Staff Picks for August 2011
August 30, 2011
Bill Laswell meets Lee Perry uptown on this chilled success, which won’t satisfy purists, especially when Laswell’s crew delivers “Dancehall Kung Fu” like a reggae Steely Dan. Still, it’s got Bernie-freaking-Worrell, plus I kinda of like the idea of “Scratch” as Pipecock Fagan, so I’m with you Dr. Wu.
August 29, 2011
Imagine Little Richard backed by the Misfits, recorded in Phil Spector's garage, and you get a taste of what Nick Curran delivers on his fiendishly inspired Reform School Girl. Mixing '50s rock & roll, '60s girl group, and '70s punk and hard rock, Curran has crafted a retro-rock classic.
August 28, 2011
One of postpunk's most distinctive groups, Josef K were around for only a moment and released far more after their passing than when they were still around, but there's a reason the reissues kept flowing, and it's all here.
August 27, 2011
Whoever had the idea back in 1971 to combine Nyro's husky, emo-packed vocals with the brassy blast of Labelle, get them to cover a bunch of girl group hits and rarities, and have it produced by Gamble and Huff...they were something of a genius.
August 26, 2011
On Sister Vagabond, her tenth album, Candye Kane has really put it all together for her finest studio outing yet, mixing blues, torch soul, and funky swing numbers together into a smart and brassy whole, helped immeasurably by the brilliant guitar playing of longtime cohort Laura Chavez.
August 25, 2011
Sure, they were pretty much dismissed as an ‘80s novelty act, with the lead singer’s Jeff Spicoli stoney style, skateboard guitar, and a full album devoted to “locals only” surfing, but the songs are total pop-punk gems. It’s safe to say Wavves stole a trick or two from these dudes.
August 24, 2011
For their third record and stateside debut, this Syd Barrett-worshipping Italian duo brings the 1960s freakout into the new millennium, blending psych-folk melodies with everything-but-the-kitchen-sink instrumentation and childlike vocals.
August 23, 2011
Booker T & The MGs guitarist Steve Cropper pays an excellent tribute to the 5 Royales and his chief influence, their guitarist Lowman Pauling, with this star studded effort.
August 22, 2011
Two of Scandinavian music's finest and most daring practitioners, Willemark and Möller crafted the spookiest of their numerous collaborations in 1994 with this collection of traditional and original songs, many of which rely on Möller's masterful overtone flute playing. Recommended for fans of the film Trollhunter.
August 21, 2011
Live from Austin TX features a post Sir Douglas Quintet and pre Texas Tornadoes Doug Sahm recorded on November 14, 1975. On these 12 tracks, Sahm and his backup band, which included his faithful compadre Augie Meyers on organ, tackle fan favorites from the S.D.Q. days, along with a few country and blues tunes that had been in Sahm's repertoire since the late '50s.
August 20, 2011
With typically brilliant production from the Mizell brothers, Hammond's jazz-funk-soul-protodisco masterpiece glides out of the speakers like a glittery, shimmery feather.
August 19, 2011
The Motor City's garage revival supergroup pays tribute to their favorite black-fronted pop of the '60s and '70s -- from Stevie Wonder's "Livin' for the City" to Thin Lizzy's "Ode to a Black Man" -- putting a houseparty spin on it all with their fuzzed-out, heavy duty rhythm section.
August 18, 2011
The unsung hero of Lollapalooza 2011 is just as powerful live as she is on record, where she splits the difference between dance-pop and indie folk.
August 17, 2011
Various Artists
A top notch collection of vintage Caribbean '70s funky grooves with just the right amounts of brass, bass, guitars, and (occasionally) steel drums to make things exciting and exotic.
August 16, 2011
Released to little fanfare in 1987, where it was buried beneath the spandex glow of hair metal's peak, this incredibly ornate, conceptual ode to amour is as silly and overly sincere as it is near perfect.
August 15, 2011
Former street singer Seasick Steve brilliantly sticks to his old trick of merging country blues trance boogie rhythms with his broken holler of a voice, writing songs that carry a stark wisdom that can only come from living on the dark street one block over from the edge of civility.
August 14, 2011
Hungry for Kicks: Singles & Choice Cuts 1965-69 does an effective job of chronicling the majority of the band's biggest hits from the mid to late '60s. Most of the familiar radio tracks are featured along with the 45 versions of seven tracks and, several great album cuts, many of equal quality to the hits.
August 13, 2011
The 21 minute title track will set your head on fire with joy as it careens and whirls madly through space. The rest of the record isn't too bad either. The perfect soundtrack for deep innerspace exploration.
August 12, 2011
Anticipating a complete remastering of the Smiths' catalogue from Warner UK in September, this American compilation is a sprawling introduction to the best band of the '80s (and since), warts and all.
August 11, 2011
This recently reissued gem still packs all of the punch it did when it was released almost 20 years ago, and a bonus disc featuring the Vs. The Greatest of All Time EP upgrades this album from classic to essential.
August 10, 2011
Various Artists
The dog days of summer have been easier to bear with Cherry Red's excellent reissues of Ace's discography. You can hear them plus a ton of other great pub rockers on this classic collection.
August 9, 2011
James Brown's second in command pretty much cuts his boss throughout this amazingly tight and funky compilation of tracks released between 1964 and 1973. Doubters please check "I Know You Got Soul".
August 8, 2011
Mike Hadreas' debut album as Perfume Genius sounds so vulnerable, so intimate, that it's hard to believe that he was able to record these songs without bursting into tears. Yet it's that raw emotion -- coupled with disconcertingly lullaby-like melodies -- that makes Learning an unforgettable listen.
![Colourbox [1985]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0002088375/front/400/nGrYtxe2e-dM7eMMkpg7PA4Q1ghY8VaPylnm7PwcKNY=.jpg)
August 7, 2011
My colleagues Jason Lymangrover, Andy Kellman, and I have been digging on this lost treasure. It’s from 1985, it’s on 4ad, it mixes dance, pop, R&B, reggae, electronica, and whatnot, plus it’s from the guys who would soon give us “Pump Up the Volume.” Behold Colourbox.
August 6, 2011
Various Artists
When I stumbled across this CD in a "Misc. Soul" bin at a used record store, there was a piece of paper taped to the cover stating "Beware of this one, it is an ass-kicker!" which turned out to be a very accurate description of this sweaty collection of faux-vintage soul/funk grooves.
August 5, 2011
With Fountains of Wayne's fifth album appearing this week, it's time to go back and revisit their earlier material, including this highlight from 2003. "Stacy's Mom" may be their biggest hit, but it's just a drop in the bucket of pop songs that pour out of these guys like water.
August 4, 2011
Pablo and Tubby together is like Magic and Jordan in the same backcourt or Einstein and Hawking brainstorming, two musical geniuses getting together and creating deep, dark and mystical magic.
August 3, 2011
Looking for something different to spice up your summer soundtrack? Take a funky trip from Germany to sub-Saharan Africa with Karl Hector & the Malcouns' Krautrock-Afrobeat mashup.
August 2, 2011
This 2008 release marked the Ithaca, New York-based, gothic-bluegrass ensemble's first proper album in nearly seventeen years. A brilliant and typically eclectic set of Northern oddities that straddle the line between new traditional and new weird America.
August 1, 2011
Atavistic's re-issue of No Questions Asked, originally released in 1980 on Upsetter, gives the first full-length Flesh Eaters album the proper treatment it deserves. Atavistic adds 10 bonus tracks, including their first 7" on Upsetter, their contribution to the Tooth and Nail compilation and previously unreleased demos from 1978.