RECENT WFHB ADDS
Here is a digest of WFHB's recent adds...5.2.07
DATE: 5.2.07
ARTIST: The Clientele
TITLE: God Save The Clientele (Merge)
GENRE: ROCK/ALT
GRADE: A+
REVIEW: On their third full-length, The Clientele are setting free their
inner Monkees with a lovely blend of Big Star twisted powerpop, Byrdsian
country achin', and flashes of The Beatles at their most joyful and
upbeat. The ghosts, half-light, and uncertainties remain, but included in
this music is a newfound optimism. With the addition of piano and violin,
the band paints from a broader palette, adding splashes of pedal steel and
slide guitar to their already lush songs. Their most accomplished and
triumphant record. Recorded in Nashville with Mark Nevers (Lambchop,
Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Calexico, Silver Jews).
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12
REVIEWER: Merge Records promo copy
DATE: 5.2.07
ARTIST: The Greyboy Allstars
TITLE: What Happened to Television (Sci Fidelity)
GENRE: SOUL/FUNK/R&B
GRADE: A
REVIEW: DJ Greyboy formed the band the Greyboy Allstars with Karl Denson
in 1993 during the height of Acid Jazz as an extension of his residency
spinning discs at a bar in San Diego. The bands style of music was
influenced by the rare jazz groves that DJ Greyboy was using in his sets.
Uninterested in extensive touring, DJ Greyboys involvement in the group is
to act as a creative leader and filter to the bands music. The Greyboy
Allstars new album on SCI Fidelity What Happened to Television? is the
bands second album. The first album West Coast Boogaloo came out in 1995.
The Greyboy Allstars decided to re-form after a successful reunion show
last year. The result is a purple wall-to-wall shag of funk and jazz
grooves. All of the instruments are old school funk jazz and even the
recording was done live to tape with tape splicing for edits. Overall the
record is fun and sunny which is exactly the mood the band set out to
capture. Every track is the sound of a band stretching its legs in a style
they love. Of note are the vocals they include lots of James Brown or
Bootsy Collins style shouts and phrasing. A couple of the songs feature
the band members on vocals. Two of the songs have Inara George, daughter
of Lowell George on them. If youre a fan of Acid Jazz, old school R&B or
Jazz Funk, this is the record for you. The band says that they are already
working on the next albums I think this is great news. They are kicking a
tour off in May and will be touring through the summer. If youre lucky
enough to have them in your town you should go out and shake the boogaloo.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11
REVIEWER: playbsides.com
DATE: 5.2.07
ARTIST:Patti Smith
TITLE: Twelve (Columbia)
GENRE: ROCK/MAINSTREAM
GRADE: B+
REVIEW:She's been called the high preistess of punk, but Patti Smith is
really a hippie. You can tell by the choice of covers here. This release
has been getting some fairly negative reviews, which make sense
considering how much of her recent output has rocked. The sound here is
all fairly mellow, with some songs working and others triggering a WTF?
Try Are You Experienced?, Within You Without You and Smells Like Teen
Spirit. You might want to avoid Everybody Wants To Rule The World, White
Rabbit and Midnight Rider.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 3, 5, 10
REVIEWER: Jim Manion/WFHB
DATE: 5.2.07
ARTIST: Crooked Still
TITLE: Hop High (Signature)
GENRE: BLUEGRASS
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Crooked Still isn't reinventing anything on its debut album, which
is full of traditional country songs like "Darling Corey," "Shady Grove,"
and "Flora" (aka "The Lily of the West"), and some familiar copyrighted
ones, such as Robert Johnson's "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" and Albert E.
Brumley's "Rank Stranger." To the extent there is anything unusual about
the quartet's approach, it lies in the instrumentation, which consists of
banjo, cello, and double bass, backing Aoife O'Donovan's singing. That's
not the most typical lineup for a string band, and it allows space for the
three instrumentalists to solo extensively. Still, the group is more about
execution than innovation. The players, augmented on a couple of tracks
each by fiddle and percussion, mesh well into a band sound, and O'Donovan
has a breathy voice reminiscent of Shawn Colvin and Alison Krauss.
