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The Band of Heathens: One Foot in the Ether

October 2, 2009 /


RIYL: The Band, Little Feat, Kings of Leon

After evoking obvious reverence for classic Americana on their self-titled studio debut, the Band of Heathens morph their roots rock regimen with hints of blues, soul and a swampy moan. The allusions to the Band are still there of course – the new album’s “L.A. County Blues,” “What’s This World” and “Look At Miss Ohio” instantly reaffirm those references – but this time around they expand their palate, journeying up the Mississippi with “Golden Calf,” emulating an old-time gospel choir on “Shine a Light” and taking a funky furlough via “You’re Gonna Miss Me” and “Somebody Tell Me The Truth.” Varying the pace from unassuming shuffles to tattered refrains, the group colors the arrangements with rustic embellishment – banjo, Wurlitzer piano, dobro, mandolin, lap steel and forlorn vocals – clearly enhancing the set’s distinct retro feel. An able demonstration of genuine down-home resolve, One Foot in the Ether provides the band taking a sure step forward.

The Band of Heathens MySpace page

Americana, Blues, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Country, Gothic, Rock

Calvin Harris: Ready for the Weekend

October 2, 2009 /


RIYL: LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga

For those who dig their electronica with a generous helping of humor and irony, Calvin Harris’ 2007 debut I Created Disco delivered even beyond its oh so ironic and humorous title (the dude was born in 1984!) and home grown charm. Unfortunately, while Calvin has gained a more polished sound and access to more bells and whistles than in the past, he has lost his sense of humor. Tunes like “You Used to Hold Me,” “Worst Day” and “Blue” (with a damning cliché of a lyric in “everything around me is blue / the color that reminds me of you”) are indicative of an artist who has some breakup tension to unleash – in this case, a better place to do that would be in a therapist’s office. Calvin’s cheekier take on electronica was a classic pick-me-up. If he can get his head back into that space, perhaps he’ll be a whole lot happier – and so will the rest of us. (Columbia 2009)

Calvin Harris MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Electronica

Richard Hawley: Truelove’s Gutter

October 1, 2009 /


RIYL: Roy Orbison, Scott Walker, Nick Cave

Death, taxes…Richard Hawley. The onetime Longpig is not only good for an album of new material every two years, but he’s good for a good album of new material every two years. Hawley went widescreen on 2007’s Lady’s Bridge, but opts for a more stripped-down approach on Truelove’s Gutter, his latest. The songs, as per usual, are the kind of ghostly ballads that would haunt an abandoned ’50s dancehall, which Hawley spices up with the use of a singing saw and a waterphone. (Yes, we had to look up the latter instrument, too.) He’s not in a hurry this time, either – the shortest songs clock in at four and a half minutes, and two of them hit both sides of the ten-minute mark. Amazingly, the epic tracks, “Remorse Code” and “Don’t You Cry,” are two of the album’s finest, breezing by in seemingly half the time. “Soldier On,” meanwhile, could serve as the new textbook definition of “quiet storm.”

Hawley himself surely knows that his success in the UK is a blessing and not a right – his music is blissfully out of time with its surroundings. Don’t be surprised, though, if Truelove’s Gutter ends up burying us all. (Mute 2009)

Richard Hawley MySpace page
Click to buy Truelove’s Gutter from Amazon

Adult Contemporary, Artists, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop

Collaborations, collaborations

October 1, 2009 /

Flea

During a lengthy discussion about records, a friend of mine once told me that music is so incredible because it is rewarding when experienced alone, but also when shared.

I couldn’t agree more. I rarely write or learn songs just to keep them locked inside my inner musical being. After spending time with a new track, I want to call over my friends and have a hootenanny. I want to stay up late in a garage drinking beers and recording whatever happens.

As we know, collaborations and supergroups are not a new trend by any means. Nevertheless, a slew of unlikely pairings have surfaced over the past week. I’ve summarized them below.

– Thom Yorke has recruited a band consisting of Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, REM collaborator Joey Waronker, and Brazilian instrumentalist Mauro Refosco. The band will back Yorke live as he tours in support of his solo material.

– Broken Bells is the new collaboration between Danger Mouse and Brian Mercer of the Shins. How this came about, I have no idea. Of all the recent match-ups, I’m most amped about this one. Hip hop mixed with jangly pop? Could work.

– On that note, what about hip hop merging with some dirty blues? The new Black Keys album, Blakroc, will feature Mos Def, Ludacris, RZA, Raekwon, Q-Tip, Pharoahe Monch, and many more.

– But Dr. Dre collaborating with Lady Gaga? Really? Sounds like a very smart move constructed by their publicists. However, I don’t really see the relevance, or the possibility of sonic magic coming from these two in the studio.

Ah, to play music every day and get paid for it…

News

Karen O and the Kids: Where The Wild Things Are

October 1, 2009 /


RIYL: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Deerhunter, The Kills

“Where The Wild Things Are”is a classic for multiple generations, and many (present company included) frequently site it as their favorite book from childhood. So most likely the upcoming film adaptation will mean a lot to kids of all ages, unless it sucks. However, if the soundtrack is any indication to the broad appeal of the film, we probably have nothing to worry about.

The soundtrack is credited to Karen O. and the Kids, but “the kids” are more than just the child singers on back up; they are the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bradford Cox from Deerhunter, Dean Fertita from The Dead Weather, Raconteur Jack Lawrence and the Liars’ Aaron Hemphill. That’s a lot of indie rocking, but there’s nary an ounce of pretension to be found here. Instead, there’s something for everyone.

Kids will enjoy the tribal beats and easy-to-sing along choruses of tracks like “All Is Love” and “Capsize,” while hipster 20- and 30-somethings will enjoy the complex and layered instrumentation that is present throughout, and everyone will be in awe once again of Karen O’s remarkable voice, which shows more variety growth here than on any Yeah Yeah Yeahs record. Sure, she may have been quiet before on classics like “Maps,” but she’s never done it as effectively as she does here on haunting, dreamy tracks like “Worried Shoes” (a surprising Daniel Johnston cover) and “Hideaway.” And while Karen’s always wailed with the best of them, she really lets it out on “Animal,” a banging acoustic stomper that serves as one of the few loud points of the album. This is a soundtrack though, and some parts are very score-like, with a good chunk of the second half being mostly instrumental and incidental. Still, it’s very pretty instrumental and incidental music, but those expecting the pop music of the single “All Is Love” should be forewarned.

But that’s a small complaint. This album rocks for all ages. Hipsters and pre-schoolers unite! (DGC/Interscope 2009)

Click to buy Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack from Amazon

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews

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