everything but the kitchen sink
COMRADES! It is the end of the semester! Final grades are in! Dissertations are soon to be defended! The Twins are not in last place (yet)! All is seemingly right with the universe!I have a bunch of new things here for you to dig through...in terms of INTERNATIONAL music, the soundtrack to La Mujer de mi Hermano is particularly nice, though there are a number of discs to check out....MAINSTREAM sees new compilations from Blondie and Roy Orbison....INDIE gets two interesting samplers, and there's even a JAZZ disc for f**k's sake. Maybe I should clean out the garage?
Artist: v / a
Title: The Rough Guide to Merengue
Label: WMN
Genre: int’l / latin
Grade: A
You might not find much in the way of traditional meringue—the dance associated with the Dominican Republic—here, but you'll find plenty of hot, pop meringue, be it the superbly infectious "La Ciguapa" (02) or the relentless "Caro" (04). The music here is definitely for the modern dancefloor, and quite definitely on the pop end of the spectrum. Yet there's nothing wrong with that; in fact, it's a tactic that might work to the disc's advantage. It's accessible, the kind of record that dares you not to move your feet as you listen. Well-researched, with good basic information about the history of meringue itself and of the artists here, it's a very good primer. (4 stars)
Reviewer: Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
Artist: Rosa Passos
Title: Rosa
Label: Telarc
Genre: int’l / Brazil
Grade: A
Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist Rosa Passos is known worldwide for her stunning voice and her interpretations of classics as well as her own originals. So it's nice, then, that Rosa contains some of both. The album is, in short, reflective of what she is, a combination of the past and present. It's simple, too, in that perfect way: just her and her guitar and 15 tracks to show them off. The sound throughout the record is very consistent, with Passos' smooth, sensuous voice coupled with the warm tones of her guitar. (4 stars)
Reviewer: Marisa Brown, All Music Guide
Artist: Los Alazanes
Title: Siempre Que Me Emborracho
Label: Costarola
Genre: int’l
Grade: A-
Ever wonder what AM radio in Tucson sounds like? Here you go. No electronica touches for the gringos, just accordion-led 2/4 and waltz-time stompers. Los Alazanes are clearly not afraid to collectively wear both the white and black hats!
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Wa-Zimba
Title: Mande Wazy
Label: Tinder
Genre: int’l
Grade: B+
Based in France, with hearts left in Madagascar, Wa-Zimba offer up feel-good Indian Ocean grooves. This trio is a little too slick for their own good at times, but hints of great stuff to come can be found on tracks like the irrepressible “I Soa no tiako” (02).
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Label: Nacional
Artist: v / a
Title: La Mujer de mi Hermano (soundtrack)
Genre: int’l / latin
Grade: A
Not sure when the film will ever make it to B-Town, but let’s not let that stop us. The Nacional label should be a tip-off that there’s good south-of-the-border electronica on offer: Monareta (11) mixes rap with English lesson recordings for good effect, Tanghetto cover “Blue Monday” (02) in an Argentinian mode, and Nortec Collective (06) offer a loungy norteño track. Both Sara Valenzuela (07) and Andrea Echeverri (10) deliver atmospheric, pretty songs. And Angel Milli’s film theme (09) is a nice instrumental. Plenty to play with—I encourage you to check out this modest gem.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Yoshida Brothers
Title: III
Label: Domo
Genre: int’l / Japanese folk rock
Grade: A-
The Yoshidas have a distinct sound: pairing their stringed tsugaru shamisen with rocking drum beats. Throw some strings on for good measure and you’ve got an interesting mix to be sure—try “Erghen Diado” (01) and you’ll hear what I mean. Crossover covers include Eno’s “By This River” (07) and Lennon/Ono’s “Oh My Love” (09).
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Charles Lloyd
Title: Sangam
Label: ECM
Genre: jazz / Caravan overtones
Grade: A
This set, recorded live in 2004 at a theater in Santa Barbara during homage for the late Billy Higgins, was Charles Lloyd's debut performance with Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain (Shakti), and drummer/percussionist Eric Harland (Lloyd's quartet drummer). What started as a one-off by three players brought together for one purpose has become Sangam, a going concern. This music, while rooted in the rhythms of the world, is jazz without a doubt… Lloyd, Hussain, and Harland honor understand the music's great generosity of spirit, bringing in everything that feels right while freely giving props—sonically—to the territories it derives that inspiration and generosity from. (4 stars)
Reviewer: Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Artist: v / a
Title: Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (sampler)
Label: Verve Forecast
Genre: alt / indie
Grade: A-
Four-track sampler of this set of English-singing indie artists translating Gainsbourg songs. The Rakes (01) lead off strong, then Cat Power (02) takes the theatrical absurdity up a notch, only to have Gonzales et al (03) go electro on our butts. The Michael Stipe cut (04) is smoky and atmospheric, yet ironically falters when he stops breathily speaking and sings.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Elvis Costello w/ the Metropole Orkest
Title: My Flame Burns Blue (sampler)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Genre: indie / jazz
Grade: A
Two-song sampler from this live album bringing together Mr Costello and a full-on jazz orchestra. Tracks 01 & 02 here include Costello discussing the track ahead of time, while 03 and 04 are just the songs themselves. Did we ever get the full-length? In lieu of that, this is a nice taste, anyhow.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Roy Orbison
Title: The Essential Roy Orbison
Label: Sony
Genre: mainstream
Grade: A
All the Roy you can handle on this two-disc set. Disc One covers the same ground as several other best-of sets out there—you’re bound to have your own particular favorites. Disc Two is more odds and ends: later work, soundtrack cuts, live versions, etc. The last big single “You Got It” (01) and the re-recorded “In Dreams” (12) are standouts (U2 completists should check out “She’s a Mystery to Me” [02]).
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Blondie
Title: Greatest Hits
Label: Capitol
Genre: mainstream
Grade: A
What can I say? Blondie were brilliant, then they weren’t. Proof? Compare anything here from their first five albums against “Island of Lost Souls” from The Hunter. Still, “Maria” (from 1999) was a nice make-up exercise. For the goods, though, “Hanging on the Telephone,” “Dreaming,” “Rapture,” etc stand up with the best late ‘70s / early ‘80s new wave you can throw at The Peoples. Check out “Rapture Riders” for a Blondie vs Doors mash-up.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
posted by Anonymous @ 12:26:00 PM
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home