Together, they give the material a spirited reading that affirms its
time-tested quality. So, the members of Crooked Still succeed in being
both traditionalists and stylists on their debut album, a significant
accomplishment for a young outfit.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11
REVIEWER: allmusic.com
DATE: 5.02.07
ARTIST:John Platania
TITLE: Blues, Waltzes and Badland Borders (Train Wreck)
GENRE:COUNTRY/ROOTS/AMERICANA
GRADE: A
REVIEW: John Platania -- who played on Van Morrison's classic hits
"Moondance" and "Domino" -- is one of the unsung guitar heroes of the
classic rock era. Rather than discharge hails of gunfire la Jeff Beck and
his ilk, Platania plays a nuanced, lyrical style that brims with feeling
and splendor. Blues, Waltzes and Badland Borders is Platania's first solo
album, a mostly instrumental affair produced by singer/songwriter great
Chip Taylor. As its title suggests, the album is an eclectic affair that
works a nice cross-section of Texas roots styles with lan and passion. The
backing band includes frequent Taylor collaborator Carrie Rodriguez
(fiddle), and there are separate guest-vocal spots by Alejandro Escovedo
and Lucinda Williams, who makes a memorable appearance on the album finale
"In Memory of Zapata."
FCC:9
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11
REVIEWER: creative loafing sarasota
DATE:5.02.07
ARTIST:Elizabeth Cook
TITLE: Balls
GENRE: COUNTRY
GRADE: A+
REVIEW:
Cook has been recording and performing for a decade, releasing a
major-label effort that went nowhere and independent records that received
critical acclaim. Balls represents a chance to simply make her kind of
music. Produced by Rodney Crowell, Balls uses a crack band that includes
drummer Harry Stinson and guitarists Kenny Vaughan, Richard Bennett and
Tim Carroll (Cooks husband). From the deadpan opener, Times Are Tough in
Rock n Roll, to the gentle cover of Lou Reed and John Cales Sunday
Morning, Crowell puts Cooks slightly sardonic and unreadable vocals into
settings that honor old-time conventions, yet are more than passing
strange for a 2007 country record. Times Are Tough in Rock n Roll chugs
along like an early-80s new wave tune, complete with Jews harp and a
funny, laconic guitar signature. All my feelings, all my fears / Were
confirmed by Britney Spears, Cook sings, and the song sets the tone for a
record that combines hick cool with something more calculated. Cook sounds
smart, and very country.
LOCAL NOTE: Cook's husband and guitarist Tim Carrol was a member of the
last version of Bloomington's punk band The Gizmos.
FCC: 3
RECOMMENDED TRACKS:1, 4, 5, 7, 9
REVIEWER: nashville scene
also added:
The Sea and Cake Everybody Thrill Jockey
Elliott Smith New Moon Kill Rock Stars
Slavic Soul Party Teknochek Collision Barbes
Apostle of Hustle National Anthem of Nowhere Arts & Crafts
5.8.07
DATE:5.8.07
ARTIST:Richard Thompson
TITLE:Sweet Warrior (Shout Factory)
GENRE: FOLK/SS
GRADE: A
REVIEW: RT's new studio album strikes me as average for him, which would
be fantastic for anyone else. I say average because there is no big new
concept here, nor is there a sonic template imposed by a producer. It's
just straight-up great RT with clever songs and snappy solos. Includes
his usual stellar musical sidekicks like Danny Thompson and Judith Owen.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 5 (antiwar song - Dad is slang for Bahgdad), 6, 7,
10, 12, 14
REVIEWER: Jim Manion/WFHB
DATE: 5.8.07
ARTIST:Charlotte Gainsbourg
TITLE: 5:55 (Because/Vice)
GENRE: ELECTRONIC/POP
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Music by Air, lyrics by Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon,
knob-twiddling by Nigel Godrich. It's easy to believe 5:55 a vanity
project. It's the second album in 20 years for Gainsbourg, multitalented
progeny of Serge and Jane Birkin, the first being 1986's Charlotte for
Ever, an album penned by her father. So there's no small amount of
grooming here, but it's obvious from the hypnotic title track that there's
nothing wrong with keeping it in the family, as Gainsbourg suggests
everything with repetitive whispers of "and again." Air's heir's quite
apparent, pushing moody strings and sexified sleepwalking through the
ambient "AF607105," where she floats above Cocker's detached lyrics, and
the French-sung "Tel Que Tu Es," another breathy, lusty ode. The manic,
