• The Strokes: "Juicebox" Nice Peter Gunn riff. B+
• Depeche Mode: "Precious" (Michael Mayer Balearic Mix) A deep, unhurried translation. B
• Don Omar: "Reggaeton Latino" Raucous, thudding, proud Reggaeton. B
• Trey Anastasio: "Shine" Un-Phish pop song. B
• Mylo featuring Miami Sound Machine: "Doctor Pressure" Estefan samples sorta work. B-
• Alanis Morissette: "Crazy" (James Michaels Mix) A tepid Seal cover. C+
• Imogen Heap: "Hide and Seek" Drop the effin' vocoder. C-
• Poddy: "The Download Freak" A waste of bytes. D-

Posted by Glenn at 2:36 PM | Link | Comment (5)
|Music Review|

• Iron & Wine/Calexico: In The Reins EP (Overcoat) Mash-up of the year. B+
• Devendra Banhart: Cripple Crow (XL) Annoys some. Not me. B+
• Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary (Sub Pop) I was at work. B+
• Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene (Arts & Crafts) Less form, more instruments. B
• Echo and the Bunnymen: Siberia (Cooking Vinyl) Just what I expected. B
• Rob Dickinson: Fresh Wine for the Horses (Sanctuary) Deep music, OK lyrics. B
• Big Star: In Space (Rykodisc) More like solo Chilton. C+

Posted by Glenn at 2:36 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|Music Review|

• DJ Cappel & Smitty: Blue Eyes Meets Bed-Stuy (Jon Moskowitz Presents) Biggie-meets-Sinatra mixtape. B+
• Amadou & Mariam: Dimanche a Bamako (Nonesuch) Mali's latest great export. B+
• The Willowz: Talk In Circles (Sympathy For the Music Industry) The sound of youth. B+
• Voxtrot: Raised By Wolves EP (Culthero) Twee, but with balls. B-
• The Click Five: Greetings From Imrie House (Lava) Cheese, but good cheese. B-
• Tommy Lee: Tommyland: The Ride (Adrenaline Music) Musically schizophrenic, but decent. C
• Crazy Frog: Presents Crazy Hits (Universal) A digital William Hung. D

Posted by Glenn at 1:00 PM | Link | Comment (2)
|Music Review|

• Gary Higgins: Red Hash (Drag City) Treasure from the '60s. B+
• Maria Taylor: 11:11 (Saddle Creek) Deep, soulful, (ethereal) pop. B
• Why?: Elephant Eyelash (Anticon) Fun, adventurous, sometimes flimsy. B
• Doveman: The Acrobat (Swim Slowly) Slightly faster than Low. B-
• Spinto Band: Nice and Nicely Done (Bar/None) Nickname is Beaulah Jr.? B-
• Big Dume: Inside My Head (Chartless) Music for date movies. C

Posted by Glenn at 8:53 AM | Link | Comment (3)
|Music Review|

• The Double: Loose In The Air (Matador) Dirty psychedelic beauty. B+
• Various: Run The Road (Vice) Great grime comp. B
• Head of Femur: Hysterical Stars (Spin Art) Lovable and perky. B
• Eric Matthews: Six Kinds of Passion Looking for an Exit (Empyrean) I expected greatness. B-
• Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (Maverick) Ol' memory lane. C+

Posted by Glenn at 9:30 AM | Link
|Music Review|

• Daniel Lanois: Belladona (Anti) One for the headphones. B+
• Son Volt: Okemah and the Melody of Riot (Legacy) Welcome back, Son Volt. B
• Kekele: Congo Life (Stern's Africa) Good. Need more listens. B
• Tony Iommi: Fused (Sanctuary) Been listening to Soundgarden? B-
• Nine Black Alps: EP (Tiny Evil) Promising but somewhat thin. C+

Posted by Glenn at 3:45 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|Music Review|

• Ry Cooder: Chavez Ravine (Nonesuch) History and social commentary. B+
• Rinocerose: "Bitch" (single) Blows away Meredith Brooks. B+
• Moonbabies: War On Sound (Parasol) Beautiful, layered, dreamy pop. B
• The Charming Snakes: Ammunition (Dirtnap) Eh. I wasn't moved. C+
• Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers: The Two EP's (Atlantic) Flogging a garage horse. C

