There’s a bias among many that for something to be artistic, it has to be dark and moody. Poetry is only high art, they reason, if it dwells on the negative aspects of the human experience. For that reason, those who focus on positive vibes are often under appreciated. It is exactly in that positivity, however, that Brett Dennen thrives.
Singer-songwriter Kip Boardman is the type of singer-songwriter which sticks to the idea that less is much more, especially regarding bombastic flourishes compensating for any quality shortcomings. Here Boardman adheres to a bare-bones approach in the vein of Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams and a roots-y Jason Mraz on the sincere opener “All Fall Down,” the groovy “All That Bad” and the laidback toe-tapper “Mysterious Stranger.”
The Dirtbombs have always loved their covers and with 2001’s excellent soul and R&B rethinking, Ultraglide In Black the group showed their prowess in this realm. 2011 is apparently now the time to tackle songs from the Detroit Techno scene of the 1980’s. While there was a direct line drawn between The Dirtbombs retro garage shake and the soul of their cities 60’s and 70’s this techno connection is a bit more tedious causing the efforts here to vary in quality.
Running From a Gamble has some mellow points but the album is largely a swelling formation of poetic artistry that combine restricted forceful instrumentals with a “take me as I am, leave it all on the line” type of attitude.
Rome is an album that you must listen to from beginning to end as a whole, for the tracks that blend common themes will give a deeper understanding of the entire listen. Reflective of what became the musical basis for Italian Western films in the 1960s and beyond, the combination between Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi succeed in producing a record of substantial triumph.
With their new release, I Am Very Far, Okkervil River has made a musical slow-burner. Unlike some of their previous work, there is no immediate song that blasts out and catches the ear
Noted for their reggae twists on classic albums like Dark Side of the Moon and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Easy Star All-Stars have released their first LP of original material, First Light. The 14-track effort not only marks a departure from their themed cover albums, but it also treads loosely into some soul territory.
Direct is exactly what you get when listening to Obits’ second studio release Moody, Standard and Poor. There’s no questioning the foursome’s lean edged gritty basement party-with a flickering light type of sound, except possibly the title of the album.
If you’ve ever seen and heard Warren Haynes perform Otis Redding and Delbert McClinton covers, you know he has more than a passing interest in both soul and rhythm and blues. But the passion in this man’s singing on “Save Me,” the final cut on Man in Motion, borders on desperation: arguably the most confessional vocal he’s ever done, this single performance alone is enough to redeem the inconsistencies that otherwise afflict the exercise in style that constitute his second solo album.
