August 2006
Record
Adam Green
Gliss
Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited
The Shys
The Grates
Phoenix
Muse
Broadcast
Paul Weller
Babyshambles
The Electric Soft Parade
Barbara Morgenstern
Nina Gordon
The Knife
The Adored
El Presidente
The Handsome Family
Dr. Octagon
Lisa Germano
Towers Of London
Ellen Allien & Apparat
French Kicks
Prototypes
Soul Asylum
Pretty Flowers
The Sharp Ease
Mary Lee's Corvette
The Living End
Tiefschwarz
iMAYDAY!
Miss Violetta Beauregarde
The Capitol Years
One Ring Zero
Some Girls
Radio Birdman
Home Video
Motor
Record
Adam Green
Jacket Full of Danger
Rough Trade
Adam Green has been very prolific in the past three years. He was one half of
the Moldy Peaches. The band broke up in 2002, but played a surprise show in
Fall 2004. But the band is a thing of the past, and he is three albums into a
pretty good solo career. That doesn't stop audiences from requesting "Who's
Got The Crack" all the time. I witnessed the new sound last year. Green has sort
of mined that period of Nick Cave, post-Birthday Party. At first Cave used to
do ironic covers of songs by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Presley.
After a few albums of murder ballads, Cave got serious. Adam Green is more like
Ray Stevens doing cover songs of Nick Cave and Lee Hazelwood. Green and company
are talented folk. "Animal Dreams" has a string section. "Nat King Cole"
has a Lou Reed vibe. There are some funny moments as in "Hey Dude" and
"Drugs." There are some great moments like "Watching Old Movies" which has a classic
feel. Green is almost like Spinal Tap on "White Women." This is real musical
stuff. Adam Green has delivered the goods. He is serious about this music. He
has created a body of work that is quite impressive. Adam Green has a soul of
a poet, but can't resist making an ironic face.
Gliss
Love The Virgins
Mountain Lo-Fi Recordings
This is one of those LA bands that has been around for a few years. Their EP
was pretty interesting. They fitted in the chaos, and then disappeared. They
were in Europe honing their craft. Now that they have a full-length album out,
and things have become more focused. This is one of the great albums of the
year so far. They remind me of early BRMC. I guess they switch instruments to
keep it fresh. Some songs have drum machines. I like "Huh What?" a lot. This is
a hard rocking band at their best. Some older rockers like "Blue Sky" and
"Kissing The Blvd" get a new treatment. Some cool new wave sounds are explored
in "Innocent Eyes." The excitement continues with "Love The Virgins" and "Off
To Bed." This latter song is very sexy. Another favorite is "Moped." With
some songs like "Falling To Pieces" a secret Beatles influence is revealed. All
the songs have great riffs, great vocals, and driving beats. This is party
music with whispered vocals. Gliss has been blowing people away for a year now.
This is a near perfect album. Gliss is heading the recent explosion of new
bands. The LA scene is thriving.
Various Artists
Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited
Verve Forecast
I have been looking forward to this one. Serge Gainsbourg is someone who was
ignored by America when he was alive, but he has been revived, mostly by
British bands. Beck has always been a big fan. Mick Harvey did a few cover albums
in English of the Gainsbourg work. There has been a group of new French singers
who have reminded us of his legacy. So it's no wonder that this album hasn't
come out sooner. The first song is a coupling of Franz Ferdinand and Jane
Birkin, doing "A Song for Sorry Angel." It's a pretty rocking cut. Cat Power and
Karen Elson do a limp version of "I Love You (Me Either)." This song is so
well known, that it's hard to improve. One of the early highlights is "I Just
Came To Tell You That I'm Going" by Jarvis Cocker & Kid Loco. Jarvis Cocker
has become sort of the English version of Gainsbourg. For some reason
Portishead and Tricky are on here. They are never good at cover songs. Part of this
album is very Brain Molko centric. Molko teams up with Francois Hardy in a techno
version of "Requiem For Un Con." Placebo does "Melody Nelson" which was
featured on their cover record a few years ago. Placebo spin off band, The Kills,
does a pretty good rendition of "I Call It Art." They end up sounding like
Blonde Redhead. There are other great moments by Michael Stipe, Marc Almond and
Carla Bruni. Probably the best surprise and refreshing bit is "Just A Man
With A Job" by The Rakes. This may help the English-speaking and American born
world appreciate what genius Gainsbourg had.
