Little Barrie
We Are... (Artemis)
Attempting to play funk in 2005 is no simple task. It's only too easy to end up a half-assed version of the Chili Peppers or Jamiroquai. The U.K.'s Little Barrie actually get their groove on with nary an embarrassing moment. The production retains a Meters-style grittiness with no room allowed for superfluous overdubs. Head honcho Barrie Cadogan gives a soulful vocal performance while his twangy Fender steers clear of cliché blues riffs all the way down the line. If you didn't know better, songs like "Be the One," "Free Salute" and "Well and Truly Done" could've been cooked up in the early '70s in a dank New Orleans studio. Fans of the Black Keys are going to be all over this. 9/10 (Johnson Cummins)
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective (Tee Pee)
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
We Are the Radio (Tee Pee)
Although most of their music was up for grabs on their Web site, the Brian Jonestown Massacre (or Anton Newcombe and whatever company he happened to be keeping that week) compiled this two-disc retrospective for us old-fashioned folks who still buy records. And old-fashioned it is - if you like your twee pop musings, loosely jangled tuneage, rock 'n' roll mantras and high-octane rawk epics in '60s sepia tones, with the occasional shoegazing infusion on the periphery, you'll probably dig these scatterbrained discs. Likewise, the band's latest EP runs with that antiquated aesthetic, this time featuring the half-chanted lead vocals of sometime-BJM member Sara, while minimal, melancholy sun-bleached melodies play themselves to sleep in the background. You can almost see the desert heat waves. Both 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With We're Marching On at El Salon tonight, Thurs., July 28, 9 p.m., $12
The Fallout Project
Hopes and Ropes (Dare to Care)
Quebec's heaviest drop the early Neurosis influence they displayed on their first record but retain the panoramic vision, which hits epic proportions here (think early Isis). Expertly recorded by Montreal's Howard Bilerman (the Arcade Fire), every drum wallop and razor-sharp riff brutalizes, with larynx-shredding vocals hidden comfortably underneath the assault. They squeeze a lot of movements and dynamics into each of these six songs, with riffs left to travel wherever they choose, but always coming home to roost when it matters. The ten-minute opener "Hopes" alone is worth the price of admission here. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Primes
self-titled (Action Driver)
Vancouver's Radio Berlin, pre-bandwagon post-punk revivalists who'll hopefully make a comeback soon, continue to be a wealth of sweet spin-offs and side projects. Primes sees singer-guitarist-keyboardist Jack Duckworth teaming up with Michelle Synnot (aka DJ Miss X). With a list of reference points including Adult., Autechre and Nitzer Ebb, their sound is a well-managed merger of electropunk, IDM and industrial hots and colds. Stabs of churning distortion, mechanic squawks and his ‘n' hers yelling, yelping and chanting are balanced by traditional song structures and danceable beats, producing some fun aural damage that doesn't lose itself in the red. 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With the Floor, Duchess Says at L'Hemisphère Gauche, Fri., July 29
The Juan Maclean
Less Than Human (DFA/Sonic Unyon)
The wait is over for the first full album from Juan Maclean, once of way-ahead-of-their-time synthpunks Six Finger Satellite, now a core act for ultra-cool NYC label DFA. But don't expect the chunky punk-funk of LCD Soundsystem (essentially former SFS sound guy/DFA founder James Murphy). Less Than Human is a loose concept album about robots - nothing new right now, but Maclean was on the android tip years ago already - that owes little to PIL and P-Funk and loads to Kraftwerk, YMO and all those who can wring rich melancholy out of synthetic instrumentation. 7/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
Kid 606
Resilience (Tigerbeat6)
On first listen, fans might be more shocked at what they don't hear than what they do. No cut-up breaks, no high-pitched rave samples, no ragga chants, no hyper edits and breakneck BPMs. Rather, Resilience is Kid 606's foray into harmonious melody, hooks and pop song structure where elements of dub, house and psych-rock bubble and brew just below the surface. With a surprising sensitivity that brings to mind his ambient Soccergirl EP way back when, Resilience comes off sounding like a man tired of being on the road, playing maximum-blast rave sets night after night. If you're ready to settle down for some deep listening, the Kid's got your back. 7.5/10 (Raf Katigbak) With Knifehandchops and Eats Tapes at la Sala Rossa, Tues., Aug. 2, 9 p.m., $15
Rub ‘n' Tug
Present Campfire (Eskimo/Fusion III)
The Eskimo label's recent mix CDs are just so damn good that you can almost forget that the label's name is basically a racial slur. Following the tight prog-rock and oddball disco re-edit blends of Belgium's the Glimmers and Glasgow's Optimo teams, New York gets a chance to represent with Thomas and Eric Duncan (aka Rub ‘n' Tug) throwing out their musical curveballs. Mixing rare funk, anthemic cock rock, cinematic rock instrumentals, classic house and disco, this is the wild and eclectic sound of New York's afterhours arts loft scene. While some of the tracks are not outright winners, the mix is interesting enough to keep you wanting more. 7.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)
