Review: Jon and Roy "Another Noon," "Sittin' Back"

Jon and Roy

"Another Noon" (2008) B-

"Sittin' Back" (2005) C -

You have to respect an artist unafraid to make a principled stand. It's hard not to side with Michael Stipe and Trent Reznor, who last year spoke out against the use of their songs during bouts of torture at Guantánamo Bay. Sirs Paul McCartney and Elton John have similarly lambasted British government proposals to disconnect music thieves from the Internet, and more power to them. So, let me be the first to officially rally behind Canadian duo Jon and Roy, whose neo-reggae-folk tracks, from "First Thing in the Mornin'" to "Drinkin' and Thinkin'," seem to lobby for the elimination of the letter G from the English language.

Review: Son Volt, American Central Dust

Artist: Son Volt

Album: American Central Dust

Released: July 7, 2009 on Rounder Records

As a fairly hardcore devotee of alt-country music, I cannot avoid the importance of Son Volt and the work of its bandleader Jay Farrar. Son Volt has stuck to their roots throughout their existence, avoiding the more divergent path into different genres taken by Jeff Tweedy and Wilco. With American Central Dust, it’s very evident that Son Volt has not abandoned that unmistakably American sound, woven together once more by Farrar’s lyricism built on a nostalgic obsession for the past and the inevitable presence of fiddles, pedal steel guitar and piano. There are some gorgeous tracks on this latest effort—that can always be counted on with Farrar.

Nonetheless, that predictability also seems to be my one critique of Son Volt and especially this album. I don’t think it would be fair to call American Central Dust static but it quite simply sounds like everything else they’ve ever recorded. Son Volt has a great sound and Farrar is one of the best songwriters of all time, but there seems to be a lack of energy or spontaneity to his group. In any case, it doesn’t I mean I won’t enjoy listening to it or that the intensely proud Americana music fan base won’t universally praise it. Fans can count on the usual mix of melancholic ballads and easy rockers with heavy imagery and wistful hints of twang.

-- Cole Stangler, "The Cosmic American Music Radio Hour," Tuesdays 12-2 p.m.

Review: Tyler Blanski Out from the Darkness

Artist: Tyler Blanski

Album: Out from the Darkness

From his twangy, folksy guitar sounds to his slight Southern drawl, Tyler Blanski seems to thoroughly embody the style of country music. However, it is the creative touches that set him apart, such as the flurry of typewriter keys that accompany the opening strains of the first song on the album, “Two Inches Apart” and his beautiful yet ordinary lyrics. His songs tell everyday stories fraught with emotion—for example, in “Two Inches Apart” he laments that he has forgotten “the way you taste / when we kissed by the car” but still remembers that, when drinking coffee, “you always added cream / and stirred it with a knife.” These little snapshots provide the simplest details of the stories told in his songs, and to great effect: they make the songs lovelier and more memorable for the listener. As Tyler Blanski himself has said, “I want to write songs that people can relate to…songs that convict and inspire, songs that make a grown man want to swing on a swing set.”

Review: Lissy Trullie, Self-Taught Learner

Artist: Lissy Trullie

Album: Self-Taught Learner

Released: Oct. 20, 2009
Call it the renaissance of the New York Underground scene.  Before recognized as a band, this troop was recognized as another part of the sprouting gang of models, DJs, and rising socialites.  Even in Lissy Trullie’s music video of their first single, “Boy Boy,” front girl and band title, Lissy Trullie is observed strutting the streets of Downtown New York in the token skinny jeans and, a novelty Lower East Side designer, Alexander Wang, jacket.  The rest of the up-and-coming crowd joins Trullie with cameos by: Chrissie Miller (Sophomore clothing designer), Harley Viera Newton (NYU student-turned-underground-DJ), and the princess of the scene, herself, actress/model Chloë Sevigny. 

Review: Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca

Artist: Dirty Projectors
Album: Bitte Orca

From the opening song on Bitte Orca (the somewhat creepily titled “Cannibal Resource”), the listener can immediately tell that Dirty Projectors wants to stand out in every way possible. Along with echoing, almost twangy guitar and David Longstreth’s mournful-sounding voice comes almost poppy background rhythms and, oddest of all, a eerily harmonious chorus of disjointed female voices—band members Angel Deradoorian and Amber Coffman—singing wordlessly. This song is a mélange of such different elements that somehow all work together, indicative of the band’s quirky style. Even the lyrics represent an innate kookiness, ranging from the lovely (“Two Doves”) to the fantastical (“Stillness is the Move”). As “Stillness is the Move” asks, “Isn’t life under the sun just a crazy dream?” Isn’t the life just a mirage of the world before the world?”

Review: Weezer, Raditude

Artist: Weezer

Album: Raditude
Released: Nov. 3, 2009 on DCG Records

Weezer’s brand new album is certainly a unique contribution to the music industry and many argue that it is simply a horrendous piece of work. However, I feel that the lens that you view Raditude from will completely alter the way you feel about the piece.

1. The first way you can view the CD is from a view that hasn’t been influenced by any of Weezer’s previous works. By listening to the album from this very serious point of view independent of Weezer’s previous success, one will listen to this album and wonder “why?” There is zero continuity in the sequence of songs, the songs are mediocre at best, and the songs are musically predictable. THEN, when you find out that Rivers Cuomo is 39 years old and Patrick Wilson is 40 you automatically get a visual of a 55 year old woman walking through a mall sporting leopard prints, tight jeans, and showing too much midriff – middle aged people trying to act hip is a major turn off. I don’t want Rivers saying “I’m Your Daddy” or singing that “The Girl Got Hot” because it will simply make you feel as awkward as an under developed kid in Sex Ed Class. All of these factors would give the album a C.

