THE ILLUMINATI
self-titled (October 32nd)
Yowza, there's some mighty good rawkin' comin' from Toronto these days, but the Illuminati are hands down the rock kings from T-dot. They expertly lay down the '70s boogie rock laced with Thin Lizzy harmony guitars, testifyin' vocals and occasional metal tendencies, and aren't afraid to show a bit of their prog roots. With expert musicianship tucked up their sleeves, the Illuminati don't let the prog bog down the boogie and just let the riffage do all the talking. Their real secret is not relying solely on retread and sonic ballast but changing up things by taking sharp turns down unlikely roads with jazz jams ("Salon Kitty") and even a try at rockabilly/country ("On My Way Back Home... Again"). What a fuckin' beaut! 9/10 (Johnson Cummins)
SEPULTURA
Roorback (Steamhammer/Fusion III)
Maybe it was the fact that I was in Quebec City during the Free Trade Area of the America's protest/riot/provincially sponsored police state weekend when Sepultura's previous effort Nation came out. I felt that album. I felt the rage and energy dripping from it and listened to it before heading up. Now Roorback (meaning "a defamatory falsehood published for political effect") has the same intent that all Sepultura albums have: pride in one's culture and individuality, a pointing of sharp fingers at governmental and corporate evil and a natural disdain for authority. It continues where Nation left off, but, well... I think I need another riot. 7/10 (Lateef Martin)
DAVE GAHAN
Paper Monsters (Reprise/Warner)
Funny that Depeche Mode's songwriter, Martin Gore, recorded covers this year while the band's singer tackled solo tunes for the first time. Well, everyone needs a vacation, and Gahan's best moments stray furthest from DM's arena-sized sound. Co-written by Knox Chandler and produced by Ken Thomas (Sigur Ros), songs like "Hold On" and "Bitter Apple" have a lush, tranquil beauty that says far more than the formulaic, sleazy swagger of "Dirty Sticky Floors" and "Bottle Living." Despite too many wrong turns and sketchy lyrics, some of these seeds could spring a colourful solo career. 6.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Kenna at Metropolis, Tues., July 29, 9 p.m., $48.50, all ages
EELS
Shootenanny! (Dreamworks/Universal)
MC HONKY
I Am the Messiah(spinART)
After the funhouse energy and musical flexibility of Souljacker, Eels (or "E") resorts to musical clichés, lyrical moping and deadpan, would-be humour. Surely music should entertain, enlighten or at least create a palpable atmosphere, and Shootenanny! is lame on all fronts. However, E redeems himself with a plunderphonic party album under the guise of MC Honky. Like the Avalanches, "Honky" relies heavily on samples, as well as keys, horns, bass and drums, while E's distorted vocals pop up with other guests for daily affirmations and freaked out phone calls. With fun, solid, adventurous music, plus cover art and a video by cartoonist Ivan Brunetti, this is entertainment. Eels 5/10, MC Honky 8.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
MR. BRADY
Dirty (BattleAxe)
Straight from the Battle Axe arsenal comes Mr. Brady, a name that's been bumpin' around for years now, finally enjoying a full-length release. He sounds like a mix between Evidence from Dilated Peoples (who produced and raps on the song "Skills") and Likwit Crew affiliate Defari. Over Dirty's 24 songs, production duties are split between Rob the Viking, Nucleus, Brisk 1, Evidence and Mr. Brady, who should perhaps leave the beats to the other guys. Not a lot of variety here, with many of the songs using the same drums and featuring Brady's standardized tone, but he does get to some interesting places on songs like "Who" featuring Abstract Rude and "Warpaint" with Buc Fifty. Virtually all of these songs could be mistaken for Swollen Members joints, and I don't know if that's good or bad. 7/10 (Scott C)
GANGSTARR
The Ownerz (Virgin/EMI)
Of course the dynamic duo of Guru and Premier get utmost respect for being consistent and original for 14 years in this hip hop thing, but I can't give a full nod to the execution of The Ownerz. Gangstarr's stature and earned credibility is more important than it's ever been right now, bringing the possibility of commercial success very close for the first time in their long history. However, for those of us who've hoped and prayed that the rest of the world could understand just how instrumental these two have been, this album seems to fall a little short. Guests like Jadakiss and Snoop Dogg strengthen this record's mass appeal, but on the whole, this gets filed as my least favourite Gangstarr LP to date. With skills intact and the formula still working, perhaps these two are slightly starting to show their years. 7.5/10 (Scott C)
TINKERTOY
Transatlantic Love Machine (Noise Factory/Outside)
According to their bio, Andrew Wedman and Paul Shrimpton recorded this album over the Internet while Wedman was in Barcelona and Shrimpton in Toronto. I'm sure a lot of heavy postmodern jargon could be spewed about the use of new media and digital technology embodied in their music or something like that, but what most people probably want to know is, how does it sound? Well, quite frankly, pretty good. Using their classical backgrounds, the duo create a washy, ambient, melodic sound that softly pulsates over a four on the floor beat. My only critique is that the steady, rigid beat sometimes holds back the ethereal quality of the music, tying it down to a structured format where it should be left to soar. Otherwise, a good effort definitely worth checking out. 7/10 (Raf Katigbak)