Posted by Glenn at 8:31 AM | Link
|Music Review|

• Teenage Fanclub: Man-Made (Merge) Strong start, modest finish. B
• Lords of Dogtown: Soundtrack (Geffen) All the classic hits. B
• 13 & God: 13 & God (Anticon) Absorbing ambience and glitch. B
• Youth Group: Skeleton Jar (Epitaph) Wide eyed indie pop. B-
• Coldplay: X&Y (Capitol) Terminal broken record syndrome. C
• Kelly Osbourne: Sleeping In The Nothing (Sanctuary) Exactly. A big nothing. D

Posted by Glenn at 12:11 PM | Link | Comment (9)
|Music Review|

• White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan (V2) Uh...wow. Really amazing. A-
• Ali Farke Toure: Red & Green (Nonesuch/World Circuit) Two greats remastered, reissued. B+
• Oasis: Don't Believe The Truth (Sony) Don't believe it sucks. B
• Last Days of April: If You Lose It (Bad Taste) Death Cab for Posies. B
• Shade: Fedra (Lovely Recordings) Post shoegazer from Pittsburgh. B-
• Bjork: Army of Me Covers and Remixes (One Little Indian) Interesting experiment, bad album. D

Posted by Glenn at 3:28 PM | Link | Comment (3)
|Music Review|

• Various: Golden Afrique Vol. 1 (Network) West Africa's golden era. A
• Gorillaz: Demon Days (Virgin) Many highlights but uneven. B-
• Junkbox: "4,000 Miles" Live on XFM MP3 from band website. Guitars. Drums. Raw. Rawkin'. B
• Son Volt: A Retrospective: 1995-2000 (Rhino) Nice to hear again. B
• Heavy Trash: Heavy Trash (Yep Roc) Eh...I'm rather unmoved. C-
• Diamond Nights: Once We Were Diamonds (Kemado) .38 Thin Billy Leon. B+
• The Most Serene Republic: "Content Was Always My Favourite Colour" (Arts & Crafts) MP3 from label website. Boces-ish sans horns. B+

Posted by Glenn at 2:17 PM | Link | Comment (2)
|Music Review|

• Spoon: Gimme Fiction (Merge) Such nice indie rock. B
• Weezer: Make Believe (Geffen) Not bad, not good C+
• Team Sleep: Team Sleep (Maverick) Different band, unmistakably Moreno. B
• Bob Mould: Body of Song (Yep Roc) Cohesive, focused, with subleties. B+
• Various: The Rough Guide To The Andes: Bolivia (World Music Network) It has Los Kjarkas! B+
• 808 State: Utd. State 90 (Tommy Boy) It's aged very well. A

Posted by Glenn at 1:47 PM | Link | Comment (3)
|Music Review|

• Dr. Dog: Easy Beat (Future Farmer) Well crafted, lo fi. B+
• Fischerspooner: Odyssey (Capitol) Such a big improvement. B+
• Autechre: Untitled (Warp) Back in fine form. B
• The Blue Van: The Art of Rolling (TVT) Stuck in the '60s. C+
• Joe Perry: Joe Perry (Columbia) Great riffs, bland lyrics. C+
• DJ Spooky & Dave Lombardo: Drums of Death (Thirsty Ear) Few highs, many lows. C-

Posted by Glenn at 12:41 PM | Link
|Music Review|

• Garbage: Bleed Like Me (Geffen) Eh, whatever. It's Garbage. B-
• Stephen Malkmus: Face the Truth (Matador) Improvement upon Pig Lib. B
• Yo La Tengo: Prioners of Love: 1985-2003 (Matador) Couldn't get through it. Incomplete
• Elkland: Golden (Sony) Eighty percent catchy music. B
• Various: Verve Remixed 3 (Verve) This horse is beaten. C-
• The Wonder Stuff: Eight-Legged Groove Machine (Polydor) Dust off this gem. A-

