Fresh Loaf

ANNA KRAMER AT CRIMINAL RECORDS: Another left-leaning musician

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

Even if you don’t write for the music section, when you work at CL people sometimes feel compelled to give you CDs. Sometimes it’s annoying – not because I’m looking a gift horse in the mouth, but people often give you really shitty music then ask what you think next time you see them.

A couple of years ago, while reading-but-not-buying magazines at Criminal Records in Little Five Points, Shannon Mulvaney handed me a copy of the Selmanaires‘ debut album, Here Come the Selmanaires (released on Mulvaney’s record label, International Hits).

A love affair was born – not between me and Mulvaney, he’s too tall and male for me, but with the group’s music: melodic, exuberant garage rock that drew inspiration from my favorite guitar bands of the ’60s (the Kinks, the Rolling Stones) without being retro, derivative or fake-English. I hate fake-English.

On Tuesday, the band celebrated the release of its second album, The Air Salesman, with an in-store gig at Criminal Records. Since its last outing, the band’s gotten stranger and more rhythmic – both good things.

Sharing the bill with it was Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause, labelmates celebrating the simultaneous release of their CD, The Rustic, Contemporary Sounds of Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause. I think another love affair may have just started – not between me and Anna Kramer, I’m engaged and I think she’s seeing someone, but with her music.

If you care to investigate, the links above will take you to samples of their music. The two groups are playing at the Earl Saturday night as well.

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Hey, I have an idea: why doesn’t Dave G-damn Matthews think of ways to give concerts more truck- and bus- and generator-free! For three days leading up to the concert, my street and the Piedmont Park Meadow were covered with trucks, buses, generator-powered streetlights, and all manner of workmen moving fences, stage construction materials, port-a-potties, trailers, and other accoutrement around in preparation for an environmental extravaganza that would surely leave our newly re-landscaped park in muddy ruins.

-Shelbinator, responding to an obnoxious, tone-deaf announcement by the Midtown Neighbors’ Association telling residents that use of cars would be “frowned upon” all weekend.

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. . . and the press has the nerve to insult her figure? Fuck you. Fuck you big time. THIS is WHY so many women (and men) have issues with their bodies, and why so many have eating disorders in this country. Statements like this are completely despicable and do so much harm to the self esteem of so many, and for what? All in the name of insult? SHAME, shame, shame.

-Duane Moody, who LOVES Britney Spears, lashes out at the author of an article mocking Spears’ physique at last night’s MTV video crapfest. Because, as we all know, Spears’ career until last night was focused on sending healthy messages to young women about body image and sexuality.

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There will be buzz aplenty in the room when Black Lips, The Selmanaires, and The Coathangers take over the 40 Watt stage. It’s the first night of the extensive Black Lips/Selmanaires tour, and the night before The Coathangers play their own CD release show over in Atlanta. We’re so damn spoiled around here.

-Rich at Cable & Tweed on this Wednesday’s Atlanta rock mega-gig at the 40 Watt. I’m a sentimental old fogey, so I’ll be at Crowded House that night.

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