Disc Reviews
by Max Ink Staff Writers
Masked Intruder - M.I.
Masked Intruder
Album title: M.I.
By Brian Lanier
Posted: Sep 2014
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
(2082) Page Views
Since their initial incarceration in 2011, Masked Intruder have been hooking audiences on their never-ending quest for true love and parole. Their sophomore release on Fat Wreck Chords, “M.I.”, is a fun-filled reminder that maturity is overrated. Fans will recognize an updated version of ‘I Fought the Law’ to open the album. Only the boys in Masked Intruder can offer the perfect date in ‘Crime Spree’, where infectious guitar riffs are glued together with stellar keyboards. Their 50s sensibility shines on ‘Stars’, quite possibly one of the best heartthrob songs in recent memory. The Doo-wop hit, ‘Almost Like We’re Already in Love’ showcases Intruder Blue’s crooning in the comical style we’ve come to love. On their recent hubris release, Masked Intruder played their CD release at The Frequency in Madison to a packed house, proving as long as they can break out they’ll keep rocking and writing until they find ‘The Most Beautiful Girl’. For now, the acoustic driven cry for freedom of ‘Locked Up and Lonely’ finishes off the album, reminding us to cherish our freedom while we have it. M.I will keep fans hooked on the infamous gang until their next work-release is approved.
The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream
The War on Drugs
Album title: Lost in the Dream
By John Noyd
Posted: Aug 2014
Label: Secretly Canadian
(2084) Page Views
Whether barreling down lost highways deep into the night or swimming in a shimmering abyss staring at the stars, raw chronicler TWOD’s grand galactic-folk projections well up from dark, cosmic slumbers shedding dread and embracing hasty hearts in deft, windswept caresses. Cloaked in shuffling mumbles whose enlightened flights twist and contort in sympathetic support, “Lost,” resolves and dissolves moving from aqueous masquerades to masterful disasters where surging solos wrap placid shrapnel around oozing grooves, liquid lyrics mold emotions smoldering in untamed pangs glowing under saintly restraint and slippery manipulations ride nocturnal waves down celestial ghost-rock. Populating apocalyptic mysteries with late-night runaways and sage escapees, the fearlessly stratospheric ensemble plays Madison’s Majestic Theater September 20th and Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater September 21st along with special guests, Califone.
J.E. Sunde - Shapes That Kiss The Lips of God
J.E. Sunde
Album title: Shapes That Kiss The Lips of God
By John Noyd
Posted: Jul 2014
Label: Cartouche Records
(2714) Page Views
While logging time with The Daredevil Christopher Wright, Sunde accumulated songs that didn’t quite fit the band, so when TDCW took an extended break, the savvy song-writer broke out the tunes for a solo debut that balances the sweet story-telling zeal of his former band along with some adorable detours into curvy pop-rock back-roads. Populated in conjoined haikus cruising through arcane trains of floppy thoughts and meandering melodies suited to unassuming troubadours, “Shapes,” traipse in casual wonder and curious, sun-drenched transcendence whose upbeat volleys rally around lop-sided delights, presenting jazzy ballads in tranquil resilience and wobbly waltzes hobbled in breezy conceits. Touring with fellow Wisconsinites Phox, Sunde plays Milwaukee’s Turner Hall August 6th and sold-out shows in Madison’s High Noon Saloon August 7th and 8th.
Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas - Secret Evil
Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas
Album title: Secret Evil
By John Noyd
Posted: Jul 2014
Label: Instant Records
(2258) Page Views
In her dynamite full-length debut, the muscular cabaret-rock of Detroit-born Hernandez leaps, creeps and sweeps. Stoked in ferocious vocals and cool grooves, lip-smacking attractions tease, squeeze, taunt and flaunt in crackling jazz-pop chops as, “Secret,” opts for total disclosure, baring old souls while wearing tarnished hearts on beaded sleeves. Breathing life into fearless fan-dancer tantrums and velvet-lined lounge-lizard misery with exceptional verve and fantastic sass, the rootin’ tootin’ straight-shooting Hernandez is salty and sultry, bruising and soothing, as her band-mates lay down toxic cocktails of brazen buckboard boogie, fiery torch-song blues and unbridled juke-joint jive. The gloriously gutsy Jessica and her high-stepping Deltas play Madison’s Live on King Street along with opener The Weeks and headliner Deer Tick in a rambunctious free show August 22nd.
