Song of the day: Greg Dulli - Cigarettes (from Amber Headlights)

The song of the day for today is “Cigarettes” by Greg Dulli, available on ‘Amber Headlights’. Teehee

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) February 2008

Luciana Souza - The New Bossa Nova

in a world that currently seems saturated with a new Brrazilian renaissance, bossa nova bins overflowing in trendy record stores, it’s refreshing to find an artist with a new take. Luciana chose to open with Down to You, a Joni Mitchell cover. A nice one, in fact. Most Joni covers are on the numerous Joni tribute albums. By moving right into a duet with the inimitable James Taylor, she risks pigeonholing herself into a genre, or an era, but it’s a nice duet. As far as bossa nova goes, I would call it bossa nova light, which might make it more distinguishable and more palatable than the bulk of new Brazilian and Brazilian-influenced releases out there. I give it a thumbs-up.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007

Paramore - Riot!

Finally, someone gets it! Pop punk was MADE for female vocalists!!! I mean if you’re going to sound like one anyway, or like an 11-year-old boy, you might as well BE one (girl, that is). I get tired of the genre really quick these days but this one rose above the rest, especially with Misery Business. Surprising vocal skills for the genre. They will go far, or she will, or both.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007

M. Ward - To Go Home EP

I tend to wonder why people release EPs. I can’t help but try to put myself into their shoes. For example, maybe Matt needed some quick cash for a new camera. Or maybe he just had a short message to send to his fans. Or maybe a critical piece of musical equipment broke during the session and he needs the cash to replace it. In my experience, musicians tend to live more “hand-to-mouth” than a lot of folks. The old starving artist stereotype and all. Lots of them sleep till four in the afternoon, too, when they’re not on the road.

Anyhow, I like this release despite its brevity. “Human Punching Bag” is a vignette about self-perception. “He might swing to the left, he might swing to the right, sometimes he’ll keep perfectly still, but he’s gonna get hit, let’s not kid ourselves, he will.” That is the soul of this release to my ears.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007

Peaches - Impeach My Bush

I love Peaches. There, I said it. “Fuck or Kill” is “make love not war” modernized. “Tent in Your Pants” has a fantastic groove. “Boys Wanna Be Her” is the kick-ass rocker she performed on Henry Rollins’ show recently. “Downtown” sounds Kraftwerk-influenced. I guess living in Berlin is having an effect. “Two Guys” is a kinky challenge. She offers herself to two guys but only if they get with each other. “Rock the Shocker” is exactly what all you internet-addicted nerds think it is. Yep, it’s all about two in the pink, one in the stink. There is NOBODY like Peaches out there. Support her while you can.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007

Placebo - Meds

At first I hated the voice. Standing on the train platform with this release blaring in my Ipod earbuds, I briefly contemplated switching to something more audibly pleasing. But no. They managed to catch me with their chorus, “baby, did you forget to take your meds,” with just the right amount of tension. “Infra-Red” is equally catchy. After that I had to shut off, the voice was too annoying.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007

Peaches - Fatherfucker

Peaches shares an interesting parallel with Tesco Vee of the Meatmen - they were both elementary school teachers before their musical successes, which also share the ability to offend those who are hung up on the potential of words to offend. Peaches recently performed on Henry Rollins’ show to promote her more recent album.

This release is more ‘mature’ than the previous release, The Teaches of Peaches. Mature in this context means I can at least play it for squares without them rolling their eyes. There are people who would consider The Teaches of Peaches as a Novelty album, for the kids only.

“I don’t give a fuck” will make Joan Jett fans laugh. “I’m the Kinda” is dead on. “I U She” is a declaration of bisexuality. “Kick It” is a killer duet with Iggy Pop. “I heard you like kinky shit,” yells Iggy. “That just depends who I’m with,” Peaches responds. “Shake Your Dix” is probably a lot of fun when performed live. “Stuff Me Up” is a lovely juxtaposition of food and sex. Just go buy it. Peaches rocks.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007

Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade

NICE. This is going into rotation immediately. Everything I like about Steve Earle, and more. Crystal clear instrumentation and production, wonderful vignettes about real people and places, and that voice - the raw drawling wail of a veteran of thousands of miles of roads. If you like him live and raw, this ain’t it, but I bet you a beer you’ll like it anyway. Highlights for me are Down Here Below, Oxycontin Blues and a modernized cover of Way Down in the Hole.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007

The Donnas - Bitchin’

WTF? Are you really reading a review of a Donnas album? Really? Why?

The Donnas is like the girls’ version of cock rock. Does that make it cunt rock? Idunno. It’s about sex, drinking, drugs and dancing. And they rock. ‘Nuff said.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007

Thurston Moore - Trees Outside the Academy

If you like Sonic Youth but have grown old and soft and can no longer handle the discordant noise, I’ve good good news and bad news for you. The bad news is you’re old. And soft. And probably don’t get as much sex as you used to. And probably hate your day job. But the fact that you’re reading this indicates that you don’t just look back wistfully at your “Sonic Youth phase” from your Kelly Clarkson lifestyle. So you’ve got that going for you. And the good news is that this release is more… “approachable” to old, soft, fat fucks like you.

Author: listener | Category: Music Reviews | Comments(0) September 2007