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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

The Break and Repair Method: Milk the Bee

September 12, 2008 / Lee Zimmerman

Up until now, it’s been Matchbox Twenty front man Rob Thomas who’s profited most from the band’s upward trajectory, given the high profile he’s attained with his solo standing. Now it appears that drummer Paul Doucette is ready to take the same route, thanks to a superb side project titled the Break and Repair Method. While the origins of the name seem somewhat hazy, the music’s anything but, given its unabashed display of effusive optimism. Titles like “You Won’t Be Able to be Sad,” “Life Gets Beautiful” and “Won’t Get Worse” offer first hints as to its more upbeat offerings, while the sparkling melodies and loping tempos affirm Doucette’s starry-eyed sentiment. Likewise, “This City Is Bound to Do Us In,” “Forget about the Brightside” and “I’m at a Low” provide the contemplative yin to that celebratory yang, their sentiments seemingly more restrained but fortunately no less embracing. An excellent debut, it ought to find Doucette following on the heels of Thomas’ solo success.

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Noah and the Whale: Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down

September 12, 2008 / Jeff Giles

He claims to have been inspired by Bob Dylan and Bonnie “Prince” Billy, but Charlie Fink, leader of Noah and the Whale, actually falls somewhere between Jack Johnson and Mary Poppins on the musical spectrum. Sound ridiculous? Well, wait until you hear Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, a dozen tracks of ukulele-and-glockenspiel-infused folk-pop that redefines “twee” for the 21st century. It’s the type of album you listen to and instantly suspect the band recorded while wearing ascots and twirling parasols – and judging from Noah and the Whale’s publicity stills, that isn’t far from the truth. The songs aren’t terrible – “5 Years Time,” already a Top 10 hit in England, is among the best of the bunch – but neither are they particularly memorable. It’s nice to hear a little violin on a pop record, not to mention the aforementioned ukulele and glockenspiel, but it would be even nicer if these offbeat touches were being employed in the service of stronger songs. They’ve got their style nailed down, but next time out – if there is a next time – they’d do well to scrape together some substance. (Interscope/Cherry Tree 2008)

Noah and the Whale MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Folk, Pop

The Frontier Brothers: Space Punk Starlet

September 12, 2008 / Jeff Giles

No, seriously, they really mean space punk: according to their official bio, the Frontier Brothers were “born in space and raised in Texas,” and the band members – who dress in red Spandex bodysuits on stage, by the way – are led by a singer named Marshall Galactic, whose voice could occasionally be described as otherworldly. (It could just as often be described as sounding like a bag of cats in a dryer, but nobody’s perfect.) Anyway, if you’ve ever wanted to know what space punk sounds like, this is your chance – and you should think twice about passing up that chance, really, especially if you have a fondness for ragged, impassioned, tongue-in-cheek rock & roll. For the duration of Space Punk Starlet, the Frontier Brothers sound like a band on the verge of falling apart, but they also sound like they’re having a blast, and their enthusiasm is infectious – in fact, the record is so much fun that you can’t help but wish they hadn’t bothered with the dopey gimmicks, and just trusted the music to do the talking. That’s just quibbling, though; by the time the band goes roaring into the madcap closer, “T.E.S.S. You Are a Wonderful Robot, Stay With Me All the Time,” you’ll be too far gone to care. Space Punk Starlet is a sweaty mess, in the absolute best sense of the word. (self-released)

Frontier Brothers MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, 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