R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now

R.E.M. – Collapse Into Now
2011, Warner Bros. Records

It’s difficult to stay relevant as a rock n roller for a decade.  When you’ve been at it for over 30 years like the men in R.E.M., it’s next to impossible.  A rock star’s sixth decade of life generally sees a decline in the vigor that fuels earlier songwriting, followed by a string of greatest hits collections and live albums of recycled material from their younger days.  R.E.M. will not go quietly into the night, and prove it in full measure on their latest album, Collapse Into Now. 

Opening with the urgent, almost crunch guitar work of Peter Buck on “Discoverer”, R.E.M. offers up what may be their edgiest songwriting in 2o years.  “Discoverer” is catchy and impertinent musically with a distinctive pop sensibility at its core.  Stipe howls and wails in classic style, vocally abusing the song into jittery life.  “All The Best” has a similar feel, with a driven and edgy energy you simply cannot ignore, and serves as a reminder that for “old men of rock n roll”, the band still knows more about rocking a house than many of the kids that have followed in their footsteps.  “Uberlin” has more of a classic R.E.M. sound, building on a clean, simple arrangement with solid vocal harmonies.  Stipe sings sans the whiney vocal quality that made him the object of some unfortunate, yet humorous, caricatures in the past.

“Oh My Heart” is a folk/rock ballad about getting back to your roots, but finding all the things that have changed since you moved on.  This tune has a southern-European flavor, with a gorgeous counter-melody in the accordion.    “It Happened Today” is a catchy, acoustic-driven pop parable that offers more of the feeling side of the event than the story.  This is inspired songwriting, sticking in your head even if you’re never really certain of the genesis.  “Every Day Is Yours To Win” is an intriguingly melancholy song of hope; low key but with an insistent energy that won’t let you go.  The simple arrangement works well in context with the emotional and stylistic incongruities of the song.

“Mine Smell Like Honey” is pure fun, an energetic, crunchy-guitar driven tune that gets stuck in your noggin and stays there.  “Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter” is built on the angst of not knowing who you are or where you are going.  There’s a youthful energy to this song that is surprising, and the theme will resonate with the 20-something crowd.  It’s compelling songwriting with a delightfully crunchy sound.  “That Someone Is You” is a driven rock with a garage/pop sensibility that is by far the catchiest tune on the disc.  Don’t be surprised if this is a single at some point, and don’t be surprised if it returns R.E.M. to Billboard’s Hot-100 in full force.  “Me, Marlon Brand, Marlon Brand And I” is a dreamy return to the late-80’s and early 90’s pop-R.E.M. sound, but retains the vibrancy of the band’s most recent works.  R.E.M. close things down with “Blue”, a sort of conglomeration of ideas both musical and cerebrate.  Stipe’s voice-over blends into a surprise vocal appearance by Patti Smith, but this seems like more of an afterthought than a cogent addition to the album.

In spite of wandering off the track at the end, R.E.M.’s Collapse Into Now may be their most vital work since the late 1980’s.  That’s saying something that has made consistency and growth a staple of their career.  Collapse Into Now builds on all the learning and growth that R.E.M. have acquired over three decades of performing and touring together, but re-captures the vigor of youth in surprising measure.  R.E.M. have been critical darlings for most of their careers, and so it won’t be surprising if Collapse Into Now ends up on a host of year-end “best of” lists, but any such inclusions will be very much earned this time around.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about R.E.M. at http://www.remhq.com/ or www.myspace.com/rem.  Collapse Into Now is available from Amazon.com as a CD, on Vinyl, and as a Download.  iTunes offers the album digitally in standard and Deluxe editions.

The High Dials - Anthems For Doomed Youth

The High Dials - Anthems For Doomed Youth

2010, Rainbow Quartz Records

Montreal rockers The High Dials return on November 2, 2010 with their fifth album for Rainbow Quartz records, Anthems For Doomed Youth.  They’ll be showing off their music tonight at the Rainbow Quartz CMJ showcase along with Broadfield Marchers, Capstan Shafts, The Volebeats, The Parties and The Grip Weeds.  Anthems For Doomed Youth contains the sort of swirling guitar sound and distinctive melodies you’d expect to hear if R.E.M. had come together in the early 1960’s. 

Anthems For Doomed Youth opens with “Teenage Love Made Me Insane”, a catchy, vibrant piece of hippy psych/pop that you won’t be able to get out of your head.  The pop energy in this time is likely to consume you.  “I’m Over You (I Hope It’s True)” is catchy, jangly pop in the style of REM but with a 1960’s feel.  “Chinese Boxes” uses doubled vocals, a strong melody and excellent pacing to deliver a pop/Americana feel, 1960’s style, sounding like something that might have come from a jam session between REM and Tom Petty. 

The High Dials, unfortunately, seem to run out of gas halfway through Anthems For Doomed Youth.  The sound remains the same, but the songwriting on the second half of the album is uninspired; an instance where an okay album might have made a really good EP.  Nevertheless, there is a distinctive sound on Anthems For Doomed Youth that will draw a lot of people in, and that gives distinctive hope for The High Dials’ musical future.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

 Learn more about The High Dials at www.thehighdials.net or www.myspace.com/thehighdials.  Anthems For Doomed Youth drops November 2, 2010.  Pre-orders are available from Amazon.com on CD and Vinyl.  Expect wider availability in both traditional and digital formats.