The Shys
Astoria
Sire Records
The Shys are like an authentic punk rock band. This sounds like records I
remember hearing around 1977 when I was a kid. It's on Sire Records. I remember
when I got records by The Ramones, The Dead Boys, and others. This is that
sound. So by default they are a little like the Hives. And they are probably
hanging with Alan McGee. But they are a little some old English bands, of the early
1990s, that were obsessed with Northern Soul. There are some great songs like
"Waiting For The Sun" and "Astoria." Other songs like "Having It Large"
are just rock and roll fun. "The Resistance" is a little bit like Oasis and
Charlatans UK. This is a totally fresh album though. They musicianship is high
quality. I saw them recently at the Troubadour and they were excellent. Many of
the songs are short. But in the last song "Open Up The Sky" The Shys get to
open up the sound a little bit. This is a very cool band. They are someone who
could be very big one day.
The Grates
Gravity Won't Get You High
Cherry Tree/Interscope
I caught this band at the recent Noise Pop festival in San Francisco. They
opened for the Dirtbombs and they were one of the surprises of that whole week.
The Grates are a band from Australia. They have been compared to Yeah Yeah
Yeahs. They are probably more like some girl groups from the Pacific Northwest.
They start out with the ballad "I Won't Survive." This band has a sense of
humor. "Lies" is more like the energetic crazy style. "19 20 20" and "Howl"
are pure punk garage rock. This is them at their best. One of the best songs is
"Silence Is Golden." Another ballad is "Nothing Sir" and it sounds a little
like Regina Spektor. I also like "Seek Me" a lot. There are a lot of songs on
this album, but it seems brief. The Grates are a new band that has promise. I
look forward on their next tour.
Phoenix
It's Never Been Like That
Astralwerks
Phoenix is this French band that has gotten a bunch of attention. They play
here on the west coast of California and all the shows are sold out. So it's
weird to hear this French band that sounds more like a band from Britain or
Sweden. I am writing this in the middle of summer. It's hot outside and it's
raining. This is great music for that occasion. I like the song "Long Distance
Call." It has a weird dynamic to it. Songs like "One Time Too Many" have a
relaxed California rock sound that many bands have tried to create. Phoenix is a
great band, and they are really unique and refreshing to hear. Phoenix is a band
to recommend to a friend.
Muse
Black Holes & Revelations
Warner Bros
I have been a Muse fan for a long time. I was totally into their first
record. I saw them play in New York City in 1998. It was a very small show. They
seemed to be in the UK magazines that year for a while. With their second album,
I forgot about them. It was never released in America. It was a flop. I never
heard it really. Their third album was a massive international success. I saw
them play a few more times at bigger venues. They were at the main stage at
Coachella. After a while this little band I discovered in 1998, was like the
biggest UK band of all time. This band that seemed like an alternative to
Radiohead was coming into its own. "Take A Bow" and "Starlight" seem like great
songs, and a continuation where Absolution left off. "Supermassive Black Hole"
is more like a heavy metal version of Curtis Mayfield. "Map Of The
Problematique" has shades of The Cure. "Assassin" is some heavy stuff that has been more
appreciated in the past. Muse brings everything to the record. They are a
talented bunch. This album is probably a treat to the hardcore fans. But it is not
much new. If their last album was their OK Computer, I am not sure this is
their Kid A. It's just another refined version of their previous album. I am
getting tired of the lame references to science fiction.
