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Disc of the week |
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 Joe JacksonRain (Ryko) Jackson, who many moons ago made his name with “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and “Stepping Out,” hasn’t lost his knack for vivid, effervescent pop, equal parts whip-smart and whimsical. The deceptively spare Rain teams a piano-pounding Jackson with his longtime collaborators, drummer Dave Houghton and bassist Graham Maby, and not a bell or whistle beyond that. The consistently commendable material casts a long glance back—“King Pleasure Time” apes the wound-up wiseguy of his new wave days, skinny ties and all, “Invisible Man” recalls the maturing artist of Body and Soul, “Solo (So Low)” suggests his later classical flirtations. The added DVD offers three tracks live in London, interviews and Jackson’s guide to Berlin, the city where he’s settled. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)  Bullet for My ValentineScream Aim Fire (Jive/Sony BMG) If you’re going to create the next glorious metal epic, take the Dragonforce route and throw caution out with any sense of modesty. This Welsh quartet wants to be the next Megadeth, yet have an aseptic studio sound more in line with Avenged Sevenfold. “Take It Out on Me” is an example of how a Dave Mustaine-ian epic can be sidetracked by duelling vocalists better suited to a Linkin Park record. Usually, frontman Matt Tuck just sounds like My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way, and the guitars have an un-intimidating, Mutt Lange-ish sheen. An upbeat pop metal album that doesn’t push any boundaries. 4.5/10 (Erik Leijon)  Buzzcocks 30 (Cooking Vinyl/Koch) After 30 years, the Manchester mates can still put a shine on their certified pop-punk classics, as evidenced by these recent live renditions. They’re all here—“Autonomy,” “Boredom,” “Ever Fallen in Love,” “Harmony in My Head,” “Orgasm Addict,” “What Do I Get” and on and on. Thankfully, a blind eye is turned towards their mediocre post-reunion albums of recent years. The old songs easily stand the test of time, but it’s guitarist Steve Diggle and singer Pete Shelley squealing with glee at playing them that really makes this live CD worth having. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins) Bob Mould District Line (Anti/Epitaph) An elder statesman of alternative rock, Mould is of course best known for Hüsker Dü and Sugar, and as a solo artist on District Line, he references all of these. The aggression of the Dü, the saccharine-encrusted pop of Sugar and the introspection of his later solo records are all here, but as much nostalgia as his nasal twang incurs, it seems Mould has sadly missed his call for the pasture. Everything gets a little too neatly tucked in with this predictable pop, and his midlife moaning just seems plastic. 5.5/10 (Jonathan Cummins)  Vampire Weekendself-titled (XL/Select) The anticipation around this New York quartet, fresh from Columbia University, isn’t too unusual in this MySpace-to-stardom climate. But when it’s accompanied by such chiming riffs and seaside melodies (reminiscent of the Walkmen and the Shins), the emergence of Vampire Weekend is a lot like that of the Strokes, minus the leathery “cool,” and plus a little classical training. Polyrhythms, upbeats, symphonic violins and ethereal piano pack into their relatively economical arrangements (relative to the Evangelicals, that’s for sure), while quips and irony grip the lyrical department. Forget the hype, embrace the niceness. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)  The MidwaysManners, Manners (Screaming Apple) Funny title for a disc not long on decorousness—I humbly submit singer/bassist Dave Pauwels rubbing a romantic rival’s face in it in “She Loves Me” as evidence that Toronto garage-rock quartet the Midways are as well stocked with teenage gall as any retro racket-raisers could hope to be. A greasy goulash of mod, surf and frat sounds fattened by Peter Chapman’s shaggy organ grind, the energetic Manners, Manners ixnays any fancy-pantsing and sticks stubbornly to the tried-and-true ’60s proto-punk formula for feelin’ alright on a Friday night. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) With Shitt Hottt, the Walnut Kids at l’Escogriffe, Sat., Feb. 2, 9 p.m., $6  Drive-By TruckersBrighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West) One of the most progressive bands within the Americana roots scene, the always prolific Drive-By Truckers deliver 19 killers with no filler in the bunch. The Stones-styled “3 Dimes Down” will wake the neighbours while the careening lap steel of “Daddy Needs a Drink” will reduce you to a puddle. Now that No Depression-style country music has been swallowed up by the mainstream, it’s nice to know there are still some urban hayseeds pushing the envelope. