Author: Lee Zimmerman (Page 6 of 20)

Vic Chesnutt: Skitter on Take-Off

October 15, 2009 /


RIYL: Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Daniel Johnston

Documenting a solo concert in San Francisco, Vic Chesnutt revisits his roots and goes back to basics with this stark example of shadowy introspection. Accompanying himself with mostly a subdued strum of his acoustic guitar and the incidental input of the enigmatic Jonathan Richman on guitar and harmonium and drummer/percussionist Tommy Larkin, he meanders through a troubling set of dark and dire melodies. Yet, despite this turgid set-up, Chesnutt populates his rumbling, meandering narratives with oddball hi-jinks, from the bizarre homage entitled “Dick Cheney” to the roll call of weirdos delineated in “Worst Friend” (“Your friend likes to get peed on in sexual situations… Your friend dresses up like Little Bo Peep… Your friend claims to have taken a dump in the White House…”). Likewise, the palpable anger that ripples through “My New Life” affirms the depth of these ominous overtones and moots any connection with the crowd. Quirky yet austere, Skitter on Take-Off provides what’s best described as an intimidating encounter. (Vapor Records 2009)

Vic Chesnutt web page

Americana, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Emo, Folk, Melodramatic

Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions: Through the Devil Softly

October 15, 2009 /


RIYL: Galaxy 500, The Innocence Mission, The Sundays

Call it music for insomniacs. Or anyone else that needs to catch up on their sleep. The second solo album by Hope Sandoval, late of ethereal ingénues Mazzy Star, not only maintains the same hazy drift and downcast drone of her former colleagues, but actually manages to take whatever minimal energy they mustered down another notch. Hushed and lethargic, Sandoval conveys a haunting, unhurried sound that’s immersed in spectral surroundings, contemplative musings and the occasional ominous overtones. Given their narcotic and nocturnal sensibilities, Sandoval and company seem hard-pressed to make a more emphatic impression, and even those songs that pass for sensual dreamscapes barely register beyond any cerebral set-ups.

Hope Sandoval Devil

Consequently, willowy offerings like “Blanchard,” “For the Rest of Your Life” and “Sets the Blaze” are more celestial than sublime, not exactly the type of thing that makes a lingering impression once the haze is lifted. So forget any notion of a sing-along. There’s not much of the Devil in these details. (Nettwerk 2009)

Hope Sandoval MySpace page

Alternative, Ambient, CD QuickTakes, Emo, Melodramatic

Sam Bush: Circles Around Me

October 14, 2009 /


RIYL: Yonder Mountain String Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Nickel Creek

Sam Bush conveys the impression of an agreeable guy, a musician immersed in what he does. He boasts that same affinity for his fans that Jimmy Buffett displays in acting the role of cheerleader while readily encouraging unabashed celebration simply for celebration’s sake. But where Buffett’s built a reputation for being a party practitioner who induces his fans to wear silly hats and label themselves Parrot Heads, Bush invokes a merry mood simply by showing up, creating a communal Zen-like experience that takes its root in his music alone. Fans who flock to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival each year can attest to the joyful Bush bash that occurs every time he takes the stage, but for the uninitiated, his new LP, Circles Around Me, ought to suffice.

Bush helped invent the genre now known as “Nu-grass” while heading the New Grass Revival, and while he’s broadened his palette over the years, he’s also managed to maintain his populist appeal along the way. The title track opens the new disc with him marveling at the blessings generated by the kinship of his fan following, with Telluride accruing special mention. But then Bush gets down to business, tossing his limber fiddle and mandolin into the exhilarating frenzy of the album’s bluegrass banter. A trio of sure-footed instrumentals – “The Old North Woods,” “Blue Mountain” and “Junior Heywood” – provide the keynote offerings, but covers of Guy Clark’s mournful “The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle” and a harmony-fueled “Roll on Buddy, Roll On” vary the template ever so slightly while adding a supple touch to the proceedings.

Truth be told, Bush’s main strength lies as an ensemble player and, in fact, aside from the fiddle workout “Apple Blossom,” Circles Around Me benefits tremendously from the collective input of Bush’s collaborators – Del McCoury, Edgar Meyer and Jerry Douglas included. Happily then, these circles remain unbroken. (Sugarhill 2009)

Sam Bush MySpace page

Americana, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Country, Folk, Instrumental

Erin McKeown: Hundreds of Lions

October 9, 2009 /


RIYL: Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, Ricki Lee Jones

Over the course of her career, Erin McKeown has consistently demonstrated an ability to transcend typical singer/songwriter fare with music that’s rich in both imagery and imagination. Unlike those contemporaries who dwell strictly on circumspect, McKeown creates a sound that’s unfailingly vibrant and revealing.

Erin_McKeown_01

Happily then, Hundreds of Lions proves no exception. After McKeown’s last album, Sing You Sinners, found her retracing jazz standards, it might be imagined she’s mow channeling Kurt Weill in her own suggestive sort of way. Presented with a theatrical flair, these songs give the impression that someday they might be Broadway-bound. Offering a mix of whimsy and panache, producer Sam Kassirer utilizes clarinets, flutes, sax, cello, violin and viola to enhance the jaunty, jovial feel. In fact, “Santa Cruz,” “All The Time You Missed,” “The Rascal” and “The Foxes” come across as so exceedingly infectious, they make repeated listens almost seem mandatory. Even in the more pensive moments – “You Sailor” being the most obvious example – McKeown remains completely captivating, a songstress whose skill and finesse finds her at the peak of her prowess. (Righteous Babe 2009)

Erin McKeown MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Folk, Melodramatic, Pop, Rock, Widescreen

Sondre Lerche: Heartbeat Radio

October 8, 2009 /


RIYL: Prefab Sprout, David Gray, Beautiful South

Normally, one might think of Norway as kind of an isolated place, at least in terms of its being removed from the mainstream. However, considering ex-patriot Sondre Lerche’s ability to absorb soft rock styles and recycle them in his own breathless, breezy style, he’s clearly in sync when it comes to fashioning a radio-ready formula. Lerche’s previous albums have shown a steady evolution in honing his approach and smoothing over the rough edges, ensuring that Heartbreak Radio isn’t only palatable to the masses but possibly his most accessible effort yet. Lerche’s powder-puff vocals are as unobtrusive as cotton candy, but underscored by the teeming pulse and rambunctious strings of “Good Luck,” the staccato rhythm of “If Only,” and the unruly – relatively speaking – posturing of “Easy to Persuade” and “Almighty Moon,” Lerche is mostly able to avoid coming across as completely cloying. Not that he skirts it altogether; the giddy designs of “Words & Music,” the smooth croon of “I Cannot Let You Go” and schmaltzy posturing of “Goodnight” are mired in a syrupy sound best suited to the vacuous airs of an adult contemporary radio format. It stands to reason then that only when its pulse starts pumping, Heartbeat Radio gets its blood flowing. (Rounder 2009)

Sondre Lerche MySpace page

Adult Contemporary, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Emo, Pop

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