Tori-esque piano of "Everything I Cannot See" pulls her out of the ether,
but the chill-out room still suits her best. She sounds forever Gainsbourg
not a bad thing in this case.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS:1, 2, 5, 10, 12
REVIEWER: austin chronicle
DATE: 5.8.07
ARTIST: All Smiles
TITLE: Ten Readings of a Warning (Dangerbird)
GENRE: ROCK/ALT
GRADE: A-
REVIEW:On his first solo affair (although everyone from Sleater-Kinney's
Janet Weiss to Modest Mouse's Joe Plummer sit behind the drum kit), Jim
Fairchild isn't afraid to let go of the Grandaddy electro-alt-country
thing once and for all and buckles down with loose, nuanced
singer/songwriter fare. Ten Readings of a Warning juggles everything from
Fairchild's breezy acoustic guitar work to a low-fi low end that gives
this album a kick where so many of its contemporaries deliver nothing but
pseudo-idyllic, wishy-washy guitar numbers. Recorded to eight-track in
Fairchild's home, Ten Readings of a Warning is anything but the
over-polished indie-pop ear candy commonplace in the singer/songwriter
world. "Moth in a Cloud of Smoke" sets a piano melody unfurling on top of
a wall of guitars shaken to their core by warm, fuzzy distortion. The
low-budget production gives "Sprinting Hyphens" a stark, shadowy ambiance
that gives a run-of-the-mill acoustic-guitar number a bit of character.
"Killing Sheep" is even more barebones, as guitar and piano seem lost in
vast, empty soundscapes. Fairchild doesn't have to worry about a
post-Grandaddy freefall. He's got everything under control as he
establishes himself more than capable of moving in a new direction with
All Smiles.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS:1, 3, 5, 6, 10 REVIEWER: www.aversion.com
DATE: 5.7.07
ARTIST:Keren Ann
TITLE: Keren Ann (Metro Blue)
GENRE: FOLK/SS
GRADE: A
REVIEW:Keren Ann's last entirely English-language album, 2003's Not Going
Anywhere, housed the singer-songwriter's wallflower vocals and plaintive
lyrics among regal brass, bluesy guitars, and angelic choirs, creating a
fertile sonic palette that rendered her voice as importantor unimportant,
as the case may beas every other musical sound. Things aren't too far
removed from that template on her new self-titled releaseher voice never
rises above a soft whisper. Keren Ann, who hails from Israel by way of
Paris and New York, still has a knack for lovely melodies (like the
ascending piano line of the ethereal "Liberty") and exciting genre hybrids
("Where No Endings End" blends strings and piano with flutes and spaghetti
western guitar).
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
REVIEWER: slant magazine
DATE: 5.7.07
ARTIST:James Blood Ulmer
TITLE: Bad Blood In The City (Hyena)
GENRE: BLUES
GRADE: A++
REVIEW: The particular impetus to record this album was Ulmers reaction to
Hurricane Katrina and the Bush administrations response to it. Ulmer wrote
a bunch of songs while watching events in New Orleans unfold on CNN,
previewed them soon after, and now they form the backbone of Bad Blood In
The City. The opener, Survivors of the Hurricane, sets the scene
succinctly and ties together what follows. The playing is taut and
together - evidence of their time spent in the studio and on the road -
with producer Vernon Reids guitar particularly potent. The funereal march
of Katrina in which Ulmer personalizes the disaster, features one of
Ulmers more over-the-top vocal performances. His voice shakes and quivers
with emotion as he recounts the events, closing with repetitions of the
terse phrase, Talk to the President, venomously spat out. In contrast,
Lets Talk About Jesus is far more joyous and upbeat; if the title and
lyrics werent sufficient, Irene Datchers sanctified backing vocals and
Leon Gruenbaums organ leave no doubt about its origins. There Is Power In
The Blues is short, punchy and lives up to its title, while Old Slave
Master is largely a showcase for the bands instrumental skills. Charlie
Burnhams fiddle unusual in an electric band and Ulmers own
extraordinarily brutal guitar steal the track. In addition to these five
original compositions, the band gives barnstorming renditions of six blues
classics, all of which fit the overall mood and narrative of the album. On
Junior Kimbroughs Sad Days, Lonely Nights, the wailing harmonica of David
Barnes plays a repeated riff, relentlessly driving the song forward.