VARIOUS
Idol Tryouts (Ghostly International)
Ghostly International's killer Disco Nouveau comp a while back featured shit-hot electro acts like DMX Krew and Adult. Since then, Ghostly has made it a point to distance itself from the flash-in-the-pan electro labels by releasing everything from post-rock to IDM to minimal house. This new comp reflects their focus on quality and diversity. Dabrye kicks things off with a laidback, liquid beat shuffle. Things get pretty post-rock as Midwest Product deliver two tracks, one being a nice, glitchy Telefon Tel Aviv remix, and Kill Memory Crash step up the pace with an electro-industrial thumper. One standout track has got to be James Cotton's "Help Me Think of One" that brings the soulful keys of Detroit and a jacking Chicago beat overdriven and distorted into hardcore territory. 7.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)
DEEP DISH
Global Underground 25: Toronto (Global Underground/Numuzik)
In this milestone edition of the lauded DJ mix series, D.C.'s Ali "Dubfire" Shirazina and Sharam Tayebi - on a roll with hot labels, plentiful remix offers and a Grammy win - descend upon T.O.'s Guvernment for a night of turntable atom-smashing. The 6,000 punters had their consciousness branded with a synth-loaded assault of futurisic laptop house beats, ghostly vocals and Middle-Eastern melodic flourishes. Their soulful, acidic choices, which include Montrealers Sultan and the Greek on "Rezin," were the Dish's way of highlighting Canada's burgeoning electro scene, a point underscored by their declared admiration for the likes of Max Graham, Tone Depth and Luke Flair. Will not disappoint. 9/10 (Peter Lightburn)
KEM
Kemistry (Motown/Universal)
The debut album by Motown's latest ingénue definitely has a laidback, lounge-type vibe (think Seal with soul). Not bent on vocal acrobatics or overpowering beats, Kemistry is all about well-crafted melodies with jazzy undercurrents. Occasionally, he punctuates the flow with the more upbeat rhythms of tracks like "Inside" or "Brotha Man," but mainly he keeps everything on the down-low, using an interesting mix of pop-rock and R&B. The set's strongest cut, the very urban-contemporary "Love Calls," is a standout that shows Kem's skill for seductive ballads. It's one of many talents this singer/songwriter/keyboardist demonstrates on this refreshing musical concoction. 8/10 (Gerard Dee)
BEMBEYA JAZZ
Bembeya (World Village)
After a difficult '80s and near-silence through the '90s, Guinea's beloved Bembeya Jazz resurface with their first disc in 15 years. The venerable, 11-piece Afro-swing-pop outfit was originally a government-sponsored vehicle for celebrating the heart and soul of Guinea, and though they've been de-nationalized and then internationalized, they still do. Rhumba-esque rhythms and arrangements showcase the band's lively horns, luxurious vocal harmonies and triple guitar action, particularly the deft picking of Sekou "Diamond Fingers" Diabaté. An inviting delight from a cornerstone of post-colonial pop. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) At le Monde Multiculturel stage of Francofolies, Ste-Catherine at St-Urbain, Mon., July 28, 8 p.m. & 10 p.m., free
BENNY CARTER
Jazz Giant (OJC/Universal)
Truly living up to the title of this reissue, Carter, who died at age 95 on July 12, had a career that began in the '20s when he worked with Earl Hines and Fletcher Henderson before going on to lead his own bands. Best known for his alto sax and trumpet playing, he also recorded on a number of other reed instruments, trombone and piano. As a composer he wrote "Cow Cow Boogie," "When Lights Are Low" and "Summer Serenade," as well as for films, beginning with Stormy Weather, and TV shows like M Squad and Ironside. He left a large recorded legacy and the CD at hand is a good example of his work in the '50s. He's heard here on his two main instruments, joined by people like Ben Webster, Jimmy Rowles, Frank Rosolino and Barney Kessel. Seven tracks including his "A Walkin' Thing" and "How Can You Lose" plus great versions of "Blue Lou" and "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me" - highly recommended! 10/10 (Len Dobbin)
Mini CD Reviews
PERCY HEATH A Love Song (Daddy Jazz) Another giant, bassist Heath's debut as a leader, recorded the day after his 79th birthday - well worth waiting for! 9.5 (LD)
AMON TOBIN Verbal Remixes & Collaborations (Ninja Tune/Outside) Tobin's kinetic "Verbal" reshuffled by Prefuse 73, Kid 606 and more, plus the vid and jams with Kid Koala, Bonobo and P-Love. A worthy apocryphal release. 9 (RB)
LIGHTNING BOLT Wonderful Rainbow (Load) Can't stop listening to this high-octane math metal shit. This bass and drum duo is guaranteed to re-wire your synapses. Unbelieveable. 9 (RK)
ROXY MUSIC Live (Eagle Rock) The 2001 reunion tour Montreal missed, now on double CD - and it sounds great, damnit. 9 (LC)
MARK EITZEL The Ugly American (Thirsty Ear/Outside) Despite an extensive, impressive discography, ex-American Music Club member Eitzel has finally released his own Astral Weeks. 8 (JC)
DUBLINE Fandango EP (CDR) A little MTL broken shuffle with deep, soulful layers. Shades of things to come. 7.5 (SC)
BALLBOY A Guide for the Daylight Hours (SL/Manifesto) When these guys grow up and learn to write lyrics and produce an album, they better change their name to "Sackman." 4 (LC)
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