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 Major Lazer & La Roux
Lazerproof (Mad Decent)
A quick Internet search is all that’s needed to dramatically improve your summer soundtrack with a free mixtape that sees Major Lazer de-constructing, remixing and mashing up La Roux’s 2009 debut. Diplo and Switch funk and dub the synthpop smash, adding Drake, Gucci and Amanda Blank along the way. This project is such an obvious winning combo, it should really be called Idiotproof. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Keep It Fascinating” (Erik Leijon)
Laurie Anderson
Homeland (Nonesuch/
Warner)
Anderson’s first album in a decade (feat. John Zorn on sax, Kieran Hebden on keys, co-produced with Lou Reed) is her second state-of-the-nation address, a sequel of sorts to 1984’s United States. It’s now nighttime in America, hence the mournful Eastern strings, Tuvan throat singers and bass emissions rarely heard outside of Twin Peaks’ Black Lodge. Flickers of light remain, however, reflected in the wonder and sparkle of Anderson’s synthetic ambiance. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Dark Time in the Revolution” (Lorraine Carpenter) With Lou Reed and John Zorn at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (Place des Arts), Fri., July 2, 7:30 p.m., $56.38–$86.38
 Stars
The Five Ghosts (Soft Revolution)
Ghost stories, waves of synths, meaty pop hooks and vivid his ’n’ hers vocal interplay liven up the latest Stars record, one of their frothiest to date despite being partly set by a moonlit graveyard. Produced by Tom McFall, who worked with Stars on 2004’s Set Yourself on Fire, the songs hit hard, even on the record’s moodier second half, all the while wallowing in their signature sonic eiderdown. 8/10 Trial Track: “I Died So I Could Haunt You” (Lorraine Carpenter)
Tom Petty and
the Heartbreakers
Mojo (Reprise/Warner)
Petty’s first record with the Heartbreakers in almost eight years definitely rises to the occasion. With more than enough smash hits over his storied career, Petty turns a blind eye to radio he had previously held captive. This time around, he lets his songs stretch out a bit while delving further into blues territory. Not to say it’s all gold in these hills, as the reggae-tinged “Don’t Pull Me Over” is pretty cringe-worthy, but overall Petty is aging well. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “I Should Have Known It” (Johnson Cummins)
 Ripcordz
Black (Mayday/Warner)
After 30 years of slinging stripped-down, meat-and-potatoes punk rock, local stalwart Paul Gott still hasn’t changed one iota. It’s actually quite amazing that Gott has managed to keep his head down and hang on to his street-punk sound, rife with the familiar gang-chant choruses and chugging guitar. I suppose its respectable Ripcordz are still sticking to their guns, but things start to blur together a little too quickly here. 6/10 Trial Track: “38 Seconds” (Johnson Cummins) CD launch with Barricade Mentale, Chix N’ Dix and Ol’ School Johnny at Katacombes, Fri., July 2, 9 p.m., $6
Front Line Assembly
Improvised. Electronic. Device. (Dependent/Metropolis)
Vancouver’s fathers of industrial rock continue down their dark, teched-out path like it’s 1993. The future is still scary, the only difference is, we’re here. On their 16th release since ’87, FLA ignores the trends while trying new twisted paths, though if you’re a fan looking for an overall new sound, you won’t find it. Ministry vocalist Al Jourgensen steps in on the brutal, guitar-filthy “Stupidity” while closer “Downfall” is the perfect dying-in-a-radioactive-cesspool elegy. 8/10 Trial Track: “Shifting Through the Lens” (Lateef Martin)
Chemical Brothers
Further (Parlophone/EMI)
The venerable British DJ duo have turned back the clock and made an old-tyme block-rockin’ juggernaut in 2010. It doesn’t so much sound like a time warp as it recaptures the spirit of dancing past, the lynchpin being a 12-minute-long epic that sounds like “Baba O’Reilly” with wild ebbs and flows. No star vocal turns, no obvious singles, just good electro. 8/10 Trial Track: “Escape Velocity” (Erik Leijon)
