Around Hear Page 2
Despite the album’s title (The Panties Your Mother Laid Out) For You, mom isn’t likely to get her panties in a bunch listening to the latest aural assault from Egnaro. It’s innocuous, middle-of-the-road metal, with now-and-again insightful lyrics interspersed with pile-driving beats. While there are some self-indulgent moments, the 10 tunes – most notably “The Weekend” and “Skool Project” – are hard-hitting yet harmless. (www.myspace.com/egnaro)
– Jeff Berkwits
Victoria Fuller has the pure, sweet vocals of a folk singer, but on her full-length debut, Small Moments, she leans more toward light jazz and easy listening. Fuller’s observations on various romantic entanglements are to the point, though she’s occasionally too cute. She’s most effective on songs with strong melodies, like the bouncing pop of “Why Can’t We Agree” and the acoustic-based “Best Friend.” (www.victoriafullermusic.com)
– Terrence Flamm
While their name may conjure images of some grotesque metal outfit or silly rock pranksters, gnomeattic (always lowercase) write crushing pop melodies on Ever Present reminiscent of The Bends-era Radiohead. Flush with sweet melodic hooks, anthemic choruses, and ringing vocals, the angular crunch of “The Silence” and the earnest melancholy straddling the explosive chorus in “Warn The World” pay homage without sounding contrived. The full-bore sonic assault of “Around And Over” compensates for its limpid lyrics. (www.gnomeattic.com)
– Patrick Conlan
As trippy as the dance rock of DeKalb quintet Inspector Owl can be on the Life Finds A Way EP, there’s no denying the infectiousness they exude on nearly every track. Even on the least pop-friendly number, “Sharks That Feed On Dreams,” it’s hard not to at least appreciate how they mash sorrowful strings with thrashing guitars to concoct a sound that’s largely their own. (www.inspectorowl.com)
– Max Herman
Rob Kleiner‘s musical background is diverse, ranging from film and Web site soundtracks to membership in local bands such as Tub Ring and Super 8 Bit Brothers. From the swing sound of “Mannequins And Mandolins” to the dreamy pop of “Jogging Partners,” his impressive six-song EP, Doctor Sleep, marvelously reflects that variety. Available in a numbered edition exclusively through the artist’s MySpace page, it’s hopefully a harbinger of more terrific solo work to come. (www.myspace.com/robkleiner)
– Jeff Berkwits
With two frontmen/songwriters possessing guitar/keyboards chops, a supporting vocalist/pedal steel/guitar virtuoso, talented bass and drum players, and additional vocal and dobro/fiddle fill-ins, Lonesome Time – the second full-length CD from locals Long Gone Lonesome Boys – shimmers with a rich, full C&W sound. Though all 11 original songs mine the booze/broads/love/lost cycles typical of the genre, none is clichéd. A desire for a little more variation in tempos is the only minor quibble one can make about an otherwise accomplished work. (www.longgonelonesomeboys.com)
– David C. Eldredge
Mangy aspire to play psychedelic heavy metal, but they rely too much on jokes (“Lunch Money Victim” and “Mullet Man”) for their intentions to pan out on an eight-song demo. The crust punk of “The Seasoning” and “Mangy Theme” closely trail an influence (Neurosis), but another hurdle looms. The Zeppelin-esque “Uncle Salty” requires more dexterity (or distortion) for digestion. An emphasis on mean-ass riffs is a must next time. This output is just too lean for what has been bitten off. (www.myspace.com/mangyexperience)
– Mike Meyer
It’s hard to lose with a killer hook. Elisa McMahon, the newest member of Moist Guitars, has put an even more danceable spin on ‘Til Tuesday’s ’80s classic “Voices Carry.” The track opens with a distinctive New Order vibe, and whooshing synthesizers keep the groove rollicking along. McMahon’s voice lacks the character of Aimee Mann’s, but listeners will be breaking too much of a sweat to notice. (www.moistguitars.com)
– Janine Schaults
Monkeyspun‘s ZOO13 is the ’60s-tinged soundtrack of a ’70s-era crime film. With dialogue nearly as hardboiled as anything from a Mickey Spillane or Dashiell Hammett novel and weaved between layers of laid-back, bluesy, psychedelic, and even a few sentimental-sounding numbers, ZOO13 is truly an album that one must experience first-hand – much in the same way a Quentin Tarantino movie should be. (www.monkeyspun.com)
– Dean Ramos
Like a precise summation of their entire existence, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult’s The Filthiest Show On Earth (Rykodisc) is both a sincere declaration and a tongue-in-cheek exposé. Campy, yet trenchant, these lurid, sex-drenched tales are seedy and sweaty, evidenced by the pulsating “Jet Set Sex” and the gyrating, house-inflected “My Kinda Guy.” The steamy, wet beats in “Cadillac Square” and “TV Sista” are proof TKK haven’t lost any of their sleazy wit or energy, even after 20 years. (www.mylifewiththethrillkillkult.com)
– Patrick Conlan
Category: Around Hear