Posted by Glenn at 12:43 PM | Link | Comment (4)
|Music Review|

• Carla Bruni: Quelqu' M'a Dit (V2) Beautiful, gentle folk pop. B+
• The Bravery: The Bravery (Island) Better than Brandon's band. B
• New Order: Waiting for the Siren's Call (Warner Bros) Grading on tough curve. B-
• Various: Slum Dunk - Funk Carioca (Mr. Bongo) Great Brazilian favella comp. B+
• Elope: The No Name Record (Parasol) Beatles meets stoner rock. B

Posted by Glenn at 4:37 PM | Link
|Music Review|

• Various: Afro-Baby: Evolution of the Afro Sound (Soundway) Worth $19.98 plus tax. B+
• Bloc Party: Silent Alarm (Vice/Atlantic) Very simply, I'm surprised. A-
• Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon (Wrasse) The DVD is great. A-
• Louis XIV: The Best Little Secrets Are Kept (Atlantic) Mucho Mark E. Smith. B
• M.I.A.: Arular (XL) I'm still not sure. Incomplete
• Brendan Benson: The Alternative To Love (V2) A lesser to Lapalco. B
• The High Speed Scene: The High Speed Scene (Star Trak/Interscope) Vintage T-shirts and irony. C+

Posted by Glenn at 1:27 PM | Link | Comment (4)
|Music Review|

• The Flaming Stars: Named and Shamed (Alternative Tentacles) Whiskey and beer music.
• Michael Mayer: Touch (Kompakt) Great artist, great label.
• Motley Crue: "If I Die Tomorrow" (single) A Metallica-like metal balad.
• Graham Coxen: Happiness In Magazines (Astralwerks) Better than Blur's latest.
• Fiery Furnaces: EP (Rough Trade) Good songs. No throwaways.

Posted by Glenn at 4:22 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|Music Review|

Bloodthirsty Lovers, featuring Dave Shouse (formerly of The Grifters, a.k.a. a Memphis band everyone name-drops but no one's actually heard), just dropped their new album, The Delicate Seam, out now on Frenchkiss Records. The record is a lot of things, but to this reviewer, pretty much all of them are just so-so. The lyrics aren't great. The beats aren't spectacular, and there are no killer riffs or superstar tracks.

The music is flighty, the vocals almost talk-sung. Don't get me wrong--it's a decent enough album. The album's closer, "Medicated," (featuring Katie Eastburn from Young People) gives the album at least one bright spot. It's just not anything to write home about. It's pretty boring and definitely blah. In this day in age when music fans are just inundated with new releases, ringtones, videos, movies, books, magazines, and gossip about whatever band or star they're into, it's just hard to hold on to, and especially to tightly embrace, something that's just okay.

Artist: Bloodthirsty Lovers
Title: The Delicate Seam
Label: Frenchkiss Records
Listen to the album here

Posted by at 4:00 PM | Link | Comment (3)
|Music Review|

Let us for a moment contemplate the essential goodness of the concept that I have come to think of as the "Musical Hamburger." To truly understand the Musical Hamburger, however, one must first understand it's diametric opposite, "Musical Foie Gras." Once one has developed a taste for Musical Foie Gras, it can be all-consuming. One goes through phases in which one desires only Musical Foie Gras. One helplessly compares the subtle nuances of each Musical Foie Gras experience to the next. One can barely contain the disdain felt for those whose tastes aren't so refined as to enjoy Musical Foie Gras. The potential pleasure of Musical Foie Gras is high indeed, but with all of that cataloging and attendant snobbery, it can be exhausting as well.

Which brings us to the Musical Hamburger. The Musical Hamburger's pleasures are often bigger and bolder, in a way that could be described as less refined and more common--but does this make them ultimately any less enjoyable? Of course not. Every now and then, the only antidote to life's B.S. is a big ol' Musical Hamburger that one can consume in four or five spirited bites. Upon completion, one only thinks, "Yum!"

Continue reading "Music Review: Hexstatic - MasterView" »

Posted by at 12:28 PM | Link
|Music Review|

A few years ago, French pop band Phoenix had all but dropped off the music map in the States--not that they ever left a huge imprint in the first place. The album United had come and gone fairly quietly. Sofia Coppola was a fan, however, and so the French band's upbeat "Too Young" found its way onto the soundtrack for her breakthrough movie, "Lost In Translation." It gave the band a little life in this country and helped Phoenix find some new fans.