Broadcast
The Future Crayon
Warp Records
Broadcast has always been a big favorite of mine. They have been in
California many times in the past few years. There are two great albums, and now like a
collection of b-sides and rarities. Maybe not so new to the hardcore
Broadcast fan. A majority of the material was done in 1999-2001. There are some songs
from the Pendulum EP too. This CD represents the more experiment and more
non-commercial side of the band. Most of it comes from rare and hard to find
releases, mostly on Warp Records. It is an excellent bunch of songs. I am glad that
Broadcast is able to show off their many sides.
Paul Weller
Catch-Flame!
Yep Roc Records
It's hard to keep up with Paul Weller's activity. There have been box sets,
tours in America, fights, and even new albums. This is mostly a live album of
Paul Weller's solo material, including a few songs of The Jam. It's a double
live set recorded in 2005 with his new group. Most of this is well known
material to the people who have been following Weller in his years after The Jam
and Style Council. But often with these live collections it gets new people
interested in music they never knew about before. There are always a bunch of Mod
wannabes that will check this out.
Babyshambles
B-sides
Rough Trade
For those of you in America, Babyshambles is like one of the most known bands
in the UK at the moment. Lead singer, Pete Doherty, used to date Kate Moss,
and is in the UK tabloids often. Their debut album came out in late 2005, and
here earlier this year. Now we have the extra disc of songs. One wonders why
"The Man Who Came To Stay" wasn't on the original album. Some other songs like
"East Of Eden" and "Albion" represent the more acoustic side of the band.
"Blackboy Lane" and "Monkey Casino" are old rock and roll standards. This is
all right stuff. The album is being re-released as a double disc. So those of
you have not got it yet, can get the one with the bonus disc, and hear the full
shape of their sound. Pete Doherty is the most dangerous person alive.
The Electric Soft Parade
The Human Body EP
Better Looking Records
I heard these guys a few years ago on some Q Magazine compilation. I thought
that they were pretty good. It's taken them a few years to get an American
release out. Finally they got this record. It's mixed. They used to be this
mellow rock band. Now they have some depth to their otherwise folk rock. It's a
little like Elbow, and Doves, and others. Some songs like "Cold World" and
"Stupid Mistake" are cool. One called "Everyone Wants reminds me of Sparklehorse.
"Kick In The Teeth is more hard rock. This group has great ability and talent.
Barbara Morgenstern
The Grass Is Always Greener
Monika
Barbara Morgenstern is this German singer. It's a weird mix of electronic and
folk music. She sounds a little like Kate Bush. But it's mostly an album of
electronic sounds, much more like Notwist and German music. Most is sung in
German, which is odd. She has some double tracked vocals in "Alles Was Lebt
Bewegt Sich" which sounds a little like Cocteau Twins. This is an interesting
sound.
Nina Gordon
Bleeding Heart Graffiti
Warner Bros
I did an interview with Nina Gordon a few years ago. I think she was being
promoted as some singer songwriter in the vein of Liz Phair and Beth Orton. She
had some good songs. Then I met her at a Flaming Lips show in Hollywood. She
was really a really nice person. Now with her second solo album, after leaving
her band Veruca Salt, she has really defined her sound. Most of it is acoustic
guitar and voice. It's stripped down in songs like "Christmas Lights" and
"Kiss Me Til It Bleeds." Nina Gordon has an ability to combine melodies and
music. "Suffragette" is a more rocking song. Another favorite song is "Don't
Let Me Down." Nina Gordon is a very distinct talent.
The Knife
Silent Shout
Mute
The Knife is this great electronic band from Sweden. They are very much an
electro band. They remind me of Kraftwerk and John Foxx. The vocals are
whispered. They float over keyboards lines. A great example is the song "Silent
Shout." Some other songs have massive beats and more hiphop like vocals. This is a
strong album. For more electronic music, this is something to check out.