2. The next view you can have when looking at the album is looking at it from a serious perspective again, but this time with the knowledge of Weezer’s past music. If you are looking for another Weezer album, then Raditude should meet your expectations. The songs are catchy, typical and melodious. With the exception of a few key tracks on the album, the CD would meet your expectation. Songs like “Can’t Stop Partying” and “Love is the Answer” however will simply confuse you. “Can’t Stop Partying” is a sad attempt to try and make it on the iTunes top 10 and “Love is the Answer” must have been an outtake from the Mike Myers move The Love Guru. The songs however do provide the classic unimpressive Rivers guitar solos and predictable vocal harmonies. For this view, I give the album a solid B-.

3. The final lens that one could view this CD, my personal favorite, is to look at it as a joke. Obviously, some of the songs are hilarious! “Can’t Stop Partying” is obviously a mockery of the Hip Hop Industry and that one went right over Lil Wayne’s head. Just like Taylor Swift mocked the industry with T-pain, Weezer is doing the same thing. Lyrics like, “Your mom cooked meat loaf even though I don’t eat meat” is certainly evidence that this album is meant to be a joke. In this context, I certainly give the album an A+.

--Alexander Podkul
Nothin' But a GOD Thang, Tuesdays 2-4 p.m.

Review: Real Estate, Real Estate

Artist: Real Estate
Album: Real Estate
Released: Nov. 17, 2009 on Woodsist Records 
Rating: A- 

The debut album from New Jersey band Real Estate has established them, amongst fellow lo-fi beach rockers like Girls, Cymbals Eat Guitars, and Rainbow Bridge, as a promising band within this burgeoning genre of indie rock. Just as the leaves are changing color and the weather is getting colder, and the arrival of winter is creeping closer, Real Estate is here to remind you of those hours spent with friends soaking up the sun and having a good time. And whether you do this by kickin back some Budweiser and Sprite on the Jersey Shore, or with some other combination of substances that will make you feel alright, the album will undoubtedly make you nostalgic for those nights in the warm summer air.

Musically, the songs are comprised largely of sweeping arpeggio guitar riffs and hazy vocals, and they wash over you like the summer itself. Although the songs all sound quite similar, one can listen to the album numerous times without it feeling repetitive or worn out. The opener, Beach Comber, is one of the album’s more upbeat songs, and its catchy guitar riff and powerful vocals make it one of the album’s stand out tracks. For similar reasons, track 6, Fake Blues is also one of the album’s best songs. Perhaps the most intriguing though, is the albums’ longest song, Suburban Beverage. Although it only repeats one lyric for the entire six minutes, the tempo changes propel the song forward, and capture the excitement of a long summer night. So, when the snow days of winter have you down, holiday shopping has you stressed out, and those cold nights have you longing for the freedom of summer, put on Real Estate’s album and, at the very least, you’ll feel warm on the inside.

-- Jared Iversen 
"Jive Talkin'," Thursdays 12-2 p.m. 

Listen to "Beach Comber" by Real Estate:

Review: Passion Pit, Manners

Artist: Passion Pit
Album: Manners
Released: June 9, 2009 on French Kiss Records

Looks like the indietronica scene is on the move again and with Passion Pit’s highly anticipated release “Manners” (2009), fans of Ratatat, MGMT, and The Octopus Project will surely find a new favorite in this one.
Emerging onto the scene only last year, Passion Pit’s freshman EP release, entitled “Chunk of Change”, was originally meant as a Valentine’s Day gift for a girlfriend who “put up with” frontman Michael Angelakos. The songs were leaked onto the internet and through modern magic we call “blogs”, Angelakos was soon in such high demand that he needed a band. “Manners” is the first proper release from Passion Pit, and it’s filled with funky beats and samples, mixed with Angelakos’s incredibly high-pitched voice (which is an acquired taste). But this is also a very versatile album. Songs like “Little Secrets”, “The Reeling”, and “Sleepyhead” will really help get your dance groove on, while songs like “To Kingdom Come”, “Swimming In the Flood”, and “Folds In Your Heads” will remind you of softer songs by The Cure more than anything else. Don’t be surprised if you feel as though you’re listening to an 80’s movie soundtrack when all of a sudden Passion Pit randomly breaks into a disco jam. That’s the talent in this new act – they get upbeat and dancy right when you want them to be. There are definitely a couple “filler songs” on this album, but they couldn’t possibly detract from the rest of the genius in here. Plus, even in those songs I can get my boogie on.
-- Ryan Sprouls

Listen to Passion Pit's "Sleepyhead" from imeem.com:

Review: Wilco, Wilco (The Album)

Artist: Wilco
Album: Wilco (The Album)
Released: June 26, 2009 on Nonesuch Records
Rating: A-

           I would like to start this review with a short disclaimer. Wilco is my favorite band of all-time. As I sit here typing at my computer, I am actually nervous because I am about to review Wilco (The Album), work coming from a band whose previous albums are almost indistinguishable in my mind because I consider them to all be so uniformly excellent. Nonetheless, understanding my responsibility to some semblance of objective standards, I will do my best to remain unbiased.
         Though I am confused (yet amused) by the camel-birthday-party that graces the album’s cover, it makes pretty good sense that Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy chose to title this effort Wilco (The Album). The album is the second that the band has made with its current six-man lineup, a departure from the more hectic band-member-shuffling days and also something that may suggest the band is finding its comfort zone and its identity. You won’t hear the balls-out drinking man’s rock music from A.M. or the experimental noise from A Ghost is Born, but rather a more restrained, yet still classic Wilco incorporating both extremes of their sound.