Next came the group's second album, Alphabetical, a fine collection of slick pop songs that balance the soft pop sounds of Steely Dan with trace remnants of Frence house and Europe's take on American whitebread funk.

With its slick, sometimes heavy-handed production, the songs on Alphabetical kind of implied that Pheonix is the child of studio wizadry and not fit for the live setting. That's what makes Live...30 Days Ago such a revelation and one of the better live albums released in recent years. Familiar songs have been given fresh, new faces, and in the live setting they're bursting with energy. Rhythms are unhinged from drum machines and loops. Polish and restraint have been replaced incredible talent and an ability to do what all great live bands do: Turn short, radio-ready songs into better on-stage versions.

The transformation, as witnessed in their recent NYC live shows, is astounding. "If I Ever Feel Better" is a seven-minute funk-rock workout (and was the lighlight of the conert). "Victim of the Crime" goes from a bouncy ablum version to a rousing mix between Stevie Wonder and Jellyfish. "(You Can't Blame It On) Anybody" sparkles.

Live...30 Days Ago is a rarity. As was the case with many of the great live albums of the '70s, this live collection offers the definitive versions of the songs--and the margin between live and studio isn't even close. United and Alphabetical are both very good albums, but once you've heard the live versions it'll be hard to go back. For me, I'll go back to the studio ablums mainly to hear what potential can be unlocked in concert.

(Note: Phoenix Live...30 Days Ago is available on iTunes and Rhapsody. The CD will not be in stores for a few months. It's $9.99 well spent. Or you can shell out $31.99 at Amazon.com.)

Artist: Phoenix
Title: Live...30 Days Ago
Label: Astralwerks

Posted by Glenn at 3:05 PM | Link | Comment (4)
|Music Review|

So here's the problem: I just don't want to hear any of the umpty-million versions of "Baby It's Cold Outside" anymore, and it's only December 6th. And I don't want to hear Bing Crosby and David Bowie's charmingly off-the-cuff repartee before they share the joys of "Little Drummer Boy" together. I don't even want to hear Ray or Ella's impeccable stylings of the old classics. And the "alternative" alternative of a bunch of Blink 182 knockoffs belting out jacked up versions of "Run Run Rudolph" or whatever is even more horrifyingly bad. I just... don't. It's too much. Too often. To have to hear this stuff exclusively for approximately 8% of each year is just cruel. It even goes beyond "don't want to." I physically can't, at least without running the risk of serious self-imposed injury.

Yesterday afternoon, whilst wrapping presents to all of tunes, I had to put the scotch tape and scissors down and just... walk... away... slowly. But then I remembered, the perfect antidote was already in my possession. You see, last year, I bought my dad The World's Best Christmas Music compilation. He collects them, and boy would he have loved it. The problem is, I ordered it, and then it arrived, and then I saw how cool it was, and I was like "Dad, you can have a scarf instead."

Continue reading "Music Review: Various - Seasonal Greetings" »

Posted by at 5:16 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|Music Review|

The new album from the indie darlings The Innocence Mission will put you right to sleep. But, hey, that's okay--it's a collection of songs the singer, Karen Perlis, has sung to her children as lullabies.

The album is all covers, and features some classic sing-a-long favorites, such as "Over the Rainbow," "What a Wonderful World," and, my favorite, "Moon River," done in a slow solo fashion. Accompanied mainly by an acoustic guitar or minimal instrumentation, the songs are great for kids of all ages. Recently, plenty of "adult" bands have been wooing the kids lately through albums or TV appearances, great for parents with discerning musical tastes, future hipsters, or anyone trying to embrace their childhood. While this album is full of songs meant to lull listeners off to dreamland, it's delightfully listenable and totally enchanting.