Adam Sullivan - The Room Is Spinning Faster

Adam Sullivan - The Room Is Spinning Faster

2010, Dweeb Records

Adam Sullivan gets compared to Billy Joel and Ben Folds a lot, but his musical roots are in the darker melancholy of Randy Newman and REM.  With eleven albums/EPs under his belt and ambitious international touring schedule, Sullivan has paid his dues and developed a solid fan base the world over.  His latest album, The Room Is Spinning Faster, shows the polished artistry of a songwriter who knows his craft combined with the restless rambling urge of someone who needs the road even if he's started to question his place on it.  The Room Is Spinning Faster is due out in October 2010 on Dweeb Records, but is already available in digital formats.

Adam Sullivan starts out strong with "Nothing Like Being Alone", rumination on his place in the world, sanity, perspective and understanding.  It's a Ben Folds-style ballad that's highly introspective, a soaring melancholy ode to self-contemplation.  "But The Dinosaurs Were Dead" is edgy, smooth pop, once again reminiscent of Folds.  The instrumentation here is unique, making use of piano and string to create an off-balance sound that somehow stands on its own.  "Please Don't Fall In Love With Me" is great songwriting, a melancholy and thoughtful love song written from the depths of fear and confusion. 

Up to this point Adam Sullivan is setting the stage.  With "Rainy Morning In Amsterdam" he sets the tone for the rest of the album.  It's a song of morning and regret, a pool Sullivan wallows in the rest of the way utilizing a Hemmingway-styled symbolism for tragedy and defeat while singing in measured tones.  Sullivan is searching for he knows not what.  "Something To Lose" is rambling and melancholic but lacks real energy.  The melody and harmonic construction here are gorgeous, but the song teeters on the brink of an emotional vacuum that is disconcerting.  "These Are The Thoughts" is a long-winded, emotionally grinding experience built in this same dearth of emotional energy.  It's the thoughts that keep him awake at night, told from the perspective of one so numb it's more of a recitative than an experience.  "Let Go" shows a flash of life; pretty and dark with a modality reminiscent of Alan Parsons, "Let Go" reflects a sort of determined, reticent hope about what is to come.  The rest of the way is back to the flat, emotionally bereft energy that haunts the middle of the album, as Sullivan walks the listener back to the sleep from which he first emerged.

Adam Sullivan constructs some beautiful musical landscapes on The Room Is Spinning Faster, but against those landscapes he casts a character so lost in his own melancholy and emotional distance that the songs take on a sort of fractured personality.  Artistically challenging, but the combination can make The Room Is Spinning Faster a challenge to get through.  If the navel-gazing melancholy and passive anger of The Cure or The Smiths or even REM you find appealing, then Adam Sullivan will fit nicely in your music collection.  Sullivan may be a bit too distant for the mass market, but the talent here is unmistakable. 

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Adam Sullivan at www.adamsullivan.com or www.myspace.com/adamsullivan.  The Room Is Spinning Faster is due out in October 2010 on CD, but can be purchased now in digital formats through Amazon.com and iTunes.

Review: Steve Baskin - Naked

Steve Baskin - Naked
2009, Vanelle's Songs

Atlanta singer/songwriter Steve Baskin cut his teeth with bands such as Hugo A Gogo and The Hippycrickets as well as with Cindy Wilson (B52s). Along the way, Baskin has shared the stage with such greats as The Beach Boys, Percy Sledge, Don McLean, June Carter Cash, Edwin McCain and Mike Mills (REM). Baskin's sophomore solo effort, Naked, features nine original tunes and a cover of the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You" that should gain him some attention from pop radio.

Naked opens with "Catch Me If You Can", a catchy rocker with a candy-coated chorus you won't soon get out of your head. "Please Don't Leave" plays in much the same vein, a classic rock roll love song with a chorus that sticks with you. "Naked" and "A Day In My Shoes" shows Baskin's weaker side, musically. Both verge on sounding whiny and a bit out of focus. Baskin recovers nicely with "Float On Down", an energetic country rocker that's quirky in style and features some excellent guitar work. "Something Smells Fishy" is likely to be a fan favorite, particularly live; an upbeat yet dark blues tune that will have you hitting repeat. "I Think I Love You" is pure bubblegum, and doesn't seem to change much no matter who covers it. It might just be the perfect pop song and is therefore very hard to make a mess out of. Baskin gets it right with a solid rendition. "Worse Comes To Worst" is a decent enough tune about runaways and how good girls can end up on the wrong side of the tracks. The tune sounds a bit preachy but is otherwise a solid listen. Naked closes with "Lie", a seeming afterthought may have been better left for a b-side.

Naked is an uneven experience; At his best Steve Baskin is a solid songwriter and highly entertaining. Baskin is very capable of descending into a whiny, over-emotive sound vocally, and when he does things just don't work out well. Generally, Naked stays on the plus side of Baskins' voice, and the album is generally a solid effort throughout. The songs offered here suggest to the listener that they may fare better in a live setting, but if you've never heard of Baskin before, Naked is a decent introduction.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Steve Baskin at http://www.stevebaskin.com/ or www.myspace.com/stevebaskin. You can purchase Naked as either a CD or Download from Amazon.com or from CDBaby.com.

