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January 2002 Reviews by
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January 2002 Reviews by
RATING SYSTEM:
= GODDAMN!!!
= EXCELLENT
= VERY GOOD
= GOOD
= FAIR
= SHITTY
Comment Piece: Bonky Dinky Tok
Craw, batches! Bag a grabby pull at the Bonky Dinky Tok. There all samuel mixes, them all DRAPE and PROWL. Them sandwich fixings are approximate and shallow, just FRESH for the tippy double. You stay away from double, for as you may tending for dribble tension? No fear of this happening, for LUSH is MELLOW. Slow, slow, slow...then as FAST as your pappy's CHINPAW. Mix and match, fix and patch...BONKY DINKY TOK...is the HATCH!
Ashby
- Power Ballads (CD, Marina Recordings,
Pop)
Somewhat like a more direct version of Sweden's Komeda, Ashby
is the duo of Evelyn Pope and Bill Cowie. Even though the
band hails from Boston, Massachusetts this, their debut album, has been
released by Germany's Marina Recordings. Ms. Ashby and Mr. Cowie write elegant,
understated pop songs that are characterized first and foremost by super
smooth enchanting vocals. The melodies themselves have nice floating quality
that is soothing and absorbing. The arrangements are particularly delightful.
Subtle electronics bleep, dwiddle, sweep, and wash away in the background
as the basic instrumental elements of lounge pop hold down the fort. Add
intelligent lyrics into the equation and you've got a smart little band
that'll make the critics drool. Excellent tunes like "West Coast Town,"
"Continuity," and "Favorite Son" make this album a super
ride. The sound quality of this recording is impeccable. (Rating: 5+)
Azure Ray - November (CD EP, Saddle
Creek, Soft pop)
If you haven't yet been exposed to the music of the Athens duo Azure
Ray, we would suggest immediately scooping up everything that these
two enchanting ladies release. We went nuts over the duo's self titled debut
album. The November EP picks up where that album left off...with
even more mesmerizing results. Azure Ray is Orenda Fink and Maria
Taylor. The two initially gained recognition through their association
with Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes). These ladies quickly established
themselves as a wholly credible act on their own and now have a legion of
fans across the country who swear by their music. Fink and Taylor's tunes
are quiet, reflective, and melodic....but the band's vocals are what make
them so truly amazing. We have seldom in our lives ever heard such passionate
and amazing vocals from any band...EVER. These girls' voices are so good
that we actually get SHIVERS listening to their music. The songs are basic
slow folk with subtle electronics playing a supporting role. But there's
something different...something unique and difficult to describe...that
pushes the music to another level. If you think we're going overboard here
or merely gushing praise for the sake of gushing, one listen to this EP
will convert even the most jaded of listeners.Surely and without a doubt
one of the best acts on the planet. AMAZING. (Rating: 6)
Gilby
Clarke - Swag (CD, Spitfire,
Rock/pop)
Although he is best known as a former Guns N' Roses guitar player,
Gilby Clarke's solo material is much stronger that the mostly average
recordings of his former band. This fellow obviously made the right decision
to go solo. He has released four prior solo albums (Pawnshop Guitars,
Rubber, The Hangover, '99 Live). With Swag, Gilby seems to have
hit the nail squarely on the head. This album is chock full of catchy guitar-driven
rock tunes that are full of hooks while still retaining a nice dose of raw
rock energy. As we would have expected, the guitar work is exceptional.
But what really makes these songs cook are the melodies and, in particular,
Clark's masculine vocals. Many of the tunes seem influenced by 1970s rock,
particularly in regard to song structures. Great upbeat tunes like "Alien,"
"Crocodile Tears," and "Warm Country Sun" make Swag
Clarke's best album yet. Interestingly, the album closes with a surprisingly
credible cover of David Bowie's "Diamond Dogs" (!). (Rating:
5)
Crutches (Damn stubble type of big sticks to hold stuff up kind of things)
Lookie over HERE, lookie over THERE... Everyone got CRUTCHES...everygoddamnwhere.
Crutches to lean on and crutches to BREAK...but everyone got crutches...lawsy
goodness SAKE. Throw 'em down and throw 'em up...wherever they may land...
