Category: Widescreen (Page 3 of 4)

Devendra Banhart: What Will We Be

November 4, 2009 /


RIYL: Donovan, Marc Bolan, Veviter

Toiling within the ranks of the indie underground, Devendra Banhart has managed to elevate himself into the highest ranks of the so-called “freak folk” hierarchy. His last album, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon, made a pitch to expand that tag, with Banhart attempting to meld his obtuse approach with the idyllic imagery of the L.A. environs that spawned such ‘60s lynchpins as Neil Young, CSN, the Mamas and the Papas, Joni Mitchell, and various others that made music in those hallowed hills. Likewise, his recruitment by the majors – in this case, Warner Bros. records, home to many of those aforementioned icons – seemed to indicate a concerted effort to break through the barriers.

Indeed, while Banhart’s new label affiliation might seem a concession to commercialism, in truth, the results are every bit as eclectic…and, for that matter, every bit as eccentric…as his earlier efforts. The songs are sung in both English and Spanish, and rather than the clear, coherent melodies identified with the so-called Southern California elite, Banhart still shifts his set-ups – often radically and in the space of a single song. Consequently, “Rats” has a somewhat foreboding start before segueing abruptly into a state of kinetic jubilation. The jazzy inference of “Chin Chin & Muck Muck” morphs several times before the song hits its stride. Likewise, “Angelika” might have succeeded as a soothing serenade had it not accelerated midway through into a sizzling Latin samba.

Still, for all his abrupt turns, Banhart retains a decidedly old school stance. His melodies may seem somewhat amorphous, but his quivering vocals and loping tempos frequently recall the pixie-like warble of Donovan and Marc Bolan. A couple of tracks might bode well for future sing-alongs, specifically “16 & Valencia Roxy Music” and the gentle Spanish serenade called “Brindo.” As an album that’s magnified by ambition and grand designs, What Will We Be may well be his best yet. (Warner Bros. 2009)

Devendra Banhart MySpace page
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Alternative, Americana, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Emo, Folk, New Age, Pop, Progressive, Psychedelic, Rock, Widescreen

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

The Clientele: Bonfires on the Heath

October 1, 2009 /

In an era where slacker sensibilities and low-gazing attitudes seem to dominate the musical mainstream, the Clientele’s preoccupation with lush, radiant textures and elaborate, ethereal arrangements consistently go against the norm. Vocalist/guitarist/musical mastermind Alasdair MacLean’s aversion to bombastic singers and self-serving guitar solos finds thoughts morphed into action via the collision of horns, harmonies and soft-swaying melodies that adorn Bonfires on the Heath, the latest extravaganza from this Hampshire band. The group conjures up a number of obvious influences – Love, the Zombies, Galaxie 500 and the Felt – but given their seamless delivery and breezy, shimmering style, it would sell them short to merely attribute their sound to appropriating that of their predecessors. “I Wonder Who We Are,” “Bonfires on the Heath” and “Jennifer & Julia” purvey a genteel charm and a soothing, sensual ambiance that seizes attention even on first encounter. And while the scattershot shuffle of “Sketch” almost seems disruptive in the midst of these mellow soundscapes, a song such as “Never Anyone but You” shows their ability to make a seamless transition from meditative reflection to gently compelling refrains. Varying the tempos between a samba and a sway, this rich mélange provides an allure all its own. (Merge 2009)

The Clientele MySpace page

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

Kevin Hearn and Thinbuckle: Havana Winter

September 11, 2009 /

Let’s face it – solo albums can be a mixed bag. On the one hand, they’re often an outgrowth of un-served creative expression and an opportunity to reveal a side of the musician that’s otherwise buried in the group mix. On the other, they can also be nothing more than an indulgence in excess, an artistic statement so far removed from the mainstream that only the most diehard fan or hardcore eccentric would dare dally in the overflow. Fortunately, keyboardist Kevin Hearn’s individual offerings fall in the former category, and after five albums that offer some respite from his day job with Barenaked Ladies, he’s managed to carve himself a pleasant little side niche. There’s little of the Ladies’ kookiness or quirkiness to be found here, although the lead-off track, “Coma,” does come close (“It’s time to come out of your coma”). Mostly though, Havana Winter is a fairly sunny – and sedate –affair, one that manages to conjure up the same sort of giddy effusiveness often identified with groups like the Lilac Time, the Lightning Seeds, and others of that more melodic ilk. The cooing caress of “On the Runway” and “Luna” provide an irresistibly engaging ambiance that makes return listens practically mandatory, while the rollicking “Huntsville, CA” picks up the pace and applies a certain perky proviso with it. If there is any complaint to be made, it’s that with only seven songs, Hearn is skimping on quantity even though he’s clearly over-delivering in quality. Regardless, Havana Winter is a wonderful revelation and one that suggests Hearn ought to be heard from a lot more. (Six Shooter Records 2009)

Kevin Hearn MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock, Widescreen

John Vanderslice: Romanian Names

June 5, 2009 /

With a recording history that dates back a decade and some seven remarkable albums, John Vanderslice has established himself as a genuine fixture in the San Francisco indie pop community. Having the advantage of owning his own base of operations – his highly regarded Tiny Telephone recording studio – Vanderslice freely dabbles in all sorts of sonic settings, creating a gloriously vibrant pastiche replete with rich arrangements and sunny textures. Romanian Names is merely the latest of these delightful offerings, an enthusiastic indulgence in varied musical hues that run the gamut from the massed harmonies of the ebullient opening track, “Tremble and Tear,” to the shimmer and sparkle of “Too Much Time” and steady shuffle of “D.I.A.L.O.” Vanderslice spares no measure when it comes to engineering the ambiance; a full regimen of strings, horns, keyboards and Mellotron aid and abet the collective effort, resulting in a sound that’s as radiant and expansive as anything by the Beach Boys, XTC or Todd Rundgren in his prime. A wonderful record all around, Romanian Names deserves to serve as Vanderslice’s calling card to broader recognition. Dead Oceans

John Vanderslice MySpace page

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

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