Review: Tyler Blanski - Out From The Darkess

Tyler Blanski - Out From The Darkess
2008, Ezekiel Records

Tyler Blanski is a Minneapolis born and based singer/songwriter whose goal is telling stories in his songs. His muse seems to stem from the inspiration of artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Elliott Smith and even Jeff Tweedy. Blanski’s debut album, Out From The Darkness has been a work in progress since his earliest demo in 2006. Released in 2008, it may be a bit dated at this point, but is a fair representation of Blanski as an artist finding his voice.

Out From The Darkness opens with Two Inches Apart, the highlight of the album. Blanski's strong guitar intro serves as the backbone of the entire song, and is a beautiful thing heard through the ears of a guitar player. Blanski's lyrical style appears to be stream of consciousness and takes on a bland consistency early on. Out From The Darkness is a messy tune done in the style and tenor of Bob Dylan. It's a decent effort that gets bogged down in its own weight but shows some of the songwriting potential of Blanski. Hard Water is a tasty lilting tidbit that has a vaguely whiney feel (think REM meets Wilco). Whippoorwil is upbeat and driven with a lot of finesse shown on the acoustic guitar. It is also the musical outpost of the album, leading into a monochromatic and monotonous diaspora of songs lost in their numbing monochromatic sound. Much of the rest of the material on Out From The Darkness ranges from bland and innocuous to plodding cliché. The Sparrow tries to break free and fly with solid songwriting but gets lost in its own monochromatic sound. Laydee similarly tries to break the mold, picking up a more clearly Americana sound, but ultimately can't escape the inertia of the 2nd half of Out From The Darkness.

Tyler Blanski shows flashes as a writer, although lyrically he might benefit from collaboration, but he tends to get so mired in a single sound and style that he isolates himself from a lot of potential listeners. I'd love to hear Blanski take the songwriting talent that clearly exists and put it into use under slightly less serious and strident circumstances. Until then, Out From The Darkness is an interesting start.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Tyler Blanski at http://www.tylerblanski.com/ or www.myspace.com/tylerblanski. Blanski recently re-released Out From The Darkness digitally. It is available for free download from Blanski's web page, but donations are welcome. There is also an option to purchase copies on CD.

Review: Vic Chesnutt - Skitter On Take-Off

Vic Chesnutt - Skitter On Take-Off
2009, Vapor Records

Vic Chesnutt got his big break when Michael Stipe heard him play in the late 1980’s. A singer/songwriter on the Indie Folk scene in Athens, Georgia, Chesnutt has been a paraplegic since an automobile accident many years ago. Stipe produced Chesnutt’s first two albums, but it wasn’t until the release of compilation album Sweet Relief II in 1996 that Chesnutt’s star began to take off. In October, Chesnutt released his latest project, Skitter On Take-Off on Vapor Records. It is a collection of personal and poignant songs written in Chesnutt’s inimitable style.

Skitter On Take-Off is an album for recessionary times, written in stark, simplistic arrangements that highlight his enigmatic voice and post-apocalyptic story telling style. This isn't exactly a party album. Chesnutt opens with Feast In The Time Of Plague, a characterization of those who thrive at the expense of those around them. The song is pained, written, perhaps, from the perspective of one corporate manager speaking to another. One could envision a scenario where both have fallen on hard times, but are looking back at a time when they pillaged the system for all it was worth. Unpacking My Suitcase is a song about how much of a loved one we might bring home from a visit. Chesnutt's gem talks about the smells that came home on his clothes and how he saved them as memories for when he gets home. It's a lonely and somewhat desperate tune that pleads for human contact in terms that are sweet but could border on creepy.

Rips In The Fabric is a soliloquy on the necessity of all that happens to and around us. Chesnutt seems to be saying that whatever is going on in your life is just part of your life; there are no external forces making them happen to you. The song is well written even if makes some interesting conceptual leaps. My New Life is a repetitive keen on loneliness. It's not terribly compelling, but there is a deep anguish that comes across that's not your typical output in a Pop/Folk tune. Dick Cheney is a moral judgment in music on the man that could almost be interpreted as threatening (and certainly might by those who comprise Cheney's protective bubble). Chesnutt closes out with Worst Friend and Sewing Machine, each of which follow a similar minimalist track.

Skitter On Take-Off is an experience. When it works, Chesnutt sounds brilliant. When songs don't work they can be laborious. The sound is what you'd get at a live, in-studio performance. Vic Chesnutt has created a solid album with real strengths.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Vic Chesnutt at http://www.vicchesnutt.com/. You can purchase Skitter On Take-Off as either a CD or Download through Amazon.com.

Review: Mission Hill - Mission Hill

Mission Hill - Mission Hill
2009, Toucan Cove Entertainment

Boston quartet Mission Hill has built up a significant fan base gigging relentlessly on the East Coast over the past few years. Shows with Candlebox, The White Tie Affair and Secondhand Serenade have served to widen their fan base, but it's the music that wins over fans' hearts and minds. Introspective and self-conscious by nature, Mission Hill speaks from the heart on their debut EP, Mission Hill. Mission Hill was recently ranked number one on Alternative Addiction's "Top Ten Unsigned Bands" list, and lead vocalist Adam Jensen won an LA Music Award for Indie Male Vocalist Of The Year. I suspect that such accolades are only the tip of the iceberg.