Crutches...they for DUMMY TYPES...everywhere to be found. (Rating: 2)
Deadbolt - Hobo Babylon (CD, Cargo
Music, Moody westernish pop)
Deadbolt is an unusual band that plays moody music with cool husky
vocals and some absolutely killer western-style guitar work. Our guess is
that the band is probably influenced by Johnny Cash...but in our
opinion, they are much better. The tunes on Hobo Babylon have a nice
creepy sound. The lyrics create cool images in the head of the listener,
often definite a particular story. This band's vocals are unique. You get
the impression that you're listening to some slightly drunk and crazy guy
out in the desert who just picked up a microphone and started singing. The
music is slow, methodical, and strangely hypnotic. The song titles are dead
giveaways to where these guys are coming from: "She Walks with the
Dead," "One Day I Will Kill You," "Big Man Make a Fool
of You," "Drunk Guy on the Train"... These songs sound surprisingly
authentic and have a slightly dangerous sound. Really cool stuff that doesn't
sound like any other band we've heard in the past few years. Deadbolt really
do seem to be dancing with DEATH. (Rating: 5+)
Edison Woods - Edison Woods (CD, Endearing,
Slow dreamy pop)
Slow, dreamy, minimal tunes that drift by like clouds. Lead singer/songwriter
Julia Frodahl takes a different approach to music, finding inspiration
from her friends' handwritten letters and reading the works of famous poets.
She threads these ideas into her lyrics and then layers them over slow,
trance-like music to produce slow and heady compositions. This, the band's
debut album, features eight lengthy pieces that are certain to put the listener
in an extremely relaxed frame of mind. Prior to signing with Endearing,
the band released this album independently. Cool and subtle stuff here.
We particularly like the packaging here, provided by Carla Gannis...
(Rating: 4++)
Emerson
Drive - Emerson Drive (Advance CD, Dreamworks Nashville,
Pop/country)
More pop than country. Emerson Drive consists of six young gentlemen
who offer slick, melodic, accessible tunes. The songs on this album could
best be described as Americana. The lyrics are direct and simple enough
for the average listener to understand and the arrangements are standard
and basic. That said, this band has some very entertaining tunes. The playing
is solid and the harmony vocals exceptional. If you're looking for a band
that's breaking new ground or something very different from the rest then
you would best be advised to look elsewhere. If, however, you are simply
looking for some catchy toe-tapping music that isn't too taxing and doesn't
require too much thought...these guys provide a nice solid jolt of feelgood
music. Top picks: "Only God (Could Stop Me Loving You)" and "Light
of Day." (Rating: 3++)
Evangeline Made - A Tribute to Cajun Music (CD, Vanguard,
Various artists)
Another exceptional various artists CD from the Vanguard label. Evangeline
Made boasts a staggering array of artists including John Fogerty,
Linda and Richard Thompson, David Johansen, Nick
Lowe, and more. The flow and sense of continuity here is amazing, as
the only thing all of these tunes have in common is that they are all cajun
style. The compilation was produced by Ann Savoy, a musician in her
own right as well as an author and folklorist. Ms. Savoy worked with many
of the artists prior to their recording sessions to help them develop their
ability to sing in French (!). You'll have to hear Patty Griffin
singing in French to believe believable she sounds. Obviously a great deal
of work went into this project...as many of these tunes sound completely
authentic. Fourteen tracks of well produced tracks that are anything but
what one would normally expect from this group of well-known artists...
(Rating: 5)
Honey Barbara - I-10 & West Ave. (CD, Emigre,
Obtuse pop)
It has been quite some time since we heard from either Honey Barbara
or the Emigre label itself. The two paired up a few years ago to release
an album and are only now releasing the follow-up. For those who are unfamiliar
with Emigre, the company is unique in that they are a digital type foundry
and a publisher and distributor of graphic design software and printed materials...in
addition to their role as record label. Accordingly, the packaging of each
CD release is always superb. Honey Barbara consists of Ross Marlow,
James H. Sidlo, and Lisa Kuehl. Together the three musicians
create slightly psychedelic pop music that would make Bill Doss proud.
Although the band's compositions are heavily reliant upon imaginative studio
tricks the songs themselves are strong enough to stand on their own. The
soft breathy vocals work well with the strangely skewed electronics that
bleed in and out of the music. This album contains no less than 17 striking
tunes. Our favorites here are "Beddie 'Bye," "Invisible,"
"All Fall Down," and "Renata." Cool stuff. (Rating:
5+)
The
Land of Nod - Mont Ventoux (CD, Silber, Instrumental/experimental/trance/ambient)
Slow, methodical, soothing...and slightly trippy. The Land of Nod
is an unnamed duo based in Cheltenham, England. To put it simply, Mont
Ventoux is a beautiful and mesmerizing collection of instrumental compositions.
