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Check out
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around Winnipeg tonight! |
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Check out
this week’s
online CD reviews by our
music staff |
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The
Allman Brothers Band
One Way Out: Live at the Beacon Theatre
(Sanctuary)
A
Website: www.theallmanbrothersband.com
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Whenever The Allman Brothers
Band plays a multi-night stretch at New York’s Beacon Theatre,
it usually sells out. That makes sense, as the dirty southern-rock
mojo they are able to conjure is completely obvious throughout
this brilliant two-disc document. Those familiar with the ABB’s
ability to jam to infinity will be well pleased with the goings-on
here. Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes both deserve extra mushrooms
for keeping long guitar passages interesting to more than just
each other and the rest of the Brothers; they really do lay down
some head-shakingly great solos throughout. Leader Gregg Allman
may not have the pristine pipes he once did, but his earthy rasp
lends a certain grimy charm to the repertoire. Many of the classic
live standards are here (Statesboro Blues, Midnight Rider, Whippin’
Post), and a smattering of latter-period greats too.
Jeff Monk |
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David
Byrne
Grown Backwards
(Nonesuch Records)
B+
Website: www.davidbyrne.com
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There’s no doubt
that David Byrne is an oddball. And this, his ninth solo album,
is as quirky and eccentric as the former Talking Heads frontman
himself. Blending classical and opera, a dash of world-music and
electronica, Grown Backwards serves up an eclectic concoction
of weird, witty and, at times, touching songs. Strong on string
arrangements with plenty of bizarrely observed lyrics, Byrne also
throws in some Verdi and a duet with Rufus Wainwright. Unsurprisingly,
you get the feeling that, vocally, Byrne isn’t really cut
out for opera, but on Au Fond du Temple Saint (from Bizet's les
Pecheurs de Perles), his flawed delivery is somewhat endearing.
Although Talking Heads fans might tussle with the style, Grown
Backwards is actually an impressive collection of songs with an
“artsy” feel to them. The only real downside was getting
the Phil Collins-esque cover photo out of my head.
Liz Hover |
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Krome
Neglected
(Loud Sound Productions)
C+
Website: www.kromerockband.com |
Krome is heavily influenced
by Alice in Chains, let’s say that right off the bat. Take,
for example, the pacing and sound of Blind Man, the first track
on their debut CD. You might be tempted to sing along, only to
find you’re crooning Them Bones, so similar are the two.
The Alice Syndrome aside, Krome does rock — and they’re
certainly better than bands such as Default and Fuel. Krome rides
the post-grunge lightning here with heavy, distorted guitars,
lots of vocal harmonies and thick bass grooves. As derivative
as some of this may be, at least it’s done well. It’s
hard to keep from banging the head when listening to Your Glory
or No Escape, and if you’re into Puddle of Mudd, you’ll
like Krome.
Mike Warkentin |
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Local
H
Whatever Happened to PJ Soles?
(Studio E Records)
C-
Website: www.localh.com
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Long before The White
Stripes made drum-and-guitar duos hot, Local H was rocking the
two-man vibe on the fringes of the post-grunge scene. The band
has long been compared to Nirvana, and perhaps Mr. Cobain’s
earmarks are all over its sixth record. The gritty and throat-shredding
choruses on How’s The Weather Down There and the atmospheric
slow-burn of Buffalo Trace (which builds to a climactic, thrilling,
chord-slamming extravaganza) see to that. But somehow, Whatever...
never really takes on a life of its own. The dirty, rough-hewn
riffs and so-so vocals are not what classics are made of, and
the record lacks any sounds fresh enough to make this effort unique.
The hollow production and strangely weighted songs (some clock
in barely above two minutes; others stretch past the five, seven,
and even 10-minute mark) make it a quickly drab and tiring listen.
Melissa Martin |
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Lucky
Dube
The Other Side
(Heartbeat)
B+
Website: www.heartbeatreggae.com
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South African reggae superstar
Lucky Dube has established himself as one of the pre-eminent purveyors
of old-school reggae with a conscience. His first album for the
venerable Heartbeat label should at least gain him some wider
distribution, and that is a good thing, mon. The Other Side is
full-up with Dube’s easy grooving tunes, bubbling righteously
in classic fashion. Lyrically he’s mostly about the natural
ebbs and flows of life and the affairs of the heart that affect
nearly everyone. Dube doesn’t shy away from getting political
either. Soldier, with it’s opening martial beat and call-and-response
chorus, blends some easy skanking with a story of a former combatant
on the verge of suicide. Dube’s band is stellar, delivering
a pleasant, mid-tempo groove that stands comparison to any cool
roots-reggae album you could name.
