|
 Iggy and the Stooges
Raw Power Deluxe Edition (Columbia/Sony)
It’s inconceivable that this classic, one of rock ’n’ roll’s most important records, clogged the cut-out bins when it was originally released in 1973. This is ground zero for punk rock and the CD of outtakes, a live show from ’74 and a documentary DVD make this nothing short of a revelation. Raw Power sounds just as dangerous today, and in fact some of the outtakes, like “I Got a Right,” “Hey Peter” and “Head On,” should be considered as classic as anything that actually made it on the original release. It just doesn’t get any better than this. 9.5/10 Trial Track: “Search and Destroy” (Johnson Cummins)
 High on Fire
Snakes for the Divine (E1)
The kings of sludge metal are back and more brutal than ever. Not too many curveballs thrown here—if anything, the epically driven molten riffs show a return to the relentless metal attack of 2005’s Blessed Black Wings. Their early thrash roots of Celtic Frost and Hellhammer aren’t too cleverly disguised, especially in the revealingly titled “Frost Hammer,” but guitarist Matt Pike has truly hit new peaks of fretwork prowess while their epic tendencies are left free to roam. Pure metallic genius. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “How Dark We Pray” (Johnson Cummins)
Coheed & Cambria
Year of the Black Rainbow (Columbia/Sony)
This prequel to The Amory Wars, the comic-book story written by lead singer Claudio Sanchez that the four previous C&C albums are based on, would have been more engaging if the band took a sonic approach that represented the beginning of the arc. Rainbow still delivers on epic riffage and overlong rock melodrama, like the tail end of opener “One,” but doesn’t give much in the way of surprises. Still, it’s a solid entry in the series, and the deluxe edition comes with a 352-page novel. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Guns of Summer” (Lateef Martin)
 Young Rival
self-titled (Sonic Unyon)
Lean, mean and obscene, balls-to-the-wall garage rock from a trio of spirited Hamiltonians. The quick-paced, good-time melodies are pure Brit mod pop, and so immediately engaging you’d think you’ve heard them 1,000 times before. Don’t send the royalty cheque to the Davies brothers just yet—Young Rival’s efficiency and enthusiasm will wear down even the most staunchly iconoclastic avant-gardist. 8/10 Trial Track: “Don’t Make a Sound” (Erik Leijon)
 Le Husky
La Fuite (Dare to Care)
Retaining the melancholy but emerging from the gloom of 2007’s Chanson moderne pour cyniques romantiques, local quintet le Husky’s sophomore LP is a sophisticated web of guitar, bass, drums, synths, strings, piano and samples. Yannick Duguay’s subtly charismatic vocals, delivering confessions, pleas, pop choruses and heavy breathing, perfectly suits the band’s rich and vibrant backdrops. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Chambre noire” (Lorraine Carpenter) Album launch at O Patro Vys, Wed., April 21, 5 p.m.