Meanwhile, on Willie Dixons Dead Presidents and Howlin Wolfs Commit A
Crime, one is transported back to Chicago and Chess by the gruff power of
Ulmers vocals more than once reminiscent of Wolf himself.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11
REVIEWER: dusted reviews
DATE: 5.7.07
ARTIST:Balkan Beat Box
TITLE: Nu Med (J Dub)
GENRE: INTL/WORLD FUSION/ELECTRONIC
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Blending electronic music with hard-edged folk music from the
Balkans, North Africa, and the Middle East, the exciting and
internationally acclaimed collective Balkan Beat Box is out to prove that
all the world is indeed a stage -- and that we are all gypsies. A band of
New Yorkers, Israelis, Africans and Bulgarians, led by ex-Gogol Bordello
member Ori Kaplan and Firewater/Big Lazy's Tamir Muskat, BBB brings
together folk traditions with electronic beats, video projections, and a
rotating cast of vocalists including the Victoria Hannah, Tomer Yosef,
Buglarian Chicks, Jeremiah Lockwood, and gnawa player Hassan Ben Jaffar.
BBB's new record, Nu Med is a musical vision of what the Mediterranean
would sound like if borders were removed, as BBB makes connections that
politics often keep separate. Jewish, Gypsy, Arabic, and American are
united by hip hop beats and dancehall toasts. BBB's musical hitch-hiking
continues as they mix things up with dub and electronics, juxtaposed with
ancient Moroccan and Mediterranean melodies. The band's uncategorizable
sound gives equal weight to soulful acoustic timbres and digital rhythms
creating a uniquely organic sound with electronic elements. With their
fusion of Middle Eastern melodies and Balkan brass-band stomp with
hip-hop, reggae, and electro beats, this internationally acclaimed
collective is out to prove that the entire world is, indeed, their stage,
and that we are all Gypsies.
(and anyone who has seen them at lotus festival knew that already!)
FCC: 2 (bullshit)
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 4, 5, 7, 8, 12
REVIEWER: oops, lost the link...
DATE: 5.7.07
ARTIST: Various Artists
TITLE:A Tribute to Joni Mitchell (Nonesuch)
GENRE: FOLK/SS
GRADE: A+
REVIEW: The astounding calibre of contributors to A Tribute to Joni
Mitchell is obviously a testament to the artists broad influence, and the
liberties taken with her songs are as interesting as the renditions that
remain faithful. The voices gathered together here are arguably each as
idiosyncratic as Mitchells and, with the exception of Emmylou Harriss
haunting take on The Magdalene Laundries (which Mitchell released on 1994s
Turbulent Indigo), they focus exclusively on her groundbreaking work from
the 70s. Mitchells most critically acclaimed album is still Blue, which is
represented three times. Prince cant help but make A Case of You that much
more sultry, while Sarah McLachlan reminds listeners of her powerful voice
with an almost a cappella version of the title track. Another trio of
songs from 1975s The Hissing of Summer Lawns includes a brooding, yet
adventurous Elvis Costello on Edith and the Kingpin and finds Bjrk pouring
her heart into a sparse rendition of The Boho Dance. As expected, Sufjan
Stevens creates a bubbly orchestra for Free Man in Paris and Annie Lennoxs
voice gracefully guides the quirky instrumentation of Ladies of the
Canyon. Mitchells exploration of jazz and avant-garde sounds (not to
mention world music, as represented by Caetano Velosos authentic
Dreamland) within pop was unprecedented and, after a second look, her sway
over the multi-generational assembly here cannot be overstated.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS-all are worth airing. The album seems to have an a-side
and b-side...
(A)RADICAL REWORKINGS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
(B)STRAIGHT UP VERSIONS: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
REVIEWER:www.exclaim.ca
DATE:5.7.07
ARTIST:Mavis Staples
TITLE:We'll Never Turn Back (Anti)
GENRE:BLUES/GOSPEL/R&B/SOUL
GRADE: A++++++++++ (album of the year?)
