Friday, September 24, 2010

CD Review: Underworld, Barking

CD Review: Underworld, Barking (Om Records / Cooking Vinyl)
As a whole, this album is a mixed bag of tricks; a colliding of several different worlds. There are moments of genius, written and delivered by masters of their craft, mixed up with tracks that feel like radio edits of what could be much better, longer explorations. Then there are the pop-natured thrills, destined to be dance floor favorites; and wrapping it all up are the indulgent experimental exhibits that give the album the relaxed vibe of a band having fun.

Read my full review at Atlanta Music Guide ( http://met.al/ayz )

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

CD Review: Elizabeth & The Catapult, The Other Side Of Zero

CD Review: Elizabeth & The Catapult, The Other Side Of Zero (Released on Verve Forecast, October 26, 2010)
Things really start to descend from heartfelt into heartbroken with track seven, “Open Book.” You can actually reach out and touch the soulfulness of “Worn Out Tune,” and by the time you reach title track “The Other Side Of Zero” or the beautiful strains of “Do Not Hang Your Head” fill the air, you probably have the candles lit, a large glass of wine poured (another already drunk), and the outside world pushed far away.

Read my full review on Atlanta Music Guide ( http://met.al/ava  )

Elizabeth & The Catapult kick off their album tour at the Variety Playhouse, with Aimee Mann on September 25, 2010.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

CD Review: Buke and Gass, Riposte

CD Review: Buke and Gass, Riposte (Brassland)
The Buke is in fact a modified six-string former baritone ukulele, and the Gass is a guitar-bass hybrid... Before forming Buke and Gass in 2008, Dyer and Sanchez had, between them, toured with some notable acts, including Deerhoof, Les Savy Fav, and The Fall; in fact, it is rumored that the soul of Mark E. Smith was captured and kept in an empty wine bottle, and has now been released into the Buke, from where it hurls obscenities.

Read my full review at Atlanta Music Guide ( http://met.al/acn )

Buke and Gass are on tour thru October 2, 2010

Friday, September 10, 2010

Live Review: Andy Shauf and Lauris Vidal at The Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, September 8, 2010

Live Review: Andy Shauf and Lauris Vidal at The Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, September 8, 2010
You can be sure of a great time and a huge smile, as you get caught up in the songs flying out of the stomping, clapping, fierce strumming, uke shredding, banjo beating world of Lauris Vidal. Smile, this is what gigs, large or small, are all about.

Read my full review at Atlanta Music Guide ( http://met.al/a43 )

Thursday, September 9, 2010

CD Review: Various Artists (Nophi Compilation Four)

CD Review: Various Artists (Nophi Compilation Four), (Nophi Recordings)

Includes my really short history of electronic music; two decades grossly bludgeoned down to fit in a nutshell...

Read my full review at ( http://met.al/a0p )

The full track listing is on the Nophi website, www.nophi.net, where a limited edition of 100 hand-numbered copies plus bonus Nophi goodies is available to pre-order now. Compilation Four is released September 15, 2010.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

CD Review: Lauris Vidal, Better Part

CD Review: Lauris Vidal, Better Part (P is for Panda)
Things kick off alt-rockily, with title track “Better Part,” followed by “Freed,” which wouldn’t sound out of place on a classic Rolling Stones album. Continuing in the same vein is “Killing Fields,” and then on through folk (“Movin’”) before dropping into laid back dub, with the superb “NY Floors” and “Tragic”; Lauris’ dub banjo is so cool it would melt over ice cubes.

Read my full review on Atlanta Music Guide ( http://met.al/9t9 )

Lauris Vidal starts a series of East Coast tour dates at the Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta tomorrow night, September 8. See you there!

Monday, September 6, 2010

NEWS FLASH: Cellist Killed In Bizarre Gardening Accident

NEWS FLASH: Cellist Killed In Bizarre Gardening Accident
"Police in southwestern England say a former member of the Electric Light Orchestra was killed in a freak collision with a huge hay bale that rolled down a steep hill.
The victim was identified on Monday as 62-year-old Mike Edwards, who played cello in the British rock band between 1972 and 1975." (The Daily Telegraph)

Between 1972 and 1986, ELO released eleven studio albums and 27 Top 40 hit singles in both the UK and the US. They released another album in 2001.

That's dreadful news, but funny bizarre. It's more than Rock & Roll... it's pure Spinal Tap! Rock on Mike Edward.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Archive: Royksopp at Carling Accademy, Bristol

From the Splinter Magazine Archive: Live Review - Royksopp at Carling Accademy, Bristol (October 10, 2005)
After a summer of gigs dominated by guitars, Royksopp were like a jolt to the system. Instead of guitars, basses and real drums, the only non electronic instrument (voices excepted) was a solitary cymbal. Everything else was wired up like an electric chair. Filling the Carling Academy with wave after wave of pulsating squelchy synths, vocoder vocals and electronic drums fit to summon a cavalry.

Song titles flashed up on a narrow neon banner. Favourites like "Eple" and "Poor Leno"; the wonderfully melting vocals of "Sparks" sounding a hundred times more energetic than when isolated on CD.

Royksopp release their new album, Senior on September , 2010 (Wall of Sound / EMI), CD, Vinyl and Digital formats.

Friday, September 3, 2010

CD Review: Lauris Vidal, Best Part

CD Review: Lauris Vidal, Best Part (out on Ssptember 21, 2010 on P is for Panda)
That’s always been a strength of his songwriting; however they’re put down, the songs groove and grab your attention. If you hadn’t imagined a banjo grooving then you definitely need to listen to this record...

Read my full review on Atlanta Music Guide ( http://met.al/9t9 )

CD Review: Paloma Faith, Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?

CD Reviiew: Paloma Faith, Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?
A possible contender for album of the year?

Read my full review at Atlanta Music Guide ( http://met.al/9s9 )

CD Reviiew: Lakes, The Agreement

CD Review: Lakes, The Agreement
San Francisco band, Lakes, independently release their debut album.

it’s been a summer full of exceedingly, in some cases excruciatingly, cheerful songs. It can be quite refreshing, then, to have something a touch more melancholy; a band that’s not afraid to go out and play in the rain...

Read my full review at Atlanta Music Guide (  http://met.al/9s8 )

Live Review: Scissor Sisters @ Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, 21 August 2010

Scissor Sisters at The Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, 21 August 2010
The US tour opener in Atlanta.

Read my full review at Atlanta Music Guide (WARNING: Contains traces of silver spandex!) ( http://bit.ly/9A7B54 ).

Thursday, September 2, 2010

CD Review: M.I.A., Maya

CD Review: M.I.A. Maya (out now on N.E.E.T. Recordings
A great 3rd Album.

This album has everything, from paranoia to power tools, and that’s just the first 60 seconds...

Read my full review on Atlanta Music Guide ( http://bit.ly/9ib6SZ )

Live Review: Lauris Vidal @ Drinkshop, Atlanta, 19 August 2010

Lauris Vidal at Drinkshop, Atlanta, 19 August, 2010

If you turned up at Drinkshop hoping to hear some dub hardcore Hawaiian, as Lauris Vidal describes his music on his MySpace, or the slightly more laid back, chilled out vibe of the songs actually on said website, then you might have been a little surprised...
Read my full review at Atlanta Music Guide ( http://bit.ly/9dR6A6 )