Staff Picks for April 2014
April 30, 2014
Prompted by Joe Elliott's second terrific album with Down N Outz, I've once again gone back to Mott The Hoople - which is something I do about once a year. This time, it's the classic All The Young Dudes that's caught my imagination, drawn in by the riotous "One Of The Boys" and "Sucker," which is delicious in its malevolence.
April 29, 2014
This collection of some of Daniel Lopatin's earliest work as Oneohtrix Point Never defines his distinctive approach to drone-based electronic music. Balancing a retro sci-fi feel with unsettling moods, it's a sprawling, yet poignant, set that remains fascinating whether you listen to it in pieces or its 100-minute entirety.
April 28, 2014
The second Buggles album often gets lost in the shadow of the band's more successful debut and founding members Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn's simultaneous involvement with Yes' Drama album. But Adventures In Modern Recording is a new wave gem in its own right filled with lush, quirky pop, and top-notch playing. Horn's expanding mastery of the studio shows why he became one of the 80's most successful producers.
April 27, 2014
A swinging album full of post-bop adventurousness and harmonic sophistication, Introducing Kenny Garrett showcased the young alto firebrand backed by a heady group of sidemen including the great trumpeter Woody Shaw. While Garrett would go on to produce more individualized artistic statements, in terms of no holds barred blowing, it's hard to beat his debut.
April 26, 2014
American Music Club's short-lived tenure with Reprise Records didn't do much for either party's bank account, but pairing them in the studio with producer Mitchell Froom proved to be an inspired choice. 1993's Mercury gave AMC a richer and more opulent sound than they'd had in the past, but Froom gave the songs atmosphere and depth, not gloss, and his labrynth of odd keyboard tones meshed beautifully with Vudi's jagged lead guitar and Bruce Kaphan's pedal steel. Add some superb songs and performances from Mark Eitzel and you get the second masterpiece in a row from a superlative band.
April 25, 2014
New Softs recruit Allan Holdsworth wastes no time making an impression on the band's 1975 Harvest debut, the guitarist seemingly daring anyone to make his fingers stop as they fly around the fretboard on "Hazard Profile, Pt. 1." The Softs' fusion phase has its detractors, but Holdsworth's jaw-dropping performance was a wonder to behold for jazz-rock fans, and gave the group a much-needed jolt of excitement.
April 24, 2014
On this double disc, the legendary French guitarist and guerilla conceptualist combines guitar loops, noise, voices, ambience drums and power electronics--to create sonic enormous edfices that careen across avant rock, free jazz, modern compostion and more. Dense, sometimes mechansitc, but always fluid, this is a masterpiece.
April 23, 2014
Canada's annswer to Huey Lewis and the News, Doug and the Slugs were a hard working pop band that injected their glossy, '80s pop with a sense of humor and humility. Slugcology 101 is a perfect encapsulation of the band's career, and songs like "Making it Work" and "It's Got to Be Monday" will make you long for the alternate version of the '80s our friendly neighbors to the north experienced.
April 22, 2014
At the time of Prinzhorn Dance School's 2007 release, the duo's spartan art-punk was an outlier among the era's more ornate and winsome indie music. Seven years later, their politicized, paranoid and dourly catchy songs feel downright prescient; "You Are the Space Invader"'s snapshot of a word full of carcinogenic food and soul-stealing surveillance is even more relevant now than it was then.
April 21, 2014
The wait for Mr. Archer's third studio album has built up so much anticipation that, for many, only a brand new album of DNA-resequencing jams will do. No fan, however, should miss out on this expanded reissue of a Japan-only EP, which now contains a full performance from 1995.
April 20, 2014
Various Artists
Born in South Carolina, Bobby Robinson moved to New York City after serving in the Army during World War II and opened a record shop in Harlem. Branching out into record production, he established a series of his own independent labels between 1951 and 1960, including Red Robin Records, Whirlin' Disc Records, Fury Records, Everlast Records, Fire Records, and Enjoy Records. This four-disc box set collects some of the early sides Robinson produced and released through his various labels, and it's an archival treasure trove of blues, R&B, and doo wop.
April 19, 2014
The '90s are scattered with bands who pretty much sucked except for one briefly brilliant moment when they accidentally tapped into something bigger than them and were able to channel what little talent they had into something loud, fast and ridiculous, maybe even good. Example - Eve's Plum. Pretty dire band, but the first track on this album, "Blue" is a hilarious grunge lite rocker that the future Vitamin C sings the stuffing out of, while the lads in the group pretend (convincingly) they are Mudhoney. Wonder if the rest of the record is any good?
April 18, 2014
Sometimes music made by people is the last thing that you want to hear, especially after an epic club night, Chapman Stick festival, or school sponsored road trip with your orchestra friends. Let Nature's Rhythms and its totally unsolicited big band of bugs and beasts transport you to a place of pure, primal fear.
April 17, 2014
Brooklyn guitarist/composer Rich Woodson assembled Ellipsis for a second session of ridiculously complex thoroughly scored music for guitar, reeds, bass, and drums, proudly shouting "THERE IS NO IMPROVISATION ON THIS RECORDING" on the back cover of the 2005 independent release. The Nail That Stands Up maintains a light-on-its-feet, spontaneous feel despite enough polyphonic density and layering to fill 100 "normal" albums.
