April 2004
Devendra Banhart
Rejoicing In The Hands
Young God Records
When I first heard some recordings by Devendra Banhart over a year ago, I
didn't realize that I would be listening to a musical revolution. His first album
was raw and earnest. It was a home recording. It was a diamond in the rough.
Now we have the first real album. "Rejoicing In The Hands" is the great
Devendra Banhart album that we have been waiting for. After a year of non-stop
touring and writing, Devendra had over fifty songs to cherry pick for this album.
He went in the studio with Michael Gira and recorded a classic album. The
sound is so rich and deep. It is amazing. Songs that just sound like sketches on
the first album, sound like great anthems on the new record. Devendra has
utilized a group of musicians that stay true to his vision. There are more strings
on certain songs. Devendra's hero, Vashti Bunyan, even shows up on one song
here. This is an amazing record all the way through. This is a man to see live
and buy all his records. When many musical fads will have faded, I will still
be listening to Devendra Banhart. A total original.
Janet
Damita Jo
Virgin
Janet Jackson just goes by one name now. I think we all know that. You know
what they say about people who start going by one name... Looking at some of the
pictures on the cover and the booklet it looks like Janet is very stoned. That
is her trying to be sexy I guess. But they made the best choice for the cover
of Damita Jo. There are a lot of cleavage shots. A full album dedicated to
raw sex and fucking: twenty-two songs. But not quite. There are a few spoken
word pieces talking about sex and traveling to island with her baby. Janet is the
expert. It sounds like some new age massage speak: reminds me of a Fabio tape
I listened to ten years ago. Janet assures us that "It all comes down to
love." She is a philosopher. Some of the song titles are revealing, such as
"Sexhibition" and "Moist." It leaves little to the imagination. This is not an
album for kids. Of course Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are back in the director's
seat. Janet calls them her Dads. It's a long album about the war between and
sex. Janet comforts us: "All contradictions melt." She speaks from the heart. As
I was listening to this album, I was wondering who has done more drugs:
Whitney or Janet? Who is more wacky? Who is due for a more brutal end? This is a
good album to listen to and have unprotected sex with young girls. Children are
being conceived. Janet thanks everyone but her own family. She loves her baby.
Whoever that is?
Blondie
The Curse of Blondie
Sanctuary Records
Blondie is a legendary band. They were gone for a while. But now they seem
like they won't go away. Their last album had a few good singles but was not so
good as a full listener. The Curse of Blondie seems more diverse and more
planned out. It's starts out with the semi-rap of "Shakedown." They return to
their electro sounds in "Good Boys." The sound of Parallel Lines returns in
"Undone." They work with a lot of different songwriters. Romy Ashby has been
writing lyrics for a few albums. She is a hidden talent. Jimmy Destri's songs tend
to be more modern, and have a bunch of contemporary pop influences. Blondie
has created a successful album and is the best in a few decades. They should be
touring on the strength of this album for a while. They have brought a lot of
interesting sounds on one album.
The Blam
Caveat Emptor
Moontron Records
These guys are deceiving. It's hard to define them. They sound a little like
Placebo but not all the time. It's guitar riff driven rock that meanders. They
have already played a lot in Europe. That's strange for a band that I have
hardly heard of. Their songs go to extremes: quiet to loud, and slow to fast.
Sometimes this happens in the same song. The Blam have some more ballad-like
songs like "Calm Down." After listening to this record a few times they remind
me of The Stills and Interpol. Maybe I am totally off. Maybe they are
influenced by early new wave? The songwriting talents emerge in songs like "It's Not
Personal." There are also some hard rocking tunes like "Writing On The Wall."
This record creeps up on you and grows on you. It's a brilliant case.
Squarepusher
Ultravisitor
Warp Records
I am not sure if this is a live record or a studio record. There are sounds
of the audience. But it doesn't really sound like it was all done before an
audience. I haven't heard the last few Squarepusher albums. This might be a
little chill compared to Hard Normal Daddy. There are some fast beats and quick
bass lines. The first song "Ultravisitor" is like a catalogue of his sounds of
the past. He touches on drum & bass, jazz, and experimental noise. His notes on
the inside cover remind of Duchamp's notes for "Large Glass." I am not sure
if my leg is being pulled, or it has any relationship to the music. It's a
fine album despite itself.
Muse
Absolution
Warner Bros
Muse is one band that I have been listening to for years. I have always
wondered why they haven't made it big in America. They are one of the top ten rock
bands in England. They haven't played much in America but are right now. They
are heavy rock and melodic. Much better than a lot of fluffy rock that is
passed off over here. "Absolution" may be a good introduction to them as any. The
songs are impressive. Right away we get to the expansive sound of "Apocalypse
Please." Matthew Bellamy is a talented songwriter, musician, and singer.
