Category: CD QuickTakes (Page 34 of 149)

The New Whole Usuals: Every New Whole Usual Will Die

March 4, 2010 /


RIYL: Frank Zappa, Butch Boswell, The New Pornographers

The New Whole Usuals have returned, and once again they have made an album that defies easy categorization. Not content to just run along one groove per song, the Usuals like to shift gears, time signatures, sometimes entire instrumental arrangements within the scope of each track here. “Moonswell” manages to conjure up ’70s Frank Zappa during his Apostrophe and Over-Nite Sensation tenure, while “A Swiftly Tilting Planet” sounds right up the alley of the next New Pornographers project. But it’s more than all of those things, with banjos and brass instruments mingling with each other throughout the mix. “Ipso Phanto” sounds like you know exactly where it’s going to head, when it takes a left turn and never comes back, and “High Fructose” is as experimental and far-reaching as one might suspect with that sort of title. At times perhaps this stuff gets a little too way out, but not for long. Definitely good listening for those bored with the same old-same old floating out of their iPods these days. (Me and the Machine Records 2010)

The New Whole Usuals MySpace page.

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Benjy Davis Project: Lost Souls Like Us

March 4, 2010 /


RIYL: Pat McGee Band, Collective Soul, Sister Hazel

Benjy Davis Project is the quintessential college band: they have a jangly jam band sound, but don’t jam a lot. Rather, front man Davis writes upbeat, melodic songs that are perfect for tapping your foot, singing along, and of course, drinking beer and partying to. BDP’s new album, their fourth, Lost Souls Like Us, is hip enough to appeal to the college frat crowd, yet has two features that make it attractive to the AAA market: Davis’ appealing tenor (which sounds a lot like Mat Kearney), and also his some lyrical depth. Witness this snippet from the opening track, “Mississippi”: “I think you’re really pretty / And that’s all I wanna say / Did you miss me/Did you miss me Mississippi / Would you kiss me if I stayed?” Of course, you can’t not appeal to the college crowd with catchy anthems like “Get High.” But Davis and company aren’t content to give you a few good songs. Sure, Lost Souls Like Us has a lot of sameness about it, but it’s a good sameness. In addition to the tracks already mentioned, other standouts are the G. Love-ish “Send Your Love Down” and “Light of Other Days,” which uses some super-cool, crunchy ‘80’s guitar tones and has some of the best harmonies on the record. If you like to have a good time, and like Southern-tinged party rock, you owe it to yourself to get familiar with Benjy Davis Project. (Rock Ridge Music 2010)

Benjy Davis Project MySpace Page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Jam Band, Pop, Rock

Broken Bells: Broken Bells

March 4, 2010 /


RIYL: Danger Mouse, The Shins, Beck

The latest collaborative project involving the seemingly indefatigable Danger Mouse (billed here under the name his mama gave him, Brian Burton), Broken Bells presents the music press with its first opportunity for hype overload in 2010. One half of Gnarls Barkley teaming up with Shins guitarist and singer James Mercer? Are you kidding? This album doesn’t have a prayer of being reviewed objectively – which is probably why Burton and Mercer kept Broken Bells under wraps until late last year, when they digitally released the album’s first single, “The High Road,” to thunderous online applause.

The full-length is finally here, and here’s the bad news: None of it’s as deliciously addictive as “The High Road.” On paper, Broken Bells looks like the type of album that’s so cracked it either has to be terrific or abysmal, but in reality, it’s just sort of a pleasant listen – which is ultimately disappointing, because if nothing else, you expect to be provoked by any project that places its creative principals in unfamiliar surroundings.

Broken_Bells_01

Broken Bells, though, keeps the listener at arm’s length; like a lot of Burton’s work, there’s a coolness about it that starts to feel pretty chilly after a while. The production is undeniably interesting – this is definitely a headphones record – but all the swirling, blooping synths, distortion effects, and layers of ghostly sound can’t obscure the album’s lack of an emotional center. This probably sounds harsher than Bells deserves – it isn’t a bad album at all – but with this much talent in the studio, who wants to award partial credit?

