CD review: 311
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
311
Uplifter
Volcano; Release date: June 2, 2009
The Deal: Now in its 21st year of existence, 311 has released its ninth studio album and first disc in four years. (more…)
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Archive for the 'CD Reviews' Category
A ‘Dark Night’ for Danger Mouse
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009Danger Mouse’s latest project with Sparklehorse may well be the best album of the year with its dark, ethereal tone and brilliant contributions by guest vocalists as diverse as The Flaming Lips, Iggy Pop and Suzanne Vega, but an official release may never happen due to an undisclosed legal dispute with EMI.
Right now, Dark Night of the Soul is scheduled to be released as a blank CD-R packaged with a book of photographs by the eccentric filmmaker, David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Fire Walk with Me). Danger Mouse’s representative said the CD-R will be labeled, “For legal reasons, CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.” (more…)
More on Benji Hughes
Friday, March 13th, 2009Local singer-songwriter Benji Hughes is getting a lot of Love these days. The latest comes from Chuck Klosterman and a review in Esquire.
If you didn’t see him last weekend at the Visulite, be sure and catch him the next time around!
CD Review: Gregory Douglass
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009Gregory Douglass
Battler
Emote Records; Release date: March 3, 2009
The Deal: Singer/songwriter Gregory Douglass releases seventh studio album, titled Battler.
The Good: The album is deeply melancholy with lots of layers. It starts with the melodic, piano-driven track “Broken Through,” and leads to the album’s second track “Cathedrals,” which offers some loaded lyrics about religion and sex. Highlights on the album include, “Devotion” a ballad with orchestral elements and soulful vocals (reminiscent of Gavin Degraw) from Douglass, “Day of the Battler” a chaotic mix of sounds with a melody similar to one of Fiona Apple’s song concoctions, “No Apology” a short but touching a cappella hymn and “Stay” a sad, yet soothing track. In addition, kudos also are in order for guest appearances by Righteous Babe Records’ Anais Mitchell on “Sadly” and soul gal Grace Potter (of the Vermont-based blues/soul/rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals) on the album’s final track “Ordinary Man.”
The Bad: Songs on the album were decent, but didn’t really possess any strong, catchy hooks.
The Verdict: Gregory Douglass’ album Battler is worth checking out. It’s soulful with harmonies that will take you on a ride down a melancholy road, and from time to time, it might even pick you up a little too.
CD Review: Coconut Records
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009CD Review: Coconut Records
Davy
Young Baby Records; Release date: Jan. 20, 2009
The Deal: The Los Angeles-based actor/musician Jason Schwartzman (You know him from his roles in movies like The Darjeeling Limited, Rushmore, I Heart Huckabees, Shop Girl and Slackers) releases sophomore album for his indie pop musical project Coconut Records. (more…)
Rolling Stone announces top 50 albums of 2008
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008Rolling Stone has published its top 50 albums of 2008, with TV on the Radio leading the way. I definitely don’t agree. Not to say that it was a bad album, but I wasn’t impressed. Maybe I should take another listen…
So, who would I pick for my top 10 of 2008? What about the other music writers of Creative Loafing? Pick up the Dec. 31 edition to find out!
In the meantime, here’s RS’s top 10:
1 – TV on the Radio – Dear Science
2 – Bob Dylan – Telltale Signs the Bootleg Series Vol. 8
3 – Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
4 – My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
5 – John Mellencamp – Live, Death, Love and Freedom
6 – Santogold – Santogold
7 – Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
8 – Beck – Modern Guilt
9 – Metallica – Death Magnetic
10 – Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
CD Review: Shiny Toy Guns
Friday, November 28th, 2008Shiny Toy Guns
Season of Poison
Universal Motown; Release date: Nov. 4, 2008
The Deal: Shiny Toy Guns gets new singer and releases sophomore album Season of Poison.
The Good: Despite Shiny Toy Guns’ former vocalist Carah Faye Charnow’s departure and her replacement of Sisely Treasure to the band, the album isn’t bad although fans of Charnow might be disappointed. The disc is full of high frequency bouts of electronica-styled rock. Songs like “When Did This Storm Begin,” “Ghost Town,” and “Ricochet!” resemble the group Mindless Self Indulgence with a chaotic electro-punk feel. Throughout the album lyrics seem to be split pretty well between Treasure and Chad Petree. One of the most catching tunes is the softer, more pop-oriented “I Owe You A Love Song.” The band’s two vocalists blend well together on this track, which also reminded me a bit of the Swedish electronic indie rock band, The Sounds “Hurt You.” Other noteworthy songs were “Ricochet!” and “Turned To Real Life.”
The Bad: The song “Blown Away” didn’t blow me away at all, along with “Season of Love,” a softer track that seemed to linger on and on. “Poison,” chimed in at eight minutes and 14 seconds. The song started off slow with strange electronic vocal elements and featured a dramatic instrumental chorus line, later to end with this distant organ music. The song was too long and unorganized. It didn’t do much for me.
The Verdict: Shiny Toy Guns’ new album is a combination between softer electro rock and sassy, distorted electro jams. It takes a couple of listens for some of the tracks to hook you, but right away “I Owe You A Love Song,” “Ricochet!” and “Turned To Real Life” should do the trick. Check out the album or see the band live when they visit Charlotte for a performance at Tremont Music Hall on Sunday, Nov. 30.
Live Review: 2008 Charlotte Music Awards
Friday, November 21st, 2008Charlotte Music Awards
Booth Playhouse
Nov. 20, 2008
The Deal: Second Annual Charlotte Music Awards honors variety of acts from around the Carolinas. (more…)
CD Review: Brown Shoe
Friday, October 17th, 2008Brown Shoe
Jackalope
Self-released; Release date: Sept. 30, 2008
The Deal: The California-based indie band Brown Shoe releases third album Jackalope. (more…)
Another scrapbook of shenanigans
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Gold Medal wearing Olympic swimmer Aaron Peirsol taking in his first NASCAR race….for which he ordered the starting of gentlemen’s engines for the Bank of America 500
Some boobalicious mermaids at the Bud Light Party Cruise event at the EpiCentre’s Pavilion. The question of the evening: “How do you get a girl in body paint naked?” According to some dude – baby oil does the trick. (more…)