The duo's tunes have a repetitious and hypnotic quality that is difficult
to describe...but suffice to say that the listener is left with a feeling
of floating in the clouds and/or dreaming. One spin of this CD and it is
obvious that these two individuals aren't the slightest bit interested in
trying to land a hit. The music is much too obtuse and unorthodox for the
casual listener...and most likely too restrained and heady for your average
alternative rock airhead. This album contains six lengthy, satisfying tracks
with titles that fit each mood: "Orientation Point," "Altitude,"
"Sommet"... You won't find the musicians' names listed anywhere
on the CD nor will you find any band photos. The Land of Nod is playing
the game their own way...and in doing so will likely garner a solid and
dedicated fan base solely on the merits of their pure artistic integrity.
(Rating: 5)
Molasses - You'll Never Be Well No More (CD, Fancy / Alien8 Recordings, Atmospheric
folky pop)
Altogether different in subtle ways, Molasses is a Canadian band
that does not sound like the rest. The music on this, the band's debut album,
are sparse, ambient, folky, and slightly obtuse. This is the kind of music
that might possibly be best enjoyed while staying in a tiny secluded cabin
during a snowstorm. The songs are personal and unusual in the fact that
the tunes themselves are not buried under arrangements. This might best
be described as Neil Young on valium. If you think the latest limited
edition CD being offered by Columbia or Elektra is going to be worth something
in the future, think again. (The very idea of collectable and limited edition
CDs has reached epic proportions.) But in the case of You'll Never Be
Well No More, this really IS a true collector's item. The cover and
accompanying booklet were all individually prepared...and make a mighty
nice package that compliments the music precisely. Slow, methodical, and
pure...it's no wonder that Molasses already have a dedicated following...
(Rating: 5)
Outta Luck - Deliverance (CD EP, Mother
West, Rock)
Fresh young band with plenty of adrenaline. The three guys in Outta Luck
have been through their share of name changes. First they were Generic
Band but then later switched to Faultline...until they found
out there was already ANOTHER band by that name. Eventually the guys decided
on Outta Luck, which is probably more representative of their sound anyway.
Playing loud guitar punk rock in the tradition of bands like Blink 182,
MXPX, and Bracket, these guys are off to a good start. Strangely,
our favorite track here is the fifth cut which is not listed on the cover.
The guitars are loud, the vocals way up front, and the rhythms kick some
mighty ass. Hard to say much more based on just four songs, but we'd bet
this band will be busting out many a speaker system in the months to come...
(Not Rated)
The
Paper Chase - cntrl-alt-delete-u (CD,
Divot, Skewed/offbeat/experimental/rock)
Honestly and truly...different. Is this Devo...on acid? Or could
it be Nine Inch Nails...on steroids? Comparisons may be as difficult
as the music on the second full-length release from The Paper Chase.
The band consists of John Congleton, Bobby Weaver, Aaron
Dalton, and Matt Armstrong. Congleton (the main singer/songwriter)
yelps, yeeps, and yells his lyrics to songs that jerk and jabber at the
listener in an almost mocking tone. This is the kind of thing you either
love or hate, as there is probably little or no fence sitting here. We're
always seeking out the different and the unusual. Admittedly, finding unusual
acts is not too difficult these days. But finding an act that is both unique
AND credible...isn't quite so easy. The Paper Chase is one of those rare
cases where the unique traits collide with actual moments of genius. The
possible appeal here is that John isn't just yelping and trying to sound
extremely weird. In his own obtuse way he is actually able to conjure up
unique feelings and ideas in the mind of the listener...and in doing so
provides some provocative food for thought. Anyone who hears this CD and
cannot immediately recite the following lines from memory will be flogged
and hung at midnight: "I hate the sun. The sun is uncontrollable...unforgiving...
With the sun...you can...shape and sculpt reality..." (Rating:
4+++)
Park
Avenue Music - To Take With You (CD,
Devil In The Woods,
Subtle pop)
Smooth, ethereal, and beautiful. You won't find many bands on the planet
whose music is as soothing and strangely satisfying as Park Avenue Music.
The band is actually the duo of Wes Steed and Jeannette Faith.
The pair write and play soothing pop music that has a subtle floating quality
that is difficult to describe. Ms. Faith's breathy vocals are quite mesmerizing...reminding
us very much of Curved Air and the Cocteau Twins. This young
lady is, to put it bluntly, one of the best female vocalists we have heard
in years. Hearing her sing literally makes us start to melt into the atmosphere.
