CD Review
The End of That
Record Label:
Secret City
Review by
John NoydApril 2012
Facing an uncertain future, “End,” sits squarely on the crossroads blending endless speculation into snapshot biographies. Punching bag swagger from tumbleweed troubadours cruises loose grooves before panicked anthems blast past blown fuses and punch-drunk bruises; light swipes and deep dark bites swirl together to conjure hip, hallowed shadows, hurtling half-hearted curses before seamlessly shifting into lusty seductions. Predatory and victimized, P&A’s dynamic stamina binds breathless beatnik lyrics beside explosive crow-eating prose, tense tunes consume personal mementos. Limber honky-tonk bursts into steely fears as maverick tactics deploy six-string taunts and off the cuff lyrical cast-offs rolling in exasperated gasps and power-rock howls/ Blazing daylights swimming in late-night reflections covered in indie-rock bliss and heartfelt folk-pop side-stops, this versatile Montreal trio takes over Madison’s Frequency May 12th.
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CD Review
Sonik Kicks
Record Label:
Yep Roc
Review by
John NoydMarch 2012
Ever the adventurer, the man who helmed prickly British hit-makers The Jam only to go soft and soulful with The Style Council before exploring a solo career that honed hearty chamber-folk introspection alongside fist-shaking electric blues doesn’t slow down on his eleventh solo disc. Indeed, “Sonik Kicks.” is a clobbering culmination of Weller’s stylistic changes. Rustic cuts evaporate under singing wisdom dipped in daydream fevers and level-headed confidence, Weller caresses playful excesses, classical sentiments and crackling passions into throaty poems of pub-crawling philosophy, launching knob-twiddling space-rock from lonesome acoustic movements before fading into writhing reggae rambles. Fired up and limber, micro-experiments lay scattered in cosmic after-thoughts as, “Kicks,” seamlessly shift from pre-millennial jams to post-modern holidays; beautifully boisterous, quietly mystical, happily recreational and infectiously upbeat.
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CD Review
Feed My Monkey
Record Label:
Grasshoppers Music
Review by
Sal SerioMarch 2012
Let me paint you a picture of summer sunshine and skies of deepest azure. Let there be beach balls and Frisbees and hoola hoops and FUN. Let’s pawn off our worries and just have a damn fine time, alright all ready? If YOU like to have a good time, then you should feel right at home with these Grasshoppers. You can sample some beefy thematic rock & roll workouts (“Feed My Monkey”), puff some ire island sounds (“Cup Of Dreams” & She’s So Serious”), and even get far-out weird in a head-bangy Oysterhead sort of way (“Frankie”). It’s ALL good. These guys shift from style to style better than most drivers merge lanes on the Beltline.
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CD Review
Throwing Of The Die
Record Label:
Take Solace
Review by
Sal SerioMarch 2012
Now HERE’S something almost completely different. Take Solace, and be thankful, for this is one darn interesting group of musicians from Milwaukee. From the opening Cake-like dry vocal on “Everything Is Bigger In Texas”, I knew this was going to be a challenging review. Still, with intestinal fortitude and tenacity, I dove headfirst into the Spy Vs Spy TV themed tempest, where punchy trumpet bursts swam aside reverb-drenched garage rock bashings. Although, I hesitate to settle on any convenient genre categorization, as it’s just not that simple. Take Solace playfully and skillfully dance around a culturally diverse musical landscape. Ultimately the journey is mysterious, uncharted, intriguing, and oh so worth the ride!
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CD Review
Before Turning The Gun On Himself
Record Label:
Roadrunner Records
Review by
Drew MaddenFebruary 2012
“Before Turning the Gun on Himself” is a refreshing return for Stanhope. You know that type of comedian who rants on his hatred for the napkin holder at that corporate coffee bar? Yeah Stanhope ain’t that guy. In this album he returns to the topics that made him great: abortion, politics, hookers, addiction, sex and drugs. The album answers questions you’ve been dying to have answered like; why this straight libertarian white man needs a big black cock in his mouth.
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CD Review
The Hunter
Record Label:
Reprise
Review by
Sal SerioJanuary 2012
This review may be a tad late, although perhaps not since we enter a new year, and upon reflection, 2011 was a milestone year for Mastodon. Not only did they utterly destroy the “follow-up to major success” curse with The Hunter release and it’s shorter power-punch songs garnished with lush space-rock numbness, but the Live At The Aragon album from earlier in 2011 is also truly essential.
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