 Don Cash
Freshy Fresh (Deluxe Edition) (Urbnet)
More Devo than Def Jam, this beefed-up re-release from Toronto’s Cash might not quite appeal to those looking to the Urbnet label for more of the quality hip hop they’re known for. Well realized, house-flavoured electro-funk and soul-filled hooks make Freshy Fresh more akin to Gnarls Barkley or post-Glee Bran Van 3000, with perhaps just a tinge more in the way of authentic Euro clubber sensibility. 7/10 Trial Track: “Merry Go Round” (Darcy MacDonald)
 Nacho Lovers
“Deeper” (Fool’s Gold)
This single is perhaps most interesting for pairing a couple of promising Toronto names with two Montreal counterparts, composing an image of the two cities’ underground house sounds. The original is a groovy if not overly imaginative Chicago throwback. Azari & III pare it down and tack on a dark, brooding bassline. Mike Mind’s mix is a gradual, all-analog version, and CFCF takes the cake with a spacey, big-build-up breakbeat cut capped by cathartic keys. 7/10 Trial Track: “Deeper” (CFCF remix) (Jack Oatmon)
 Factor
Lawson
Graham (Side Road)
Named after and dedicated to his granddad, this record by Saskatoon’s Factor is a terrific combination of indie rock, hip hop, jazzy soul and folky psychedelia. With a different guest gracing almost every tune, the variety might be too much (the relaxed groove of “Every Morning” feat. Cars and Trains gives way to the aptly titled “Popstravaganza” with Josh Martinez), but Factor is able to navigate through different sounds with a grace that would most certainly make gramps proud. 9/10 Trial Track: “Missed the Train” feat. Gregory Pepper (Erin MacLeod)
 Joan
Armatrading
This Charming Life (429)
Armatrading’s virtually a one-woman show on the latest release in her almost 40-year career. She plays all instruments here save the drums, and does all vocals. And songwriting remains one of her strong suits, as she takes these rock-leaning songs into a diverse landscape that looks both in (“Goddess of Change”) and out (“Heading Back to New York City”). 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Diamond” (Gerard Dee) At Théâtre Maisonneuve (Place des Arts), Mon., July 5, 6 p.m., $30.50–$42.50
Matt Herskowitz
Jerusalem Trilogy (Justin Time)
The fleet, even furious fingerwork of Montreal pianist Herskowitz brings even greater density to what’s already a busy spread, an intricate, wide-ranging triangulation of American jazz, European classical and Middle Eastern folk with extensive collaborators. As such, Jerusalem Trilogy is perhaps best appreciated in discrete chunks, alleviating the clash between the noir swagger of “Crossbones,” the nimble “Prokofiev’s Revenge” and the dramatic titular trio of tracks. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Polonaise Libanaise” (Rupert Bottenberg) At Upstairs, Fri.–Sat., July 2–3, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $18.50
MINI CD REVIEWS
The Derek Trucks Band Roadsongs (Masterworks/Sony) Trucks’ choice of backing musicians is still questionable but his extended fretboard trips on this two-CD live set could still stop most guitar players in their tracks. 8 (JC)
Diskjokke En Fin Tid (Smalltown Supersound) Given the serious late-’70s echoes in this batch of epic yet understated and melodious synth-pop, it’s little surprise that Norway’s Joachim Dyrdahl is remixing Alan Parsons. 7.5 (RB)
Andre Williams That’s All I Need (Bloodshot) Dirty ol’ soul man Williams, now 74, is as cool and unhurried as ever over the stark, minimal blues-rock here. 7 (RB)
Karen Elson The Ghost Who Walks (Third Man/XL) A sweet and twangy and fairly forgettable cabaret rock ’n’ roll record by the British model who’s married to Jack White. 6 (LC)
Jewel Sweet and Wild (Valory Music/Open Road/Universal) GOP hoedown. 3 (EL) |
