Month: May 2008 (Page 2 of 6)

Ghosty: Answers

May 23, 2008 / David Medsker

The sticker on the cover of Answers, the new album from Lawrence, KS quintet Ghosty, lists the Shins, Big Star and the Wrens as the RIYL bands. And we suppose that’s true, if you culled the softest, quietest moments from those bands and nothing else. In truth, they’re closer to bands like the Red House Painters and Eggstone, combining uncanny pop smarts with a certain Steely Dan casualness. Leadoff track “Dumbo Wins Again” nets the Shins comparison all by itself, and “A Man with Answers” has a hypnotic instrumental finale (think Semisonic’s “She’s Got My Number”). It’s extremely well made, but it’s also easy to get lost in the haze from time to time. A couple shifts in tempo would have worked wonders. (Oxblood Records)

Ghosty MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop

Ryan Cabrera: The Moon Under Water

May 23, 2008 / Jeff Giles

Poor Ryan Cabrera. You don’t remember him, but just a few short years ago, he was the impossibly coiffed half of a teen-pop power couple, introduced to viewers of “The Ashlee Simpson Show” as Simpson’s boyfriend and fellow budding recording artist. Though a debut album produced by John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls sold well, Cabrera arrived too late to take advantage of the genre’s late ‘90s explosion, and for his third release, he’s gone the indie route: The Moon Under Water arrives via Papa Joe Records, the EMI-distributed imprint helmed by Ashlee’s creepy dad, who has remained Cabrera’s manager. Despite the new logo on the album – and Cabrera’s new, carefully tousled image – these 11 songs offer more of the same immaculately produced, puddle-deep Abercrombie rock that took him to the Top 10 a few years ago. Imagine poppier Lifehouse, or marginally more rockin’ late-period Goo Goo Dolls, and you’re on the right track – which is unfortunate for Cabrera, because as easy as this stuff goes down, the ship has pretty much sailed on this type of music for anyone who doesn’t have either of those acts’ name value. The Moon Under Water is surprisingly solid, and has more than its share of sticky-sweet hooks, but that won’t keep Cabrera from playing ribfests this summer. Maybe another reality show is in order. (Papa Joe 2008)

Ryan Cabrera MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, Pop

ASHES dIVIDE: Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright

May 23, 2008 / Mike Farley

ASHES dIVIDE, despite the odd spelling of band, is the debut project of Billy Howerdel, who founded or fronted A Perfect Circle and Tool, respectively. This project is more along the lines of A Perfect Circle — that is, heavy music that is more about dark, powerful feel rather than walls of guitars. And just like his previous work, Howerdel pushes all the right buttons with ASHES dIVIDE. This is music to close your eyes to and let pulse through your veins, and you don’t necessarily need augmentation from alcohol or some other recreational substance because the music will take you there on its own. A times, the songs do tend to run into each other, but as a whole, this is pretty strong work.
“The Stone” is the first single, and while that track is tailor made for active rock radio, you’ll find that material such as the pulsing rocker “Denial Waits” and the brooding, alt-tinged “Ritual” are more representative of the band’s overall sound. (LABEL: Island)

ASHES dIVIDE MySpace Page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Rock

Ferras: Aliens & Rainbows

May 23, 2008 / Mike Farley

Ferras is the first name of a dude with a last name that’s hard to pronounce. Hence, the moniker. But let’s talk about his music, because Ferras’ debut, Aliens & Rainbows, is pure adrenaline-drenched pop driven by his own keyboard playing. Ferras got his big break much the same way Daniel Powter did a few years back, landing an “exit song” spot on “American Idol.” That song, “Hollywood’s Not America,” is not just perfect for the role — it’s a brutally honest yet powerful track in its own right. But Ferras, inspired by the likes of David Bowie and Elton John, uses his knack for melody equally well on rockers such as “Liberation Day” and “Blame, Blame, Blame” as he does on ballads like the title track, or the riveting “Take My Lips.” Ferras’ nasal tenor is closer to some of the Warped Tour vocal fare, but his music bears so much substance that you won’t mind. This is definitely an artist worth keeping on your radar, if he’s not on it already. (LABEL: Capitol)

Ferras MySpace page

Alternative, American Idol, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Kevin Ayers: The Unfairground

May 23, 2008 / David Medsker

You wouldn’t know it from listening to The Unfairground, but Kevin Ayers is considered a pioneer of both psychedelic and progressive music (he counts Eno, Oldfield and Syd Barrett as peers). The Unfairground, however, sounds more like a slightly off-kilter Richard Hawley, singing baroque pop that’s rough around the edges. “Brainstorm” melds breezy strings with a fair amount of feedback, and the title track recalls Lou Reed’s“ Dirty Blvd.” if it were written for a carnival. The best moment bar none is “Cold Shoulder” – it is no coincidence that it plays first when you pull up his MySpace page – which would have fit right in with the songs from Hawley’s album Lady’s Bridge. Extremely ambitious stuff, to be sure, but man, could it have used a larger recording budget. Ork pop should never be given the lo-fi treatment. Still, for a 63-year-old making his first album in 15 years, The Unfairground more than holds its own. (Gigantic Music)

Kevin Ayers MySpace page

Artists, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop