Spins
The Wooden Birds reviewed
Magnolia (Barsuk) Ain’t no party like a dinner party, ‘cuz for a dinnerpartyyouneedaquietCD that don’t stop. Appearing: Saturday, June 20th at Schubas in Chicago.
The Lemonheads reviewed
Varshons (The End) Do di-do-do do-do do-do, di-di di-do-do. What’s that you say Mrs. Robinson . . . Appearing: June 19th and 20th at Double Door in Chicago.
Ha Ha Tonka reviewed
Novel Sounds Of The Nouveau South (Bloodshot) Catfish Haven and Ha Ha Tonka — both horribly named and with local ties — are destroying the notion that Missouri — and its horribly named locales from which the bands take their names — is full of Bud-swilling, Nickelback-blasting, NASCAR mooks. Appearing: Monday, June 15th at Schubas in Chicago.
The Legacy Of 1959
Dave Brubeck Quartet | Miles Davis | Charles Mingus Time Out | Sketches Of Spain | Mingus Ah Um (Columbia/Legacy) For its 2009 thesis, the Legacy reissue arm of Sony Music contends 1959 was jazz’s greatest year. While Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue would establish that for any jazz novice, the label tosses three other […]
Dexateens reviewed
Singlewide (Skybucket) Southern music frequently treats poverty with a kind of patriotism, framing hardship as a speedbump on the way to better things or a loving sacrifice for children, etc. When it’s not, it’s a stock reason for getting drunk. Spurred on by their fans in Drive-By Truckers, Dexateens mix in some Stonesy rock to […]
Scott Herren’s springtime avalanche
Savath Y Savalas | Diamond Watch Wrists La Llama | Ice Capped At Both Ends (Stones Throw | Warp) Guillermo Scott Herren (not the activist poet Gil Scott-Heron) has never been shy to record as much as he wants, using as many aliases as he needs. But 2009 has been unprecedented. On April 14th, he […]
Neko Case reviewed
Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti) If we’re to believe the star-studded action/thriller Twister (“Finger of God!”), tornados are at least semi-predictable. In that sense, Middle Cyclone makes a whole lotta sense for Neko Case. Appearing: Friday, April 25th at Chicago Theatre in Chicago.
Buraka Som Sistema reviewed
Buraka Som Sistema Black Diamond (Enchufada/Fabric) Depending on your point of view, Buraka Som Sistema are either the apex or nadir of the M.I.A.-fueled Slumdog phenomenon. Appearing: Tuesday, April 28th at Sonotheque in Chicago.
Bat For Lashes review
Bat For Lashes Two Suns (Astralwerks) On Two Suns, Bat For Lashes (Natasha Khan) takes English folk and spins it on its ear, though the electro touches never help the update break its influences’ magnetism.
Ray Charles renewed
Ray Charles Genius: The Ultimate Collection (Concord) It’s possible you’re still dizzy. After all, the Backstreet Boys sang the National Anthem at the 2001 Super Bowl in Tampa and we’re still replenishing our sperm count. But apparently some little-known gospel/soul singer rendered “America, The Beautiful,” and if you’ve ever sought to complete your Backstreet shrine, […]
Oh Happy Day reviewed
Various Artists Oh Happy Day (EMI/Vector) It’s always a shame when non-theistic people or folks of different religious persuasions let faith get in the way of enjoying gospel music. Aside from its undeniable role in the development of American pop music, its intent’s assumed purity makes for some unfettered listening, not to mention the excitingly […]
Say Hi reviewed
Say Hi Oohs & Aahs (Barsuk) No more vampires and only 40 percent of the old band name. Say Hi seem to be saying buh-bye. Appearing: Friday, April 3rd at Beat Kitchen in Chicago.
The Drones reviewed
The Drones Havilah (ATP/R) The Drones are certainly banking on educated (or adventurous) music fans to look at their name in conjunction with their label (All Tomorrow’s Parties) and not care whether they’re a Velvet Underground rip-off. Appearing: Tuesday, April 7th at Schubas in Chicago.
Bell Orchestre reviewed
Bell Orchestre As Seen Through Windows (Arts & Crafts) Step right up, step right up! Gather ’round and see if you can guess what the new Bell Orchestre albums sounds like! Need a clue? The band are from Montreal! They’ve toured with The Arcade Fire! It was recorded at John McEntire’s Soma Electronic, here in […]
Serpentcult reviewed
Serpentcult Weight Of Light (Rise Above) Rise Above Records released Blood Ceremony’s self-titled debut late last year and promised anybody who would listen a female-fronted version of Black Sabbath. What we really got was a female-fronted version of Jethro Tull. Far less cool. The label comes substantially closer with Serpentcult.
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