Mike
Bennett's
Capsule
Reviews:
January,
2002

Maggie Connell -- The Luxury Of Sadness (Frigidisk): The Frigidisk label has become synonymous with literate modern pop music, and this disc will do nothing to diminish its reputation. Coming off like a collaboration between Sam Phillips, The Virgin-Whore Complex, Abby Travis and Hawksley Workman, the clever lyrics and quirky embellishments rest upon a foundation of familiar musical forms - a few songs have a post-modern girl-group feel. Connell has a rangy voice, but eschews showoffy histrionics, instead concentrating on establishing a persona that fits with her lyrics. Her impressive instrument comes more to the fore in the inventive layers of backing vocals - when all of the elements come together, like on “I Slip on Rainbows”, with its vaguely psychedelic guitar lead and two or three distinctive vocal hooks, you’ll be forced to hit the repeat button on your disc player. At times, Connell comes off like Kate Bush circa The Dreaming, minus the mythology, substituting lacerating wit, with more great vocals and great percussion (“Diagram of Rage”). And George Carlin would flip for “I Eat Children”. Extremely impressive. Frigidisk.com.

Life Without Buildings -- Any Other City (DC/Baltimore): Neo-post-punk? This U.K. band generated heavy buzz for its incorporation of influences such as The Fall, The Raincoats and other luminaries of the late-‘70s/early-‘80s. The basic approach consists of Sue Tompkin’s half-sung/half-spoken vocals, which sound like a strident working class lass (like Altered Images’ Clare Grogan, a half-octave down the scale, after a bender, perhaps?), punctuated by the sporadic caterwaul, accompanied by the band locking into a structure and playing with only a wee bit of variation for four minutes or so. In small doses, this stuff catches with a couple of spins, but the band plays with so much restraint, only occasionally generating anything above room temperature. Moreover, while the band has a concept, they fail to do much interesting with it. Once you’ve heard the first two songs on the disc, there is little reason to listen further - you’ve heard all they have to offer. Disappointing, but just enough here that they shouldn’t be dismissed. However, next time, they better be damn good. Dcbaltimore2012.com

The Green Pajamas -- The Carolers’ Song (Hidden Agenda): More low key than their first EP for Hidden Agenda, Jeff Kelly and crew have concocted an insinuating mix of lite psychedelia and ‘60s-based folk-pop, that can be traced back to their earlier recordings, but evince the best kind of maturity and craftsmanship. The band has managed to grow and evolve without forgetting some of basic principles that make them a treasure. Eric Lichter makes two substantial contributions to the effort “Orchid Sunshine” and “Hush Your Violence”, which is cut from the same cloth as recent compositions by XTC’s Colin Moulding, but less frothy, pushed by Lichter’s pleasant sandy voice. Kelly is on top of his game, contributing numbers that seem to evoke Ray Davies collaborating with members of The Triffids and The Church - a unique combo of hooks, splendor and tension. The muted urgency of “Felicity Cross” is a highlight - it sounds like a cousin of the old Green Pajamas number “I Have Touched Madness”. If you’ve wanted to take a flier on the Pajamas, start here and keep going. Parasol.com.

Trish Murphy -- Captured (Raven): Sometimes it just has to be simple. A woman with a smooth voice with leathery edges, angelic yet demonized, an acoustic guitar and some basic folk and alt-country numbers, playing in front of fans and friends at a couple locations in Austin, Texas. Murphy shows traces of Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash and the quieter side of Paul Westerberg in her writing. At her best, like the beautiful “Lightning Strikes”, she is utterly transfixing - the intimate recording only enhances the emotional power. But Murphy avoids the bombast that seems to plague so many of the ‘girls with guitars’ set. Listen to “Outsider” and try to imagine most modern femme folkies cranking up the stridency to not only make it sound like one’s heart was torn out, but that it was actually being torn out whilst the song was being recorded. Murphy, however, modulates her performance, only breaking into powerhouse mode for punctuation. “The Trouble with Trouble”, the epic “Vanilla Sun” (with wonderful accompaniment from the full compliment of musicians who assist Murphy) and the plaintive and dreamy “Blue Tattoo” are other top tracks. One of the year’s best live albums. Trishmurphy.com

Beach Buggy -- Sport Fury (Poptones): Beach Buggy is a throwback to the pounding-yet-catchy sounds of bands like Pixies and Poster Children. As if to confirm this observation, this disc is recorded by Steve Albini, who manned the boards for seminal releases by both of those bands. Albini’s patented back-to-basics approach pays dividends, as Jack Straker dashes off memorable rock riffs with greater consistency than like minded outfits like White Stripes. Like the Stripes, Beach Buggy rocks ferociously. But Beach Buggy never goes over-the-top like the Stripes. So when the band does explode, it has a much greater effect. On “Science Fiction”, the verses are all Black Francis and post-modern surf rock, with a quivering melody. The chorus is dynamic and thrashing, combining fury and control, with the great lead guitar work giving the song dimension. Each explosion gets more intense and the ending is draining. Man, does Albini get a great drum sound. Genial vocals that sound like a cross between Frank Black and Doug Falkner sing the simple lyrics that accompany equally simple melodies - great playing, just enough songwriting and a winking ‘let’s have fun’ attitude make this one of the better straight ahead rock releases of the year. poptones.co.uk

___________________________________________________

To reach any other page contained in this month's update on Fufkin.com, read the home page for the appropriate link and click on it. You can also search the site from any page using the search box located at the top of each page. Merely type in the word, phrase, name of the band, recording, name of the Fufkin writer that you are looking for or Whatever in the search box, and then click on "Search". If you would like to e-mail us, go to the About Us page for a list of e-mail addresses.

Go back to the home page by clicking here

____________________________________________________