But as great as this music is, you aren't likely to hear Park Avenue Music
heating up the airwaves anytime soon. The reason? The music is too unfamiliar
sounding and distant to reach great masses of people. And that is probably
just as well, because this is the sort of band that will be grasped and
cuddled by esoteric undercurrents in the listening community. Tunes like
"Petals," "73 Hours," "24 Hours," and "Crash"
are engaging, enchanting, and downright addictive. Rather brilliant, indeed
it is... (Rating: 5+++)
Remora - Some Past's Future (CD, Silber,
Experimental noise/drone/obtuse)
Lacking any commercial appeal whatsoever, one man band Brian John Mitchell
(the man who is Remora) obviously isn't playing the game the way
most folks think it ought to be played. While this is the first proper Remora
album, Mitchell had previously released five independent cassettes. A question
that may arise among listeners: Are Remora tunes art...or junk? While folks
are debating that question, Mitchell will most likely be onto his next endeavor...leaving
puzzled listeners along the way to ponder and attempt to figure out what
he has created. Beginning with the heady drone of "10,004," Some
Past's Future goes off in all directions foreign and unknown. We definitely
prefer the experimental instrumentals to the vocal tracks with recognizable
lyrics. Not surprisingly, Mitchell has ties with experimental kingpins Pineal
Ventana (with whom some of these tracks share a similar sound). Strange
and disjointed, this album is definitely NOT for everyone... (Rating: 4++)
Roadsaw - Rawk N Roll (CD, Lunasound
Recording, Rock)
We must admit that the folks at Lunasound Recording grabbed our attention
with their essay that accompanied this CD. The essay is entitled "The
American Longhair (A Case Study)." In our ignorance, we thought that
rock bands were merely groups of dime-a-dozen long haired men running around
playing loud noise. Little did we realize (until NOW) that these musicians
are by their very nature sociological and psychological phenomenons (heh
heh heh...). But back to business... Boston-based Roadsaw is
a band playing genuine raunch and roll. These long-haired leather-clad guys
play straight from the hip...zipping out cocky guitar riffs anchored by
thunderous bass and drums. The vocals are super macho and have the effect
of pushing the music to the next level of riff rock heaven. No frills here...just
pure rock and roll energy. Hot cuts like "Right on Through," "Scorpion
Bowl," and "Buried Alive" make Rawk N Roll a keeper...
(Rating: 4++)
Doug Roberson and the Swarays - Evanescent (CD, Ginger,
Pop)
Smooth melodic pop infused with excellent harmonies and jangley guitars.
Doug Roberson has been through his share of bands. Previously he
was a member of The Dangtrippers, Devin Hill, Head Candy,
and The Bent Scepters. Nowadays he is steering The Swarays...a
sixties influenced pop band with definite similarities to 1980s guitar pop.
Evanescent is a smooth ride indeed...featuring nice and slightly
unusual chord progressions and Doug's super smooth vocal style. The album
contains sixteen little chart toppers like "Holiday," "Fractured
Angel," "So You Say You Lost Your Baby," and "Can't
Wait Forever." Our favorite track is the dreamy and effective "Near
Religious Experience." Nice stuff that doesn't clobber you over the
head but slowly creeps into your subconscious... (Rating: 4+)
Sin
(Good thing to do sort of thing)
Sin is good, no doubt about it. If something is a sin, then it MUST be good.
There are two options in life. The first option is to NOT sin. The second
is to sin. Choose the second option. Living a life without sin is like living
in a cave with nothing. Why deprive yourself of the best things in life?
Do everything that you aren't supposed to do. Take chances. Take risks.
Break your bones. Break the law. Beat up a dog. Live with the shame and
horror that others are afraid of living with. But whatever you do, be sure
to SIN AWAY as much as you possibly can. After all, tomorrow is just another
day... (Not Rated)
Conrad Schnitzler - Conal 2001 (CD, Submergence,
Electronic/experimental)
Another fantastic psychedelic electronic trip provided by Conrad Schnitzler,
one of the most important electronic recording artists of our time. It seems
strange that even though this man has influenced hundreds of thousands of
people, most folks probably don't even know his name. Schnitzler was originally
a member of Tangerine Dream but left the group after the first album
was released. He then created/joined the group Kluster (later renamed
Cluster) with renowned recording artists Moebius and Roedelius.
