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Check out
this week’s
online CD reviews by our
music staff |
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The
Libertines
The Libertines
(Rough Trade)
B
Website: www.thelibertines.co.uk
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The Libertines brought
the U.K. rock scene back to life in 2002 and 2003. Through guerilla
shows, Internet marketing and coming across as two insignificant
boys just lucky enough to play and sing a bit, Carl Barat and
Pete Doherty effortlessly ignited a scene where there was no scene.
Their debut album, Up the Bracket (produced by ex-Clash man Mick
Jones, who’s back here), was essentially a studio snapshot
of a band standing out on the ledge on one leg — and quite
happy to be there. The disc was raucous, riotous and overwhelmingly
infused with positive energy. Not so with this follow-up. Doherty’s
a junkie now and can’t seem to understand his bandmates’
anger and despair, even as he sings and plays along on bittersweet
songs written about him, such as Can’t Stand Me Now and
What Became of the Likely Lads. There’s still a shambolic,
gloriously effortless character to this music — but one
can’t help but feel the band chose its name as title because
it had to. There may not be another chance.
John Kendle |
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Amy Farris
Anyway
(Yep Roc)
B
Website: www.yeproc.com
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Amy Farris comes across
as a cute, little, fiddlin’ pixie on her new Yep Roc release,
Anyway. With the able hands of Dave Alvin on guitar as well as
twiddling the knobs as producer, this disc delivers a sweet and
subtle punch. Farris has one of those slightly idiosyncratic,
squeaky-mouse voices that can be grating as hell if not delivered
with some temperance. The title track sounds like a 1950s-vintage,
rumble-seat ballad, on which Alvin has double-tracked Farris’
soaring vocals to great effect. Pretty Dresses mines a slight
Texas-swing vibe, and the cover of X’s Poor Girl is turned
sideways into a kicky country shuffle. Alvin keeps his trademark
California roots-rock guitar talents low in the mix, which makes
sense since Farris is such an excellent fiddler. No Exit cranks
up the volume a touch, and Farris shows she can rock when necessary.
Unique and listenable.
Jeff Monk
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Various
Artists
The Sound of Independent Radio – Public Display of Affection
(Nettwerk)
A
Website: www.nettwerk.com |
There’s a great
line on the sleeve notes that says it doesn’t matter if
you look fat in your hipster jeans or don’t sell a squillion
records a la Britney. It’s all about the music, man. And
after listening to this CD, I’ve got an armful of new music
I need to hear (even if some if it’s been around for a while).
That is precisely why this is such a great album. This indie compilation
came about after four U.S. public radio directors were asked to
select their three essential tunes. The result is a diverse collection
with something for everyone. Highlights include the heartfelt
Hold On (The Prison Song) by Amy Correia, the throaty folk-rock
of Milton on In the City and the soaring orchestral slumber of
The Sharp Things on Demons of Love.
Liz Hover |
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Nathan
Jimson Weed
(Nettwerk)
A
Website: www.nathanmusic.ca
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Jimson weed is a hallucinogen
and this album indeed offers a trip through desire and heartache,
joy and happiness and doubt and pain via all sorts of internal
monologues brought to life and set to music. Some may raise eyebrows
at the ‘down home’ vibe, yet all is not what it seems.
There’s a poetry and an ache in the keening pedal steel,
twanging banjo and old-timey harmonies of these tunes, an ache
that hints at deeper themes — a Wicked Witch looming darkly
over a seeming romp through Wonderland. Feel for a moment the
pain of the woman in Sunset Chaser, who imagines her abandoned
lover working himself into a rage with a passion he never showed
her. Or consider the notion of trying out all your life’s
bad ideas at once because you can’t face the one good thing
you’ve had (Bad Ideas). Jimson Weed is rife with these sorts
of stories, which reveal themselves more with every listen. Treasure
it, live with it and you will be rewarded.
