-One: Radio Do CanibalThis is the album that producers/DJs should look to when crafting their next project. Rarely does a record of this kind sound so natural or cohesive. Sam Bush: Circles Around MeCircles Around Me provides an excellent showcase for Sam Bush's talents as mandolin player, fiddler, singer, and songwriter, as well as a reminder of his role in promoting the "newgrass" phenomenon of the 1970s. Finn Riggins: Vs WildernessMath-rock Idahoans Finn Riggins make a mess on their fourth full-length, to mixed results. Grand Archives: Keep in Mind FrankensteinGrand Archives' sophomore effort really is worth the listen. Meg & Dia: Here, Here, and HereThe hardest part of reviewing Meg and Dia's Here, Here, and Here is avoiding comparisons to If It Was You-era Tegan and Sara. Wednesday, October 28 2009
Hudson Mohawke: ButterScottish musician creates an enjoyable, captivating blend of R&B production and electronic experimentalism on his full-length debut. Do Make Say Think: Other TruthsOther Truths finds the Toronto post-rock quintet in excellent shape, still hitting the sweet spot where skilled musicianship and rugose sonic textures meet. Thao: Know Better, Learn FasterAn unassumingly seductive album, simultaneously groove-ridden, playful and melancholic. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson: Summer of FearThe extravagantly named troubadour makes good on the promise of his ramshackle debut and fights his demons on an excellent sophomore album. Eva & The Heartmaker: Let’s Keep This Up ForeverIf the whole band thing doesn’t work out Eva and her husband could easily replace Dr. Luke and Max Martin as the go-to pop hit makers. Chris Smither: Time Stands StillSmither’s folk blues are the aural equivalent of good American spirits like Knob Creek or Maker’s Mark, and listening to him will make you thirsty for more. We Fell to Earth: We Fell to EarthHave you ever left an art installation remembering the overall impression of the paintings, but unable to account for the details of a single one? Tuesday, October 27 2009
Pelican: What We All Come to NeedWhat We All Come to Need is as aphoristic about living as it is metaphoric about dying. It’s a musical version of Picasso’s Guernica where the instruments are the paintbrushes and your ears are the canvas. Tegan and Sara: SainthoodSainthood , an experimental mesh of their last two efforts, explores new scopes for the Quin twins. Fuck Buttons: Tarot SportThe UK duo return, this time nimbler and more adept. Meshell Ndegeocello: Devil’s HaloWith Devil's Halo, Meshell Ndegeocello reinvents herself yet again and creates her best album since the one-two punch of her masterworks, Bitter and Cookie. Rival Consoles: IOIn the foreground, it's a solid slab of dance beats and sequencers; in the background, it's something more. The Ettes: Do You Want PowerCo-ed garage trio expand their sound with some help from Greg Cartwright. Twista: Category F5Twista can slice and dice words like a razor-sharp Ginsu knife. But F5 finds him getting twisted by the torque of his own tornado. Monday, October 26 2009
Devendra Banhart: What Will We Be“I know I look high," Banhart sings on his new album, “but I’m just free-dancing." If only we could join him. Carly Simon: Never Been GoneCarly Simon deserves a strong comeback, but this oddball project of re-recorded hits and misses isn't it. Vijay Iyer Trio: HistoricityA stellar jazz trio + a wide-ranging repertoire = a great record. Port O’Brien: ThreadbareLoss weighs heavy on Port O’Brien’s new LP. While it’s not the dreaded “sophomore slump,” the band is certainly in an emotional one. Irma Thomas: The Soul Queen of New Orleans: 50th Anniversary CelebrationWhile this compilation falls a little short of a full-scale golden anniversary party, it's probably the right celebration for right now. NOMO: Invisible CitiesNomo imagines every city skyline as a sound wave and, building on Ghost Rock, diffuses their Afrobeat-centeric sound in directions that could get any city's party pumping. Timber Timbre: Timber TimbreKeep it simple, keep it good, and people will listen. Except with Timber Timbre, where there's not much to hear. Friday, October 23 2009