"Time Is Running Out" is a slow rocker, which has new depths for Muse. Much of
the album is about time and coming to the end of something undefined. "Stockholm
Syndrome" is about as hard rocking as it gets. They have quite a number of
ballads too. This is a great record. No song is unnecessary. It may be Muse's OK
Computer. That's why we must all have it.
Various Artists
Decade: Ten Years of Fierce Panda
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda is one of those labels that we only dream about. Simon Williams
started it and he was dedicated to discovering new exciting music. It started
ten years ago and has released many records. I guess since they released
Coldplay and Hundred Reasons first, they are visionaries. I am not sure that they
are Creation Records, but they are pretty good. There was some focus of folk
music like Bright Eyes and The Bluetones. Placebo and Seafood supplied some
heavy rock. Some techno music by Lo-Fidelity Allstars. Some easy listening by
Coldplay and Embrace, and also The Clientele. There are some unique bands like
Polyphonic Spree and The Music. And then there is Kaito: who can compare to their
racket. There was no overall esthetic. Just what was relevant at the time?
There is some leanings to moody soft rock with emotion. Some of these songs are
not available on any CD because they were released as singles. Let's celebrate.
Sufjan Stevens
Seven Swans
Sounds Familyre
At one of our power meetings at Free Williamsburg at the beginning of this
year we were throwing around names of people who might be good people to
interview or review. Sufjan Stevens came up. I had never heard of him let alone spell
his name. It is detailed folk music. He is famous for the banjo work. Songs
like "In The Devil's Territory" evokes the past and looks to the future.
Sufjan worked with Daniel Smith of Danielson Famile to get this multi-layered
sound. It's good that someone is obsessed with beauty in music. This record is
strong and complex. It is not easy reading. The religious themes are an
interesting shade. It is a vision of death and despair. It comes off sounding like
something Badly Drawn Boy or Elliot Smith cooked up. Stevens may be the heir to
Elliot Smith's legacy.
Snow Patrol
Final Straw
A & M
Snow Patrol has been around for a few years. They have done two previous
records and became part of the Scottish music scene centered on Belle & Sebastian.
Their sound is a mix between soft rock and harder rock. Some of their
influences include Super Furry Animals and Low. "How To Be Dead" sounds chilled out
and spent. "Wow" sounds like throwing all caution to the wind. There is a
sound of hope and love throughout this record. The deeper you go into it, the
more rewarding it is. It's like you are in the middle of the forest and you hear
a friend crying in the distance. Songs like "Run" are very memorable. The
choruses lift me up during my darkest day. The guitar playing is wonderful. Gary
Lightbody is a great singer. It sounds like the end of the world. This is an
important album to emerge this year.
Joanna Newsom
The Milk-Eyed Mender
Drag City
Joanna Newsom has been a figure in the Bay Area music scene for a while. She
has played with The Pleased. She has toured with Cat Power and Will Oldham.
She has played on records like Vetiver and Nervous Cop. She has been a force in
the new folk scene that was spearheaded by Devendra Banhart. She is twenty-one
years old and she has released a half dozen records. Her own material was
separate and unique. She self-released a few CDs to sell at shows. She recorded
these herself without knowing much about production. They are just voice and
harp. Those two CDs would get around the world by word of mouth. Soon she was
signed to a real label and had to take off some time from The Pleased. This
record is a better recording than her previous stuff. She went into a real studio
to do it. The vocals are doubled sometimes. There are additional instruments.
It is not over produced or over arranged. It is still raw. It takes the best
songs from the past and adds a few new ones. It is a great debut.
Weezer
Deluxe Edition
Geffen
Weezer was formed in 1992. Two years later after Kurt Cobain died, Ric Ocasek
produced their first record. Once people saw Rivers Cuomo every geek in the
world wanted to play guitar. People heard "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So"
and a new age was born. Weezer had the hits. They toured the world and Geek
Chic was invented. They took off some time to finish their degrees at Harvard.
Life on campus was lame. They got back together to record another album. This
gave life to KROQ. More creative videos followed. More tours with No Doubt.
Cuomo went back to Harvard. Soon their new album was released with the anthem
"Hash Pipe." Who couldn't relate to that? What else does one do at Harvard?
More band members came and went. There are about one hundred members of Weezer.
The fourth album was made and The Muppets joined the band for a while too. This
band was one of the great bands of the Modern Rock era. This classic CD and
DVD prove that. They were the edge. Weezer is the king!