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins) Buddy Leroy & Jaz Infinite Introspectrum (Culture Sound) It’s hard to imagine the lyrical prowess of Buddy Leroy flowing quite so symbiotically over the beats of any other producer than his boy Jaz Infinite. Leroy may draw the conscious-rapper straw at first listen, but his playful obscurities and jet-black observations make pinning him down much more difficult with each song. There’s no doubt these two are a great combination, as heard on tracks like the sing-along “Black” and the Golden Era-vibed “Kangols and Shelltoes,” but Leroy’s melancholic rhymes on “Freedom” are lost on a horrible beat. A great listen overall, but hopefully these guys will work out the kinks and deliver the next level. 7.5/10 (Scott C)  Trus’meWorking Nights (Fat City) Manchester’s own Trus’me drops this nine-track package on the dancefloor, building on the strength that he achieved in 2007 with three massive Love4Music black-label 12-inches. Those hard-to-find tracks can be heard here, jumping the beat with a selection that includes Trus’me’s signature soulful house, underground disco and Afro-beat productions. This short but sweet release definitely has legs, and wastes no time making sure you’ll be using yours. This young talent from Man-City draws from bits and pieces of dancefloor gold gone by, making for a sweaty set of strong songs. 8/10 (Scott C)  JaheimThe Makings of a Man (Warner) On his fourth disc, Jaheim further solidifies his image as the renaissance soul man from the streets. He’s in full quiet storm mode here, holding the funk to a minimum in favour of thoughtful slow jams. It risks being a mundane affair, but Jaheim’s saving grace has always been a gruff, passionate vocal style that can transform even lackluster material into a worthwhile listen. Some well-placed samples, including a most effective interpolation of Bobby Womack’s “If You Think You’re Lonely Now,” on “Lonely,” also makes for some easy listening. The one guest shot here goes to Keyshia Cole, who provides a worthy, streetwise female counterpoint to the thug lover on “I’ve Changed.” 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee) Woody Herman self-titled (Mosaic 31 Select) A long overdue, three-CD set of all the material that these great ’60s editions of the Herman band did for the Philips label—44 tracks in all, with great soloists like Phil Wilson, Sal Nistico, Gary Klein, Andy McGhee, Bill Chase, Raoul Romero, Bill Hunt, Bobby Jones and a driving rhythm team of Nat Pierce, Chuck Andrus (on un-amplified bass) and Jake Hanna in pieces like “Sister Sadie,” “It’s a Lonesome Old Town,” “A Taste of Honey,” the hilarious “Wa-Wa Blues” with vocalist Joe Carroll in duet with Wilson, and Pierce’s chart on Oscar Peterson’s “Hallelujah Time.” The arrangers include Pierce, Chase, Bill Holman and Bob Hammer. This material was recorded in a N.Y. studio in 1962 and ’63, and “live” at Basin Street West in Hollywood over three nights in ’63, and is cause for big band fanciers to rejoice. Great sound transfers are a bonus. Oh, yeah—“Caldonia,” “Apple Honey” and “Sidewalks of Cuba” are also revisited. 10/10 (Len Dobbin)  Cheb I SabbahDevotion (Six Degrees/Outside) A DJ since the ’60s, Cheb I Sabbah—born Haim Sérge El Baaz, a Jewish Berber from Algeria—is certainly devoted. His records over the last decade show a constant effort to steer sublime sacred music from around the world to the dancefloor. Previous albums Shri Durga and Krishna Lila focused on India’s music, and so does Devotion, which draws on Hindu, Sihk and Sufi Islam songbooks alike. Sabbah’s electronic production is generally less a counterweight than a fortification here, adding modern muscle to timeless tunes, though his fondness for new-age fluffiness gets the gag reflex going a little too often. 7/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) Mini CD ReviewsJoe Beck & John Abercrombie Coincidence (Whaling City Sound) A dozen duets that should appeal to the guitar enthusiast. Titles include “Israel,” “All Blues,” “Beautiful Love” and Ornette Coleman’s “Turnaround.” 9 (LD) |
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| MIRROR ARCHIVES » Jan 31 Feb 06 2008: INSIDE - COVER | ARCHIVES INDEX | CURRENT ISSUE |
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