Rubber Soulive is an album full of tunes done for the exactly right reason: total love for the subject at hand. Add in the groove factor and you have one great piece of work.
When reviewing I'm Having Fun Now, it's important to state what it is not. It is not another Jenny Lewis solo album with Johnathan Rice on backing vocals and guitar. It does not continue where Lewis left off on Acid Tongue, her finest work and an album that was one of the greatest of 2008.
Widespread Panic's Live in the Classic City II is an example of how not to put together a live release, and it stands in stark contrast to the beloved first volume of the series. Comparisons between the two releases are inevitable, and this two disc set is the son that could never live up the older brother, the participation award winner instead of the blue ribbon holder, the comeback bid that fell short.
The Torches from Washington, D.C. have cobbled together an EP that showcases their off-kilter roots and grimy driving acoustic rock. The group tackles tunes in the vein of O’Death or a toned down Americana version of Gogol Bordello, but the obvious patron saint prayed to on the self titled EP is Tom Waits.
Sans loops, laptops, and samplers, STS9 hit the stage in Denver, CO this past December and made music using just the basics – fingers, wood, wire, sticks, and keys – doing it live, without a net. The results are documented on STS9’s latest release, Axe The Cables. And they are nothing short of pure pleasure.
Do you like seminal Scottish rockers Travis? Well, you’re going to like lead singer Fran Healy’s first solo jaunt, Wreckorder. Imagine, if you will, Travis, circa The Invisible Band, adding in a bit more orchestra and slightly lacking a bit of the energy brought by Andy, Dougie, and Neil.
Menomena is a great buzz band. They burst out of Portland (Oregon) a few years back on the back of a strong second full-length album, and have gained critical and popular acclaim through an engaging, contemporary sound. They fit in perfectly with ironic hipsterdom: it’s easy to imagine them being listened to in a perfectly (fake) woodsy lodge-style bar (in a dense urban neighborhood), wearing one’s trucker hat and probably something polyester.
Dave Binney's Aliso is a vigorous piece of work where the production values of sparkling sound and astute track sequencing are wholly in line with the stellar musicianship.
John Prine’s In Person & On Stage is nothing stellar but the live collection of tracks shows that the longtime singer-songwriter is still doing quite well for himself. With a tandem of guitarist Jason Wilber and bassist Dave Jacques fleshing out most of the 14 songs, Prine begins with the warm, toe-tapping “Spanish Pipedream” and rarely misses the mark on other gems like “Unwed Fathers,” “Paradise” and “Bear Creek Blues.”
North Carolina singer/songwriter, John Mark McMillan, is a relatively unknown name recalling vocal comparisons to Ryan Adams with a fresh new sound that blends americana, indie and country. McMillan’s major label debut, The Medicine, combines his unpolished rock-n-roll with anthem-style choruses and spiritually charged lyrics that we will call “Sacred Twang.”