Sondre Lerche
Two Way Monologue
Astralwerks
You may call him Sondre Lerche, but I call him "The Lecher." There is
something dirty and unclean about this guy. He is really young. He recorded his
first album when he was fifteen. He is from Norway and does melodic folk music. He
was into Beck and Jeff Buckley. I saw him a few years ago open for Ed
Harcourt. His songs are vivid. Some are quiet. He mixed wide screen adaptations of
songs with intimate music. Some songs are bare to the bone. He is real. He is
out of control. Sondre is a talented songwriter. These songs are strong. It
evokes the better moments of Brian Wilson. Sondre Lerche brings back art in music.
Rasputina
Frustration Plantation
Instinct Records
I saw these gals by chance while in Boston back in 1895. They have been
around forever. There were not any record labels back then. This is their fourth
album. They used to be three girls on cello who wore these real old clothes.
They all looked like the lead singer of Daisy Chainsaw for some reason. They
played their folk rock music. In between singer would tell these really bad jokes.
It was sad. We are not laughing at you, but with you. It just shows that you
can be a female and do anything on stage and it is "art." There are a lot of
strippers who think that they are artists too. I just think of them as whores.
But back to Rasputina: there is no doubt that they are talented. They seem
stuck in some age. They don't want to grow up. Now they have a guy in the band
too. They live in DUMBO, Brooklyn. It shows. Melora Creager seems set on her
tastes. It would be cool if they did a Divine Comedy like transformation for one
album and had a grunge makeover. People make the mistake of wanting to live
in some other century. The only problem if Rasputina existed in the 1890s, they
would not be able to play anywhere. They are women so they wouldn't have many
rights at all. Plus it is possible that they would have been poor in that
life. Rasputina has a cult-like following, despite all my bickering, that will
mope to their gigs, whatever the century.
Madeline Minx
Unleash Your Soul
Fortune/Radio Charlie Records
Not sure what this is. Madeline Minx does a cable access show and seems to
get in the press a lot. She is better known as Pushy (www.getpushy.com). These
people only exist in San Francisco. Madeline Minx is an
artist/filmmaker/entertainer. All her dreams come true. Why haven't more people heard of her?
"Unleash Your Soul" is the dance-floor anthem of 2004. I haven't heard it as much
as Tatu or The Darkness, but that's my fault. Madeline Minx is supposed to be
really hot looking. So anyway on this record we have five mixes of "Unleash
Your Soul" and "Kisses Like Candy." It is catchy. It is danceable. It is
electro. It is good drug music. It is indie pop music.
From Bubblegum To Sky
Nothing Sadder Than Lonely Queen
Eenie Meenie Records
The Bubblegum era was a time of teenage exploitation. It was sugary pop music
made by cynical Jews who wanted hits. It was the further things from Bob
Dylan and The Beatles. On the other hand From Bubblegum To Sky are a band making
Beatles inspired pop music. "Operation Big Beat" is jingly new pop that
reminds me of The Monkees. "Sign The Air" is influenced by French music. They have
some cool rocking songs like "Scorpio." They are pop and pop in the song "The
Gurls & Shoo Be Doo Wop." AS you get deeper in the record, you get more
musical songs like "Holland." Many bands have tried to revive this style over the
years from Let's Active to Three O'clock. There's even a tip of the hat to
Marc Bolan on "Vampire." These guys are wonderful. They sound lovely.
Black Dice
Miles of Smiles
DFA
Black Dice has always been that really weird band from Brooklyn. I tried to
go see them once at the Knitting Factory downtown but I couldn't get in. They
are weird. It is strange music. It can really creep you out. This is a two song
EP. It was done for an exhibit in Tokyo. This is art museum music. The
hipsters like to travel there. It is lonely music. For all us in Williamsburg who
like to hang out by the abandoned building around Berry Street. Black Dice is a
mystery. We will never know them in this lifetime.
Elvis
The Ultimate Gospel
BMG Heritage
Elvis is a legend that will live on forever. He died before he became a
dullard. During his life, Elvis recorded a lot of spirituals and gospel music. He
sold 250 million gospel recordings. Some of these records were his most
popular. They showed a different side of him. He was influenced by soul music and
gospel, as much as he was by Bing Crobsy and Dean Martin. He brought it all
together in one package. He looked good too. Growing up in Tupelo, most of the
music Elvis heard was religious music at his church. Soon Elvis just hung out in
black churches just to vibe on the sexy tunes while he forgot about the big man
in the sky. Religious ecstasy was sexual energy for the young Elvis. Elvis
soon heard "How Great Thou Art" on the radio. In a few years women all over the
world would be telling Elvis "How great he was" in sexual ways. That is the
life of rags to riches. From purity to sin. God gave us bodies. The human body
is the temple. The glory is the orgasm. Sexual energy can be heard throughout
this album. I could never go to church without thinking about more earthly
pleasures. Just like Elvis. I think he attended church much after the 1950s.
-Alexander Laurence
