CD review: Brush, Love Sublime (Self-released)

By Nikki Williams

Question.

Why is it that people love ’80s music so darn much? It’s hard to argue against the fact that the music produced in the 1980’s was the perfect score to the fluorescently hued, coke-snorting, teen-movie-reigning, get-rich-quick existence that America experienced … but come on. How could so many bands with so little talent have become so popular and so lovingly remembered? Furthermore, how is it that 20 years later, current groups are daring to draw inspiration from the era that simultaneously brought us Duran Duran, Milli Vanilli and Paula Abdul? It simply boggles the mind … and boy, was the mind boggled while listening to Brush’s Love Sublime. (more…)

SHORT SCALE: CD reviews in 200 words or less

By Rachel Heisler

CD review: Yeasayer, All Hour Cymbals (We Are Free. Records)

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 geetars

They’re different, to say the least, with tribal, Native American-sounding chanting and out-right bellowing on top of a catalogue of trippy psychedelic, shoe-gazer rock that’s profoundly infused with Oriental/Indian-inspired drone. (If Syd Barrett and Modest Mouse had somehow been brought together, this could have been their band.) Yeasayer is a portrait of adversity and inclusiveness, at least musically.

Vocals are made mesmerizing by simply pushing them into the background and dosing them with effects. The rhythm are strong and compelling and stoners everywhere will find themselves engulfed in their essence … eyes closed, mind open.

If there’s one unfortunate thing about Yeasayer it’s that the band does not at all sell itself the way it should. Of course to really know what’s going on people have to hear the music, but there’s also CD cover art to consider. The cover here art looks like a half-hearted attempt by an awful local band from some indie scene in Nowhere, America.

Hopefully the power and passion of Yeasayer’s music will get out to the masses despite its blah representation. Word-of-mouth works wonders, and we’ll be the first to admit that this band has got it going on.

CD reviews: Martians See Red, When All Seems Lost … (Self-released)

Rating: 2 out of 5 geetars

Martians See Red have taken pointers from light-hearted bands like Weezer and pop punk bands, and use perky melodies to off-set their simplified lyrics. Their slightly unfocused or unrealized direction could benefit from a little more practice and some studio magic. And if a stellar producer could get rid of the “local band” sound, clean it up, give it some sparkle and polish, there’s no reason why they couldn’t run with the pack.

According to the band, their goal is to “try and add something beautiful and passionate to the world.” Beautiful isn’t exactly the right word to use when discussing this six-song EP, but passionate, well yeah, it’s passionate.

Martians have taken some big steps: they’ve gotten off their butts, written and recorded a few tunes and got the band rolling. But that’s just the beginning, now for the hard part. Fine-tuning first; getting signed second. After that, who knows?

CD review: Leo, Nightmares (Dream Makers Music)

Rating: 1 out of 5 geetars

What a tease. Leo’s intro rocks like a pig, and pigs that rock are what it’s all about. But it’s followed up by love songs like “Lake” and “Broken Records,” which drip with gooey sap and syrup. Some girls like their men to write them poetry, cry at chick flicks and nurture their feminine side, these types of girls will appreciate Leo’s soft, ‘girlie’ side. It would be one thing if the songs were romantic, but they’re not really romantic, they’re about showing how sensitive these indie guys can be. Hey – if that’s how you like your boys, great, more real men for the rest of us.

“I’m an Aries, and Leo is supposed to be my perfectly matched partner,” singer and guitarist Ian Eddy said. “I named the band Leo because music is my perfect partner.” Aw, how sweet.

If you dig sentimental songs (like the one’s it took Leo six years to write), Nightmares is the absolutely perfect CD. Just get dumped by your unsentimental boyfriend? Sit back with these guys and a box of tissues and get ready for a night of crying and self-pity. Miserable times will be had by all.

CD review: Kaz Murphy, Home for Misfits (Lyrical Porpoise Music)

By Rachel Heisler

There’s something soothing about Kaz Murphy’s voice and poetry. Free from rough, hard and intimidating edges, Murphy’s music comes across as comfortable ballads that are the musical equivalent of warm milk laced with Xanex. (more…)

CD review: Fuel, Angels and Devils (Epic Records)

By Eric Plummer

Any band that loses a front man is faced with a next to impossible task of creating material on a new album that die hard fans can relate to. With the departure of Brett Scallions (who is currently touring with Riders On The Storm with Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek of The Doors), Fuel is no exception to this rule. New vocalist Toryn Green has some big shoes to fill, and while his efforts don’t go completely unnoticed, Angels and Devils lacks the panache of their earlier releases. (more…)

CD review: Public Enemy, Remix Project (Ultra Records)

By Nikki Williams

Ahh, Public Enemy! Takes one back to the days before angry, black and conscious rap gave way to angry, black and homicidal rap. That was a time when dancing had not fallen prey to furious pelvic thrusting and generally the reenactment of sex on the dance floor. Rhymes that both entertained and inspired deep thought were laid down on tracks that truly moved the body instead of just providing background music for a smoke session. Over the past 10 years, it seems that the genre lovingly entitled Hip-Hop has become shallow, formulaic, boring and predictable. (more…)

Festival review: GonerFest 4, September 26-30, 2007

By Beverly Bryan

Okmoniks Johnson n Evans

Now that the cigarette burns are mostly healed and the ground-in hangover has finally receded, I’d like to tell you all about the bands that played at the Hi Tone on the first night of the Goner Records music festival in Memphis, TN, the last week of September. (more…)

CD review: Castanets, In the Vines (Asthmatic Kitty)

By Beverly Bryan

Pretty and ominous, I’d call Castanets’ third album, In the Vines, “heavy folk” if it weren’t so affected.

The first thing I thought when I heard Ray Raposa‚Äôs nasal drawl was ‚ÄúDylan‚Äù and then ‚ÄúDevendra.‚Äù His mash-up caricature of both reminds me of how I don‚Äôt really like either of them, especially on the Castanets’ lurching balladry of ‚ÄúThis is the Early Game.‚Äù (more…)

CD review: West Indian Girl, 4th & Wall (4th & Wall)

By Beverly Bryan

Out on Milan Records, the songs on West Indian Girl’s second voyage, 4th & Wall, named for the location of their L.A. warehouse practice space, evoke streets glittering with rain leading to and away from dark rock clubs and tiny, charming studio apartments – the kind no one can really afford to live in anymore. (more…)

Concert preview: Vegoose 2007, October 27 and 28, 2007, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas

By Rachel Heisler

Rage Cypress Hill

Music, music and more music … what else would you expect to find at Vegoose? The two-day music festival is celebrating its third year and is going in a harder direction musically this time. (more…)

DVD review: The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story (Zeit Media)

By Rachel Heisler

“We all still desperately miss him” – Rick Wright

The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story is a fast-moving overview of the history of one of rock’s most influential bands, Pink Floyd. The story of the band, from before their move to London in the early ’60s as youngsters, through to and its original songwriter, singer and musical mastermind, Syd Barrett, is told through interviews with bandmates Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Rick Wright and David Gilmour, friends, lovers, other musicians, etc. Video clips show show Barrett in various settings and the band making early music videos. Snippets of Barrett’s best songs, including “Bike,” “Interstellar Overdrive,” “See Emily Play” and “Jugband Blues,” are scattered throughout the DVD, but it is the anecdotes from those who knew him best that make the biggest impression. (more…)