The many levels contained within Toubab Krewe’s self-titled album, surround and reward the ear upon multiple listens. The polyrhythmic spider webs entangle; meshing scurrying string romps with the pulsing of low end, the result is sense of community formed with the musical world as a whole, and a great rookie release from the Krewe.
Just as we do every year, Glide has chosen the twenty albums that appeal to us as the strongest artistic statements of the year, representing both our diverse content and readership. Our 20 For 2005, plus a dozen disappointments.
Irish rockers the Thrills have returned to their musical roots — in California. Though the guitar-led five-piece are currently in a Dublin studio working on demos for their third record, they recently trekked back to the Golden State, whose landscapes provided inspiration for their 2003 debut, So Much for the City.
“After complaining and yearning, we finally got off the road a few months ago,” says frontman Conor Deasy. “But after a couple weeks, everyone was getting restless and itchy again. Touring changes you: You’re always wondering what’s going on somewhere else.”
Grabbing guitars, ukuleles and harmonicas, three of the five Thrills members — Deasy, keyboardist Kevin Horan and bassist Padraic McMahon — decided to cruise along the West Coast highways, down the 101 and beyond. The outfit even ventured to Big Sur — despite their own lyrical warning, “Just don’t go back to Big Sur,” in the song named for the scenic, coastal locale.
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Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph has drawn up an eclectic guest list for the follow-up to 2003’s Unclassified, due in April. Eric Clapton is confirmed, while the list of hopefuls ranges from Lauryn Hill and Maroon 5 to the Roots and Gretchen Wilson.
“It’s like making a pot of spaghetti,” says Randolph. “A lot of different spices make up that sauce.”
Currently recording his sophomore effort in Nashville with gospel producers Tommy Sims and Pete Kipley, Randolph will eventually head to Toronto to cut tracks with Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan) before finally hitting Los Angeles for sessions with Dave Matthews Band producer Mark Batson.
Randolph, who recently contributed to Santana’s latest album, All That I Am, also has a handful of live dates scheduled for the remainder of 2005: from December 28th in Kingston, New York, through New Year’s Eve in Washington, D.C. He’s also set to play the Langerado Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Flordia, in March, on a bill that includes the Black Crowes, the Flaming Lips and Wilco.
Source rollingstone.com.
