Slipped Discs - Discs You May Have Missed by John Noyd

Lowe, Nick

The Old Magic
Record Label: Yep Roc
Review published: September 2011

Finger-snapping smooth and country-hip cool, Wilco tour-mate Lowe’s 13th album wraps itself around sentimental eloquence, replacing pub-rock raves made famous in his early days with a captivating compendium of frisky, rockabilly lullabies, starry-eyed Merseybeat and crooning Texas swing. Ace back-up and star-filled cameos from Paul Carrack, Jimmie Vaughan and Ron Sexsmith insure, Magic,” dazzles with professional performances surrounding impeccable arrangements.

Votes: 0

Lane, Nikki

Walk of Shame
Record Label: IAMSOUND
Review published: August 2011

Hard-hitting honky-tonk harnesses faraway wails and unflinching farewells, coasting home in tear-soaked commotion, timeless codependent tension burning bright beneath a sea of twang and reverb. “Shame,” tames coyote kiss-offs, hopping from swinging barroom bop to stoic alt-country romps. Nikki’s concrete cow-punk pairs sassy Southern gumption alongside I told you so odes, tipping a ten-gallon to reckless youth and restless penance.

Votes: 0

Lonely Forest, The

Arrows
Record Label: Trans Records
Review published: March 2011

Grass-roots minutiae fuel monumental pop as soft-spoken notions build to pouncing indie-rock onslaughts, “Arrows,” targets existential displacement inside self-assured thoughts. Pensive engines drive soul-searching questions, uplifting torrents of shape-shifting sympathies assembling resplendent, compelling parades.  Sailing and skating over breathless rhythms and runaway bass, TLF’s punchy electric strumming quivers in shiny, obliging slip ‘n slide wildness, barely containing contagious, ageless sincerity.

Votes: 2

Lowery David

The Palace Guards
Record Label: 429 Records
Review published: January 2011

Armed with snaggle-toothed grooves and crowd-pleasing candor, Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker’s literary hippie ambles from wistful and wise to ironic and snide. A blast of rascally ballads alongside a rash of gracious roots-strewn malice, his solo debut, “Palace,” is blissfully idiosyncratic, indulging in sweet buckwheat hootenannies, tempered garage-rock blessings and hard-earned alt-pop homilies culminating in gumption, grit and gratitude

Votes: 0

Love Language, The

Libraries
Record Label: Merge Records
Review published: August 2010

Succulent schmaltz, witty quips and swashbuckling bluster combine swinging, torch-song charisma inside hip-shaking hooks as champagne gallantry purges primal urges. TLL’s fluent truants sweep and swoon, crooning in undulating pop-rock majesty. Melting retro-chic treats into spectacularly groovy bravado; the royally flamboyant, “Libraries,” catalogs classic hand-claps, echo-laden harmonies, velvet violins, fifties-styled back-beats and steel guitars.

Votes: 0