REVIEW: Since many politically outspoken artists have chosen to remain
silent while America self-destructs, Mavis Staples has been enlisted by
Anti to issue a wake-up call in the form of a message song cycle, echoing
her socially conscious Staple Singers recordings of the civil rights era
like Long Walk To DC and Why? (Am I Treated So Bad). Of course, it's 40
years later and there was a risk that a return to the form might've come
off like a quaint, hand-holding kumbaya singalong. There's no such problem
with We'll Never Turn Back. Producer Ry Cooder keeps it all sounding dark
and dangerous, while Staples avoids cheap slogans and hollow platitudes to
soulfully deliver the straight goods on growing up under Jim Crow in
Mississippi and the horrors of post-Katrina New Orleans while questioning
why people are dying in a rich man's war. Her great success is making
these protest songs personal, and she does it in a most profoundly moving
way. This is powerful stuff.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: all of 'em! Ry Cooder's presence is very strong
throughout.
REVIEWER: www.nowtoronto.com
DATE: 5.7.07
ARTIST:Secretary Bird
TITLE: Secretary Bird
GENRE: ROCK/ALT
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Secretary Bird thrive on indie-rocks two favorite emotions:
romantic devotion and shuddering self-doubt. Itinerant L.A. guitarist Mike
Semple, whose CV includes Friends of Dean Martinez and the ambient-twang
score to Richard Linklaters Fast Food Nation, writes shy-eyed,
thin-skinned rockers from the viewpoint of an exceedingly nice guy
ruminating on bygone nanoseconds of summer bliss shared with girls who
barely remember dating him. His drowsy singing and distinctly Californian
taste in sad, sweeping sounds (equally informed by Neil Youngs Tonights
the Night and Glenn Campbells Galveston) perfectly mirror his
slow-dissolve images of late-night cab rides and aimless drives, somewhere
girls and an imaginary you whos probably a lot nicer to Mike than the real
one. The same charming vagueness that makes him suspect material for a
long-term relationship makes him an excellently depressive indie-rock
antihero.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11 (killer instrumental)
REVIEWER:...somewhere on the internet
also addeed:
Mellowmen Tommorrow's Sound Today Rainbow Quartz
5.14.07
DATE: 5.14.07
ARTIST:Wilco
TITLE:Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
GENRE: rock/alt
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Well, Pitchfork turned their noses up at this one, calling it
dad-rock. Ohhhkay. It is the most straight-forward Wilco record in many
moons, reflecting the post-rehab comfort zone Jeff Tweedy finds himself in
these days. Most of the songs are on the mellow side, save for the twin
guitar solo excursions where they get their inner Allman Brothers vibe on.
A subtle affair, my guess is these songs will grow on the listener a
little slower than previous Wilco, but will still get under the skin more
than most music out there these days.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12
REVIEWER: Jim Manion/WFHB
DATE: 5.14.07
ARTIST:Amy LaVere
TITLE:Anchors & Anvils (Archer)
GENRE:folk/roots/singer-songwriter
GRADE: A
REVIEW: We played her last album quite a bit and since then, besides
making music, she has appeared in two films Walk the Line and Black Snake
Moan. Her instrument (double bass) and voice (whispy with soul) provide a
nice contrast at the core of the band, with some great Memphis area
players (like Jimbo Mathus) contributing. Produced by Jim Dickinson.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10
REVIEWER: Jim Manion/WFHB
DATE: 5.14.07
ARTIST:Beaver Nelson
TITLE:Exciting Opportunity (Freedom)
GENRE:FOLK/SS
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Despite being declared years ago as the next big thing outta
Austin, Beaver Nelson has been plugging away below most music fans' radar,
putting out great little records every few years. And doing what all
scrappy musicians in Austin do make money painting houses. Apparently he
had a huge job, exterior and interior, where he was isolated for days on
end, painting. Whenever the muse struck him, he took breaks for
