THE DEARS
No Cities Left (MapleMusic/Universal)
After a pair of interesting EPs, Montreal's chamber-pop drama queens at last present their second full album. The familiar Dears formula (tastefully nervous dirges abetted by excellent string, horn and keyboard arrangements) is expanded upon by bursts of free jazz, noise-rock and the not-entirely-unexpected sturm und drang of "Never Destroy Us." Thematically, it shifts from the microcosm of imploding romance to a macroscopic view of a world slipping out of order. To the band's credit, the latter brings fresh resonance to the former. I expect the strong lead single "Lost in the Plot" will drag many fresh ears to Dears-dom, and No Cities Left will make the arrival worthwhile. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
VOIVOD
self-titled (Chophouse/ Universal)
They're finally back after a hiatus that would've killed most bands, they have original singer Denis Belanger back in the fold and if that wasn't enough, they've even snagged Metallica's bassist Jason Newsted to boot. Voivod's flirtation over the past couple of records with Sepultura-style power metal (with previous singer Eric Forrest) was nice, but after one listen, this record quickly obliterates that era of their career. The game is now wide open, with Voivod playing with elements of psychedelia, prog rock, arena rock, punk and '70s stoner-riff heaviosity. Easily the best thing they have done since the groundbreaking Nothingface. 9/10 (Johnson Cummins)
THE KILLS
Keep on Your Mean Side (Rough Trade/EMI)
The White Stripes comparisons are inevitable. A boy/girl duo, their ragged blues rock, taped at Toe Rag Studios, released the same day as Elephant. But this duo is based in the U.K., the girl sings lead, a cheap drum machine keeps their time, and the lyrics deal in grime and black humour. Touches of harmonica, viola and organ infiltrate the pulsating guitars and nicotine-stained vocals, like turtle-necked New Yorkers doing early PJ Harvey rather than Detroit folk cutting Led Zeppelin with candy. The formula is classic but the songs rings fresh. 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD
The Secret of Elena's Tomb (Interscope/Universal)
Are they worth the hype? Well, kind of. The influence of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver and all the other bands inspired by the Velvet Underground are still worn on their sleeves, but when these prissy Texans want to raise the rock 'n' roll readout to dementia, they are untouchable. Not that it's all slashing and bashing here as they are able to coax melody from discordance, as in the alterna-hit-in-waiting "All a Day" or the pop mastery of "Crowning of a Heart." The new-wavey closer "Intelligence" is a bit of a blemish, but whatcha gonna do. Only a five song EP, but like all great EPs it will leave you watering at the mouth for more - or at least curious. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)
PINK FLOYD
Dark Side of the Moon (Capitol/EMI)
EASY STAR ALL-STARS
Dub Side of the Moon (Easy Star/Fusion III)
That's right, Floyd's all-time stoner masterpiece, the rec-room classic of the Kodiaks-and-lumber-jacket set, is out again, now in Surround Sound. Well timed is the release of the Easy Star All-Stars' variation on it, recasting Floyd's tunes in a dubby New York neo-reggae style. Some of the touches are cute - for instance, the click-clack of the till that opens "Money" becomes looped bong gurgles. The fusion of reggae and prog rock, care of talent like Victor Rice, Dr. Israel and Frankie Paul, is competent, but not inspired enough to pull this out of novelty-record territory. As such, though, it's fun. Dark Side 9/10, Dub Side 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
THE QUANTIC SOUL ORCHESTRA
Stampede (Tru-Thoughts)
Throwing yet another healthy log on the new-funk fire, Brighton-based 22-year-old Will Holland (aka Quantic) causes mass hysteria with this brilliantly raw full length from the QSO. Spending no time at all on the buff and polish of an overproduced opus, great care was put into preserving the rough edges and dirty charm of the original tracks and soulful renditions found here. His rework of 4Hero's "Hold It Down" soils the musical timeline with astonishing results, while rollers like "Stampede" and "Babarabatiri" sound like authentic veterans rescued from the crates in the basement. 8.5/10 (Scott C)
VARIOUS
Jazz Bizniz 3: Independent Jazz, Soul and Outernational Sounds (Counterpoint)
This time out, Counterpoint enlists the talents of Jake Behnan to compile the kaleidoscopic sounds that set this series of compilations apart from the rest. From the Bridge cover of Norman Connors' "Stella" to the collab between Doodle Bug and Sun Ra's band, "Space Is the Place," this record is filled with deeper grooves for the body and mind. A song like Frank Walton's "Safari," a track I've been looking for for a long time, breathes well as the song to start off this choice collection that has no weaker moments to speak of. Keep 'em coming! 8/10 (Scott C)
FREAKS