April 16, 2014
This wasn't Low's first album, and one can argue which is their best, but with Secret Name, the Duluth-based slowcore trio created the definitive document of their sound. Steve Albini's recording gives the music a dry but brilliantly detailed clarity that sounds powerfully intimate, while songs like "I Remember," "Weight of Water," and "Don't Understand" are devastating in their quiet impact. Some albums should only be heard after 2 am; Secret Name makes it 2 am whenever or wherever you choose.
April 15, 2014
Recorded half a year prior to Weather Report's less turbulent debut, this is a mercurial and fascinating set from the saxophonist, on which he is supported by the likes of Alphonse Mouzon and Ron Carter. Recently reissued as a digital download (and, in Japan, as a compact disc).
April 14, 2014
McCarthy was the best leftist indie pop band of the late 80's hands down. They attacked everything - banks, Thatcher, religion - but their trick was that they did it with tunes that came wrapped in sweetly jangling, Byrdsian melodies. Sort of like razor blades in a chocolate bar, but much more fun. Tim Gane of Stereolab was their guitarist, vocalist Malcolm Eden was the star. This collection of singles, Peel Sessions and rarities is a nice way to discover them if you haven't already,
April 13, 2014
Chris Butler's Waitresses may have been the most successful of the Ohio man's musical ventures. But before that ironic and stoic crew, Tin Huey is how he got his silly kicks. Wild sax man Ralph Carney, who would go on to play in Tom Waits' band, is here and contributes plenty of songwriting, including the great "Puppet Wipes" an annoying or attractive earworm depending on how many Residents albums you already own.
April 12, 2014
Melodic hardcore was a dominant force in heavy music in the early 2000s, and North Carolina's Hopesfall were one of the style's most interesting bands. This 2002 release is the band at their best, juxtaposing spiraling guitar lines with harsh vocals and displaying a gift for creating momentum. The succinct and soaring "Escape Pod for Intangibles" could serve as a summary of the genre.
April 11, 2014
The lush, lonesome, and immaculately rendered fifth long player from the progressive folk trio is also their darkest and most muscular, effectively shedding whatever was left of their home-schooled, child musical prodigy skins and revealing a tight-knit band that's in full control of their artistic vision, while falling to pieces emotionally.
April 10, 2014
Between the punk-bred soul of the Make Up and the sardonic psych rock of Weird War, DC luminaries Michelle Mae and Ian Svenonius made a single record under the Scene Creamers moniker. While the band would morph into Weird War soon after the release of this album, inspiration was at a fever-pitch on this album of funk-fried riffs and wild-eyed lyrical tangents.
April 9, 2014
So what does one of the world's greatest singer-songwriters do when he wants to relax? In Richard Thompson's case, he messes around with traditional British and Celtic melodies on his acoustic guitar, and given his estimable skill on the guitar, Thompson's "messing around" is very special indeed. 'Strict Tempo!,' Thompson's only instrumental effort, shows his gifts extend to a number of stringed instruments, and he knows how to bring a great melody to life, be it the traditional Scottish melody "Will Ye No Come Back Again" or Duke Ellington's "Rockin' in Rhythm."
April 8, 2014
On 'Tomorrow's Hits,' The Men complete their transformation from noisy experimenters to full-on rock and roll band, embracing the energy and exuberance or rock's past as they continue to grow and explore. Yet another incredibly solid album from the prolific Brooklyn band.
April 7, 2014
Produced by Quincy Jones and featuring two excellent album cuts written by 'Off the Wall' partner Rod Temperton, this is one of the great group's best albums. There's plenty of depth beyond the number one R&B single "Do You Love What You Feel."
April 6, 2014
Compiling cuts recorded on tour in Europe in 1969, this posthumously released live album showcases the trumpeter in his swaggering, titanic, god-like prime. Whether turning a classic ballad into gooey, gorgeous Silly Putty, as he does on "Things We Did Last Summer," or burning like a comet through his own "Hub-Tones," Hubbard reveals himself as one of the most fully realized jazz musicians of any generation.
April 5, 2014
If you like your '90s rock devoid of grunge, free from gloomy introspection and dead chirpy, then you simply must know Kenickie. Their debut album is one of the brightest guitar-based events of the decade, not quite as spectacular as the 'Josie and the Pussycats' soundtrack, but not far off either.
April 4, 2014
The DJ also known as the producer DBX released one of the best mixes of the early '00s, filled with brilliant, pared-down - and occasionally screwball - house and techno. Bob Newhart never shows up, but a black power speech from Jim Ingram leads into Shake's spellbinding "Detroit State of Mind."
April 3, 2014
Though Devil's Blood front man Selim Lemouchi recently passed away, his undeniable talent and passion for heavy metal will live on forever through albums like 'Come Reap.' Dark and psychedelic, this celebrated EP of revivalist metal stands as a fitting memorial for a talent that was taken too soon.
April 2, 2014
They may have grown past their early punk-inflected, checkerboard ska roots, but The English Beat replaced that energy with an abundance of melodic sophistication on their third and final album. From the New Romantic-inflections of "I Confess," to the Motown-inspired R&B of "Sole Salvation," to their Byrds-ian take on New Wave pop, "Save It For Later," 'Special Beat Service' found the English Beat going out on a high note.
April 1, 2014
They played with the subtle touch of a sledgehammer, their gear looked and sounded like it was falling apart, and they wrapped themselves in Ace bandages they never appeared to wash. Which is to say, the Mummies were one of the greatest garage punk bands to ever walk the Earth, full of snot, fire, and distortion, like a delinquent version of the Sonics. The Mummies' sole proper album, 'Never Been Caught,' is one unrelenting blast of beer-sodden rock & roll, utterly disreputable and all the more fun for it.