proclaimers + int'l adds coming 10/14
hi all,here are reviews of the new proclaimers (alt/indie) + several int'l adds....in addition to these, nortec collective is new in the addpool, and ali farka toure's disc was reviewed by g-man earlier this week. spin! spin! spin the black circle!
--bjorn
artist: The Proclaimers
title: Restless Soul
label: Persevere
file under: alt / indie
grade: B+
On their second release for their own Persevere imprint, the Reid brothers have crafted another lopsided collection of willfully earnest tunes about love, sex, God, and whiskey. The spirited opener, "When Love Struck You Down" (01) with its infectious melody and biting refrain, is a highlight. "I'm Gone" (04) is as simple a drinking song as anything the Pogues ever raised a glass to. The jazzy sex romp "That's Better Now" (05) proves that the brothers must need extra-large kilts, and the fiery closer, "One More Down" (14) revels in the frantic, overdriven, and ballsy delivery that won the boys from Leith a devoted following in the first place. Come to think of it, that about sums up every Proclaimers record. Their utter lack of pretension always trumps the negative—they may be inconsistent, they're still the best Buddy Holly-kissed honky tonk/R&B/roots rock sibling duo to ever come out of the U.K. (3 stars)
reviewer: James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
artist: v / a
title: Celtic Crossroads
Label: Putumayo
file under: Int’l
grade: B / B+
What the world does not need right now is another Putumayo celtic compilation. And yet—oh never mind. Solas main-man Mick McAuley offers up the most pleasing cut, an atmospheric acoustic number in English called “The House Carpenter” (06). Sinèad O’Connor offers up “Her Mantle So Green” (09) from her pre-reggae period. Other notable cuts go a little off the beaten path: MacIsaac & Lamond (11) offer up the nicest fusion on the disc, with vocal-instrumental interplay working disarmingly well; Keltik Elektrik (03) vaguely sounds a Scottish Beck; and Michael McGoldrick (04) has a bit of Morcheeba in him.
reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
artist: Bush Chemists
title: Raw Raw Dub
Label: ROIR
file under: Reggae / Dub
grade: A
I do not claim to be a dub connoisseur, but I know what I like. And I like this. Plenty of mind-space to swim in, if you know what I mean and I think you do. UK dub is alive and well. West side!
reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
artist: Plena Libre
title: Evolución
Label: Times Square
file under: int’l / latin
grade: A-
I missed Plena Libre at Lotus 2005, but all reports were positive—new material they played last month can now be tapped here! Evolución isn’t going in any new direction for the Puerto Rican combo, but that’s not a bad thing. Upbeat and swinging, Plena Libre delivers again.
reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
posted by Anonymous @ 10:38:00 AM
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