Leonard Cohen: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970Thank god Leonard Cohen is back on top, because otherwise we may never have gotten to hear this incredible show. Sparks: The Seduction of Ingmar BergmanWho else but Sparks could create a half-English, half-Swedish musical about Ingmar Bergman's fictional, fantastical journey to Hollywood... and still make it good? MV + EE: Barn NovaProlific purveyors of independently-released psychedelic classic rock return to Ecstatic Peace! with their fourth offering on a bigger stage. 7 Worlds Collide: The Sun Came OutThe feel-good glow of shared love informs both the intent and the content here. Lucero:1372 Overton ParkOh what a difference Memphis horns, piano, female backup singers, some ballads, and genuine southern hip swagger can make. Tim Buckley: Live at the Folklore Center, NYC - March 6, 1967Even in a solo, voice-and-guitar setting, Tim Buckley was never the typical folksinger. This unearthed concert recording offers an essential glimpse into his evolution. Jefferson Airplane: Jefferson Airplane: The Woodstock ExperienceJefferson Airplane is a lot like Woodstock itself: rightfully iconic, yet slightly overrated. Fittingly, their live performance at the festival is forever enshrined on this two disc set. Thursday, October 22 2009
Converge: Axe to FallFittingly, the Massachusetts band caps off the decade with their best album to date. Alec Ounsworth: Mo BeautyThe singer from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah releases his second solo side-project for 2009, this one recorded with local musicians in New Orleans Islands: VapoursIslands dials back the excess just like you like it, you damn hipster rube. Jay Haze: Fabric 47Steady, mellow-ish 4/4 mix rudely interrupted by the Last Poets. Anvil: This is ThirteenYou've seen the movie, now hear the album. Really, it's that good. Chris Knight: Trailer IIKnight's talents have always been apparent, but these stripped-down versions manage to shine a new light on some formidable songs. Stellastarr*: CivilizedNew York new wavers stick to what they do best on their third long-player -- but hint at future directions. Wednesday, October 21 2009
Lyle Lovett: Natural ForcesOne of country's great natural forces takes a step backward by forgetting that the great Lyle Lovett albums were full of Lyle Lovett songs. Daniel Johnston: Is And Always WasOn his first album in 6 years, Daniel Johnston plunders his record collection but doesn't come up with all that much. Boston Spaceships: Zero to 99Robert Pollard's latest recording outlet releases its finest effort yet. Squarepusher: Solo Electric Bass 1Solo Electric Bass 1 effortlessly careens from frenetic rhythmic études to moody atmospheric pieces that veer dangerously close to random instrument plucking, Various Artists: Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee SillA pantheon of indie rockers seeks to revive the reputation of a lost singer-songwriter. David Nail: I’m About to Come AliveTrying to make his way in the world is clearly what Nail is doing, and it’s the album’s chief subject. Better Than Ezra: Paper EmpireEqual parts shaky and sturdy. Tuesday, October 20 2009
White Denim: FitsFits is an electic, sprawling, amps-to-11 rock excursion that revels in nostalgia almost to the point of outright defiance. White Denim have crafted one of the best rock albums of 2009. OOIOO: Armonico HewaDespite the dark forests that OOIOO occasionally travel, it seems the group is ultimately driven to find the open pastures and high, harmonious places where the air is clear. Rain Machine: Rain MachineTV on the Radio’s bearded guitar hero, Kyp Malone, wanders on a solo journey. Ethernet: 144 Pulsations of LightTim Gray, in his first full-length work for Kranky as Ethernet, finds the heartbeat in drone. Tom Russell: Blood and Candle SmokeCut from the same cloth as songwriting alchemists Kris Kristofferson and Guy Clark, Russell's evocative portraits of everyday life draw as much from Graham Green as they do Johnny Cash. Still Life Still: Girls Come TooStill Life Still garner some hard earned praise with their debut album, but the Arts & Crafts protégées still have some fine-tuning to do before they join the ranks of Canada’s best. Hexlove: Your Love of Music Will Play an Important Part in Your LifeIt's a hard sell for those who don't already enjoy experimental ambient music and/or drone. But for those that do, it's two discs worth of bliss. |
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:. Say Anything: Say Anything :. Wolfmother: Cosmic Egg :. The Swell Season: Strict Joy :. Neon Indian: Psychic Chasms :. Karen O and the Kids: Where The Wild Things Are :. Slaraffenland: We’re on Your Side :. Gloria Jones: Share My Love
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