Hugh Bob and the Hustle - Hugh Bob and the Hustle
Hugh Bob and the Hustle
Album title: Hugh Bob and the Hustle
By John Noyd
Posted: Jul 2014
Label: Self-Release
(2348) Page Views
While this Milwaukee-based outfit’s debut came out nearly two years ago, it seems 2014 will be the year Hugh Bob and the Hustle make some waves. Recent outings with country outlaw Sturgill Simpson and Nashville chanteuse Nikki Lane, state-wide gigs including a Summerfest date plus a spot alongside sharp-witted country-rockers Cracker at July 25th’s Live at King Street makes it hard not to run into these rip-roaring prairie rockers whose road warrior ways have honed their already awesome skills into a well-oiled machine doling out bronco-busting riffs and greased-lightning licks.. Crisp harmonies flavor robust chops as lonesome notions blend smoothly into rousing good times; popping woeful country hopes next to prickly rock-a-billy sticklers, HB&tH’s self-titled self-release roasts and toasts rollicking honky-tonk romps and twang-wrangled heartache.
Peter Matthew Bauer - Liberation!
Peter Matthew Bauer
Album title: Liberation!
By John Noyd
Posted: Jun 2014
Label: Mexican Summer
(2438) Page Views
Rising blithely from last year’s announcement of an extreme hiatus, The Walkmen’s bassist and organist Peter Matthew Bauer burns away the past; savoring the wreckage to step into the spotlight with the aptly titled, “Liberation!” Thirteen years in one band has taught Bauer both to follow his muse and interpret his heroes as sneering drawls and death-rattle sprawl bind into murky mosaics; vaguely familiar but quietly different originals retro-fitted to blaze an electric trail weaving deep self-reflection into focused social outrage. Cementing unrepentant sentences in savage compassion and ragged swagger spiritual lyrics swipe at hypocrisy and illusion while a troubadour-infused imagination fuels a swinging indie-rock buffet of jangly hooks and restless textures. In his only Wisconsin appearance, the smarmy swami visits Madison’s The Frequency July16th.
Black Stone Cherry - Magic Mountain
Black Stone Cherry
Album title: Magic Mountain
By Sal Serio
Posted: Jun 2014
Label: Roadrunner
(2374) Page Views
Kentucky: the birthplace of good bourbon, Hunter S. Thompson, and Black Stone Cherry. Coincidence? I’m not so sure! There’s a very druggy commonality to many of the themes on ‘Magic Mountain’. The song titles “Peace Pipe”, “Me And Mary Jane”, “Blow My Mind”, and “Fiesta del Fuego” should clue you right in to my meaning.
Heady references aside, my initial draw to this record is the really loud and up-front mix. The guitars just reach out and grab me by the short hairs. While the compositions still maintain a melodic sensibility conducive to widespread accessibility, “Magic Mountain” displays equally as much cocky aggro-rock swagger.
This is definitely one I can recommend to fans of current rock as well as classic rock, with ample nods to Mountain, or Grand Funk Railroad, song structures. Southern rock rears its rowdy head often, as evidenced by the Blackfoot-like instrumental break on “Me And Mary Jane”, and the hearkening to the Skynyrd ballad recipe on “Sometimes”. I wouldn’t be surprised if 35 years from now, Black Stone Cherry is still rocking the festival circuit and sounding as classic as they do right now. [BSC plays Rock USA in Oshkosh, Friday, July 18]
The Garza - The Garza
The Garza
Album title: The Garza
By Sal Serio
Posted: Jun 2014
Label: Chongomusic
(2127) Page Views
Some music absolutely refuses to be dissected like a Biology lab insect, and needs to be consumed as a whole. Sort of like eating sushi! The Garza’s CD is like a sushi roll for your ears. Just open up and absorb it consummately. To me, this musical statement is one long mood piece, distinguished by guitar / bass that melds itself into one huge, massive, riff, combined with Magma’s shredding, tortured vocals and unforgiving beats.
This expansive new material is combined with The Garza’s original 4-song E.P. recording from 2013, to document its looming majesty in a lucky 13 volumes of monstrous melodious musical mayhem. Again, don’t approach it like light reading, rather, ride this experience for its duration, and let it wash over your entire being. It’ll leave you feeling exhilarated and a little spent at the same time, like you just got sexed up by a six-armed love machine. Hairy on the low end, but shiny baldness on the crisper strings.
