Category: CD QuickTakes (Page 73 of 149)

Various Artists: 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack

July 17, 2009 /

The supervisors to the sountrack for “500 Days of Summer” get points for putting the Smiths’ “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want,” Doves’ “There Goes the Fear,” and Dayl Hall & John Oates’ “You Make My Dreams” on the same soundtrack; they get super mega bonus points, though, for putting them back to back. The set, as you might guess, is an eclectic mix of rock and pop of the mainstream (Hall & Oates, Simon & Garfunkel), modern (Doves, Wolfmother), and hipster variety (Feist, Regina Spektor, She & Him). The songs will surely make sense in context with the film, but it makes for a unpredictable listen at home. In other words, don’t play it at your next party, unless you want Spektor’s “Hero” to be code for “Time to go home, people.” Again, there is nothing wrong with “Hero,” or Feist’s “Mushaboom,” and Meaghan Smith’s bedroom pop cover of the Pixies’ “Here Comes Your Man” is really cute. The overall result, though, is the kind of thing that is best served cut up and thrown onto mix discs and playlists. Still, it’s pretty good, as current soundtracks go. (Sire)

Click to buy 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Crosby Loggins: Time to Move

July 17, 2009 /

Despite often unrealistic expectations, there’s been an abundance of musical offspring all too anxious to enter their parents’ trade. Take the Wainwright kids, Ben Taylor, Teddy Thompson and, of course, the Bobster’s boy Jakob as examples of those who have secured successful careers based on both talent and a famous surname. Then there’s those unfortunate few who were named after iconic associates apparently near and dear to daddy’s heart. (Justin Townes Earle, anyone?) How’s that for a not so subtle sign the folks expect success in the family business? Talk about parental pressure! Take note, then, that Crosby Loggins is Kenny’s kid, not another combo combination appropriated by the Cros, sans Stills and Nash. In truth, young Mr. Loggins doesn’t sound a whole lot like papa, although it could be said he shares a similar penchant for pure pop fare and radio-ready intents. Still, it’s a shame that this debut disc belies its title and settles instead for a generic sound that does nothing to bend the boundaries. John Mayer and Jason Mraz appear to have set the standard here (the former even contributes a guitar solo on the title track) and while aptly dubbed songs such as “Good Enough” and “Radio Heart” raise expectation for regular rotation on the airwaves, there’s little that leaves a mark for the long term. A decent beginning perhaps, but if Loggins is truly anxious to fill his father’s shoes, let’s hope the time to move forward isn’t long in coming. (Jive) – Lee Zimmerman

Crosby Loggins MySpace page

Adult Contemporary, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop

Living with Lions: Make Your Mark

July 17, 2009 /

What do you get when you mix pure punk attitude with viral energy, in-your-face lyrics, and raw vocals? How about when you put five punk rockers in a Vancouver pad nicknamed the Dude Manor, mix with alcohol and serve cold to the masses? In this case, the result is a no-frills LP, courtesy of Canadian punks Living with Lions.

The band’s first full-length release Make Your Mark sounds like a combination of Rise Against, circa Siren Song of the Counter Culture, and more recent releases by the Bouncing Souls. There are just enough snare-filled verses, and anti-authority lyrics to classify these guys as a punk band, but occasionally, LWL unleashes a catchy hook or two, showing off a more refined sound than was present on their debut EP, Dude Manor. Make Your Mark’s opener, “She’s a Hack,” sets the tone for the record with a strong chorus, and current single, “A Bottle of Charades” sets the bar as one of the most commercial-friendly tunes the guys have ever penned. LWL taps into influences like Hot Water Music with the track, “Cold Coffee,” which sounds like a mosh pit to the face, and slows things down a bit with a softer chorus on “Hotel: Part Seven,” but never skimps on the energy. Make Your Mark closes with “Dude Manor (R.I.P.),” a tribute to the band’s old crib and then a short “Outro,” which gives a nod to old school punk acts, swelling from one simple note into a whirlwind of screeching guitars and intricate drum fills before fading out just under the two-minute mark.

There’s no denying Make Your Mark draws on some strong influences, but the bulk of the record is incredibly original, and full of potential. As a freshman LP, Mark makes a strong statement as an honest punk record by five guys who just happen to love playing music together. For a first attempt it’ll do, and it will be interesting to see how Living with Lions evolves. So, if you’re looking for a more melodically driven record, Make Your Mark may not be for you. But, if you’re at all a fan of bands like the Bouncing Souls, Green Day, Hot Water Music, Lifetime, Rancid, or Bad Religion definitely give Living With Lions a listen. (Adeline 2009)

Living with Lions MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Punk

Heather Kropf: Hestia

July 17, 2009 /

The opening track of Heather Kropf’s Hestia, titled “Joy Comes Like the Morning,” sneaks up on you slowly, with Kropf’s quiet, understated vocals buffeted gently by a lovely piano melody and some minimal steel guitar fills. There isn’t an ounce of flash in the track; it rises and falls purely on the strength of Kropf’s gifts as a songwriter and performer, much like Hestia itself – which is both a blessing and a curse. When it comes to the album’s stronger cuts, like “Morning” and the Laurel Canyon-tinged “Downtown” and “Kite,” Kropf presents herself as a bewitching blend of Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega, contrasting innocent-sounding vocals with pensive melodies and occasionally world-weary lyrics – but her inordinate fondness for sleepy melodies and plodding tempos leaves much of Hestia teetering between tasteful and dull. Kropf says her songs function as sanctuaries – for herself and, hopefully, for others – and there’s no denying the warm, cozy feel of this album, or Kropf’s gift for spinning deceptively simple webs of delicate sound. The end result is a record that feels as light as a feather, and may leave your attention wandering for songs at a time, but one that nonetheless leaves an unmistakable imprint. (Heather Kropf 2009)

Heather Kropf MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Folk, Pop

Adelitas Way: Adelitas Way

July 10, 2009 /

If you are sick of what album rock has become – that is, something of a 3 Doors Down/Disturbed/Breaking Benjamin conglomerate, you might want to stop reading now. Las Vegas-based hard rockers Adelitas Way and their self-titled debut album are tailor-made for said radio format, and their brand of hooky rock with raspy, brooding vocals is the style of music that also infiltrates video games, sports highlights and strip clubs. The genre gets more and more tired by the day, but you can’t deny the fact that this stuff is like Krazy Glue on the ears, and it sells like ice cream on a hot day. Lead singer Rick DeJesus does nothing to separate himself from the pack, but his voice is strong and the rest of the band contribute some pretty stellar playing in bringing the songs to life. The best ones are the blazing “Invincible,” the insanely melodic “Hate Love,” and the acoustic gem, “All Falls Down.” If you like this sort of thing, Adelitas Way may be your next big band crush. If not, well, what are you doing still reading this? (LABEL: Virgin/EMI)

Adelitas Way MySpace Page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Rock

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