 The Morning Benders
Big Echo (Rough Trade)
Montrealers don’t really have a beach to congregate at, so imagine hitting the mountain to watch the sun rise after a particularly crazy night out. Occasionally heavy on the wind-chime percussion and leisurely, wave-watching bliss (“Pleasure Sighs”), at its best, the introspective, unhurried Big Echo is a guitar record, sloppy and free-form as an impromptu morning Californian jam. 7/10 Trial Track: “Hand Me Downs” (Erik Leijon) With Miniature Tigers, Leif Vollebekk at la Sala Rossa tonight, Thurs., April 15, 8:30 p.m., $12
Vivek Shraya
Keys & Machines (independent)
From Edmonton by way of Toronto, Vivek Shraya is a prodigious, decorated singer-songwriter who began to evolve away from rock with his last album. Working once again with producer Meghan Toohey, Shraya completes the metamorphosis with these nine economical electro-funk tracks (all under 2.5 minutes) packed with sweet beats and smart lyrics, only undercut by the occasional cloying melody. 8/10 Trial Track: “A Little Room” (Lorraine Carpenter) With Line Spectra at Barfly, Sat., April 17, 9 p.m., $5
 MGMT
Congratulations (Sony)
MGMT’s second collection of exuberant, anachronistic pop ballads retains the catchy, boppin’ songwriting, sudden smarmy sad parts and pouting vocals steeped in six types of reverb. Tragically, however, it lacks the defining feature of the first record—the psychedelic edge. Instead of desperate howls and apocalyptic themes, weird, synthesizer-infused twists and funky dance tracks, Congratulations is safe and conventional. Sorry, boys, you’re a lot further than “one step behind Brian Eno.” 6/10 Trial Track: “Brian Eno” (Jack Oatmon)
 Various
T.O. vs. MTL (Topleft/Moburn)
This battle has been hard fought in arenas, stadiums, barrooms and probably more than a handful of road-rage incidents. It’s about time these cities duke it out on your stereo. Each town goes pound-for-pound and every rapper featured rolls with the punches. Which one claims the spoils will have to be up to you, the judge. Weigh in by copping it free at tinyurl.com/yj5vuzd. (8/10) Trial Track: Lotus & Troy Dunnit, “Drivin’ Me Wow” (Darcy MacDonald)
 Monica
Still Standing (J/Sony)
Monica’s latest owes its name to her recent reality show, and because she’s been in the game so long. Unfortunately, most of the material here is mediocre and it’s telling that the two strongest tracks, lead single “Everything to Me” and “If You Were My Man,” use samples, from Denise Williams’ “Silly” and Evelyn King’s “Betcha She Don’t Love You,” respectively. 6.5/10 Trial Track: “Everything to Me” (Gerard Dee)
Various
Lagos Disco Inferno (Academy LPs/Voodoo Funk)
Germany’s Frank Gossner spent years in Nigeria digging through mountains of vinyl, handpicking gems from hills of wax. He’s found all sorts of fantastic 45s, but this compilation of late-’70s and early-’80s tunes demonstrates that he’s hit the mother lode of incredibly funky disco. This was the music that soundtracked Nigeria’s oil boom. It heated things up and got people dancing then, and as it warms up here, it’s a swinging companion for spring. 9/10 Trial Track: Grotto, “Bad City Girl” (Erin MacLeod)
La Part Maudite
Our Balls Are Like Dead Suns (&Records)
Lots of balls and promise on this first release by Montreal trumpeter Philippe Battikha’s shredding power trio. Lots of insistence too, good and bad. A unified conception and tireless devotion to repetition of simple materials serve well. A minus is the monochromatic approach to trumpet sound. Played mostly like an overdriven electric guitar, we miss the revealing sound of the open horn. An intriguing engagement between the tender and the ferocious. 7/10 Trial Track: “Boxer Blood” (Gordon Allen)
MINI CD REVIEWS
Gyptian “Hold Yuh” 12” (VP) This is a perfect tune. It’s everything that reggae should be and will run things through the summer, mark my words. 10 (EM)
X Wild Gift (Porterhouse Prime Vinyl) Long out of print, this L.A. punk touchstone receives the loving touch, remastered and on 180-gram vinyl. You may have heard it before but not this well, and for those of you who haven’t… 9 (JC)
Hellsongs Hymns in the Key of 666 (Aporia) A Scandinavian cover band indulging their two loves—molten metal and gentle, summery pop—at the same time. Nouvelle Vague meets NWOBHM. 7 (RB)
Hunter Valentine Lessons From the Late Night (Tommy Boy/Fontana North/Universal) Toronto’s all-female pop-punk trio re-emerges with a harder edge on their sophomore LP, produced by Ian Blurton. 7 (LC) With Superfossilpower at the Green Room, Fri., April 16, 8:30 p.m., $10
The Tallest Man on Earth The Wild Hunt (Dead Oceans) Bob Dylan, skilfully (and literally) Sweded by Dalarna’s Kristian Matsson. 7 (LC) With Nurses at Petit Campus, Fri., April 16, 9 p.m., $15
|
