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 The Roots
How I Got Over (Def Jam/Universal)
The Roots don’t make rap records anymore. They create orchestral hip hop movements, this time out resulting in an end-to-end back-pocket symphony of musical excellence. Keyboardist Kamal Gray and singer/guitarist “Captain” Kirk Douglas shine exceptionally brightly here, while founders ?uestlove and Black Thought continue to dispel any notion that hip hop groups necessarily age badly. Featuring tight guest contributions from across the spectrum of rap and R&B, the Roots not only get over, they tear the damn walls down. 10/10 Trial Track: “Radio Daze” ft. Blu, P.O.R.N & Dice Raw (Darcy MacDonald)
Devo
Something for Everybody (Warner)
Akron, Ohio’s founding fathers of new wave return with their first record in 20 years, sounding as fresh as the album’s first track and lead single would suggest. Aside from cute nods at techno, house and chiptunes, as well as state-of-the-art sound, this is classic Devo, unerringly catchy electro-pop gems loaded with slapstick paranoia, lefthanded love letters and crafty critiques of consumer culture. Self-referential yet forward-looking, Something… transcends the nostalgic ’80s defrost racket. 9/10 Trial Track: “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)” (Rupert Bottenberg)
Foals
Total Life Forever (Transgressive/Warner)
Less math and more mystery, the British quintet’s second effort still features a healthy dollop of complex instrumentation and dissonant guitar work. The major development is, instead of quick and forceful, the group swims gradually into easy-listening, vaguely tropical grooves. It’s still four-four rocking so it’s not impenetrably nerdy, but it’s pretty atmospheric by Britpop standards. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “After Glow” (Erik Leijon)
 The City Streets
The Jazz Age (Clamour)
This Alberta trio have made the move to Montreal, and it sounds like along the Trans-Canada trek these fuzzy guitar, mid-tempo rockers made plenty of regrettable decisions, frequented many a watering hole and had numerous epiphanies. Mostly the trio mastered the art of the deliberate build-up, turning pretty ordinary bar band confessionals into mini-crunchy guitar epics with the chops to match the heart. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Big Love” (Erik Leijon)
Jake and the Leprechauns
At Midnight, the Birdsong (Landlocked/FAB)
The third release by this Sherbrooke duo—supported by engineers and musicians from some of Canada’s biggest and/or best bands—has a folk-rock foundation, with layers of gossamer pop melodies, deluxe guitars, graceful strings and ghostly desert ambiance forming a near-perfect sonic structure. Philippe Custeau’s lyrics are steeped in existential malaise and artfully peppered with $5 words, but rather than sounding forced, it flows naturally via C-Antoine Gosselin’s smooth and sturdy vocals. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “The Modest Triumphs of a Life Examined” (Lorraine Carpenter) At Petit Campus, Tues., July 13, 8 p.m., $10
 Royaume des Morts
self-titled (L’Oeil du Tigre)
Reaching jangly rock peaks and dipping into nearly folky valleys, with tangential moments of anthemic gravitas and stoner-groove levity, this local band’s debut LP is packed with promise but marred by ill-fitting low fidelity. With vocals (99 per cent English, btw) so buried in the mix, they could be mistaken for an indie rock ghost choir. 7/10 Trial Track: “The Tape Deck Ate My Hit” (Lorraine Carpenter)
 Parkway Drive
Deep Blue (Epitaph/FAB)
I suppose I should offer up full disclosure here. Ever since Snapcase called it a day, testosterone-fuelled metalcore just makes me break out in hives, and unfortunately, these Aussie “dudes” hardly bring anything new to the table. Technical ability is there in spades but the angst-ridden vocals and predictable “rage” lyrics just get cartoonish and stop any chance of heaviosity in its tracks. I’m sure shirtless, suburban, teenage jocks will happily punch the ground and do roundhouses over these breakdowns. 5.5/10 Trial Track: “Deadweight” (Johnson Cummins) At Warped Tour at Parc Jean-Drapeau, Sat., July 10, noon, $45, all ages
 Health
::Disco2 (Lovepump United)
This raucous L.A. synth-pop/rock crossover quartet’s second remix pack sets the benchmark for bedroom leftfield indie dance production. Several contributors from the first return, including Tobacco, CFCF and Crystal Castles. Gold Panda’s remix is a delicate and anticipatory swung-drum track. Pictureplane’s remix is thumping and soaked in reverb and pulsing synths. Wall of sound is apparently in vogue for laptop disco. 8/10 Trial Track: “Nice Girls” (Little Loud remix) (Jack Oatmon)
 Marco Polo
The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo (Duck Down)
Stepping back from his Port Authority series and the slew of other projects he has been involved in over the past few years, Toronto-to-NYC transplant Polo delivers more of a compilation than an album, featuring remixes of other people’s jams alongside material that didn’t make deadline for his other records. The sample-laden boom bap featured is a little lighter than usual, highlighting Polo’s versatility while keeping in check the ruggedness fans love. 8/10 Trial Track: “Combat Drills” ft. Torae (Darcy MacDonald)
 Mina Agossi
Just Like a Lady (Naïve)
Contemporary jazz vocalist Agossi’s seventh disc has a throwback feel to it, partly due to her lazy vocal delivery, partly due to the stripped-down approach her band takes here. Her reading of overdone standards like “Waters of March” is pedantic, but elsewhere, she proves to be seductive, if not particularly original, on tracks like “J’aimerai Tant.” 7/10 Trial Track: “Lost in the City” (Gerard Dee)
 Various
Next Stop... Soweto Vol. 3: Giants, Ministers and Makers—Jazz in South Africa 1963–1984 (Strut)
The third and final disc in a series that has showcased rare and incredible soul, funk and mbaqanga (a mélange of Zulu and Western music) takes a jazzy turn, but there’s still enough here that demands dancing. It’s a double CD full of glistening, incredible examples of music that existed under major constraints of the apartheid regime. Thanks to Strut for continuing to dig out and share these treasures. 9/10 Trial Track: The Heshoo Beshoo Group, “Emakhaya” (Erin MacLeod)
MINI CD REVIEWS
Various Putumayo Presents South Africa (Putumayo) Too bad Shakira’s playing the World Cup tune because as this barely-scratching-the-surface comp demonstrates, South Africa’s got skills in everything from folk to rock, jazz to pop to soul. 8 (EM)
Nina Nastasia Outlaster (Fat Cat) This NYC-based singer-songwriter sings about haunted romance over stark string arrangements on her sixth album, produced once again by Steve Albini. 7.5 (LC)
Windsor for the Derby Against Love (Secretly Canadian) Jason McNeely and Dan Matz heap on the fuzzy, sunny ambiance on the Austin band’s ninth LP, perfectly suited to these hazy summer days. 7.5 (LC)
Megan Jerome Bloomers (independent) Sacré Ottawa! A fascinatingly quirky, bilingual, squeezeboxing (and piano) composer-chanteuse from our Nation’s Capital. 7 (EL)
Native Wrestling Moves (Sergeant House) Just when you thought math rock had exhausted its abacus… 7 (JC)
AM Taxi We Don’t Stand a Chance (Virgin/EMI) A dash of rugged maturity to your typical Warped Tour brew. More workmanlike rock than punk. 6 (EL) At Warped Tour at Parc Jean-Drapeau, Sat., July 10, noon, $45, all ages |