Artist: The Innocence Mission
Title: Now the Day is Over (Proceeds benefit Catholic Relief Services doing work with South African orphans.)
Label: Badman Recording Co.
Listen to: What a Wonderful World

Posted by at 3:48 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|Music Review|

The second Nonesuch album from former Christian contemporary singer Sam Phillips blends coffeehouse tunes with a raspy and solitary Aimee Mann/Elliott Smith lyrical vibe. The singer, who is sometimes featured on the surprisingly indie WB show Gilmore Girls and is married to album producer T-Bone Burnett, channels a pure sense of intimacy into the recordings, making for a nice stripped down musical aesthetic.

Songs like "Reflecting Light" sound remarkably familiar, probably due to their prevalence in various cable promos and TV shows. Maybe these shows are onto something--heck, the OC soundtracks aren't half bad. All the songs on a boot and a shoe are short and to the point, with eight of the 13 tracks running under 2:30. The real rocker of the album is "Infiltration," but even that is more of a foot-tapper than a head-banger. Overall, a sweet, melodic trip for the singer-songwriter fan.

Artist: Sam Phillips
Title: a boot and a shoe
Label: Nonesuch Records
Check out clips at Phillips' Nonesuch site

Posted by at 2:34 PM | Link | Comment (2)
|Music Review|

The new EP from New Orleans based Home Video, out on Warp Records, blends ghostly Radiohead-esque vocals, laid back electronic beats a la Boards of Canada, and an ominous and brooding style that's all their own. All this combines to form a blissfully trippy sound that leaves any listener wanting, and seeking, more.

Each song on the EP has its own merits. Opener "Citizen" starts with some calculating bleeps fit for opening credits for a new spy movie, but later goes into Yorke-ian lyric patterns. Closer "The Tundra" has deep funk bass lines and echoing and mumbled lyrics, making for a very Underworld lyrical sound at points. Either way, Home Video's got a ton of kick ass influences. If musicians are what they listen to, then you know this EP's worth a listen.

Artist: Home Video
Title: Citizen EP
Label: Warp Records
Check out clips at Bleep

Posted by at 2:14 PM | Link
|Music Review|

The tireless electromagician of Planet Orb returns with a pleasing, albeit not astounding set of sounds. The album starts with a handful of tunes that feel like little more than a few gentle loops with a little gritty glitchery sprinkled on top. Nice enough if you're desperate for some chillout mix filler, but certainly not genre-defining. Things get a bit more interesting later on, however: deep dubby whirpools, ornate organic textures, even a few smartly cracking street-worthy beats.

Not that Fehlmann himself isn't capable of these ideas, but the influence of Ghostly International's Dabrye can be felt in these touches too, even on a few of the tracks he's not explicitly credited for. All in all, it's a collection that will keep the Orbies happy, even if it's not powerful enough to garner a massive amount of converts.

Artist: Thomas Fehlmann
Title: Lowflow
Label: Plug Research

Posted by at 12:34 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|Music Review|

• Nirvana: With the Lights Out (Geffen) For diehard fans only.
• The Donnas: Gold Medal (Warner Bros) Weak hooks, flat songs.
• Puffy AmiYumi: Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi (Sony) Now this has sass!
• Lincoln Park w/Jay-Z: "Numb/Encore" (Warner Bros, single) A pitiful, worthless hybrid.
• American Minor: Buffalo Creek (Jive) Again with the '70s?!
• Lazyboy: Lazyboy TV (Universal) Spoken word gone awry.
• Various: Guitar Tribute to the Offpsring (Tribute Records) Good for a laugh.

Posted by Glenn at 2:10 PM | Link | Comment (3)
|Music Review|

Featuring pounding beats, industrial dance tracks and shrill vocals, the new Dead Combo album is both scary and intense. However, the album won't keep anyone over six up at night and is definitely interesting and listenable.

These post-Finnish rockers may not have the bringing-the-house-down tracks like a more poppier The Rapture or Junior Senior, but you have to give them at least a little bit of credit for their stark and impressive cover of David Bowie's "Let's Dance." Other tracks like "You Don't Look So Good" make you long for strobe lights and a dirty bar. Though not the best album to put on during the ol' Thanksgiving feast, it's definitely good for getting you robo-pumped for the mall (or bar) tear the day after... if you're into that sort of thing.