songwriting. The result is Exciting Opportunity, full of the great hooky
insightful songs he has a knack for penning. Old sidekicks Jud Newcomb and
Stephen Bruton add great instrumental action.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
REVIEWER: Jim Manion/WFHB
DATE: 5.14.07
ARTIST:Cowboy Junkies
TITLE:At the End of Paths Taken (Zoe)
GENRE:ROCK/MAINSTREAM
GRADE: A-
REVIEW: Michael Timmins, chief songwriter and producer/arranger of the
Cowboy Junkies, has always written "relationship" songs, though not in the
general sense of the word. On At the End of Paths Taken, he brings his
notion of relationship to its bravest and most unflinching examination
yet: the family. Timmins has written a set of songs that reflect the
complex, frustrating, edifying, and conflict-ridden web of relationships
that constitute the family, from nuclear to extended to global. He is a
parent, and a son with aging parents. As if embodying the often embattled
and contradictory nature of family itself, he also places a production
focus on amplifying his acoustic guitar, which underscores each song as
its center. As a result, the band, particularly Margo, follows him down
the muddy rabbit hole and extend itself as well. In other words, this is
not a typical -- and there is such a thing as a typical -- Cowboy Junkies
recording. The difficult tension is in unpeeling the way human foibles
such as greed, lust, conflict, power and anger influence and impact the
family, and is reflected here with a poetic grace and gritty realism
wrapped inside expressionistic musical portraits and a series of melodies
and lyric lines that shift meaning as the album continues. The emotion
Margo infuses these lyrics with and the tautness of the musical
performances are anything but lithe or lazy. They're hungry.
FCC: 11 F-Bomb ALERT!
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10
REVIEWER: www.allmusicguide.com
DATE: 5.14.07
ARTIST:Ryan Shaw
TITLE: This Is Ryan Shaw (Columbia)
GENRE: soul/funk/r&b
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Those who stumble upon "This Is Ryan Shaw" will assume they've
heard it before-and that's a good thing. Shaw's debut so authentically
captures the spirit, sound and euphoric joy of vintage soul music that
songs like the testimonial "I Am You Man" and the jumpy, Booker T. & the
MG's-worthy "Lookin for a Love" feel excitingly familiar, as if they've
been nestled among Eddie Floyd and William Bell 45s for years. Recalling
'70s, pre-cheese Stevie Wonder, the Georgia native establishes himself as
a massive talent with a huge voice, straight out of the gate. "This Is
Ryan Shaw" resuscitates soul in an electrifying way. Indeed, while fusing
the mannered style of Motown with the sexy, sweaty grit of Stax, Shaw
displays a complete command of the medium.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS:
REVIEWER: www.billboard.com
DATE: 5.14.07
ARTIST: Cliff Eberhardt
TITLE: The High Above and the Down Below (Red House)
GENRE:FOLK/SS
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Master singer-songwriter Cliff Eberhardt returns with the
strongest collection of songs in his career on his first new release in
five years. This is the comeback CD fans have been waiting for since the
debilitating car accident which sidelined him in 2002. The recording
features an updated sound that highlights Eberhardt's pop and jazz
influences without divorcing his loyal acoustic and folk fanbase,
delivering 12 original new tunes backed by a tight combo that allows his
powerful voice and strong guitar playing to shine in a way they never have
before. The title track, like the whole album, is about living in the
moment. Recorded at Wild Sound in Minneapolis, the CD has an organic feel
that veteran producer and Red House executive Eric Peltoniemi was striving
for. Keeping Cliff's singing and playing uncluttered by overdubs and
harmony vocals, Peltoniemi handpicked some of the Twin Cities' finest
musicians for backing - keyboardist Rich Dworsky (Al Jarreau, A Prairie
Home Companion) bassist Gordy Johnson (Maynard Ferguson, Chuck Mangione)
and drummer J.T. Bates (Michel Portal). The group had such immediate
chemistry that the tracks were laid down quickly, many in just one take.