Listening to Bells’ third track, “Your Head Is on Fire,” you’re struck by the beautiful emptiness of it all – spectral vocals floating between stacks of synths and subtle guitars, with Beach Boys harmonies unspooling around sonar sound effects. Problem is, that’s the record in a three-minute nutshell: Sweet pop melodies and a musically adventurous spirit, drowned mercilessly in a sea of frictionless sound. Broken Bells is a pretty enough place to visit, but don’t plan on staying long – or if you do, bring your warmest winter coat. (Sony 2010)

Broken Bells MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews

Serj Tankian: Elect the Dead Symphony

March 3, 2010 /


RIYL: System of a Down, Primus, Deftones

Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Serj Tankian of the dormant System of a Down took his solo record and performed it with an orchestra? You now have your answer in the release of Elect the Dead Symphony. The record was recorded with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at the Auckland Town Hall. For the geographically challenged, that’s in New Zealand. Serj performs material from 2007’s Elect the Dead, a tune from the Axis of Justice release and a new composition. There is no System stuff to be found here.

The backing orchestra is extraordinary beautiful, but it just doesn’t mesh with Serj and this material. The strength of Serj both in his solo work and with System is the insane tempo changes and maniacal construction of the music. The orchestra plays the material wonderfully and precisely, but it slows things down even in the most deranged of moments. That leaves his voice completely in front and after a while, without the craziness, it isn’t as interesting or captivating and for the first time, sounds a bit vulnerable. In “Money,” where the music gets chaotic in the background, Serj shouting over the orchestra is more irritating than entertaining. That is very different than the original recording when he is shouting over a metal overload.

The production is pristine and the orchestra mix is fantastic. The combination of Serj’s voice with the orchestra just doesn’t blast out the speaker with the same weight as when accompanied by rock musicians. Oddly, it is a great sounding record without being a great record. Serj performs “Beethoven’s Cunt,” which is a hilarious title considering the accompaniment, but without the dangerous sounding metal behind him, it falls flat. (The lyrics have nothing to do with Beethoven or a vagina by the way.) For those of you excited that Soundgarden will be reuniting after a 12-year hiatus, this writer is hoping for a System return. You can’t fault Serj for trying something different; he is an artist who’s normal material is full of risk and surprise, but the safety of an orchestra rubs that edge away and safe sounding is not what we expect from this brilliant mad man. (Reprise 2010)

Serj Tankian MySpace page

Alternative, Artists, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Rock

Josh Rouse: El Turista

March 3, 2010 /


RIYL: Paul Simon, your Brazilian grandfather’s record collection

When Josh Rouse moved to Spain a few years ago, nobody really expected things to change with regard to his music career. After all, there are many jobs that can be done from anywhere these days, with touring recording artist being one of them. But along the way, Rouse met and married a Spanish woman, singer Paz Suay, and along with learning to speak Spanish fluently, he also began writing songs in his new home’s language. That’s all well and good, but on his latest, El Turista, Rouse took things a step further by incorporating Brazilian and even Afro-Cuban flavors to the music, including a couple of covers. The entire set also reflects Rouse’s desire to lean toward jazz, without becoming a full-on jazz artist. The result? A mediocre experiment.

There is nothing wrong with trying new things, but the problem with Rouse’s recent musical offerings are that he’s been writing too much – causing his songs to become diluted, at least compared to the stuff he was making in his hometown of Nebraska and in Nashville. It’s not just that, but Rouse is better at the alt-pop thing than he is at the Bossa Nova sound he’s aspiring to, and El Turista is, well, it’s sleep-inducing. That said, dude still has a super smooth voice. The best track on here is the English-speaking “Lemon Tree,” and if you’re in the mood to drink a pina colada and start a conga line, put on the festive “Valencia.” However, if you were/are a fan of Rouse’s earlier material, you may want to run the other way before giving El Turista a listen. (Bedroom Classics/Nettwerk 2010)

Josh Rouse MySpace Page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Latin, Pop, Rock

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