|
 Various
Underground Hip-Hop Volume 05 (Urbnet)
Once upon a time, if you were a rapper in Canada, you had all the chance of a snowman on Vancouver Island at longevity. Thanks in no small part to the forward-thinking hustlas at Urbnet, we now actually have a fifth volume of something that isn’t a Littlest Hobo DVD collection. OK Cobra, D-Sisive, Dragon Fli Empire and Wordburglar form just a shortlist of standouts from an entirely impressive roster of northern talent on display. This land is our land and the homies here are planting sharp new spikes along the railroad to greatness. 9/10 Trial Track: Miles Jones feat. Black Milk, “Never Too Late” (Darcy MacDonald)
 Jello Biafra and the Guatanamo School of Medicine
The Audacity of Hype (Alternative Tentacles)
In all of Biafra’s post-Dead Kennedys forays, his main talent has been surrounding himself with seriously talented people. This time around, he yet again features a crack band with members of Faith No More and the Rhythm Pigs, and continues his obsession with political agitation, but what is often overlooked is the voice behind his trademark barbs, which is filled with more piss and vinegar than ever. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “I Won’t Give Up” (Johnson Cummins) With Slobs, Crabe at Studio JPR, Fri., April 2, 9 p.m., $20, all ages
Melissa Auf der Maur
Out of Our Minds (MAdM)
A declaration of hearts over heads informs not just the dozen tracks on Montrealer Auf der Maur’s follow-up to her 2004 solo debut, which range from corny goth-pop to monumental bong boogie to a poignant, macabre duet with capable crooner Danzig. It spreads out to the interrelated, fantasy-inflected half-hour film, comic book, interactive site and live spectacles she’s assembled. An ambitious yet successfully focused effort attuned to the millennial media meltdown/mash-up. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Out of Our Minds” (Rupert Bottenberg)
 Black Breath
Heavy Breathing (Southern Lord)
While the crust-metal barrage of Black Breath’s debut EP still has me reeling, this full-length, more metallic and realized, actually beats it on all counts. The band hold on to their Cursed/Trap Them/Disfear D-beat slam but give more of a nod to early C.O.C., Entombed and Celtic Frost. This sludgefest is out to maim right out of the gate, with larynx-shredding hardcore vocals elbowing up against molten riffs that just crush. 9/10 Trial Track: “Escape From Death” (Johnson Cummins)
 Barenaked Ladies
All in Good Time (Raisin’/EMI)
Quirky, politically correct jingles casting a wide net in genre pilfering, the Barenaked Ladies’ latest is like listening to a Weird Al Yankovic album of original compositions without the parodies. Their old sing-alongs were grade-A Sharon, Lois & Bram, but an album of only serious adult ballads leaves a waxy, Kraft Dinner aftertaste. Also, no Steven Page means no more harmonies. 2/10 Trial Track: “On the Lookout” (Erik Leijon)
 Karkwa
Les Chemins de verre (Audiogram/Select)
There are few dull moments on this local francophone quintet’s fourth LP, its upright pop songs, gossamer ballads and artful soundscapes all dense with sophisticated songcraft and rich atmosphere. Supported by either reverberating rock riffage, piano, drums and decorous strings, or buoyant acoustic guitars and percussion, Louis-Jean Cormier’s beautiful vocals, solo, sometimes in harmony, sustain lovely melodies that skip, sway and soar. 8/10 Trial Track: “L’Acouphène” (Lorraine Carpenter)
Goldfrapp
Head First (Mute/EMI)
Following the strange folk sojourn of Seventh Tree, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory return to dance-pop territory, this time exploring the realm of sports synths, feelgood anthems and robo-ABBA rather than the dark disco of their previous records, Black Cherry and Supernature. Only occasionally does their old electro-glam gusto shine through the overwhelmingly bland neon froth. 6/10 Trial Track: “Shiny and Warm” (Lorraine Carpenter)