Jeff Monk |
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Ritual
Ritual
(InsideOut)
C
Website: www.ritual.se
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Someone who likes this
album will never be able to explain its value to someone who doesn’t.
That’s the nature of progressive rock, which is what this
Swedish four-piece is currently playing. This disc however, was
made in 1995, released in 2000 in Europe, and has only now found
its way to North America. As such, Ritual’s debut is more
folksy and medieval than progressive rocking. Wingspread and Solitary
Man hint at the direction Ritual will take their music and nod
to the epic, operatic Eurometal put out by the likes of Yngwie
J. Malmsteen and Avantasia. The recorders and tin whistles of
Dependence Day, however, are more indicative of the character
of this album. A polished effort featuring the Freddy Mercury-style
vocals of Lundström, Ritual would fit nicely beside The Mediaeval
Baebes in your CD collection.
Mike Warkentin |
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Tangle
Eye
Alan Lomax’s Southern Journey Remixed
(Zoe/Rounder Records)
B+
Website: www.rounder.com
|
Under the name Tangle
Eye, New-Orleans remix duo Scott Billington and Steve Reynolds
take the recordings of folklorist Alan Lomax, throw a generous
helping of creativity, beats and American roots musicians into
the mix and — et voila — out comes a highly listenable
album. Opening cut John Henry’s Blues samples the voice
of a Mississippi State Penitentiary convict, with the sound of
his axe chopping as he sings, and Chantey uses vocals from The
Bright Light Quartet (a group of Atlantic Coast fishermen) set
to a reggae beat. You also can’t fail to be moved by the
blues of Drownded. The range of musicians collaborating on the
project is impressive — Meters bassist George Porter, Jr.,
Galactic guitarist Jeff Raines, old-time fiddler Dirk Powell,
bluesman Corey Harris, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and bluegrass
dobro virtuoso Rob Ickes. The result is an impassioned and clever
recording.
Liz Hover |
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Tony
Touch
The Piece Maker 2
(Koch Records)
A
Website: www.tonytouch.com
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Tony Touch, alias Tony
Toca, slaps you upside the head once again with a dome-splittin’
album. Seriously, this CD is bangin’ — offering up
a smorgasbord of hip hop collabos and ill beats guaranteed to
have listeners constantly hitting rewind on their stereo units.
The succession of hits on this disc is impressive. Favourites
are sure to include Non-stop, How You Want It, and Just Be Good
To Me, which, by the way, is a remake of an original tune by ’80s
funksters the S.O.S Band. However, unlike music by the S.O.S Band,
you’ll find very little to dance about here. This is primarily
a hardcore rap album, delivering mind-numbing grooves and thought-provoking
lyrics throughout. If you’re looking for a lethal dose of
brain-stimulating energy, then Piece Maker 2 contains more than
enough ammunition to fly your cerebral cortex like a Frisbee.
Horace Carrington |
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Zero7
When it Falls
(Ultimate Dilemma)
A
Website: www.zero7.co.uk
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This is surely Prozac
for any weary rock ’n’ roll soul. Despite borrowing
heavily from the likes of French duo Air, this second album from
U.K.-based Zero7 serves up lush, chocolate-coated, chilled-out
tunes and is a welcome follow-up to its award-winning debut, Simple
Things — if a little unadventurous. Opening track Warm Sound
is a dreamy, head-in-the-clouds tune that left me wanting to take
Martini in hand and drift endlessly in a large flotation tank.
If you’re after an early morning album, then this is it.
Hangover? Throw out the Tylenol and stick this in your CD player.
To state the obvious, When it Falls is mellow in the extreme and
I can’t say a bad thing about it — it just makes everything
in life feel OK. Buy it, play it loud (hangover permitting) and
when you’ve had enough, pull out your favourite Black Sabbath
CD to keep your yin and yang in check!
Liz Hover |
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