The Adored
A New Language
V2
I thought that I already reviewed this record but apparently not. The Adored
are one of my favorite LA bands. They create exciting music. They started out
as an energetic punk band. But they have fleshed out the sound a little on
this record. "Tell Me Tell Me" is a great single. "Savage Youth" recalls the
history of punk in one song. "The Queen's Head" is part of the new sound for
the band. "Ethical Drug" is a hard-hitting rock song. One of my favorite songs
is "The Window." This is an excellent album.
El Presidente
El Presidente
One Records/Sony BMG
This record was a surprise. Never heard of this band. It's a recent band from
the UK. They could be from Wales or Scotland as far as I know. They have a
cool glam sound that Supergrass was doing a few years ago. It turns out that
they are from Glasgow. I guess they have been compared to Prince and Scissor
Sisters too. This band is very promising. They have a cool frontman named Dante
Gizzi. People should be taking notice of these guys soon.
The Handsome Family
Last Days Of Wonder
Carrot Top
The Handsome Family is very interesting group. They are a husband and wife
team who sing murder ballads. I have never seen them play. But I did an
interview with them a few years ago. They seemed like a very bitter crowd. If you take
a little punk-punk, and throw in a fascination with Nick Cave, and a
conversion to Americana, you get to the Handsome Family. When I was talking to them on
the phone I felt that I was talking to myself ten years ago. I was really
pissed off. I was in training to become a serial killer. I guess that I moved to
New York City and joined the rat race. A bunch of good and bad things have
happened, and I am all the better for it. If I were still the old me, and time
did stop, I would be probably making music like this. But Handsome Family has
moved on with this album. There are the same Americana obsessions. Now they have
songs about Nicola Tesla. "These Golden Jewels" is like a Tom Waits song.
Most of the album is like some southern novel. I was listening to this Ralph
Stanley CD recently. Handsome Family is like that except with the references to
God. This is a whole album without any murder ballads or even a body count. The
Handsome Family has grown up.
Dr. Octagon
The Return of Dr. Octagon
OCD international
This is the third recording by the loose group we refer to as Dr. Octagon. In
1996, this was collaboration between Kool Keith and Dan The Automator. Since
then, Kool Keith has been prolific and has created a bunch of cool tracks and
identities. This is collaboration between him and One Watt Sun. "Trees" is a
great track. "Ants" has DJ Dexter and "Eat It" has Princess Superstar. Other
cool tracks like "Perfect World" and "Al Green." There is some comedy. This
is a wild album, maybe more like Black Elvis, than previous Dr. Octgaon
stuff. It has great moments though.
Lisa Germano
In The Maybe World
Young God Records
It is good to see a record from Young God Records that is by Michael Gira or
Devendra Banhart. There seems like there is this entire genre of freak folk
music for hippy Goths. It's okay to listen to other music. So Lisa Germano is
pretty interesting on this one. It's quite and moving. It's mostly voice and
acoustic guitar. A little piano here and there. I can listen to this one all the
way through. I am reminded of the other night where I was stranded in a city.
This record reminds me of those hours. A great song here is "Into Oblivion."
This song is very heart-felt.
Towers Of London
Blood Sweat & Towers
TVT Records
This record is offensive. This band is probably the foulest smelling band
ever from England. They haven't taken a shower in three years. I have been
writing about this band all year. I have been talking about their singles. Some were
good, and some left me scratching my head. These guys are not university
bound. They have songs like "I'm A Rat" and "Air Guitar." They are like a punk
Spinal Tap. Where is the documentary? People have for years tried to recreate
this vibe in LA and NYC. We have got bands like Toilet Boys and Vexy Strut to
look back on. People have read the Motley Crue biography and have tried to live
it out. The first time brilliant, but the replay is suspect. Towers of London
do have catchy songs like "Kill The Pop Scene." I also love the song "Fuck
It Up." On this record they have two versions of the song. There are a few of
these types of bands now. The Ark just blew through town. You have to strike
while the iron is hot.
