Best releases of Chicago 2007
Andrew Bird-Armchair Apocrypha-(Fat Possum Records)
Like
a young professor wise beyond his years, Andrew Bird focused on musical
styles from bygone eras with his Bowl Of Fire ensemble. Now that he’s
“solo,” he has focused on creating unique new pop. He’s created a
richly rewarding style, somewhat similar to Bare Trees era Fleetwood
Mac and Mutations era Beck. And he can croon like Jeff Buckley when he
wants, like on Armchairs. Other songs like Dark Matter recall post new
wave glory of Wah Heat! This is a great, intelligent pop record.
This Is Me Smiling - This Is Me Smiling-(One Haven/Red Ink)
The
voice of singer Dan Duszynski sounds like a cross between Eric Matthews
and Ben Folds. As a matter of fact, that’s what this record is kind of
like, which is pretty great. They pop out on the should’ve been massive
“A Better Way To Fall In Love,” which cranks up into OKGO gear. But
there aren’t too many songs as great as “Prettier” around (which even
has a mini bongo break!).
Smashing Pumpkins-Zeitgest-(Martha’s Music)
From
the opening pop of Jimmy Chamberlin’s snare on “Doomsday Clock” there’s
no doubt that the Pumpkins are back! (This is the song that brought
down the house at the Live Earth concert, but the producer’s chose to
broadcast 2 Pumpkins classics instead of anything new…go figure).
Anyway, this CD sounds like a new greatest hits collection. The songs
all sound like singles, almost like Matchstick Men-era Status Quo. This
record has more of a 60’s feel that any previous SP Lp, including some
overt political themes. The hit Tarantula boogies like T.Rex fronting
Led Zeppelin! Let’s hope this trip continues for a long, long time. As
the late, great Wesley Willis once said, “Rock On Smashing Pumpkins!”
The Ponys-Turn The Lights Out-Matador (Records)
The
Ponys updated garage-psych is a great sound, and Turn The Lights Out is
a fantastic Lp- as great as anything by The Brian Jonestown Massacre or
the Warlocks, which is pretty solid company. “Exile On My Street”
sounds kind of like Killing Joke covering Guess Who’s “No Time Left For
You”. Other tracks like “Turn The Lights Out” groove like Spoon. “1209
Seminary” sounds a little like Sonic Youth under the influence of
massive strobe lights. There hasn’t been a track as hard and dreamy as
“Shine” since “Just Like Honey” on Jesus & Mary Chain’s Psychocandy.
Phil Angotti-East Side
Soul-(JamRecords)
Phil’s
been putting out records as long as the Pumpkins. Over the years he’s
refined his Invasion-style singing and songwriting talents. But even
with such influences on his well-worn sleeve, East Side Soul manages
many surprises. In part due to the exquisite fretwork on tunes like
“Avenue L”, and guest musicians like Casey McDonough, the mostly
acoustic instrumentation sounds like Blonde On Blonde era Dylan,
especially on “East Side Soul #27”. “Nervous Girls” rocks like early
Modern Lovers, and “Psychedelic Sunday” is a magic carpet ride back to
the tail end of mod-era ‘60’s of the Zombies and Byrds. A trip worth
taking!
Tortoise-A Lazaus Taxon
This
4 Cd box set features a lot of lost gems from the band’s career, now
well into it’s second decade. No one else in rock (even Bowie himself)
has expanded upon the Low album’s sonic challenge as well as Tortoise.
They keep it instrumental and intriguing, like 70’s era Miles Davis.
Tribal rhythms of “Sexual For Elizabeth” remind one of My Life In The
Bush Of Ghosts as interpreted by Laurie Anderson. “Didjerido” is funky
while “Autumn Sweater” is wistful-yet upbeat. That’s the true beauty of
Tortoise, which the remixes on this box set is evidence of, even
though they are hyper intelligent, they guys in Tortoise don’t take
themselves too seriously! Art can be fun!
The 1900's- Cold And Kind (Parasol)
The 1900's boast three gorgeous young ladies and four
artsy looking young guys, and they sound a bit ilke
Stereolab playing Band On The Run. Bright production
by Graeme Gibson of Clava Studio surrounds the breezy
vocals with clean concise playing, reverb and echos
often restrained until the final chorus, like in "Wool
Of The Lamb". A nice sunny vibe carries us through our
journey from Byrds-like "Two Ways" circa Younger Than
Yesterday to the melancholy (or Mellon Collie meets
Sgt Pepper) "Supernatural". This is a dreamy pop of
the classic order.
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