Three Kluster albums later Conrad decided to go solo. This fellow may never
become more widely known in the world of music because he seems to purposely
avoid releasing accessible music. Conal 2001 is good evidence of
this fact, as the three long pieces (the shortest clocking in at 18:55)
are purposely bizarre, difficult, and contain virtually no elements that
the casual listener would be able to grasp. To make things even more abstract,
the songs are not even titled (other than being referred to by their length
in minutes and seconds). Conrad seems content to release music in its purest
state...as a purely artistic endeavor...and he obviously doesn't give a
damn about having a hit. For our own particular tastes, there is little
in the world that we love more than spacey and wild electronics served up
right. This man provides some of the best. Although playing for a very limited
audience, Conrad Schnitzler continues to provide some of the most astounding
music on the planet. Recommended for folks into Wendy Carlos' more
abstract material... (Rating: 6)
Slojak
- Get There From Here (CD, SilverLake,
Rock)
Genuine cock rock with lots of guy appeal. No sissy stuff and on frills
here. Slojak are four sweaty men who like to strip to the waist and
rock. The tunes on Get There From Here range from fast and loud to
mid-tempo. The songs themselves sound something like a cross between The
Stooges, The New York Dolls, and even Aerosmith. This is the
band's second album and it contains some fine rockers. Tunes like "24
Hours," "Someday the Rain," "One Last Time," and
"Rainbow Bridge" should appeal to most fans of classic rock music.
We particularly like the fact that the band does occasionally lower the
volume and let their other side show through the cracks. Nice solid stuff,
we bet these guys put on a fine show... (Rating: 4+)
Slowride - As I Survive the Suicide Bomber (CD, Deep
Elm, Pop/rock)
Unrelenting hard guitar pop with smooth vocals. Despite the fact that the
guitars are loud and the rhythms fast and furious, the guys in Slowride
never trade away song structure and melody for volume. The band's smart,
straight-from-the-hip loud pop is extremely danceable and effective. The
band consists of Dan Phillips, Rob Marchant, and Steve
Visneau. These three gentlemen provide plenty of upbeat fun here. Tracks
like "I'm Everything Without You," "On Our Own," and
"Self Improvement: Lesson One" are masculine jolts of pure power
pop played with conviction and positive energy... (Rating: 4)
Smashmouth - Smashmouth (CD, Interscope,
Pop/rock)
From the band name and publicity photo, one would expect Smashmouth
to be another one of those generic samey hard thrashy rock bands that have
become a dime a dozen of late. This is NOT the case. Smashmouth tunes are
straight away pop music infused with lots of studio gloss and gimmickry.
Opening with Kinks-like riffs on "Holiday in My Head,"
the band immediately launches in their catchy pop mode. You've gotta admire
a big tattooed guy like Steve Harwell. He looks big and mean, but
he's got the voice of a cuddley pussycat. While the overall sound...and
particularly the arrangements...may sound a bit too commercial and accessible
for your average alternative nerdaholic, all of the tricks that this band
has up their sleeves seem to WORK. It isn't until the last track when the
band shows their true colors by performing a surprisingly credible cover
of The Monkees hit "I'm A Believer." Happy, upbeat, infectious
pop. (Rating: 4+)
The Sunshine Fix - Age of the Sun (CD, Emperor Norton, Psychedelic pop)
The Sunshine Fix is the latest project of underground pop icon Bill
Doss. Doss was formerly with the legendary Olivia Tremor Control,
a band that we unfortunately never heard much material from. The tunes on
Age of the Sun are 1960's inspired pop ditties with a heavy emphasis
on studio noodling. Bill certainly doesn't mind adding bizarre sounds into
his music and most of the time his experiments work. Folks offering support
on this album include Kevin Sweeney, Ryan Lewis, Neil Cleary,
and Derek Almstead. This album is a trippy unpredictable mix of eclectic
tunes. Our favorite cut is "Hide in the Light," which just happens
to be one of the more accessible tunes. Neat stuff. (Rating: 5-)
Teenage
Fanclub - Howdy! (CD, Thirsty
Ear, Pop)
What a pleasant surprise to hear a new release from Teenage Fanclub.
