Thom Gossage Other Voices
The Now Beyond (Effendi/SRI)
There was a time when a session with a drummer as leader was generally noted for bombast and long drum solos. Today's better drummers, and Gossage is one of them, bring a subtlety and musicality to the proceedings and that's certainly the case here. The group is collectively called Other Voices and this release, like its debut CD, is likely to be on a number of this year's top-10 lists. The group consists of some of our finest players - reedmen Remi Bolduc and Frank Lozano, guitarist Gary Schwartz and bassist Miles Perkins with a guest appearance by Josh Lebofsky, whose voice is added to one of the dozen tracks here. Where to start? Try "Nomad." 10/10 (Len Dobbin) At le Va-et-Vient, Fri., Sept. 19, 9:30pm, $12
Various Lost in Translation (Emperor Norton/Outside)
With more varied sounds and mood swings than Air's excellent Virgin Suicides soundtrack, the music in Sofia Coppola's new film is unified by fresh compositions care of My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields (along with the band's classic "Sometimes") and like-minded wisps of shoegazing by Death in Vegas and the Jesus and Mary Chain. Slivers of mournful synths and homesick pianos, a mid-disc shock of sunny pop, a cameo by Air and some (hidden) Roxy Music karaoke by Bill Murray wrap up another brilliant and inspired soundtrack. 9/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
Mates of State
Team Boo (Polyvinyl)
Situated somewhere between the Shaggs and Emerson Lake & Palmer, the Frisco-based husband-and-wife team of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel bring equal parts crafty calculation and rambunctious naïveté to their set-up of drums, vintage Yamaha organ and twin vocals. The songs are strings of loopy non-sequiturs, which works because each digression reveals another clever pocketful of pop. What really get me, though, are the vocals - particularly Gardner's, which come as close as one can to flat-out gleeful yelling while remaining tuneful. The plain, giddy zest here is almost tangible, and certainly infectious. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) With One Candle Power and the Diskettes at Petit Campus, Wed., Sept. 24, 9pm, $8/$10
Crackpot
self-titled (independent)
They'll hit you with frenetic rhythms and hyperactive riffs one minute, pensive noodling the next, and swingers' rock 'n' roll after that, a schizo amalgam of accessible swagger and shocking shifts that lives up to the band name quite nicely. Excitable local musicians Chris and Michael Burns, Simon Fazakerley and Will Glass go for goofy indie rock gold with off-the-hook jazz techniques and lyrical tomfoolery - check out "Jumpin' Jack Christ," "Hungry Like the Pig" and "Yikes!" for evidence. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Choked at Casa del Popolo on Fri., Sept. 19, 10pm
Various
Rage: the Soundtrack (Restless)
The soundtrack to the film Rage is a grab bag of L.A. punk, past and present. Represented here are bygone classics by the likes of the Dils and Weirdos, as well as the new breed of punkers like Streetwalkin' Cheetahs and Exit Highland. What we get is the best of the west and, despite the fact that almost 25 years divide the Circle Jerks and Blu, a seamless mix of timeless, high-octane punk rock. With a nice bonus CD-ROM of footage from the movie, this one's a keeper, proof that So-Cal punk doesn't have to suck. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)
A Perfect Circle The Thirteenth Step
(EMI/Virgin)
With the departure of bassist, violinist and more Paz Lenchantin for Smashing Pumpkins II - I mean Zwan - A Perfect Circle recruited Marilyn Manson's bassist/guitarist Jeordie White. Following a blistering live show at a sold-out Metropolis and brutal previews to the new material, I'm left to wonder, "What happened?" The Thirteenth Step doesn't continue where Mer Des Noms left off, but rather delves more into a laidback acoustic thing. Maynard coos more than screams and Brainchild Billy Howerdel's incredible guitar work is also missing in action, so nothing smacks you on this album like on their previous masterpiece and although Jeordie is a great musician, he adds nothing new. 6/10 (Lateef Martin)
Stink Mitt
Scratch 'n' Sniff (Teenage USA/Outside)
Hide the scotch, lock up the medicine cabinet, bolt the fridge shut and for God's sake warn all teenage boys in your area. Vancouver's heap-haired harpies of "trailer clash" cougar rap are returning to Montreal, no doubt besotted with a violent sense of entitlement, given that they've got an album out finally. MCs Jenni Craige and Betti Forde, backed by the musically capable Dr. Do This on the keys and Mr. Bigstuff at the console, spit the finest in feminine foulness - sample titles: "Tubes Tied," "Pinch Tha Box," "Bangin' on My Clit" - and Craige even diverts into diva-land with some quality crooning. Music to soothe the savage yeast. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) With DJ Frigid at Kink! at Unity II tonight, Thurs., Sept. 18, 11pm, $4
Viktor Vaughn
Vaudville Villian (Sound/Ink)
It seems to me that perhaps the rest of the world has finally caught on to the hip hop genius of MF Doom. Hot on the trail of his latest album as King Geedorah on Ninja Tune come the adventures of Viktor Vaughn, yet another alias for the one we were originally introduced to as Zev Love X. As Viktor, Doom lays out the melancholy existence of this talented scientist, complete with groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs and unavoidable romantic breakdowns. Guests include Apani B, RJD2 and Lord Sear as supporting actors in one of hottest B-movie concept LPs I've heard all year. 7.5/10 (Scott C)