Mission Hill opens with This Town, reflecting on a relationship gone wrong and the difficulty of moving on. The narrator is on the verge of wanting reject all he knows to get away from all things familiar and escape the pain of losing her. While Jensen sounds nothing like Michael Stipe (more like a deeper voiced Rob Thomas), there's a definite REM connection here. Forever Anyway is an autobiographical tune about Jensen's love for his hometown that takes on an almost Americana flavoring. The vocal harmonies here are phenomenal, and the melody is one that will get stuck in your brain. Long Time Comin' is a goodbye song. The narrator has finally had enough and is saying goodbye. The song is incredibly well written and could have potential as a Country tune as well as the Rock/Americana arrangement it's presently in. Don't be surprised to see this song licensed for a soundtrack somewhere down the line. The best songwriting on the disc is still to come, however. Jen (When I Grow Up) is one of the most mature and introspective love songs you're likely to come across. This is a definite mix-tape song, though with limited application. If we did a song of the year category here at Wildy's World this would have to be in the discussion. Ending with Down With Young Love, Mission Hill rocks out for all they're worth; an impressively high-energy tune that I suspect is a big time favorite in the live show.

Mission Hill seems destined to transcend their regional status and become a band with national recognition. The quality of the songwriting and musicianship combined with the front-man presence of Adam Jensen would make them a sure thing in a perfect world. Regardless, Mission Hill is very much worthy of your rapt attention. This is great stuff!

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Mission Hill at www.myspace.com/missionhillband or http://www.missionhillband.com/. You can purchase Mission Hill EP digitally from iTunes. Physical CDs do exist, but I could find no outlet online. Message Mission Hill at their MySpace page for more information if interested.

Review: Kind Monitor - Somebody Saves My Life Every Single Day

Kind Monitor - Somebody Saves My Life Every Single Day
2008, Kind Monitor

Joshua Aaron Guthals is the songwriting soul of Kind Monitor, a Brooklyn band that inspires thoughts of early REM and even Morrissey. Mixing melancholy with melancholy and a swirl of depression over soft, breeze melodies, Kind Monitor seems to be developing a following in the over-crowded New York City music scene. Kind Monitor's latest offering, Somebody Saves My Life Every Single Day, underscores this quirky sense of pop melancholy.

The EP opens with Sharks, an electronic New Wave offering with a Lo-Fi bent and a distinct diction deficit. I had an impossible time the lyrics on this song. The music itself is relatively non-descript; having little dynamic variability and lyrics that might as well be a voiceless vocal. Cairo is a somewhat non-descript tune that features some interesting violin work. Absorb gives the EP its name, rising to the level of insistent middle of road rocker for a repetition of the album title and then receding back into a state of placid quietude. Kind Monitor plods through I Love The Ending on the way to Somebody Saves, a somnolent and mildly depressed tune about merely existing. The EP closes out with End Of The Game, ending with the same dark and listless tenor Kind Monitor has maintained throughout.

Somebody Saves My Life Every Single Day plays more like a musical journal driven by severe depression. It is, frankly, a tough listen. Kind Monitor doesn't even save listeners with the snappy arrangements of a band like The Cure; proceeding in dirge-like fashion toward an ignominious end. There will be folks out there who like Somebody Saves My Life Every Day, but for me it was a tough listen.

Rating: 1.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Kind Monitor at http://www.kindmonitor.com/ or www.myspace.com/kindmonitor. You can purchase Somebody Saves My Life Every Single Day as either a CD or download through CDBaby.com.

Review: Greg Dember - I Don't Know I Think I Fell From The Sky

Greg Dember - I Don't Know I Think I Fell From The Sky
2008, Hieronymus Records

Greg Dember is a Seattle-based singer/songwriter with a slightly different perspective on the world. This comes across in his quirky songwriting style. Dember has been a part of numerous Seattle projects over time, including Chiefly, Lavish Cat and Tim And The Time Machines. Performing solo under the name Greg Dember allows the artist to bring to take the stage on his own or with the help of a large group of musical friends as the night or venue might suggest. Dember’s album, I Don’t Know I Think I Fell From The Sky is quirky, original and a little out of step, perhaps, with current mores in music, but may carry a distinctive charm for certain discriminating music fans.

I Don't Know I Think I Fell From The Sky is a musically interesting but lyrically lackluster effort. Dember ranges from Ben Folds style Rock ballads to fully orchestrated and vaguely morose chill-fests in song. The dynamic range of the recording never varies too significantly, meaning I Don't Know I Think I Fell From The Sky has a tendency to sound a bit homogenous at times. Lyrically, Dember is out there, writing in a mix of biographical and allegorical terms that becomes so enmeshed it becomes difficult to sort the reality from dreams. The album opens with Parachute, with the narrator caught up in the euphoria of new love. The song is quite interesting although it does get a bit stuck in the chorus. Boxes approaches a stream-of-consciousness songwriting style that is very quirky. The narrator here is in love with someone who is moving; he just hopes she doesn't move too far. Transportation takes on a Ben Folds approach in a dreamy song more or less about love. Dember doesn't have the spark or chutzpah of Folds and the song gets overly flacid at times. Imaginary Friend is an odd tune. Dember seems to count Quentin Tarrantino and Uma Thurman in this category. From here things just seem to drift, with Dember occasionally finding the ground but generally floating through songs about dashed expectations, unrequited love and all sort of naval-gazing topics.

After listening to I Don't Know I Think I Fell From The Sky, I have the distinct impression it could be the soundtrack to the life of the kid in school that everyone thinks is weird. There is a social disconnection that runs through the songs that is at times charming and at times bordering on creepy. Dember captures this persona in song as if he's lived it. From that perspective the album borders on genius, although the music, in general, just isn't really compelling. It’s a decent listen, but not one that will inspire you to come back again and again.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Greg Dember at www.myspace.com/gregorydember. You can purchase I Don’t Know I Think I Fell From The Sky as a CD or download from CDBaby.