The Man Who Lived Underground (Classic/Fusion III)
U.K. duo Freaks are tired of the standard 4/4 schlock and are reclaiming the term "underground" by dropping the sickest, freshest house album in a long-ass time. The duo, made up of Justin Harris and Classic Label co-founder Luke Solomon, is refreshingly unconcerned with what else is going on in dance music. From jacking Chicago vocal silliness like "Angry" and "The Washing Machine" to the paranoid proto-electro of "The Creeps" to the deep, sweet vocal house ballad of "Where Were You When the Lights Went Out," the Freaks deliver 17 tracks of raw yet playful, noir-ish techno-funk that sound like Terry Gilliam, Green Velvet and Prince collaborating on a soundtrack. I've seen the future and the future is Freaky! 10/10 (Raf Katigbak)
JACQUES LU CONT
Fabriclive 09 (Fabric/Fusion III)
The latest mix from London's Fabric club comes courtesy of faux Frenchman Jacques Lu Cont, one of the dudes who kick-started the whole '80s revival as les Rhythmes Digitales. Lu Cont opens up with Mirwais' sick rendition of the Stones' "Miss You" and just kicks it out from there. The Tom Tom Club, Steve Miller Band, and his own Zoot Woman project follow suit in this pumpin' party mix where eclecticism is the key (check out how he throws together the Eurythmics and Strauss). Expertly mixed, re-cut and re-edited (though a little filter-happy at times), Lu Cont has managed to put together an electro-rock smackdown that would get any living-room party jumpin'. 9/10 (Raf Katigbak)
BRIAN MCKNIGHT
U Turn (Motown/Universal)
For the last 10 years, McKnight has been the most successful urban crooner around. His penchant for quality slow jams with pop appeal consistently lead to stellar performances like lead single "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda" and the all-star "Good Enough" with Joe, Carl Thomas, Tyrese and Tank. When he tries to take on more uptempo fare, the results are mixed, sometimes slick (the title track with Fabolous and Six John), sometimes corny ("All Night Long" with Nelly). He stretches the bar on the jazzy "If It Was Cool," proving once again he has the talent and chops to justify his longevity. 8/10 (Gerard Dee)
THE BE GOOD TANYAS
Chinatown (Nettwerk)
CALIFONE
Quicksand/ Cradlesnakes (Thrill Jockey)
From the Canadian northwest and the U.S. Midwest respectively, two bands and two sophomore albums forging novel routes through old-tyme mountain music. Vancouver's Be Good Tanyas let campfire ghost stories and sing-alongs converge on covers like "Waiting Around to Die" and originals like "Junkie Song." Subtly blending elements of bluegrass, folk and gospel, the Tanyas pluck and harmonize with classic feeling and modern vigour, even at their most fragile. Likewise Chicago's Califone, sounding like the Velvet Underground after a decade in the Appalachians, or a loopy inventor improvising tunes on his porch. A loose, rustic mix of trad instruments, ramshackle percussion and random buzzes and glitches build into full-fledged songs and often disintegrate, scattered back into the earth. Both 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) Califone, Brokeback and A Vertical Mosaic are at la Sala Rossa, Fri., April 18, 9pm, $12
DOC WATSON
Trouble in Mind: 1964– 1998 (Sugar Hill/Festival)
Taken largely from the days when he was cutting sides for Vanguard, Watson definitely had trouble in mind and could perfectly express those feelings with some fine picking and heart-wrenching lyrics. Western swing and bluegrass definitely provide the setting but Watson's vocals and lyrics are clearly embedded in blues. Even when he takes on a Jimmie Rodgers song, he handles the rudder and guides it right for the Delta. The murder ballad "Little Sadie" is worth the price of the CD alone. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Mini CD Reviews
Doctor Rockit "Veselka's Diner" 12" (Lifelike) » Matthew Herbert takes us for a bowl of hot borscht with this hauntingly beautiful side. 9 (SC)
SoundMurderer Wired for Sound (Violent Turd) » A collection of three 20-minute old-school jungle mixes from Detroit's SoundMurderer on the New Zealand label that brought us Kid 606's last album. Simply massive! 9 (RK)
Various The Rough Guide to Ska (World Music Network) » Meaning ska in the truest, pre-1966 sense: the Skatalites, Rico Rodriguez, the Maytals and such. A tasty and well-informed selection. 8.5 (RB)
Adult. Anxiety Always (Ersatz Audio/Tag Team) » Difficult listening fit for sinister synth buffs, or fun with Mrs. Roboto. 7.5 (LC) With Magas, Solvent vs. Lowfish at la Sala Rossa, Wed., April 23, 9pm, $15
Watchers To the Rooftops (Gern Blandsten) from the same label as NYC disco-pinko-punks Radio 4 comes this Chi-town rush of abrasive, angular funk, with debts to Talking Heads, Minutemen and mid-'70s Bowie. 7.5 (RB)
Liam Lynch Fake Songs (S-Curve/EMI) A workaholic's low hipster comedy, slick band parodies (Björk, Pixies, etc.), and a bonus DVD of videos, jokey movies and computer 'toons. 7 (LC)
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