Album Reviews Archives - Page 558 of 706

The Red River: Little Songs About The Big Picture

Gabriel Scheer September 22, 2010 No Comments

Upon first listen to The Red River’s Little Songs About The Big Picture, I was grabbed by its nods to Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens, the Cave Singers, and Animal Collective (and even occasional hints of early Bright Eyes, as on “Grand Fasse”). However, it’s got something more… it feels like something one could listen to on one’s porch, happily sipping some summery drink while rocking back and forth. It carries a melancholic joie de vivre, if that’s possible – a sense of awareness of things beyond one’s vision, carried all the while on a melody that reminds one of life’s short, bittersweet nature.

moe. – Smash Hits

Timothy Hurley September 21, 2010 No Comments

what really makes this a fantastic effort is the delivery. Rather than just remaster their old stuff, the band chose to head back into the studio and re-record each song. Sure, it’s not the original version, but it was a genius move, as not only will passive fans get an excellent compilation of moe. tunes, but long-time fans get to hear new, fresh versions of those comfortable originals.

Dweezil Zappa: Return Of The Son Of…

Tim J. Nelson September 17, 2010 No Comments

Listening to Dweezil Zappa’s Return of The Son of …, one is reminded of the genius and musical originality of Frank Zappa, who died at age 53, in 1993, of prostate cancer. Dweezil, one of Zappa’s four children, is a musical master and prodigy in his own right, and this heartfelt tribute is rife with Frank Zappa classics, fourteen to be exact.

Interpol: Interpol

Jeff Strowe September 15, 2010 No Comments

With their new self-titled LP, Interpol fail to awake from their nap and instead have created an album that wraps the listener in a blanket, slips them a sleeping pill and puts them to bed for the night. Loosely based on the concept of a disintegrating relationship, the band shuffles out one tired, mopey dirge after the next as they fail to give the listener any reason to care about the lyrics let alone turn up the volume dial and rock out.

TheTrio of Oz: The Trio of Oz

Brian Robbins September 14, 2010 No Comments

Discovering The Trio of OZ via their debut album has been one of those unexpected pleasures that happens every once in a while. I didn’t see this one coming, boys and girls – but I’m glad it did. Pianist Rachel Z, drummer Omar Hakim, and bassist Maeve Royce have laid down a jam-laden jazz album chock full of emotion and life. Some of the jams captured here take you through more twists and turns than the average feature-length movie: tension that gives way to wistful sweetness or jump-in-the-air joy, with enough peaks and dips and drifts and glides to hook you in and make you want to find out just where the thing is going next.

R.E.M.: Fables of the Reconstruction – 25th Anniversary Edition

Doug Collette September 14, 2010 No Comments

Few archival releases are as revelatory as this 25th Anniversary edition of R.E.M.’s , so it’s perfectly appropriate the packaging recalls nothing so much as a limited edition, designed by the band itself. Replica LP sleeves, individual portraits of the four men as well as a booklet and a large foldout poster are all extensions of the original artwork.

Soulive: Rubber Soulive

Brian Robbins September 10, 2010 No Comments

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.

Jenny and Jonny: I’m Having Fun Now

Jeremy Lukens September 9, 2010 No Comments

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: Live In The Classic City II

Bryan Rodgers September 9, 2010 No Comments

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: The Torches EP

Shawn Donohue September 8, 2010 No Comments

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.

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