Review: Rick Shea - Shelter Valley Blues

Rick Shea - Shelter Valley Blues
2009, Tres Pescadores

Rick Shea might just be the current King of the California Country sound. With five highly acclaimed albums under his belt and a resume that includes work with folks such as Dave Alvin, Katy Moffatt and R.E.M., Shea certainly has the respect of his peers. Highly independent, Shea follows his own path in writing highly personal and honest songs in the tradition of Merle Haggard. Shea's latest release, Shelter Valley Blues, touches on the tough situations we find ourselves in over the course of our lives and how we end up there.

Shelter Valley Blues opens with Back Home To The Blues, a classic bit of Country melancholy perfect for crying in your beer. No Good Time For Leavin' recalls another era of Country music when the story was the thing. Steady Drivin' Man is a fun song that incorporates a bit of New Orleans sound and tops it off with some pretty cool yodeling. Shelter Valley Blues stays on the low-key side with another great story-song. The arrangement here is perfectly done: not too light and not too heavy. Ty Robby is built on an interesting mix of Celtic and Tex-Mex musical traditions and is one of the more enjoyable songs on the disc (Moira Smiley's harmony vocals are a special treat - what a voice!)

Nelly Bly has a real Rhythm N Blues feel to it, shaking up the album's sound just a tad in a highly entertaining tune. Shea keeps up the momentum on the Zydeco-flavored Sweet Little Pocha; you'll be two steppin' from the opening bars of this number. Shinbone Alley is a musical still life of a town that's seen better days, delivered in a gentle bit of highly melodic blues. Fisherman's Blues takes the Waterboys classic and updates it with a Southwest sound in the best cover of the tune I've heard to date. Shea closes out with The Haleiwa Shuffle, a Hawaiian-flavored instrumental that's highly enjoyable.

Rich Shea delivers on Shelter Valley Blues, performing eleven entertaining and energetic songs for your listening pleasure. She is a bit too subdued at times, but the performances here are great. Rick Shea is a throwback to another era in country music, with compositions Chet Atkins would approve of. The songwriting is strong and the instrumental work is obscenely good. Make sure you check out Rick Shea.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Rick Shea at http://www.rickshea.com/ or www.myspace.com/ricksheacalifornia. You can order a signed copy of Shelter Valley Blues from Paniolo Productions.

Review: Hawk And Dove - The Rocking Chair EP

Hawk And Dove - The Rocking Chair EP

2009, Hawk And Dove

Hawk And Dove is a New York City ensemble propagating a low key brand of Shoe-gaze/Country Psychedelia that's gotten them onstage at such NYC venues as Union Hall and the Bell House (Brooklyn) as well as Piano's and The Cake Shop (Manhattan). Led by vocalist/lyricist Elijah Miller and guitarist John Kleber, Hawk And Dove weave an almost hypnotic series of arrangements around Miller's angst-filled lyrics. Joining Miller and Kleber are Stephanie Sanders (bass), Dave Butler (drums) and Rachel Lyon (violin). The Rocking Chair EP will be followed by a full-length release in the Fall of 2009, but that's not enough for Hawk And Dove. They recently filmed a pilot written by Side Car, a comedy troupe from New York City's Upright Citizens Brigade Theater that will debut at the 2009 New York City Television festival, and are in the process of writing a rock opera.

The Rocking Chair EP is only three songs strong, giving just a taste of what this quintet is capable of. The EP opens with Furious Armies, a hypnotic piece of shoe gazing Alt-Country mired in neurotic self-doubt. The melody line is monotonous, true to the overall sense of the song, which is full of deeply repressed anger. It's actually an intriguing listen, but you really have to pay attention. The song is smart in a neurotic, overly descriptive fashion, but casual listeners might not get it. It almost has an R.E.M. meets Radiohead quality to it. Stain is an incredible song about the extremes people go to fill a sense of emptiness in a world full of things, events and happenings and too short on real human contact. Even in the contact of a relationship, Stain implies that people often fake those connections to have someone rather than be alone. The violin and bass seem to play out this parable in the breakdown section, playing a duet that's more like playing simultaneously than playing together. The plaintive country feel to the song implies a passivity that fits with the theme. The Rocking Chair EP closes out with Boy On The Moon, and goes back into the droning aspect heard on Furious Armies. I honestly couldn't say I drew a specific meaning from this song. It's a curious composition that's not without merit; I just wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.

Hawk And Dove has an interesting sound they're working on The Rocking Chair EP. From the three songs presented here, I'd say they're a band that is likely to develop a fiercely loyal core following. Casual listeners will be at a loss, because Hawk And Dove is a band you really need to dig into to get. The dramatic and powerful lyrical flow and narrow dynamic range here fares best when punctuated by the violin work of Rachel Lyons and the musical heartbeat of Stephanie Sanders' bass work. The songwriting is intelligent and occasionally quite obscure. The Rocking Chair is an intellectual EP with a surreal, psychedelic bent that will reward careful listeners.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Hawk And Dove at www.myspace.com/hawkanddoveband or http://www.hawkanddovenyc.com/. You can purchase a copy of The Rocking Chair EP at Hawk And Dove’s web store using PayPal.

