MUSIC REVIEWS

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ST. VINCENT
Strange Mercy
(4AD/Select)
Annie Clark’s previous releases, Marry Me and Actor, were impressive, if a little cute, quirky and overstuffed with ornamentation. But a traumatic event seems to have instilled in her an ambition to match that of her onetime bandleader Sufjan Stevens. There are fewer bells and whistles here, with softly devastating ballads resounding starkly off rocky foundations. But there are plenty of uptem­po, urgent tunes in contrast, some raucous, others sensual, a couple almost danceable. Annie has really grown into this gig. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Cruel” (Lorraine Carpenter)

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TORO Y MOI
Freaking Out EP
(Carpark)
As if Underneath the Pine wasn’t enough of an embarrassment of chilled-out lite-funk riches, Chaz Bundick’s second release this year is yet another confident step towards achieving a tropical utopia that’s so much more retro-tinged and oneiric than a perfectly stale Corona backdrop. This is his most danceable excursion into Vice City yet, bringing fuzzy synths in and really embracing the hypnotic power of dreamy repetition. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Freaking Out” (Erik Leijon) With Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ava Luna at Cabaret Mile End, Sat., Sept 17, 8:30 p.m., $20

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LIAM FINN
Fomo (Yep Roc/Redeye) PAJAMA CLUB self-titled
(Lester)
Liam, I apologize for lumping you in with your folks here—given the off-kilter melodies and loose-leashed guitar work that accent the pop tunes on this sophomore LP, you’ve clearly shed your short pants, and it seems as though you’re the one wearing the Finn trousers now. Pajama Club features Crowded House’s Neil Finn and his wife Sharon, and it’s not the kind of record you’d want to hear your parents make: it’s slinky, sultry, funky bedroom pop with shades of Eno, and probably the best midlife crisis record of 2011. Liam 7.5, Pajama Club 7/10 Trial Track: Liam’s “Don’t Even Know Your Name” (Lor­raine Carpenter) Liam Finn plays Pop Montreal with Marques Toliver, Reversing Falls at O Patro Vys, Wed., Sept. 21, 9 p.m., $15

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THE NIGHTWATCHMAN
World Wide Rebel Songs
(New West)
Tom Morello returns as the one-man revolutionary on his fourth album.  However, more of Morello’s songs should run with the vibe of “Save the Hammer for the Man” featuring Ben Harp­er, the most soulful and dynamic song on the album. Morello’s spoken word delivery is still a little stiff, and although his folk stylings are competently handled, we’d love to hear a little more of his crazy guitar work. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Save the Hammer for the Man” (Lateef Martin)

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STARFUCKER
Reptilians
(Polyvinyl)
Synth pop that’s meant to be profuse and galactic in scope, but even though every layered, buzz-addled song from the Portland band strives to be something greater than the sum of its parts, only a few select nuggets really travel into hyperspace. “Julius” in particular soars past its synth line and hazy vocals, although the rest seem like too many electro shards that don’t fit together flush. 6/10 Trial Track: “Julius” (Erik Leijon) With Beat Connection at Il Motore, Mon., Sept 19, 9 p.m., $14

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THE RAPTURE
In the Grace of Your Love
(DFA/EMI)
If there was ever a band least destined to jitter and screech their way into old age gracefully, the New York dancepunkers seemed it. They actually did implode, only to return minus their sardonic bassist and with a greater sense of spirituality thanks to rejuvenated, still-shrieking frontman Luke Jenner. They wear their awkwardness as proudly as ever, sincerely unconcerned as to whether you’re still dancing or not. 8/10 Trial Track: “How Deep Is Your Love?” (Erik Leijon)

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DAS RACIST
Relax
(Greedhead Music)
This Brooklyn goof-rap trio finally release an LP, following the 2010 breakthrough mixtapes Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down, Man. They’ve collaborated with big producers (Diplo, Rostam from Vampire Weekend and Drake’s touring buddy Francis Farewell Starlite) to create an album that is much clubbier in sound, with the dance-pop “Girls,” the very questionable synth-hip hop “Booty in the Air” and a first single (“Michael Jackson”) that bears no trace of Das Racist’s signature style: nerds rapping in their basement about pizza and video games. But some of these songs might be their best to date. 8/10 Trial Track: “Rainbow in the Dark” (Shawn Thompson)

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BACKBURNER
Heatwave
(Hand’Solo)
This mega-crew started out in the dorms of a few friends and would-be rap giants in Nova Scotia circa 2001, and their sophomore comes a decade later with the unlikely caveat that members have by­and-large made good on their individual freshman promise in the interim. Fresh Kils, Ghettosocks, Jesse Dangerously, Wordburglar, More or Les, Uncle Fester and the rest of the crew throw themselves the reunion party they always knew they’d one day have. 8/10 Trial Track: “Burn It Down” (Darcy MacDonald)

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SHAUN BOOTHE
Waiting Room
(independent)
This one goes out to fans of the instant-classic-sounding debut. TO upcomer Boothe comes off every bit as charming, clever, insightful and cocky as the best of his new-school contemporaries who studied The Blueprint and learned they are as much their flaws as their floss. That said, and this being a free mixtape, devoid of any truly outstanding moments or evidence of a signature style, Boothe has a way to go in cementing the status his bravado suggests. 6.5/10 Trial Track: “Poor Boy” (Darcy MacDonald)

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AVERAGE WHITE BAND
Live at Montreux 1977
(Eagle Rock)
While current bands like Chromeo fashion contemporary music out of vintage funk and soul influences, classic bands like AWB were killing it over 30 years ago. This set captures the funky Scottish boys at their level best, spewing out originals like their signature “Pick up the Pieces” and covers like the Isley Brothers’ “Work to Do” with equal parts panache and precision. 8/10 Trial Track: “Cut the Cake” (Gerard Dee)

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MATANA ROBERTS
Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de couleur libres
(Constellation)
A highly personal work, Coin Coin celebrates Roberts’ family history. Recorded live at Montreal’s Hotel2Tango, it features a 15 member big band of local luminaries supporting the leader’s sax and spo­ken/sung vocals through a cornucopia of jazz styles, from free to Dixieland and back. The uncluttered orchestration often settles into small subgroups, consistently providing a perfect accompaniment to each touching anecdote or instrumental solo. An original yet accessible tour de force. 9/10 Trial Track: “Kersaia” (Lawrence Joseph) Solo show with Matthew Shipp, Kaie Kellough at la Sala Rossa, tonight, Thurs., Sept. 15, 8 p.m., $13

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MINI REVIEWS

VREID V (Indie) Vried’s true talent is knowing when to let their deep rooted melodic sense merge with marrow-shaking aggression. 8 (JC)

VARIOUS HOP 2011 Presents The 613 Series Vol. 1—Connect (Vinyl Tao) A capital idea, and a free download at vinyltap.ca, brings Ottawa’s tight-knit hip hop community to your speakers. 7.5 (DM)

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB A Different Kind of Fix (Universal) Slickly-produced emotive Brit rock. It tries to make a lasting impact wearing kid gloves, though never forcefully states its case. 7 (EL) With Two Door Cinema Club, the Lonely Forest at Club Soda, Fri. Sept 16, 8 p.m., $25

THE HORRIBLE CROWES Elsie (SideOneDummy) Growling Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon tries his hand at subdued songwriting, but it’s still not quite the sea change he’s looking for. 5 (EL)

JEFF BRIDGES self-titled (Blue Note) Yep, it’s that Jeff Bridges, and you got it Poindexter, it stinks worse than Cornwall during a garbage strike. 3 (JC)

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