This album begins with the exceptional "I Need Direction," which
is as good as anything the band has ever recorded. Guitars chime and strum
as breathy harmonies gush through the speakers. Fantastic. The next track
that really grabs us is "Accidental Life," which features a truly
beautiful melody line. Possibly the most driving song is "Near You,"
with its urgent lyrics and thick keyboards. In a perfect world this would
be a major radio hit. "Dumb Dumb Dumb" is a timeless pop song
centered on around a droning chord progression. Those thick harmonies sound
particularly mesmerizing on this cut. These are just a few of our favorites,
but in actuality this entire album is superb. The band's music sounds as
vibrant and credible as it did when they began over a decade ago. Fans may
debate the point, but we're wondering if this just might be the best Teenage
Fanclub album ever...? (Rating: 5+++)
Yann Tiersen - Amelie From Montmartre (CD, Virgin, Motion Picture Soundtrack)
We normally don't waste our time reviewing soundtrack CDs, but in this case
we HAD to make an exception. This, the soundtrack CD to the film Amelie
From Montmartre, is a wonderful and fanciful ride through the mind of
French composer Yann Tiersen. What we like best about this disc is
that you most certainly do not have to see the film in order to enjoy the
music. The eighteen tracks, mostly instrumentals, are light and breezy.
Tiersen has apparently released three albums prior to this. We're planning
on acquiring all three. We just can't help but love compositions like "Comtine
D'un Autre Ete" and "La Redecouverte"... Fantastic stuff.
(Rating: 5++)
Vermont
- Calling Albany (CD, Kindercore,
Acoustic-based pop)
This is the second album from underground supergroup Vermont, a band
made up of members of The Promise Ring and Pele. The album
opens with "Bells of Saint Alcohol," a pleasant, understated number.
But it wasn't until the second tune ("Chlorine Chlorine") hit
the speakers that we began to fall out of our meager office chairs. Singer/songwriter/guitarist
Davey VanBohlen has a remarkably unmistakable voice and style of
songwriting. The music is laid back yet smart and inventive. And the vocals
are nothing short of mindblowing. If he chooses to take advantage of it,
this gentleman has the potential to become huge in the world of music. He's
that good. The trio is rounded out by Dan Didier (drums) and Chris
Roseanau (guitar)...both of whom who impressive restraint throughout
this album. Vermont tunes are understated, personal, and intelligent...and
the main focus is on melody. Our favorite tracks here are the untitled fourth
track (this one's unbelievable), "Hello_Goodbye Sex," "Kill
An Hour," "The World Doesn't Ask You," and "I'd Be Happy
as the World Turning Around You." Shooting fantastic pop straight from
the heart...Vermont is easily one of the best soft pop acts around. If you
ever loved Alex Chilton and/or Neil Young at their peaks,
this is the band for you. A MUST HAVE. (Rating: 5+++)
Violet Indiana - Casino (CD, Instinct,
Atmospheric pop)
Violet Indiana is the duo of Robin Guthrie and Siobhan
De Mare. If the names don't ring bells in your head, Guthrie was previously
with the Cocteau Twins and De Mare was previously with Mono.
Casino features 12 tracks that were previously unavailable in the
United States. There are 3 are brand new recordings while the remaining
9 cuts were culled from the band's EPs that were previously only available
in Europe. Following the audio tracks is a CD-ROM video of the tune "Killer
Eyes." The band's last full-length CD, Roulette, was a hypnotic
exercise in atmospheric pop and had a wonderful flowing quality from beginning
to end. Casino presents more of the same, although this album is
not quite as cohesively tied together. This is almost certainly due to the
fact that the tracks were drawn from several different sources. Taken track
by track, however, there is a lot of desirable material here. The ghostly
atmospherics that creep in and out of these slow, determined compositions
push them to the next level. Our top picks here are "Storm," "Poppy,"
and "Heaven." Highly recommended for folks who appreciate the
previously mentioned Cocteau Twins... (Rating: 4++)
Mark
Weinstein - Three Deuces: Jazz Duets for
Flute and Guitars (CD, LKC Productions, Jazz)
Subtle and smooth. On this album, flutist Mark Weinstein joins up
with three separate guitarists for some light and airy flute and guitar
duos. The guitarists, in order of appearance, are Ed Cherry, Vic
Juris, and Paul Meyers. The sparse tunes on Three Deuces
have a peculiar quality that reminds us very much of some of the more casual
jazz music produced in the 1960s...there's almost a sort of hippy-like quality
to the music that is most refreshing. Weinstein wrote the majority of the
tunes himself but also includes some well-chosen covers. The guitars are
understated the the flute playing is smooth and ever-so-slightly trippy.
Nice stuff for background music or to be played when you are in a somber
state of mind... (Rating: 4)
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