Review: Big Star - #1 Record/Radio City

Big Star - #1 Record/Radio City
2009, Ardent/Stax Records

Big Star was a band destined to blow apart even as they were being formed. Coming off his association as lead singer of the Box Tops (The Letter), Alex Chilton moved to Memphis at the behest of Chris Bell (guitar) to work with his group Ice Water. The trio became a quartet and changed their name to Big Star, embarking on a brief yet ultimately influential recording career both driven by and mired in artistic and interpersonal tension. Ardent/Stax Records recently re-released Big Star's first two albums, #1 Record (1972) and Radio City (1974) on one CD. Additionally, each album is individually available on vinyl LP. Both albums have been re-mastered for this release, making slight improvements to a previous release of both albums on one CD.

Big Star flew in the face of pop convention in 1972, eschewing both the folk/ rock sound that grew out of the late-60's and the new progressive rock sound that was even then giving birth to what would become known as the AOR radio format. Big Star instead went for Brit-Pop inspired sound that drew on influences as diverse as The Beatles, The Kinks, classic American Rhythm & Blues and singer/songwriter pastiche. This tendency toward a singular band leader in vocalist Alex Chilton was the beginning of the end for Big Star, with guitarist Bell quitting the band before the sun had set on 1972. #1 Record didn't sell particularly well, being a few years ahead of its time, but songs like Don't Lie To Me, Feel, In The Street, The Ballad of El Goodo and When My Baby's Beside Me have influenced a artists as diverse as R.E.M., The Replacements, The Bangles, Teenage Fanclub and Primal Scream.

Radio City, made as a trio after Chris Bell's departure is a wonderful dichotomy of artistic and personal tensions, featuring wonderfully crafted pop songs that threaten to come apart at the seams at almost every turn yet never quite do. If it was personal animosity that drove the brilliance of this record then it's a tribute to the professionalism of the three remaining members at the time. Radio City spawned the song September Gurls, to this day still Big Star's best known song. Other highlights include Way Out West, Back of A Car, Mod Lang and O My Soul.

Big Star has reunited for reunion tours over the years, but original guitarist and catalyst Chris Bell perished in a 1979 car accident, and the pure magic of those early days will have to remain forever a memory. Ardent and Stax Records present those memories in new packaging for your listening pleasure. In spite of the re-master, the sound quality isn't significantly improved from prior versions unless you have very high end equipment to play it on (and if you're converting to MP3 then it probably isn't worth upgrading). If you don't own a prior version of this disc and you want to understand the roots of alternative rock with a melodic bent, then Big Star's #1 Record/Radio City is a CD you need to own.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Big Star at http://www.bigstarband.com/. You can purchase a copy of #1 Record/Radio City at Amazon.com or download the album on iTunes.

Review: New York Dolls - 'Cause I Sez So

New York Dolls – ‘Cause I Sez So
2009, ATCO

If the New York City punk scene of the 1970’s could be traced back to one forefather it might just be the New York Dolls. Mixing influences as rich as the Rolling Stones, classic R&B, rock and Philly Funk with an attitude that’s all New York, New York Dolls practically created the scene that spawned such bands as The Ramones, Blondie, The Talking Heads and Television. The New York Dolls reunited in 2004 after a long hiatus with original members David Johansen (known to some as Buster Poindexter) and Sylvain Sylvain. The New York Dolls rock their way into 2009 with a new album of original tunes, ‘Cause I Sez So.

The New York Dolls don’t mess around with the sort of edgy, maudlin alt-pop you hear on the radio nowadays. This is good old fashioned Rock N Roll with elements of Rhythm N Blues and the occasional dose of funk. ‘Cause I Sez So opens with the title track, a raucous, bar room song that you’ll want to shake your fanny to. Lonely So Long sees the Dolls embracing an Americana sound that is a bit surprising and yet fits them so very well. This is the sort of song you sing along to at a concert along with everyone else in attendance. My World is a blue collar, Rock N Roll love song that’s something of a throwback.

Making Rain is one of the stronger songs on the disc; an Alt-Country/Americana tune featuring outstanding guitar work. Drowning is a tasty bit of Southern/Classic Rock that opens with a guitar intro that isn’t in itself iconic but established a tenor and sound that is unforgettable (think Queensryche’s Silent Lucidity). My favorite song on the disc is Nobody Got No Bizness, a mix of Rock, Rhythm N Blues and a bit of Philly style funk. This is a great party tune that you won’t be able to get out of your head. ‘Cause I Sez So closes with Exorcism Of Despair, mixing elements of Rock and Punk with the frenetic drive of early Rush. This sounds like a 1970’s AOR staple.

The New York Dolls were a special band in a special time. Their successes in the early 1970’s paved the way for many artists who would come afterward. ‘Cause I Sez So is a very strong effort from the New York Dolls, and a sure sign that they have a lot of kick in them yet. If you’re looking for the roots of the Punk movement, look no further than the New York Dolls.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The New York Dolls at http://www.nydolls.org/ or www.myspace.com/newyorkdolls. You can purchase a copy of ‘Cause I Sez So at Amazon.com .

Review: The Moods - Have Your Day

The Moods - Have Your Day
2008, Hydrophone Records

There was a time when Rock N Roll was all about feeling good. Before the days of self-possessed angst and issue songs Rock was about crisp melodies, sing-a-long arrangements and a beat that inspired you to move. Bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys embodied this spirit. Even your rebellious types reveled in the good times and great melodies Rock N Roll had to offer. These days it seems Rock is all about the message or the marketing. That's what makes Los Angeles based sextet The Moods so refreshing to hear. The Moods are a throwback to the creative wellspring that occurred when the first waves of the British Invasion crashed on US shores and artists here started to respond. On their debut album, Have Your Day, The Moods mix artful, 1960's style arrangements with memorable melodies in major and minor keys.