Ellen Allien & Apparat
Orchestra of Bubbles
Bpitch Control
There have been many Ellen Allien records out recently. Most of them are mix
CDs. She is an artist and a DJ. She is the head of a record label. I have
never heard of Apparat. But sometimes a mix of two artists creates a third mind
mentality. This record starts off with two good tracks "Turbo Dreams" and "Way
Out." People who have known Ellen Allien in past, will recognize these sounds,
a mix of electro and German techno. As we get into more of the record, it
veers off into IDM stuff. This is very good.
French Kicks
Two Thousand
Startime/Vagrant
French Kicks are a band that has been around a while. They were included on
that original article about New York bands in New York Magazine a few years
ago. They have always seemed like a band on the verge of something bigger and
better. While some of those bands like Interpol and Yeah Yeah Yeahs have moved on
to bigger and better things, French Kicks are still on a small label. We have
another record of alluring pop. Some cool songs are "So Far We Are" and
"Also Ran." The second sounds a little like the Walkmen. I like the song "Knee
High" too. French Kicks are a cool band, but do they have staying power?
Prototypes
Prototypes
Minty Fresh
French pop is very in right now. Bands like Nous Non Plus are taking modern
music into a new exciting arena. Prototypes are really from France, unlike some
previous bands. Lead singer, Isabel Le Doussal, is very compelling. "Je Ne Te
Connais Pas" and "Tir Aux Pigeons" are cool songs. They bring a little
Electropop to the mix in "Gentleman." I like this song "Autonomie" a lot too.
This is great stuff.
Soul Asylum
The Silver Lining
Sony Legacy
I was never a big Soul Asylum fan back in the day. All I knew about the band
is the singer went out with Winona Ryder. So I am not sure if this is a new
record or a greatest hits record. They have just reformed and they were playing
some shows in town recently. But this band does seem like a lot of early 1990s
music after the Replacements and REM. It's all right if you like that sort of
music. This ends up being a new record, and the bass player died while making
it. These guys were on the cover of The Rolling Stone. It's been a long slide
towards the middle.
Pretty Flowers
Pretty Flowers EP
Bananaseat Recprds
Pretty Flowers are some new group from Brooklyn. One of them sent me an email
last year. They are crazy. They look like some weird immigrants from Queens.
"Riot" is a pretty basic punk song. "Knife Fight" is a little bit better.
"I've Got Your Love" is also like old punk music. The mix is sort of quiet. They
are supposed to have some sort of happening stage show.
The Sharp Ease
Remain Instant
Olfactory
I remember that I heard this band a few years ago. I remember not liking it
at all. I listen to a little of this and the musicianship sounds a little
better than I remember from before. The first song is called "Poem To Liebnitz."
Are they talking about Leibnitz the philosopher? This song actually sounds like
a pop song. This record is way more dynamic and interesting. Not a bum track
here.
Mary Lee's Corvette
Love Loss & Lunacy
Western Force
Mary Lee Kortes. Kortes sounds like Corvette. Wordplay is rife on this
record. This record was staring at me all summer I became sort of interested. It
seemed important. It had a look of being potentially great. The first few songs
offer pearls of wisdom like "All the glitters is not gold" and "I should have
been born a mystic." One of the first songs is called "Nothing Left To Say."
I feel that is insincere. You know that there are many more songs with
outlandish statements, as with the song "Where Did I Go Wrong, Elton John?" She
thanks Bob Dylan and Steve Earle on the liner notes.
The Living End
State of Emergency
East West
It's a punk rock band. They are very popular I think. They were on the Warp
Tour this summer. I think Be Your Own Pet refused to on that tour. For a punk
band these guys sound pretty good. One day I should check them out.
Tiefschwarz
Fabric 29
This is the latest Fabric release. Fabric is a club in London. I guess it is
the cool place to be if you are into techno. Tiefschwarz "Damage" is a cool
track. Sort of a mix between German techno, and electro, and what Ellen Allien
is up to. I am also into Depeche Mode "John The Revelator." I finally saw
Depeche Mode last year and they were awesome. It's a bleeping and bopping mix.
iMAYDAY!
iMayday!