The result is the album that Eberhardt has always wanted to make. From the
melancholy notes of "The Right Words," to the sweet optimism of "After The
Rain Falls," the record is a timeless collection of songs that speak to
everyone, cementing Eberhardt's position as one of today's finest
singer-songwriters.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS:
REVIEWER: red house promo
DATE: 5.14.07
ARTIST:John Prine & Mac Wiseman
TITLE: Standard Songs for Average People (Oh Boy)
GENRE:COUNTRY
GRADE: A
REVIEW: If anyone's going to tackle songs like "Blue-Eyed Elaine" and
"Saginaw, Michigan" these days, it makes perfect sense that it would be a
collaboration between singer/songwriter John Prine and bluegrass master
tenor Mac Wiseman. Together, these legendary artists make the standards
great again. John Prine is one of the most well-respected
singer/songwriters in contemporary Americana, but this time around, he
decided to hand the reigns over to the classics. Among the stand-out songs
on this record are "Pistol-Packin' Mama," "Just the Other Side of
Nowhere," and "Old Cape Cod." Wiseman, meanwhile, strays a bit from his
legendary tenor to sing songs like "Saginaw, Michigan" more toward the
middle of his range, which is entertainment in itself. For a man whose
voice is worth its weight in gold, singing lounge tunes like "Old Cape
Cod" is a bit of a departure, but it comes across very nicely, and Wiseman
brings a certain authenticity to the record.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12
REVIEWER: www.about.com
DATE: 5.14.07
ARTIST:Robbie Fulks
TITLE: Revenge! (Yep Roc)
GENRE: country/alt
GRADE: A-
REVIEW: Only Robbie Fulks can turn a run-of-the-mill live album into a
piece of performance art. Only he can insult himself, his band, his fans,
and his label, as he does with this two-disc live set Revenge, and get
away with it. And as it turns out, only Robbie Fulks can release a live
record that not only captures his commanding, self-effacing stage presence
but also provides a clear insight into his mind, a sort of Being Robbie
Fulks experience on record. Here, Robbie Fulks not only reinvents the live
album concept, but also adds another piece to his already stellar catalog.
Revenge starts out as a traditional live album. Pulling from his usual
live repertoire, with songs like You Shouldnt Have, The Buck Stops Here,
and Lets Kill Saturday Night to close, Disc One captures Fulks usual
enthusiasm and energy on stage. Aside from Were on the Road, nothing
really stands out on Disc One, as it pretty much follows the traditional
Robbie Fulks show. Disc Two is considerably better. From the opening
introduction, which turns into a seminar in acoustic picking, right on to
the end, Fulks takes the live album concept to a completely new level. Not
only are most of the songs new--Fulks calls live albums a fuckin ripoff
halfway through the disc--they are performed in an intimate, personal
setting. Even though you know theres several hundred people in the
audience, Fulks breaks the live album code by talking at length with the
crowd, it almost feels like hes singing directly to the listener. Of the
new tunes, Thats a Good Enough Reason, On a Real Good Day, and The
Bluebirds are Singing For Me stand out, but none as much as I Like Being
Left Alone, a hilarious take on turning middle aged.
FCC: cd1: 10 cd2: 6
RECOMMENDED TRACKS:
CD1: 1, 3, 11
CD2: 2, 3, 7, 8, 9
REVIEWER: www.nudeasthenews.com
also added:
Bebel Gilberto Momento Six Degrees
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Baby 81 RCA
5.21.07
DATE:5.21.07
ARTIST: Sea Wolf
TITLE: Get To The River Before It Gets Too Low (Dangerbird)
GENRE: ROCK/ALT
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Before It Runs Too Low EP
Sea Wolf is the vehicle for Alex Church's songs. Born in the small gold
rush town of Columbia, CA, his musical memories were shaped by ad hoc
bluegrass outfits playing for tourists on sidewalks of his hometown,
coupled with Beatles and Willie Nelson records on his mom's turntable. The
sound he sought and achieved on this record is a combination of delicate,
arching melodies and foggy, elegiac narratives. Over the spare
instrumentation, his voice can be weary or buoyant, but it's always
capable of leaving an indelible impression. "Lushly orchestrated indie
rock" - LA Times. (Dangerbird Records)
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
REVIEWER: milesofmusic.com
DATE: 5.21.07
ARTIST:Sarah Borges
TITLE: Diamonds In The Dark (Sugar Hill)
GENRE:COUNTRY/ALT
GRADE: A
REVIEW: It's not by happenstance that "Come Back to Me," a fairly candid
cover from X's Under the Big Black Sun, is on Sarah Borges's second album,
nor that the feisty country-singing Bostonian would find inspiration from
a 25-year-old punk album. Actually, despite a host of twangy guitars and
songs about love, longing, and retribution, Borges admits to having a
greater fondness for Exene Cervenka's caterwauling--and '80s and '90s
indie rock--than any vocal tutorial from Loretta Lynn. Pulsating tracks
such as "Lonely Town" and "Diablito," and the poppy "Stop and Think It
Over," tugged from the mold of the Go-Go's' Beauty and the Beat, are in
debt to those influences without overshadowing what's left of the record:
a rummage through the roots of American music. Borges lays down the
honky-tonk ("False Eyelashes"), dishes out the blues ("Open Up Your Back
Door"), and two-steps her way through an admission of commitment,
inquiring "How many ways can I say that I love you?" ("The Day We Met").
