Local CD Reviews

There’s a lot of negative energy on After The Fight‘s second CD, No Brownie Pie, Same Old Sh††, but it’s packaged in short, energetic blasts that capture the raw emotion of vintage punk. With the band aiming so much anger at society, work, and life in general, it’s surprising to find the unabashed romance of “The Moment,” a song that features one of the album’s best arrangements. (www.afterthefight.com)
– Terrence Flamm

Alaska-native Brett Wilder’s Vanishing Point documents his time as a teenage runaway, and it’s a harrowing tale to say the least. Unfortunately, the same description can be applied to the album’s 12 tracks. The serial hitchhiker also self-released Everything But Why under the moniker The Brettster, which doesn’t fare any better. The sweet “Baby, Close Those Big Brown Eyes” shows Wilder’s ear for melody, but those urges get pushed aside in favor of droning noise and odd vocal expressions. “Tuesday (Everything But Why)” is a head scratcher, while “My Worst Nightmare” really does mimic a terrifying dream. (www.myspace.com/welovethebrettster)
– Janine Schaults

Rudy G doesn’t quite take hip-hop to the next level on High Society, though he does prove to be an all-around solid talent throughout this 15-track disc. More familiar-sounding than futuristic, this Albany Park rep keeps it traditional atop a set of mostly synthy beats. With his cool and concise delivery, Rudy G takes on a mix of standard rap subjects, including weed anthems (“So-Hi”), perseverance (“Sleep”), and swatting away the haters (“Game Ova”). (www.myspace.com/rudygmusic)
– Max Herman

Like Joan Of Arc‘s last album, Eventually, All At Once, its latest, Boo! Human, is a gentle, lo-fi effort. Singer-songwriter Tim Kinsella’s airy vocals drive the tracks here nicely, particularly on psychedelic moments like “Just Pack Or Unpack.” On the aforementioned song, Kinsella’s nonchalant resonance makes for a worthy juxtaposition with the trippy effects and off-kilter guitar strums. While the band’s experimentation sometimes backfires, overall this album is a notable addition to its hefty discography. (www.myspace.com/joanfrc)
– Max Herman

On its fourth release, Blood And Bone, Chicago-based Medicine Hat attempts to re-establish roots into its roots rock. More Drive-By Truckers than The Black Crowes this time around, the band takes its Americana sound straight back to the ’70s. The quintet creative-ly committed the first half of the new LP to electric and the second half to acoustic. The acoustic portion showcases the vocals far more, while the electric tracks are just plain better. (www.medicinehatband.net)
– Carter Moss

Neither the act’s name nor sound are particularly original, but Nostradamus offers some surprisingly creative compositions on its lengthy debut, Ancient Future. With 16 tracks – including an epic, seven-song “disasterpiece” titled “Quest” – ranging from power ballads to potent instrumentals, there’s something for just about every hard or prog-rock fan. The band definitely needs to enhance its ingenuity on subsequent albums, but all in all it’s a fine start. (www.myspace.com/nos tradamusrocks)
– Jeff Berkwits

Here’s hoping Old Kishwaukee Band didn’t take I Wanna seriously. If it did, we’d feel pretty bad putting it down because it sounds like the DeKalb group has never actually played instruments, let alone recorded. Of course, you have to start somewhere, but if that is the case, I Wanna would be been better served in the group’s private collection rather than unleashed on the public. Judging by the elaborate one-sheet (penned by The Baron DeKalb) and goofball lyrics, this album was just friends with spare time and a case of beer. (www.myspace.com/oldkishwaukeeband)
– Trevor Fisher

His claim to fame may be co-penning Ryan Cabrera’s pop hit “Shine On,” but don’t hold that against Andrew Ripp. Throughout Fifty Miles To Chicago, he evokes the sophisticated styles of Ray LaMontagne or Paddy Casey and even hints of Jeff Buckley across the quivering “Tim’s Song.” Though “Get Your Smile On” takes a cheesy card from Jason Mraz’s collegiate playbook, it’s the sole dud on an otherwise emotive and meditative spread. (www.myspace.com/andrewripp)
– Andy Argyrakis

Category: Around Hear, Columns, Monthly