Artist: Dead Combo
Title: Dead Combo
Label: Output Records
Check out: You Don't Look So Good (MP3) and You Don't Look So Good (Video)

Posted by at 10:56 AM | Link
|Music Review|

World beat can be a two-edged sword. Exploring exotic textures and combining cultures can make for fantastic listening, but there runs a high risk of little of substance behind the facade. Artists and producers get so caught up in whatever that month's trendy sound happens to be, or the entire production is carried away in a river of reverb and studio trickery, that the roots of the experience--the actual songwriting and the cultural context--is, sadly, sometimes an afterthought.

Tassoumakan, the latest album by Malian musician Issa Bagayogo, strikes an effortless balance between native culture and modern style. It's captivating in the way that tradition has been combined with Western dance elements--from house to trip-hop to looped samples. Bagayogo's strong, steady voice and his presence are the focus of all 14 songs, and a few, "Dya Bana" and "Ciew Mawele," are stripped of virtually everything but voice and acoustic instruments. But the album is at its best on songs like "Dya," where the moving, traditional music of Mali has been intertwined with subtle Western textures.

Artist: Issa Bagayogo
Title: Tassoumakan
Label: Six Degrees Records
Listen: A clip of "Dya"

Posted by Glenn at 2:04 PM | Link
|Music Review|

When paying tribute to one's music predecessors, it's important to note that there's a difference between respectful homage and, well, shamelessly throwing oneself prostrate at the altar of whatever influence whose schtick you've decided to hijack and call your own. I've just listened to You've Been Spiked, and apparently Chris Joss didn't get that memo.

It should be admitted that the Frenchman seems to be a more than proficient multi-instrumentalist, but his "original" pieces are less re-readings and more regurgitations, Stepford clones of countless groove classics. (Anyone ever heard the Shaft soundtrack before? Care to hear a less inspired version of it now? Really?)

What existed in those originals, and what is missing from Joss's pieces, however, is some spark of life. The whole affair is nauseatingly...tasteful, an indictment that can be leveled upon the recent output of Joss's bosses as well (the 18th Street Lounge label is owned by the Brill cream and bossa nova duo better known as the Thievery Corporation.) If you like your lounge music so interminably vanilla, then you've got a very sweet soul-less coma ahead of you. Otherwise, go seek out the originals, or lacking that, at least pick up some David Holmes albums.

Artist: Chris Joss
Title: You've Been Spiked!
Label: 18th Street Lounge Music

Posted by at 11:07 AM | Link | Comment (6)
|Music Review|

Art pop bands have a tough gig. People either get on their case for being too poppy or too arty. They can't make an album without selling out in someone's eyes, and they always have to have kick-ass album art.

So here's what I think about the art-poppers/post-prog-rockers Aloha then. Their new album, Here Comes Everyone, is pretty damn catchy. I dig that they have a vibraphone, but that just goes to say that every band should have crazy instruments because then they will not be crazy at all. Their album art's neat, especially if you like layers. I like that they're from my hometown, Cleveland, but I wish more of their songs were about urban decay and factories closing up shop. (I can't hold that against them, though. It's artistic vision.) Some of their songs, like "Water Your Hands," can take you away to magical wizard lands, but others like "Boys in the Bathtub" are simply pop ditties to mindlessly hum along to. The album seems contained by its own expectations and genres. It never approaches any sort of real emotion or sensation. It's never too happy, sad, hot, cold, sad, or even pretty. It has its occasional high points, but otherwise, it's just a-ok.

Artist: Aloha
Title: Here Comes Everyone
Label: Polyvinyl Records
Listen to: All The Wars, Summer Away

Posted by at 2:20 PM | Link
|Music Review|

The new album from Holly Golightly is sepia toned and full of organ riffs, but that's definitely not a bad thing. The thing about Miss Golightly (allegedly her real name) is that she truly captures all the old timey girl groups (The Shangri-las, Lesley Gore, Little Peggy March) and the smokey country singer vibe (Patsy Cline), combining both songs of schoolgirl love and all-grown-up spite into a bluesy and melodic night at the ol' drinkin' hole.