Have Your Day opens with The Moods, a frenetically structured rock instrumental that's highly danceable. The sound here is early 1960's rock and is highly memorable. A Life Ending is an upbeat, peppy/poppy rock tune ion dark minor keys. Listen closely and you'll hear something of an REM flavor here. All Or Nothing is a dark composition full of piano and synth; a gothic new wave song filled with the melancholic excitement of REM. Megan, my personal favorite song on the disc, is an upbeat love song built on great hooks and a mildly chaotic arrangement that is quite charming. Strawberry Blonde goes to dark places; the story of a man enraptured with something he can't or shouldn't have to the point of eschewing that which he already has. Another favorite is Thump (To A Chorus Of Disapproval). Aimed at "Bible Thumpers", Thump is a great rock tune that attacks hypocrisy from people of faith. Thump is likely to garner a lot of attention (both positive and negative). While highly entertaining the song is written around distinct misconceptions about what faith is and what having it means. Also be sure to check out Dear Missus Bea, Out and Something About You.

Chief songwriter and primary singer Jay Africa drives The Moods with highly interesting and sonically artistic songs on Have Your Day. This is one of those bands that is more than the sum of the parts. Each individual here appears to be very talented, but when they play together a bit of musical alchemy seems to occur. Make sure that Have Your Day gets on your listening list.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Moods at http://www.themoods.net/ or www.myspace.com/themoodslosangeles. You can purchase a copy of Have Your Day at www.cdbaby.com/cd/moods.

Review: Straw Dogs - Love And Then Hope

Straw Dogs – Love And Then Hope
2009, Crafty Records

High energy blended in subtle textures. This is an apt description of the music of Straw Dogs, a Seattle Americana quartet that's spreading out of the great northwest faster than influenza on an airplane. Singer/songwriter/guitarists Dave von Beck and Darren Smith feed off the energy and support of bassist Eric Bryson and drummer Casey Miller to create a sound that's part, CSN, part Son Volt and part Ryan Adams. Their latest album, Love And Then Hope is a collection of fourteen intelligent and well-written songs that push at the boundaries of Americana while exemplifying the very soul of the genre.

Love And Then Hope opens with Lie Awake, a song you'll be hearing in one way, shape or form. Lie Awake falls firmly between Country and Rock, but is so well written and so full of real emotion that its hard to imagine this song not being picked up for niche radio as well as for licensing opportunities. Besides it's not often you hear male vulnerability in song outside of canned ballads, which this most definitely is not. Could You is a very interesting musical construct, combing the weird, nervous energy of early REM with the highly melodic and dark timbered sounds of bands like Blue Rodeo. I could see this song doing very well on Americana radio. Down My Hall is a highly accessible pop/country song built around a very strong melody and great harmonies.

Something More is a hopeful love song that looks back at a broken relationship and wishing for another chance. The song is wonderfully tuneful and features both vocalists in harmony. It's a very mellow vibe but perhaps the well-written song on the disc. Waiting By The Gate is an inspired bit of songwriting. The song has a very earthy tone to it that's based in the protagonist's near-desperation. Make sure to give this one a careful listen. My favorite song on the disc is Then Maria. The sway to this song will draw you in, and the singer's pure devotion is palpable. As always, the chorus is full of great harmony, and the melody line will stick in your head for days. Other highlights include Serious Love, Remember My Garden, Numbers and First Time.

Love And Then Hope is one of those albums that you could sit and deconstruct for hours. The musicianship is top notch, as is the songwriting. The more upbeat tunes will haunt your brain, as von Beck and Smith have a unique knack for pop hooks embedded deep in their Americana sound. The heart in the music is distinctive, whether it's an optimistic upbeat country rocker, a sad ballad or a melancholy musical mood. Straw Dogs deserve significant attention; Seattle isn't big enough to hold them.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Straw Dogs at http://www.strawdogs.com/ or www.myspace.com/strawdogsmusic. You can purchase a copy of Love And Then Hope at www.cdbaby.com/cd/strawdogs5.

Review: David Sinclair Trio - Threewheeling

David Sinclair Trio - Threewheeling
2008, Nova Tunes/Critical Discs

West London’s David Sinclair is a journalist, author, singer and guitarist. He continues his double life with his new disc with the David Sinclair Trio, Threewheeling. Due for a spring, 2009 release, Threewheeling brings a live, lo-fi sound to complement solid Rock songwriting.

Threewheeling opens with London Dust, a catchy and memorable rock tune with shades of Americana in its lineage. Your World Mystifies Me has a feel like REM on steroids, aggressively and plaintively melodic all at once. The David Sinclair Trio appears to have gone for a live, in-studio sound that borders on garage throughout Threewheeling. It makes for a great listen because this is essentially the sound you might get at a show, and it works for DST. Eight Rounds Later is a rockabilly tune about a night out on the town. Think Georgia Satellites on this one. Feedback wants to be a combination of Rock and Americana but has an almost punk sensibility to it. Clicks is a little more mainstream sounding, like something that might have been played on the radio in the final days before Grunge roared out of Seattle. Other songs of note are Share My Cab, Just Struck Gold and Was I Strong Enough.

