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Showing posts with label Hurricane Katrina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hurricane Katrina. Show all posts

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Review: God's Guns – Invasion 89


God's Guns – Invasion 89
God’s Guns


Ted Nott (vocals/bass) and Daniel Villarreal Carrillo (drums) travel under the name God's Guns, mixing elements of Rock, Jazz, Funk and Classical music into a dynamic and wide-ranging musical melting pot on their debut album, Invasion '89. The Chicago duo claim influences as diverse as Fela Kuti, Janes Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, The Mars Volta and Miles Davis. Wrap it all up in a grunge-flavored sensibility and you have a sound that's not quite like anything else currently out there.

God's Guns open with Ruby Ridge, a piece of Funk-driven rock with minimalist instrumentation (bass, drums & vocals). It's organic dance rock if you can imagine Pearl Jam playing with P-Funk's bassist sitting in. God's Guns shows a progressive leaning toward the end of the song that bears out later on. Invasion 89 features highly complex rhythms drawn from Jazz and Afrobeat styles, but musically it's all over the map.) God's Guns get expansive on Gutters Eye Blue, a melodramatic piece built around an almost derelict depression. Drum and bass fill the core here, with the vocal and violin dueling in a form of raw, forlorn grace.

God's Guns discuss the fall of New Orleans on Skeletons Of Louisiana Streets. The song is done beat poet style with sparse musical accompaniment, and focus on the moral and social degradation of the city rather than on a specific event such as Hurricane Katrina. Fires In The Fall finds the band in an introspective ode to a friend who has passed on. Driven by acoustic guitar and a dramatic vocal line reminiscent of some of Eddie Vedder's better stuff. Same Sinatra, More Insane features a searingly dramatic vocal line, but the song itself gets a bit messy. Petroleum gets messy but in true Progressive Rock circular style and ends up sounding more Psychedelic than anything. Puppet Show is a deep mess, running all over the map. It sounds as if God's Guns is more concerned with construction than progression here.

God's Guns turn out a solid if uneven effort in Invasion 89. The drums and bass setup with occasional violin or guitar is interesting, but wears as the album progresses. It seems as if may have worn on God's Guns as well, as the second half of the album is nowhere near the quality of the first half (with the exception of Fires in The Fall). When God's Guns are on their game they are an engaging band with a unique sound. These guys are definitely worth checking out, although individual songs may be hit or miss.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about God’s Guns at www.myspace.com/godsguns or http://www.godsguns.com/. You can purchase a copy of Invasion 89 through CDBaby.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Review: Jesse Dee - Bittersweet Batch


Jesse Dee – Bittersweet Batch
2008, 7not Records

Boston native and Burlington, Vermont resident Jesse Dee has a love for classic soul music that shines through everything he sings. Notably an artist and graphic designer, Jesse Dee made the decision to make a career of music. He’s already open for R&B Legend Al Green, and credits influences such as Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Etta James and the old Chess vocal groups as influences. Jesse Dee is a former member of college favorites Decifunk, and also has done time with The Dirty Whites and Sea Monsters. Jesse Dee’s solo debut album, Bittersweet Batch, hit shelves in September of 2008. If it’s any indication you’ll be hearing a great deal more of Dee in the future.

Jesse Dee is the real deal. You won’t hear the sort of aural airbrushing on Bittersweet Batch that is some common these days. Dee’s voice is highly emotive and textured, with the sort of vocal flaws that made the classic R&B and Soul singers so distinctive and interesting to listen to. The album opens with Alright. Dee’s rough-velvet voice is right up there with Melinda Doolittle for bringing classic soul back into the spotlight. Slow Down is one of my favorites in the album, with a highly positive message and a great arrangement. This song will stay with you. Over & Over Again sounds like classic Motown, complete with Stax horns. Dee brings the funk on Reap What You Sow, a must-listen song. My Two Feet brings in the sounds of New Orleans on a great classic pop song. Dee revisits New Orleans on New Blades Of Grass; a song about Hurricane Katrina and about the will of New Orleans residents to rebuild and survive that tragedy. Be sure to check out Alive & Kickin’ as well; the biggest soul/rock/gospel/roadhouse sound on the album.

Jesse Dee kicks it old school on what may be the most traditional Soul/R&B release of the year for 2008. If you are a fan of these genres then Bittersweet Batch is a must-have disc.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jesse Dee at http://www.myspace.com.jessedee/, where you can purchase a digital download of Bittersweet Batch.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Review: David Lykins - Blurry White Guy


David Lykins – Blurry White Guy
2008, David Lykins


David “Ravin’ Dave” Lykins is a Chicago area actor/singer/songwriter/poet with a reputation for a big voice. His debut CD, 2008’s Blurry White Guy has been described as “subversive country music”, and it’s easy to see why. Lykins takes traditional country forms and imbues them with a not-quite-reckless sense of variety and composition that goes far beyond your typical music row pop hybrid. With a supporting cast including Pat Flynn (New Grass Revival), Chris Leuzinger (Garth Brooks), John Gardener (Dixie Chicks), Dow Tomlin and Jeff Taylor, Lykins has produced one of the more intriguing country albums of the past year.

Blurry White Guy opens with Houston, a Country/Rock hybrid about Hurricane Katrina and the impact it has on the residents of New Orleans. It’s an amazingly upbeat song for the dark, solemn subject matter and has real commercial punch. The family in the song is separated, with the children in Memphis and the parents in Houston. This is probably one of the best musical paeans to the Katrina Disaster that anyone has written/recorded. Greetings From The Riviera is a great story song that is heart-breaking in its picturesque detail. Let Me Carry This has a wonderfully dark atmosphere that frames Lykins’ All-American country voice, and while Lykins writes in essentially classic country forms, he often builds sound and structure into his songs that separate them from the pop/country pack.

A personal favorite here is Day After Valentine. It’s a sweet song without sounding hokey or trite and likely to be a fan favorite. Come Along is another favorite; a song that captures some of the Celtic spirit of Country and Western Music. You’ll also want to check out Flying and This Is My House.

David Lykins sounds enough like popular country artists to get some commercial attention, with enough variation and complexity in his music to earn some respect from fellow musicians. Blurry White Guy is a perplexing, intriguing and ultimately rewarding listen. It’s popular music with a subversive core. Accessible to consumers of the mindless pop machine that has overtaken parts of Music Row, but deep and wide enough to interest people who still listen to the music. Blurry White Guy, indeed.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about David Lykins at www.myspace.com/ravin12. You can purchase a copy of Blurry White Guy at www.cdbaby.com/cd/davelykins.