|
Hooverphonic A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular (Epic) The impulse here is to pooh-pooh Belgium's Hooverphonic because they're part of a new genre (let's call it trip hop) and they're derivative (Portishead, St. Étienne). But if we were to carry on like that we'd have shat on Led Zeppelin for improving upon Blue Cheer. Fact is, you'll think this is a fine trip pop album if you didn't freak when you heard Dummy being played in the Gap. 8/10 (Chris Yurkiw) Van Allen Belt The Brown Bomber (Despot/RipChord) While it's nice to find some self-styled rock coming outta Kingston (and cool that nice Canadian guys The Tragically Hip are big hometown supporters), Van Allen Belt are a little too rock (turgid and tuneless à la Rollins) and a little too self-styled (turgid and funky à la Primus) for my liking. This second album is also supposed to be some kinda concept, but you'd never guess from listening. 6/10 (Chris Yurkiw) At Another Roadside Attraction, Highgate, Vermont, Saturday, July 26 Keoki Ego Trip (Moonshine) Somehow all of those dance music sins that are so unpardonable in others (gross drum-roll build-ups, overkill acid, bad rapping, er, new romantic vibe), are swallowable in Keoki. He's an O.T.T. cheeseball, but works the image. This "long-awaited album" is better than anticipated: although Sir K goes a touch 2 Unlimited on "Rolling," overly Underworld on "Majik" and maniacally stupid/housey/zingy on "Caterpillar," he also takes a downtempo pill for "Crash" and knows his solid, energetic funky breaks (all tracks). Dedicated to Michael Alig, bien sûr. 7/10 (Mireille Silcott) The Beatnuts Stone Crazy (Relativity)
Young producers who have struggled with their own SP-12 drum machines can still look to the Beatnuts for guidance in beat-crafting. When the Beatnuts skilfully reinterpret Rza beats on tracks like "Supa Supreme" on this third outing, they are worth studying. The Mobbish phrasing of lead single "Do you Believe" keeps the Nuts accessible to newer school MCs, but the tempo manipulation of title track "Stone Crazy" really shows why producers Les and Juju are revered. 8/10 (Manchilde)
|