John Kendle |
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Doctor
As High As High Gets
(Maplemusic/Universal)
B+
Website: www.thedoctorrocks.com
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This debut offering from
the duo of Rob Higgins and Daniel Greaves (the latter formerly
of The Watchmen) is all at once slow and melodic and straight-ahead
rocking. Most of these songs slowly meander about, seemingly lost
in Greaves’ beautiful voice, before a wall of guitars descends
and lays down a solid rock ’n’ roll hook. It’s
obvious that there are two distinct personalities behind this
disc, but these personalities complement each other rather than
clash. The result is a disc that sounds unlike anything else out
there right now — and perhaps you should pick this up for
that fact alone. Regardless of curiosity value, tracks such as
What Makes You Think He’s Lucky and Balancing are worthy
of repeated listening. Besides, Greaves’ vocals are always
a pleasure to behold.
Mike Warkentin |
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The
Zutons
Who Killed… The Zutons
(Deltasonic Records/Sony)
B+
Website: www.thezutons.co.uk
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Could the members of Liverpool’s
The Zutons be from another planet? They seem to think so. This
band has been described as genre-less, and critics love them.
They’re also up for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize
in the U.K. The kooky five-piece with Devo/Talking Heads aspirations
melds together funk, soul and country, all of which comes off
a lot like The Coral via the Liverpudlian vocal twang of singer
David McCabe and the plucky feel of their material. Musically
we’re treated to a broad wash of sound and plink-plonking
that manifests in soulful foot-tapping, hum-along tunes and thoughtful
ballads. This is a ballsy debut with too many good tracks to mention,
but check out Pressure Point, Confusion, Remember Me and Moons
and Horror Shows.
Liz Hover |
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Kimmie Rhodes & Willie Nelson
Picture In A Frame
(Sunbird)
B
Website: www.kimmierhodes.com
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To the casual observer,
the teaming of country music legend Willie Nelson with obscuro
Austin songwriter and singer Kimmie Rhodes may seem like a weird
marketing ploy. The grizzled veteran has worked with the angelically
voiced Rhodes before, but Picture In A Frame is the duo’s
first full-album collaboration. The overall tone is as warm and
comfortable as being wrapped in your favorite blanket on a cool
summer evening with Rhodes and Nelson trading verses like two
old friends making room for each other in an unhurried fireside
conversation. Nelson contributed two songs to Rhodes’ five,
with the balance being mellow covers of easy, on-the-spirit songs
by Rodney Crowell, Tom Waits and Rhodes’ husband, Joe Gracey.
Willie’s distinctive gut-string guitar filigrees abound
here, too, which makes for a great listen when you are trying
to unwind. Quietly pleasing.
Jeff Monk |
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Saliva
Survival of the Sickest
(Island)
C
Website: www.saliva.com
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This post-grunge disc
is one of the best arguments in favour of downloading —
a few tracks kick ass while others are just god-awful. The odd
part about Survival of the Sickest is that the choruses and hooks
are the weakest parts of the bad songs. Take One Night Only: It
starts off with sneering attitude, detuned riffs and screaming
guitar fills, but then the chorus rolls around and it’s
like frontman Josey Scott is singing another piece of shit with
Chad Kroeger. Similarly, Scott’s lyrics basically seem to
be written with one of those magnetic poetry sets — “Alone
rhymes with home! Brilliant!” Sorry, a few heavy chops and
a secret track (how lame) just doesn’t make this worthwhile.
These guys very nearly pull off the caper, but in the end Saliva
just doesn’t get it.
Mike Warkentin |
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Sia
Colour the Small One
(Go! Beat!)
B+
Website: www.siamusic.net
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With her crystalline,
breathy vocals and dreamy sounds, Sia’s second album is
almost enough to take you away on a magic carpet ride. Almost.
Australian-born Sia (pronounced ‘see-ah’) is probably
best known for singing with U.K. electronica duo Zero7 and achieving
minor U.K. solo success in 2000. The influence of Zero7 is blatant;
indeed, touring with the band inspired her to put out another
record. Sounding like a trip-hop Dido — a tag she’ll
find hard to shake off — Sia creates tracks that slip and
slide their way through the speakers with the sexy confidence
of an experienced lover. If you’re familiar with Zero7,
then you’ll probably like this. Sadly, the lyrics —
when you can make them out — are dire. Standout tracks include
Sunday, with its nod to the Beatles; Don’t Bring Me Down;
and The Bully, co-written with Beck.
Liz Hover
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