Songs like "The Luckiest Girl," "Dear John," and "All Grown Up," traverse fake vintage music spectrum. It's easy enough to see why she's a favorite of The White Stripes (and was featured on White Blood Cells). It's also easy to see why this is her 12th album in nine years in the biz and she's still going strong. The album is easily listenable and will have you feeling strong and sassy the whole way through.

Artist: Holly Golightly
Title: Slowly But Surely
Label: Damaged Goods
Check out other Golightly tracks: Give Back Time

Posted by at 9:47 AM | Link
|Music Review|

When artists make sad and pretty albums, do they intentionally sit on them until the winter, when they release them to make us all think about how lovely snow is or how soft our beds are? (Un)forunately, there's a little introspection in even the best of us, and this dangerous release method seems to work.

At least, such is the case for the new Owen album, I do perceive. Chicago's own Mike Owens (formerly or currently of Joan of Arc, The Owls, American Football, Cap'n Jazz) teamed up with his cousin Nate Kinsella, also of Joan of Arc, to write some beautiful and quirky songs that may just put you right to sleep. While other reviews call this album "majestic," I tend to lean more toward "calm." It doesn't have the catchy lyrics of a Death Cab for Cutie, and it's not quite as pretty as an Ida, but there's definitely a place for it in your sad post-election winter rotation, especially if you've got a hole in your heart just waiting to be filled by some pretentious indie lovin'.

Owen - I do perceive.
Polyvinyl Records
Check out: She's a Thief (MP3)

Posted by at 3:16 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|Music Review|

So, how about that Bright Eyes? Fresh off a the Vote for Change tour with Springsteen, R.E.M. and John Fogerty, he's not only working on two new albums due out in January (I'm Wide Awake and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn), but he's also on top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles sales chart this week. Actually, he's not just #1 - he's #1 and #2 - the first time this has happened in seven years.

That being said, "Lua," the #1, is not exactly the new "Hey Ya!" for this season. It's slow, acoustic, and emotive. Bright Eyes, a.k.a. Conor Oberst, is known for his lyrics, and this single really builds off them. They're not earth shattering, but at the very least could be featured in a "very special" episode of The O.C., with a sad, sad, Seth Coen. The rest of the single features non-album tracks like the alt-country rocker "Well Whiskey," a cover of The Bruces' "I Woke Up With This Song In My Head This Morning," and the ode to blue aptly named "True Blue." Any Bright Eyes fan will definitely appreciate this single that will tide them over until the albums drop on January 25--and judging from the charts, the fans are eating it up.

Bright Eyes: Lua
Saddle Creek
Other MP3s by Bright Eyes -
Lover I Don't Have to Love (from Lifted...)
From a Balance Beam (from Lifted...)
Blue Christmas (from A Christmas Album)

Posted by at 1:11 PM | Link
|Music Review|

Somehow, I generally think that music that is loud, fast and long tends to be better live. The new Turing Machine album, Zwei, proves this point. Full of pounding drums and riff after riff, the album is made up of only seven songs, ranging in length from 1:01 to 13:00. Though certainly math rock and stoner metal-ish all at the same time, I can't imagine any situation in which this would actually be a good album to actually sit down and listen to.

Maybe I don't get driven through enough back country roads bombed out of my mind or get turned on enough by synthesizers and guitar tricks, but it feels like this album falls below potential. If an album is going to be mathrock, fine, then have obscure song titles and looping rhythms. If it's going to be stoner metal, then write up some crazy lyrics or title the songs dragon voyage or whatever. Both genres are totally legit, and while there's something to be said for albums that actually defy genre, this just isn't exemplary enough. It leaves me lukewarm, and that's never comfortable.

Turing Machine: Zwei
Frenchkiss Records
MP3: Don't Mind if I Don't

Posted by at 4:31 PM | Link
|Music Review|

In a time when it's just so easy to get tired of guitar rock and samples, samples, samples, it's refreshing to occasionally hear some more off the wall instruments. James Yorkston and The Athletes' new album, Just Beyond The River (out on Domino and produced by Four Tet's Kieran Hebden), blends guitar, banjo, accordion, harmonica, concertina, fiddle, and vocals to create a mesmerizing and interlocking folk album along the lines of the recently reviewed Devendra Banhart, only with a Scottish twist.