 Dr. Dog
Shame, Shame (Anti-/FAB)
These Philadelphia soul rockers want to re-create the best, most unexpectedly awesome concert you’ve ever seen. The kind where the chiselled-from-Motown tunes have you tapping your toe at first and bouncing off the walls uncontrollably by the end. A working-class bar band forging ahead with so much blue-collar heart, it feels momentous. The feeling fizzles quickly, but it valiantly tries. 6/10 Trial Track: “Later” (Erik Leijon)
Autechre
Oversteps (Warp)
Certainly not overstepping their usual fare, Autechre are arguably frustratingly safe on this, their 10th LP. The brain-tickling sound collages boast as much dynamic range, calculated quirk and arresting atmosphere as ever. But other than a tad more tendency toward soft sounds and gradual structures, and a bit less percussion than their last record, this stays within the expected boundaries. 6.5/10 Trial Track: “D-Sho Qub” (Jack Oatmon)
 Usher
Raymond V Raymond (La Face/Sony BMG)
Usher’s preoccupied with two themes on his sixth studio set: his recent divorce (“Foolin’ Around,” “Papers,” “Guilty”) and his subsequent return to single life (“So Many Girls,” “Pro Lover”). It’s definitely a more energetic set than 2008’s Here I Stand, whose romantic themes have given way to the club life and party jams like “Monstar” and the spunky “Lil Freak.” 8/10 Trial Track: “There Goes My Baby” (Gerard Dee)
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
I Learned the Hard Way (Daptone)
The difficult lessons that almost a decade of dishing out righteous, rock-solid retro soul can impart have clearly paid off for Jones and her monarchic minions. For starters, the nine-piece band has mastered the art of tapping the sources—Motown honey, Stax muscle, the class of Chess and Hi—without ever once sounding like they’re simply aping this or that label’s signature style. Get this and get schooled. 8/10 Trial Track: “Better Things” (Rupert Bottenberg)
 Various
Genesis Riddim (Deseca)
This particular release from the much-ballyhooed Deseca camp was much ballyhooed in itself. And not because of the riddim, but because Deseca decided to resist the urge to give the tunes away free—a practice that has become emblematic of dancehall. The Genesis riddim was so named to introduce a fresh approach, which is, in fact, the old approach: encouraging people to buy music. Sales seem good now, but as the novelty fades, will the riddim, which is good but not great, have legs? 7/10 Trial Track: Charly Black, “Dem Only Can Talk” (Erin MacLeod)
Steve Raegele
Last Century (Songlines)
Resistance is a consistent quality on Last Century. The music touches styles but doesn’t become them—jazz, rock, and especially the opener, with its potent abstraction. It’s music that resists affiliation with territory but will open a living landscape with a concerted, interested listen. The Montreal/Berlin trio plays with authority and nothing to prove beyond the music itself. 8/10 Trial Track: “Verdun” (Gordon Allen) CD launch at Casa del Popolo, Tues., April 6, 9 p.m., $8
MINI CD REVIEWS
Kouhei Matsunaga Self Va (Important) This Japanese artist is the master of glitch-hop, but as far out as his electronic treatments take him, he refuses to give up the beat. Fans of early David Kristian, take note. 8 (JC)
Various Gala Riddim (Don Corleon) Mr. Corleon is on top of things with this riddim. Vybz Kartel, Jahvinci and Sheba are standouts. 8 (EM)
Various The Runaways OST (Atlantic/Warner) Aside from songs by the real and fake Runaways and a sprinkling of punk and glam standards are little gems by Suzi Quatro and Nick Gilder. 8 (LC)
Via Audio Animalore (Undertow) This Brooklyn band’s sophomore LP accentuates quirky pop with funk, electro and jazz, occasionally cool but often overly clever and cute. 6 (LC)
The Courteneers Falcon (Universal) The current It lad-rock band in England, although the pound-to-dollar conversion isn’t favourable. 5.5 (EL)
>> Music Listings
|
