Author: Mike Farley (Page 24 of 63)

Benjamin Taylor: The Legend of Kung Folk Part 1

September 12, 2008 / Mike Farley

Once you get past the odd title of this album and just listen, one thing is clear — it’s never been more evident that this is James Taylor’s son. Benjamin grew up with James and Carly Simon teaching him right from wrong, and somewhere in there he just couldn’t help but inherit those artistic genes and his dad’s vocal tone. But whether it’s music industry politics or the fact that the kid has huge shoes to fill, Benjamin has yet to emerge as the same star his parents were, and are. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t write beautiful pop, and The Legend of Kung Folk Part 1, his third album, is Taylor’s best work yet. It’s jazzy, New York City inspired intelli-pop, and it’s as easy on the ears as a feather to skin. As for the title, it appears that Taylor is just having a little fun, but his songs are a bit more on the serious, heartstring-grabbing side. Two of the best tracks are the haunting “She’s Gone” and “Dangerous Girl,” but the closer, “After It’s Over,” is the prettiest piano ballad of the year, and tailor (no pun) made for a movie soundtrack. (Iris Records)

Benjamin Taylor MySpace Page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Various Artists: Ten Out of Tenn Volume 2

September 12, 2008 / Mike Farley

Singer/songwriter Trent Dabbs hails from Nashville, where you can throw a rock and hit a musical artist. But when he and his wife/manager Kristen realized that their favorite artists were Trent’s peers, and not those being touted by the media outside of Nashville, they decided to do something about it. The result was Ten Out of Tenn, a compilation featuring some of Nashville’s more under-the-radar pop/rock talent. The first volume was released in 2005, and Vol. 2 is dripping with so much talent, it may be difficult for anyone on it to remain unknown for long. Most of these artists have enjoyed film/TV placements, and some are or have been signed to labels, but the bottom line is that the Dabbs family knows how to evaluate talent. The most promising are Erin McCarley, whose “Pony (Go On)” is the first and best track, as well as Butterfly Boucher, Andy Davis and Dabbs himself. There are also a few clunkers – Griffin House sounds like he’s trying too hard to be Jason Mraz on “The Guy That Says Goodbye” and Katie Herzig’s vocal vibrato may wear on you after ten seconds – but both have been praised by critics, so feel free to form your own opinion. Overall, this is a solid compilation and a great avenue for pimping some of Nashville’s true talent. (Ready Set Records)

Ten Out of Tenn MySpace Page

Alternative, Artists, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Country, Indie Labels, Pop, Rock

Paper Rival: Dialog

September 3, 2008 / Mike Farley

Paper Rival is a four-piece rock band from Nashville, so let’s give that obligatory nod to the fact that this is a rock band in a city known for country music. Okay, now let’s focus on Paper Rival’s music, because the songs on their debut, Dialog, are damn good. Paper Rival is being touted as having an “expansive take on classic rock,” which only means that it’s difficult to classify them. Their music is moody, alternative, at times bordering on heavy, but not classic – think Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s rather than Aerosmith. “Cassandra,” the first single, is a mid-tempo, melody-driven, lo-fi beauty, but it’s not the best track. “Foreign Film Collection” has that distinction – haunting, driving, alt-rock bliss. And there is a distinct balance between dark, scream rock (“The Family Ghost”) and musically uplifting (“Keep Us In”). And while a few of these tracks sound too much like a few of the others, we won’t hold that against Paper Rival when the majority of the band’s debut is this good. (Atlantic)

Paper Rival MySpace Page

Alternative, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

David Ford: Songs for the Road

August 15, 2008 / Mike Farley

When David Ford released his 2006 album, I Sincerely Apologise for the Trouble I Have Caused, we gave him a pass. That’s because his brooding folk/pop was novel, and it was fun to hear a guy like so pissed off showing us just how anger could translate into humorous yet powerful songs. Kind of like, “Take that, bitch.” But this time around, Ford’s Songs for the Road, while more of the same fare, just comes across as, well, bitter. And you’ll be like, “Dude, shut the hell up already.” The British singer/songwriter knows how to craft a song, so we’ll give him that. But this time around, Ford is like an angry James Blunt—well, slightly cooler than Blunt but a little less fucked up than Amy Winehouse. Songs for the Road has two tracks that especially bring out Ford’s inner bitter—“Go to Hell” and the musically uplifting yet slap-in-your-face “Nobody Tells Me What to Do.” Anything beyond that, and you’re going to wish this dude would just go away. And the sad thing, really, is that you know that if David Ford fell in love and wrote some heartfelt songs that reflect that, he could be amazing. But for now, dude just needs to lighten up. (LABEL: RED/Independiente)

David Ford MySpace Page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Folk, Pop, Rock

David Benoit: Heroes

August 15, 2008 / Mike Farley

Pianist/arranger and smooth jazz veteran David Benoit continues to celebrate 30-plus years of making music, and with his new Heroes album, pays homage to those who have influenced him over the years. Benoit, not surprisingly, takes songs by the likes of piano legends such as Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Dave Brubeck. But then he lets his guard down a bit, and takes on a few of his pop idols — Michael Jackson, Elton John, the Beatles and the Doors. You might think the result is akin to elevator music, but when you realize how masterfully Benoit arranges songs like “Light My Fire” and “She’s Leaving Home,” you can’t help but give the guy props. As with most of the smooth jazz genre, this is great for Sunday mornings, quiet dinners or just relaxing. The rest of the time, you’re better off with the original versions. (Peak 2008)

David Benoit website

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Jazz, Pop