Don't worry, though, there are just as many catchy tunes for those out there who prefer scarves and sushi to kilts and haggis. Songs like "Shipwreckers" tell romantic tales to melodies that roll like the seas. Others, like "We Flew Blind," are more intimate and quiet. Either way, it works for me. Perfect winter album, especially if you're hot for the Scots.

James Yorkston and The Athletes: Just Beyond the River
Domino Records
MP3: This Time Tomorrow

Posted by at 3:44 PM | Link
|Music Review|

When discussing music that can be described as "ambient," the knee-jerk response, for both artists and music journos alike, seems to be to either look up to the skies or down into the depths. Folks on average seem less inclined to look on land for fitting similies. But as the godfather can tell you, ambience, both musical and otherwise, is simply atmosphere, which by no means excludes the terrestrial.

For a spot-on example of this, look no further than Mr. Geoff White, his nom-de-musica Aeroc, and his latest record, entitled Viscous Solid. Fulfilling a promise made both by the band's and record's name, the vibe here is cosmo-amphibian, as at home rolling around on the dusty plains as it is flying and swimming in the higher and lower strata. There are without a doubt lots of spooky washes and angelic coos, but also plenty of earthbound structures here as well.

At times the beats are aired out long enough for some stunningly effective pastoral click-hop. On other tracks, they are cajoled, twisted, and compacted into gorgeously imperfect, dimpeled monoliths of sound, reminiscent of Aphex Twin's SAWII, whose tracks were so textural they required photos as well as titles. Like the best ambient, Viscous Solid gives back as much as you're willing to give it. Darn near essential.

Aeroc: Viscous Solid
Label: Ghostly International
MP3 Clip: "My Love, The Wave Break"

Posted by at 10:31 AM | Link
|Music Review|

Hi folks. Shumway here. You really realize a musical genre has been around for awhile when one of its most iconic figures, seemingly unstoppable in his heyday, has had time to both climb triumphantly to the top of the mountain and then stumble ingloriously back down it. Running out of engaging musical ideas isn't just for AOR geezers like Clapton and Elton anymore, people!

Case in point: Fatboy Slim's Palookaville. Well at least he got the title right. Only the most Average of Joes could claim that this rocks his particular party. It's hard to know where to begin when criticizing this hot steaming bowl of yawn from Brighton's once Boy Wonder. Should one complain first about the omnipresent jacked-up surfin'-bird groove on the more uptempo numbers that got boring years ago? Or maybe the astoundingly un-deft use of samples? What about the glut of uninspired cameos that make the first UNKLE record look like a lean, mean masterpiece? So much humdrum, and such little time!

One is tempted to blame part-time DJ, full-time cuckolder Zoe Ball for Fatboy's musical demise, but that would be too easy.

Then again, so what. It's Zoe's fault.

Fatboy Slim: Palookaville
Labels: Astralwerks, Skam

Posted by at 4:24 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|Music Review|

Ooh, on the Midwest tip again! Dayton, Ohio band Shesus doesn't break any new hot ground on their new EP, "Ruined it for You," but they do put out some solid lady rock. (Lady in the kick-ass way, not lady in the single singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar way.) Songs like "Cheekbone Dance," "Weapons of Love Destruction," and "In the France" offer driving beats and shout-a-long choruses. While the songs aren't as complex as, say, Sleater-Kinney, the lyrics and listenability tend to be better than the new Le Tigre, for what that's worth.

Hey, some pretty decent bands have come out of Dayton--Guided by Voices, The Breeders (which featured a member of Shesus for awhile), Enon--and Shesus could, at the very least, be the new poster girls for the modern riot grrrl lite movement. Their EP doesn't set this critic on fire, but it's got some rockin' beats all the same.

Posted by at 2:05 PM | Link
|Music Review|

I'll come right out and say that I tend to be partial to several things this CD stands for - Soul, Funk, and the Midwest. That being said, Midwest Funk still stands as a completely amazing compilation, my biases aside.

Released by Jazzman Records (via Now Again, the reissue arm of Stones Throw Records), this album not only presents some of the highlights from Midwest f