Southbeat Records
I try to get some new hiphop in the rotation. Mayday is the most exciting
record I have heard lately. This record is by Plex Luthor and MC Bernbiz, two
white guys from Miami. They have Cee-lo Green singing on the hit, "Groundhog
Day." AS I listen to this I hear "This is a product of Southbeat Records." As if
I am going to sell this? It's too good for that.
Miss Violetta Beauregarde
Odi Profanum Vulgus Et Arceo
Temporary Residence LTD
Well, this is a lot different than most of what I have talking about here.
This record is different from anything else this year. The title means, "I hate
ordinary people and I spun them." This record is a record is a little like
Atari Teenage Riot and MU. It has provocative song titles like "Adolf Hitler's
Emotional Side" and "Indie Bad, Gabber Good." Another is "I'm the Tiennamen
Square Guy and You All Are the Fucking Tanks." I am convinced that Violetta
Beauregarde is a genius and we are all robots.
The Capitol Years
Dance Away The Terror
Park The Van Records
I remember the first record by these guys. I think that I was into it. It
seemed like they appeared in New York and then disappeared. I didn't know at the
time that I had met lead singer Shai Halperin many years ago. I used to work
in an office with is sister in 1997. Those days on Orchard Street seem so
carefree. But now it is almost ten years later and I am listening to this mix
between the Beatles and folk music. They remind me a little of the Quarter After.
This is really good.
One Ring Zero
Wake Them Up
Barbes Records
This band is supposed to be Lit-Rock. Not sure what that means. I know that
Rick Moody was involved in a few bands that bombed last year. Isn't Amy Tan in
a band? I guess they think this is supposed to be some Brian Wilson and Van
Dyke Parks collaboration. The lyrics are there but the music? Some writers who
have contributed are Rick Moody, Denis Johnson, Dave Eggers, Jonathan Lethem,
Paul Auster: all guys who would like to be rock stars themselves. This is an
amusing record, but I am not sure if it is any great musical experience.
Some Girls
Crushing Love
Koch Records
Wow. This is a little more adventurous than One Ring Zero. This is another
supergroup. It includes Juliana Hatfield, plus Freda Love, and Heidi Gluck, from
other bands. But this is really refreshing. The songs are good and the
melodies are crisp. Some Girls is all about having some fun.
Radio Birdman
Zeno Beach
Yep Roc
Radio Birdman is one of the first punk bands from Australia. They were very
influential back then. They were on Sire Records and along with The Saints were
the bands that started the Australian music scene. It's good to see Radio
Birdman back. The songs are great. Hopefully we will all get to experience the
magic soon.
Home Video
No Certain Night Or Morning
Defend Music
These are two high school friends who were into the drawings of Edward Gorey.
Soon they got into Nine Inch Nails and Massive Attack. Sounds like me. They
played a lot of shows with Blonde Redhead. This music is good. It's very
sophisticated soft rock. I like "Superluminal" a lot. This is a band that should be
given more attention. This is one of the best electronic records of the year.
Motor
Klunk
Mute Records
This is a USA-France band that hooked up in London. Bryan Black was hanging
in Minneapolis with Prince for years. Mr. No is from Paris. They create
electronic music fro thinking people. They did previous work under the name XLOVER.
Gigolo Records released it. They have worked with Felix Da Housecat, and have
remixed Marilyn Manson, Throbbing Gristle, and Depeche Mode. Martin Gore
apparently played this record to his fans on the recent tour. Electronic music is
sort of underground, and is coming back in a big way. Motor is leading the way.
"Black Powder" is a killer track of explosive electro and acid ooze. "Yak"
just pummels away. "Stuka Stunt" reminds me of some trippy minimalist techno.
Douglas McCarthy of Nitzer Ebb is on the track "1 x 1." This is a dark album.
It is a very modern record without being reduced to Goth. Look for more on
these guys.
Alexander Laurence
