Liz Phair, Liz Phair – Who could ask for more? A
pop-friendly record that really pissed people off. This former Indie
goddess sounds AM mainstream and her former constituency claims she
sold out. Well, Ms. Phair’s new producers and writing team do
pull out all of the stops, but it’s hardly a sell-out with
titles like “Hot, White Cum”, and intelligent, witty
lyrics about her winter-spring romance. The songs are also catchy,
lighter-than-air, and sound great on a car radio on that hot summer
day.
Fire, Electric Six
6Twenty, D-4
Bazooka, Star Spangles
Little Killers, Little Killers
Hey kids, who is your favorite retro garage/punk band? These are
three of my favorites this year. The Electric Six can mix punk with
disco and even occasionally lapse into an arena rock anthem. I
recommend “Dance Commander” sung with a pseudo English
accent. The Star Spangles and the Little Killers specialize in 70s
New York punk. If you really want to be derivative, try the Detroit
Cobras or the Ravonettes. Maybe we could put the bands on trading
cards or start a new Tiger Beat magazine. They are guaranteed to
become collector items, because next year’s retreads will be
completely different.
Diamond Jublilation Dixie Hummingbirds
Woman Like Me Betty LaVette
The music from these
veterans has gained an earthy wisdom even if their vocal gifts have
faded. Did someone say Johnny Cash? Dr. John, Garth Hudson and
Levon Helm add some swampy Americana to the Hummingbirds; while
Robert Cray keeps Betty in the blues.
Seacacus Wrens
Here I Am, Ronald Isley, Burt Bacharach
World
Reveries, Paulo Conte. I admire his style more than his
music. An earthy European sophisticate who mixes Tom Waits, Duke
Ellington and Sartre. Of course, I have no idea what he is saying
except when he goes “Dancin, Da, Da, Da…..”
Congo Life, Kekele – It’s pre-soukous rumba –
so it’s not exactly smoking. But like Orchestra Baobab,
it’s melodic with a slow sweet burn.
Vodou Dance, Vol. 4, Los Hombres Calientes – Maybe they
have gone too far. Bringing their jazz and New Orleans roots, Bill
Summers, Irwin Mayfield now jam with the locals from Trinidad,
Jamaica, Haiti and other festive islands. Oh, I guess they pull it
off, but only because of the numerous “Babalu”
references.
Jazz
Equilibrium Matthew Shipp - A mix of jazz and electronic/ambient forms. Just don’t take it too seriously.
All Kooked Out Stanton Moore – This reminds me of the
Crusaders before they dropped Jazz from their name. Moore is a New
Orleans drummer who is truly funky and unique.
Nightlife in Tokyo, Eric Alexander – Straight ahead jazz
with a saxophonist who has a melodic and maturing tone.
Now is Another Time, David Murray. The most interesting
jazzman in the past twenty years goes big band with some Havana
heavyweights. An update of Dizzy Gillespie’s Cuban encounter of
a half century ago.
Passing Ships, Andrew Hill. Along with David Murray and Bill
Holland, yet another big band release, but this one was recorded in
1969 before being lost in the Blue Note vaults. The session hardly
sounds dated especially with backing by some of my favorite sidemen
including Woody Shaw, Julian Priester and Joe Farrell.
Classical
Vivaldi: La Stravaganza, Rachel Podger,
Italian Violin Sonatas, Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi
Who are the grungy guitar gods of the classical music scene? They
are violinists like these who play period instruments and really go
for Baroque. The sound is much warmer and less precise than modern
instruments. Critics contend liberties are taken, and that these
versions sound more like Jean Luc Ponti and Mark O’Connor than
Heifetz . Regardless, Ms. Podger and Mr. Biondi along with Andrew
Manze give a great introduction to this higher musical realm.
Box Sets
No
Thanks: 70s Punk Rebellion. Why did Rhino wait so long?
Original Soul Sister, Sister Rosetta Thorpe
In Person Friday & Saturday Blackhawk Miles Davis
Hank Mobley always got a bad rap for being the saxophonist
sandwiched in between John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. On this
weekend live date he breaks no new ground, but plays straight ahead
jazz with swing. Meanwhile, Miles actually sounds like an extrovert
and takes a surprising amount of solo space. But the real stars of
this show are the unheralded rhythm sections. They can play anything.
How the West Was Won, Led Zeppelin
Their best live album. Jimmy Page proves his legendary
status, but it’s Robert Plant lead-guitar voice that steals the
show with its crisp control and power. Although everybody’s
raving, I still opt for the clarity and sonic wallop of their early
studio recordings.
Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey Various Artists
Far better than Ken Burns’ Jazz., but critics will always come
out of the woodwork, and I’m included.. Scorsese goes beyond
1930 backwoods bluesmen and gives us Dinah Washington, Ali Farka
Toure and even some early Fleetwood Mac. No argument here, but I
draw the line at “Tuff Enuff” – the famous blues
classic from the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Query: Is the album dead? Except for jazz and classical, I am
buying fewer CDs. I have gone legitimate, dumping Kazaa to pay the
monthly fee for Rhapsody. Who needs to shell out for an entire CD of
the Shins or Fountains of Wayne when you can make a personal
playlist and burn a CD of your favorite singles for 79 cents a song.
After all, how many of today’s bands are good for more than a
third of a CD. If someone releases the new Sergeant Peppers, let me
know.
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