Kraftwerk
Tour de France Soundtracks (EMI)
Twelve years after their last album, the electro pioneers from Dusseldorf return with a new one named after the track that really kicked it off for them. But 20 years after they changed music history, have they changed for the better? Sort of. Half of the album is club-based and more akin to the minimal sound of Germany today - stripped down and four on the floor - while retaining some signature Kraftwerk melody (at the same time borrowing heavily from the soulful Detroit sound, which they influenced). The other half is vintage Kraftwerk, plodding, robotic electro pop rife with light melodies and analog beats straight outta '80s Germany. It's on these slower paced songs that they truly shine. 7.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)
Various
Erotic Moments in House (La Java/Select)
While thumping techno may be the sound of the summer, there's nothing like some deep and sexy house to ease you into the oncoming brisk months. Here La Java records have compiled a three-CD box set of some the slinkiest, steamiest beats from Germany's Dessous label. Headed by Hamburg tech house stalwart Steve Bug, Dessous have been steadily feeding deep house jocks with some of the sweetest 12 inches by artists and remixers like ADNY, The Discowboys, Gamat 3000, Vincenzo, Larry Heard, Swag and the Freaks. Perfect for the waning sunshine and late summer breeze. 7/10 (Raf Katigbak)
Soul II Soul
At the Africa Center (Casual/S2S)
Jazzie B climbs out from among the dust bunnies to unveil what turns out to be a most enjoyable live romp with the former lead man from Soul II Soul. Jazzie plays records for the more than energized crowd at the Africa Center, dropping gems like Gary Bartz "Music Is My Sanctuary," Johnny Hammond's "Tell Me What to Do," and Ramp's "Everybody Loves the Sunshine." Nice comp with serious tracks and hot snippets of Jazzie saying things to the crowd like, "If you're not dancing, fuck off and make some space, seen?" 8.5/10 (Scott C)
Aretha Franklin
So Damn Happy (Arista/BMG)
On her first album since '98's A Rose Is Still a Rose, the Queen of Soul is in a good space. Beginning with the bouncy lead single "The Only Thing Missin'," Franklin doles out the good times in sumptuous measure, especially on the self-penned title track and the completely infectious "Wonderful." Elsewhere, her heir apparent Mary J. Blige lends her producing talents to the inspirational "Holdin' On" and vocal support to the equally uplifting "No Matter What." But the most enjoyable thing here is that Franklin sings her age throughout, delivering the type of "grown people's music" that only comes with experience. And that's a beautiful thing. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)
Susheela Raman
Love Trap (Narada World/EMI)
No sophomore slump for Raman, a capable English chanteuse of Tamil descent who follows up her debut Salt Rain with this strong and varied effort. Beyond the Carnatic traditions and Hindu devotionals which make up a fair part of Love Trap, she adopts bits of throat singing from Central Asia, Andalusian flamenco flavour and African aspects - note the kora on "Sakhi Maro," and of course Tony Allen, the drum god of Afro-beat, at the kit throughout. The kick-off title track, a slow-burning reworking of an Ethiopian pop song from the '70s, is stunningly sexy and assured, deserving of chartbuster status. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) At le Spectrum, Sat., Sept. 20, 8:30pm, $18.50
Ga Pa
Imaginaria (independent)
Previous records have shown local percussionist Ganesh Anandan to have a penchant for using his frame drums to articulate musical conversations, and in fellow frame drummer Patrick Graham, he's found a capable partner. Their vocabulary of pops, thumps and rattles feeds chit-chat that ranges from sparse quiet whispers to dense debates. Some interesting guests have their say - Rainer Wiens on treated guitar, Hohei Nishikawa on the ghostly shakahuchi flute, noted violin weirdo Oliver Schroer - but it's mostly Graham and Anandan letting the fingers do the talking. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) CD launch at O Patro Vys, Wed., Sept. 24, 5pm
Mini CD Reviews
Mark Murphy Memories of You (High Note/Fusion III) A great living jazz singer in a tribute to the late Joe Williams. 9 (LD)
Various The Rough Guide to Chicago Blues (World Music Network/Fusion III) Elmore James, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam - what are you waiting for? Get this now! 9 (JC)
The Hells self-titled (Artrocker/Fusion III) This U.K.-based coed chapter set fire to some rock 'n' roll anthems on this thick 'n' sleazy debut EP. 8.5 (LC)
[the user] Abandon (Asphodel) Montreal's kings of the three Rs (reduce, re-use, re-purpose) are finally releasing the meditative dronescapes from their Silo #5/Silophone project. Nice, real nice. 8 (RK)
Big Star Big Star Story (Ryko/Outside) All the best from these legends of transcendent pop rock, whence came the master Alex Chilton, plus an obsessively informative booklet. Newbies, start here. 8.5 (RB)
George Levin Can't Hold Back (independent) Like a polite, well-trained SOB, this record is almost too nice to diss. 7 (SC)
Buttless Chaps Love This Time (Mint) Great name, but electro-country? Vocoders and banjos, synths and acoustic guitars and attempts at Polyphonic grandeur end in sometimes bloated, often dull tunes. 6 (LC)
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