Ol' Dirty Bastard
The Definitive Ol' Dirty Bastard Story (Elektra/Warner)
Anyone curious about the twisted genius of ODB is in for a treat. The craziest shogun and clown prince of the Wu-Tang Clan, Ol' Dirty (aka Big Baby Jesus, Osiris and Dirt McGirt) dropped the raunchiest rhymes with a personality to match. This CD (and DVD full of raw-ass videos and "interviews") captures the essentials, and the not-so essentials, of ODB's all-too-short career, from my personal favourites "Brooklyn Zoo" and "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" to "Got Your Money" with Kelis, "Nigga Please" and "Fantasy" with Mariah Carey. RIP ODB, you will be missed. 8/10 (Lateef Martin)
Royce Da 5'9"
Independent's Day (Trouble/Fusion III)
Fans of Royce Da 5'9 will be quick to remember his affiliations with both Eminem and Dr. Dre, and his initial 2001 calling card "Boom," which cemented him as the next to blow. Well, here we are in 2005 and although an above-average MC, Royce still hasn't progressed the way most MCs with his talent and connections should. Independent's Day points to Royce stepping it up on his own after a few mix tapes and a failed deal with Koch. Songs like "I Owe" speak of Royce's versatility as an MC, while blunt stabs at Southern sounds like "Wet My Whistle" and "Ride" feel strange. It's producer Nottz who works best with Royce on this LP, delivering "Politics" featuring Cee-Lo and the "Don't Believe the Hype"-influenced "Blo Dat." Talent for days, but still not working at full throttle. 7.5/10 (Scott C)
R.Kelly
TP.3 Reloaded (Sony BMG)
Since his legal problems began a couple of years back, Kelly has been surprisingly prolific, delivering the superb Chocolate Factory in '03 and the enjoyable though uneven double disc Happy People/U Saved Me last year. But the musical creativity that permeated those discs is mostly missing here, replaced by generic R&B and way too many guests (the Game, Snoop and Elephant Man, to name a few). The one creative exception is the five-part "Trapped in the Closet," not so much a song as a series of musical stories, supported here by a companion DVD. It's the one example of musical inventiveness that keeps this Kelly release from being completely mundane. 6.5/10 (Gerard Dee)
Charanga Cakewalk
Loteria de la Cumbia Lounge (Triloka/Artemis)
Technically speaking, the "cumbia-tronic" tag attached to the project of Austin, Texas's Michael Ramos isn't inaccurate. It's just that it suggests jacked-up digital disco Mexicano, and that it isn't. The "lounge" in the title comes a little closer. Keyboardist and accordionist with the likes of John Mellencamp, Paul Simon and Patty Griffin, Ramos has a good grasp of roots music and an even better grasp of ridiculously catchy little melodies, delivered here via spare, easygoing numbers that bump along at an inviting middle tempo. This is like one of those anonymous Latin organ schmaltz albums from the early '60s, retooled and upgraded for a more discerning millennium. Charanga Cakewalk is the act kicking off le Swimming's month-long world-beat fest le BEAT!, and that's a good call. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) With Soulo at le Swimming, Sat., July 30, 9 p.m., $8
SFJazz Collective
self-titled (Nonesuch/Warner)
The octet consisting of Bobby Hutcherson, Renee Rosnes, Robert Hurst, Brian Blade, Joshua Redman, Miguel Zenon, Josh Roseman and Nicholas Payton, recorded live on a 2004 tour of California, nicely combining improvisation with arranged material. Seven tracks here, mixing compositions by Zenon, Rosnes, Redman and Hutcherson with excellent readings of "Peace," "When Will the Blues Leave" and "Una Muy Bonita," all from the pen of Ornette Coleman, arranged by Gil Goldstein. Hutcherson doubles vibes and marimba and this is a good place to hear relative newcomers Zenon and Roseman, two of the best young players around, heard to great advantage at this year's Jazz Festival with the Dave Holland big band. 9/10 (Len Dobbin)
Mini CD Reviews
Barbara Cook Barbara Cook's Broadway! (DRG) Great voice, great songs and great stories. Cook is a constant joy! 9 (LD)
Quantic and Nickodemus feat. Tempo "Mi Swing Es Tropical" 12" (Candela) A sweet, sun-drenched shuffle with an undeniable feel for summer. 9 (SC)
The Knitters The Modern Sounds of... (Zoe/Rounder) The country side project of X's John Doe and Exene Cervenka. The reworkings of their own "In This House I Call Home" and "Burning House of Love" are mindbending. 8.5 (JC)
The New Lou Reeds Screwed (Exitstencilrecordings) This CD is just as good as their name. Bonus points for naming a song after Pere Ubu's guitarist Peter Laughner. 8 (JC)
Weevil Drunk on Light (Wichita/ADA) Glum and gleeful electropop with a glob of IDM, like the Pet Shop Boys with Autechre on the brain. 8 (LC)
Trulz & Robin Feat. Baseman Intersexual (Planet Noise/Statik) Opening with a really-white-guy Euro-take on Detroit Grand Pubahs, this Norwegian team does a mean, unhinged deep acid disco album. Check it! 7 (RK)
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