David Sinclair Trio is a bit rough around the edges but finds a very cohesive and enjoyable sound on Threewheeling. The intersection of Rock, Americana , Grunge and Garage is where David Sinclair Trio meets, and if they don't hit on every single song then they do on most of them. David Sinclair Trio has a bright future.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about David Sinclair Trio at www.myspace.com/davidsinclair, http://www.davidsinclairuk.com/, or http://www.davidsinclair.blogspot.com/. You can download Threewheeling at www.indiestore.com/davidsinclair.

Review: Abe's Logic - War's Ragin'

Abe’s Logic – War’s Ragin’
2009, Mad Chief Records

Abe's Logic is the musical extension of Abe Vandenberg’s multiple musical personalities. The Maui, Hawaii resident is a musical chameleon who can channel Lou Reed one moment, Dave Matthews the next, and traverse several other personae in the course of a few songs. Rock, Jazz Fusion, Folk; none of these are without of his reach at a given moment, in a given song, or even on a dime. What is certain is that as a listener, if you’re not paying attention, Abe’s Logic will leave you far behind. Vandenberg is getting ready to release his latest album as Abe’s Logic, called War’s Ragin’. Whether this is social or self-commentary is up to the listener to decide.

War’s Ragin’ opens with the Ski anthem Chipping’ Away. This is the sort of song that makes you want to get up and dance and is a great start to the album. There’s a rough edge to the music on War’s Ragin’ that is appealing. It’s not garage, exactly, but it has some of that same Lo-Fi charm. Even on songs such as I Stepped Into The Shade, where Abe’s Logic layers a lot of instrumentation to build a full sound there is still an aspect to it that is rough and primitive. The Prestige is very catchy; a bit frenetic. Vandeberg occasionally reminds me of the same urgent energy that drove some of the early They Might Be Giants recordings on War’s Ragin’. That nervous momentum is very apparent on The Prestige.

War’s Ragin’ is a delicious heartland-style rocker with big, jangly guitars and a chorus you can’t help but hum along to. The theme is the ease with which we can wrap ourselves in our loves and forget about what’s going on in the world at large. War’s Ragin’ is a song with strong commercial potential. It’s Not Just Me is written in much the same fashion and is quite catchy but doesn’t have quite the same oomph as War’s Ragin’. What We Crave develops a bit further into an interesting modal vocal harmony structure with that same heartland feel, taking a band like The Bears and adding Devo-esque harmonies into the mix. The sound stays fairly consistent through That Was Safe, with Abe’s Logic saving the curveball for All Of A Sudden, which sounds a bit like REM crashed the Abe’s Logic party. Abe’s Logic corrects course and gets back to the feel-good rock with moderate to serious themes on I Want It To Stay, which sounds like it would be a fantastic tune live.

Abe’s Logic offers up some classic American Rock N Roll with a hint of garage chic on War’s Ragin’. It's is one of those albums you walk away from more impressed by the sound than anything else, but Vandenberg is quite capable with a guitar in his hands, and has a strong, clear singing voice that is a pleasure to listen to. Lyrically interesting and intelligent, the somewhat darker elements of the narrative can get crowded out by the big, loud, jangly sound, but it’s a fun listen.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Abe’s Logic at http://www.abeslogic.com/ or www.myspace.com/abeslogic. War’s Ragin’ is due for a late spring/early summer release. Keep checking Abe’s Logic’s website for details.

Review: Tom Bolton - When I Cross The River

Tom Bolton - When I Cross The River
2007, Tom Bolton

Melbourne, Australia’s Tom Bolton is something of a throwback in folk music. Bolton recalls to mind a time when folk music was about the song and the story within the song, rather than adapting a purely pop songwriting style to acoustic instruments. Bolton grew up in a family where music was always around, exposed to everything from Cat Stevens and Jefferson Airplane to R.E.M., David Sylvian and Nick Drake. Bolton’s third release, When I Cross The River is a celebration of original folk music in its purest sense. Together with double-bass master Richard Grace, Bolton weaves 12 witty and intelligent musical monologues for your listening delight.

When I Cross The River opens with the title track, a hauntingly beautiful bit of musical prose that seems evoke love, thankfulness and regret all at once. Three Hearts has a musical melancholy that stands in contrast to the happily regretful lyrics. Whose Army has a blues vibe to it that is both energizing and fun. The highlight of the album is the folk/country All I Can Do. It's a pure ballad with a simple, memorable melody, gorgeous harmonies and lyrics that touch the listener. Bolton seems to have a talent for wrapping mixed emotions into his songs. The sense of melancholy juxtaposed with a thankful spirit is a common theme on When I Cross The River. This could become trying, but for the most part Bolton avoids getting bogged down in the sediment of sentiment. Other highlights include the Celtic flavored Where You Wanna Go, the Americana themed Hold The Sun, or Sweet Days, a gorgeous acoustic guitar instrumental.

Tom Bolton has a talent for beautiful and interesting music with a melancholic flair wrapped around lyrics and ideas that often run counter to the music in their emotional weight. Bolton's lyrics are intelligent, his melodies instantly memorable, and his performances are spot on. When I Cross The River is a strong entry in the Folk Music market and should do very well for him. It's definitely worth checking out.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Tom Bolton at http://www.sensibletom.com/. You can purchase a copy of When I Cross The River at www.cdbaby.com/cd/tombolton.