Twelve songs. No filler. And a gifted artist on the rise. --Scott Holter
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12
REVIEWER: amazon.com
DATE:5.21.07
ARTIST:The Nightwatchman
TITLE: One Man Revolution (Epic)
GENRE: FOLK/SS
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello goes
acoustic for activist album. Musically, this is a different side of
Morello. Hearing the unique guitarist move to the opposite side of the
familiar spectrum is a surprise on first listen. The music is simple but
straightforward -- the focus is on the words. He's been performing as The
Nightwatchman since 2003, so it's about time he finally got his message
recorded. The album looks at the world with eyes of change. He gives the
listener plenty to ponder, whether it's "Colin Powell's lies" during
"House Gone Up in Flames" or the claim "Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the
apostle Paul were black" in "Flesh Shapes the Day." He's got a hint of Bob
Dylan, a spark of Johnny Cash and a smattering of Woody Guthrie. He's not
breaking musical ground, but that's not the mission.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 3, 4, 6, 10
FCC 2 & 9 (BOTH SAY SHIT)
REVIEWER:charlotte.creativeloafing.com
DATE:5.21.07
ARTIST: Mark Olson
TITLE:The Salvation Blues (Hacktone)
GENRE:FOLK/SS
GRADE: A
REVIEW: Marc Olson was the co-founder of The Jayhawks, which he quit when
he married Victoria Williams and began doing music with her in the
Creekdippers. Well, about two years ago marc and Vic divorced and this is
his post-all that release. His expressions of depression and pain is not
really overt, but instead couched in some beautiful and poetic songs
tinged with sadness. Produced by Ben Vaughn, the disc has a consistant
folk/rock/alt-country sound that isn't too boisterous nor too mellow. It's
just right.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
REVIEWER: Jim Manion/WFHB
DATE: 5.21.07
ARTIST:Renee Stahl
TITLE: Hopeful Romantic (Big Helium)
GENRE:FOLK/SS
GRADE: A-
REVIEW:Singer/songwriter Renee Stahl doesn't fit neatly in any particular
subgenre. Sharing some characteristics with everyone from Patty Griffin
and Dar Williams to Sarah McLachlan and Beth Orton, Stahl creates an
appealing, cozy style of AAA folk-pop that's conducive to lazy afternoons
in suburban coffeehouses but not so vapid that it isn't suitable for any
other locations. Ranging from simple, largely acoustic and folk-based
tunes like "You Didn't Know" to lusher songs like the Aimee Mann-like
ballad "Isn't It Easy" and the sweetly poppy, radio-friendly first single
"Music 101," Hopeful Romantic is a mild but appealing set. The biggest
surprise is "Adore," an electronic ballad presented in two versions, both
of which recall Everything But the Girl's mid-'90s dip into downtempo club
music. It's testament to Stahl's vocal skill that neither version sounds
like either a sell-out attempt or a bid for credibility in a genre outside
her own, but the song does rather stick out in these mellow surroundings.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 2, 3, 7, 8, 12
REVIEWER:~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
also added:
Ocha la Rocha Ocha Lives Newstreet
The Mannish Boys Big Plans Delta Groove
Yacht I Believe In You Marriage
The Mothers Township Sessions Rasa
Mocean Worker Cinco De Mowo Mowo! Inc 5.2.07
posted by WFHB Music @ 3:55:00 PM
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