Around Hear Page 3
The Orange Peel Sessions is a clever play on the venerable series of live recordings with the late John Peel. Here, Naked And Shameless tear through an acoustic set of hilarious covers (“Nice Legs (Shame About The Face),” “Pumpin’ 4 The Man”) and suitably comedic honky-tonk originals (“Blood Elegy (The Pain Of Love),” “Bill Monroe (Country Legend)”). With unbelievable wit and melodic faithfulness, NAS even turn the Misfits’ “Where Eagles Dare” into a jaunty, country-tinged number. (www.nakedandshameless.com)
– Patrick Conlan
The amount of passion put into “Finisterra” – a single, regret-fueled track complemented with just the slightest bit of hope by local outfit Nerves In Break – is more than most bands (indie or mainstream) have in their entire catalog. Simply put, unless there’s a lump of coal in your chest where your heart should be, Nerves In Break will move you. (no contact provided)
– Dean Ramos
Menacing, old-school rawk with clever lyrics and vocals so bland they’re cool, Jimmy Newberry & The Straight A’s‘ I’ll Let It Stay That Way is definitely more hit than miss. However, by disc’s end, the lyrical content and vocals seems to lose their charm and unfortunately, the album goes out on a whimper and not the bang it came in on. (jnewberry@besd61.k12.il.us)
– Dean Ramos
Hailing from Lombard, Raine Nation showcase the entire gamut of their rock diversity in a mere six tracks. The disc launches with the frenetic verbal and rhythmic assault “Given” then kicks into the harmonica-tinged rocker “Gear Daddy” before sliding into “Cryin’ In The Rain,” which sounds like a long-lost Poison ballad. The short set finishes with an amped-up cover of The Beatles’ classic “Come Together.” While still relying primarily on in-your-face electric guitar riffs, Raine Nation prove they can do a whole lot more. (www.myspace.com/rainenation)
– Carter Moss
On Love & Anxiety, Sleeper Car present another classic collection of winsome reflections and pensive sentiments swathed in gently swaying, western-touched country pop. Their lavish, lush arrangements are fully intact on “Caliber Eyes” and “Lay It Down,” as a bristling harmonica kicks against keening strings and tender acoustic guitar. “Anti Climactic Girl” has endless charm as a weeping violin swells through a stately rhythm and evocative reminiscence. (www.sleepercarband.com)
– Patrick Conlan
Marvin Tate‘s Family Swim is a sizable departure from this poet/vocalist’s now defunct funk/soul/gospel group, D-Settle-ment. But while much less vivacious, Tate’s solo work is no less surprising. With assistance from ex-Wilco multi-instrumentalist LeRoy Bach, Tate’s forthright poetics here mesh with a fluid mix of blues (“If You See Jesus”), folk rock (“Good Time”), and psychedelic tunes (“Town Of 500”). But Tate’s unabashed spoken word hits the hardest when delivered a cappella like on the gentrification-challenging masterpiece “Bernard St.” (www.myspace.com/clownspit)
– Max Herman
Dan Wallace‘s Culture Of Self toys with the kind of Beatlesque pop The Shins dished on Garden State, but it’s unlikely Wallace will ever get close to Natalie Portman’s giant headphones. Inhibited verses, proggy loops, and a bewildering dash to the opera are just no match for date night, though they add up to artful for the rest of us. If the multi-instrumentalist follows Cheer-Accident’s wildly experimental path to piano pop, he’ll be hitting his stride in just a couple decades. (www.danwallacemusic.com)
– Mike Meyer
The blonde in Whiskey Blonde is lead singer Brooke Bartlett, who along with Chris Stinich, Pete Durbin, and Nick Ralph make up a meat-and-potatoes rock band from Chicago. Of the three tracks on this demo, two are musically akin to Hinder or Puddle Of Mudd, save for Bartlett’s vocals, which sound like Melissa Etheridge doing Joan Jett karaoke. It’s the other track, “Faded Star,” that is the keeper – a piano-laced midtempo rocker that delivers some songwriting promise and shows off Bartlett’s range. (www.myspace.com/whiskeyblonde)
– Joseph Simek
The most immediate comparison the five-song EP from Yourself And The Air would likely yield is Modest Mouse, and considering all the success and acclaim those indie rock darlings have garnered over the past few years, there are worse bands to be compared to. Featuring the contemplatively quirky “Stardust Motel,” the ironically bouncy “Fuck You, Walk Home,” and the lovelorn “Carry Yourself Far, Far, Far Away,” for everything great in indie rock, look no further. (www.myspace.com/yourselfandtheair)
– Dean Ramos
Category: Around Hear