Be sure to catch The Garza performing with Give Us The Witch, at any or all of the following triumvirate of gigs: Thursday, June 26 at Quenchers in Chicago, Friday, June 27 at Mr. Roberts in Madison (free!), and Saturday, June 28 at Lee’s Liquor Lounge in Minneapolis.
The Felice Brothers - Favorite Waitress
The Felice Brothers
Album title: Favorite Waitress
By John Noyd
Posted: May 2014
Label: Dualtone
(2126) Page Views
Three years since releasing the dark, synth-riddled, “Celebration, Florida,” the upstate New York upstarts’, “Favorite Waitress,” is a concerted return to a stripped-down sound with dreams of creating a solid, road-ready album. An unqualified success, the tousled bar-room prophets dispense condensed vehemence in chummy rumbles, gypsy whimsy and sweaty roots-rock truths oozing in loose, bruised blues wrapped around rustic truck-stop hustles. Housed in rousing shadow-boxing moxie, “Waitress,” serves up punch-drunk crunch inside slap-happy tapestries; galloping rallies capturing every tilted windmill and wilting millstone. Schooled in the art of New York City busking, the Felice Brothers’ live shows harbor sharp lyrics, sly writing and legendary energy. Catch the touring warriors when they play Madison’s High Noon Saloon June 27th along with sizzling six-string singer-songwriter Robert Ellis.
Guided By Voices - Cool Planet
Guided By Voices
Album title: Cool Planet
By John Noyd
Posted: May 2014
Label: Fire Records
(1941) Page Views
Ohio’s GBV occupy the unique position of being outsiders working within a classical frame-work; their sixth effort since reuniting in 2010 and their second release of the year, “Cool Planet,” brings drummer Kevin March back into the fold, recording for the first time since reforming in a single proper studio. Doling out freaky T-Rex stomps, attention-getting Who-based romps and lyrical Fairport Convention inventions, Pollard and associates whole-heartedly embrace their cult status, producing a mind-numbing mish-mash of casual micro-masterpieces by happily crafting eccentric menace onto vibrant glam-rock and baroque psychedelic-folk. Juxtaposing finger-lickin’ riffs, over-cooked hooks and devoted psycho-solos, “Cool,” revels and rebels adding a valued addition to the ever-expanding canon of the gonzo-rocker’s prolific output. Catch them when they land at Madison’s Barrymore Theater June 20th
Charles Walker Band - Ghetto Prophet
Charles Walker Band
Album title: Ghetto Prophet
By John Noyd
Posted: May 2014
Label: Self-release
(2977) Page Views
Voted last year as the Best R&B/Soul Act by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry, Milwaukee’s funky blues outfit show off their chops with the five-track EP, “Ghetto Prophet.” Jumping immediately into whiplash boogie that highlights their ultra-tight horn-keyboard acrobatics, the groove-friendly unit wastes no time storming the dance-floor moving smoothly from fine shiny jive to popping skid-marked soul. The band’s seductive vocalist hosts the smokiest done-me-wrong sass this side of Chicago as the talented crew swoops down in restless caresses, ticklish twists and practiced passions; tackling upbeat scenes as easily as towering power ballads, even owning an electric cover of, “Call Me Maybe,” packed in spunky sunshine. A band best experienced live, CWB will be gigging around Wisconsin this summer, playing Milwaukee’s Summerfest June 27th.
NRBQ - Brass Tacks
NRBQ
Album title: Brass Tacks
By John Noyd
Posted: May 2014
Label: Clang! Records
(2726) Page Views
While Terry Adams is the only original member left in the current NRBQ line-up, “Brass Tacks,” is full of the classic NRBQ sound; a lilting devil-may-care frolic whose rib-tickling glibness and time-honored tributes to swinging roots music are just as open to Sun Ra or Rodgers and Hammerstein as they are to Buck Owens and Spike Jones. Honing their swamp-water voodoo, candy-coated mojo and feisty, carnival charms into rollicking concoctions brimming with brio, the grinning, spinning post-millennial NRBQ fuse years of playing together into a breezy, brilliant road-trip down memory lane, driving a honky-tonk jalopy gassed-up with new tires and the top down. Equal parts rockabilly thrills, country fun and bright bantering bop, “Brass,” adds a colorful chapter to NRBQ’s never-ending search for feel-good grooves.
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