Mike
Bennett's
Capsule
Reviews: December,
2001

Scroll down for reviews of releases by AM/FM, Toshack Highway, The Wild Ones, Johnathan Rundman, The Shazam, Ralph, an Australian power pop compilation CD, and tributes to Paul McCartney and The Kinks.

De La Soul -- 3 Feet High And Rising (Tommy Boy): Reissue of what may be the greatest rap album ever. This Amityville, New York trio turned all previously existing hip-hop conventions and clichés on their head, definitively showed that sampling was a new form of composition, demonstrated that rap and melody were not enemies, and proved to be adept lyricists - though known for it's frothier tunes, the intelligence in the rhymes found on "Ghetto Thang" and "Say No Go" belies how young these guys were. Even more impressive is the thoughtful exploration of sex roles on "Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)", in which an inexperienced high schooler makes it with a girl known "as a garden tool", but realizes that men are not alone in having a sex drive and having the right to use it. That the song has one of the greatest rhythm tracks ever laid down, with the odd Derwin piano interlude, adds to its greatness. The remastering removes some of the muddiness from the original. Initial pressings include a bonus disc of tunes from various 12 inch singles - not as essential as the album, but good stuff that deserves digital preservation. However, the lack of liner notes (beyond credits and such) is really a mistake - it would be nice to read an informed perspective on this classic. Tommyboy.com

AM/FM -- Getting Into Sinking (Polyvinyl): Indie rock band vies for song title of year with "If We Burned all the Assholes the Earth Would Look Like the Sun". Fairly low key stuff, this duo ambles along with some nice melodies. A few songs sound like they popped some tranquilizers and tried to blend The Ladybug Transistor with classic Brian Wilson. It's bleary-eyed fun. "It Fell out of My Head" combines a droning stoned melody with chanted backing vocals that sound like Papas Fritas leftovers (i.e., really chirpy) that jarringly pop out of nowhere. Pretty moments abound - the folky "I was Never Here Two Seconds Ago" and the gauzy "And Then I Got to Thinking about the Animals". It's a wake-and-bake charmer. Polyvinylrecords.com

Toshack Highway -- Everyday, Rock'n'Roll Is Saving My Life (Space Baby): The Welcome Back Kotter fan in me keeps wanting to call Adam Franklin's post-Swervedriver project Horschack Highway. Franklin has traded in the volume of his old band for simple acoustic guitars and spartan percussion. He doesn't need the amps - these songs are both emotionally and melodically direct. And Franklin has such a warm voice - it's aching and soulful in a regular guy way. Every one of the four songs on this EP works, from the pithy "Seize The Day" to the Mott The Hoople inspired title cut to the pop-with-folk-overtones of "The Hitcher" (he wants to hitch a ride to his lover's smile) and he layers the acoustics and soft lead guitars on the pretty "O Sweet Daughter". This guy is just plain good. Spacebaby.net

The Wild Ones -- Wild Side Of Town (Long Tall): Rockabilly combo keyed by the strong vocals of Rick Lindy (formerly of Big Guitars From Memphis) who was born to sing this stuff. Ten originals and five covers, with the originals pretty much sticking to the cool daddy-o gameplan. The band generates some sparks, and Ray Kainz has some fine lead guitar chops, but the production could be a bit rawer in spots - sometimes the Ricky Nelson clean vibe is right on, but a little Sun Records firecracker explosiveness could have added to solid tracks like "Pedal to the Metal". The slower stuff is uniformly terrific, and showcases Lindy's considerable talent. Speaking of Sun, one of Sam Phillips' original cats, Hayden Thompson, appears on a great rendition of his old chestnut "Love My Baby". Thewildonesband.com

Various Artists -- Give The People What We Want: The Songs Of The Kinks (Sub Pop/Burn Burn Burn/Right Now): Probably no surprise that when you get a bunch of bands affiliated with Seattle labels together on one disc, that a lot of it will rock. The usual tribute mix of rearrangements and faithful versions with a favorable ratio of good to not-so-good stuff. More importantly, the artists show the malleability of the Kinks' songcraft, and serve to increase appreciation for their stupendous body of work. While Baby Gramps acoustic front porch blues take on "Sunny Afternoon" is undermined by his Captain Beefheart-on-crack vocalizing and strident singing mars The Murder City Devils' attempt at turning "Alcohol" into a Kurt Weill showpiece, these are interesting failures. Mark (Screaming Trees) Lanegan does a better job of transforming the Kinks into Delta blues, and Mudhoney's sloppiness somehow works just right on "Who'll Be the Next in Line". Jon Auer ("Fancy") and Love As Laughter ("Tin Soldier Man") score the highest marks, with The Congratulators, Young Fresh Fellows and The Makers also rocking big time. Subpop.com

Jonathan Rundman -- Field Recordings (Salt Lady): Compilation of live recordings, mixing previously released songs with new (to the world of fixed recording) stuff and some intriguing covers. In fact, the covers will give you a good idea if this folk-based man with an endearingly reedy voice might be for you: the Finnish folk song "Arise, My Soul, Arise", The Carter Family classic "Will the Circle be Unbroken", Annie Lennox's "Little Bird" and Crowded House's "It's Only Natural", which is Finnish in a wholly different manner. Rundman has a Dylanish musical foundation, but can heap on some nice melodies. Though he begs a thousand pardons on the actual face of the disc for the 'low-fi' sound, he's being too hard on himself - this sounds swell. Rundman specializes in unique, and at times clever, perspectives and concepts, and then couches them in evocative but straightforward words. "Bright Funeral", the amusing "Meeting Nixon", the winsome "Miss July" and the begging to be covered "Afternoons" are amongst the highlights. The disc also features songs that Rundman has performed in the band The Muckrakers. A good place to start with Rundman. Saltlady.com

The Shazam -- 2000 Miles From Budokan (?): While not the essential Shazam live album that will ultimately issue, this document of the band's February 10, 2001 show at Exit/In in their hometown of Nashville certainly shows that the band has no problem carrying off its recorded material in a live setting. The disc is reasonably priced (through Not Lame), and though the sound is far from pristine, it doesn't sound like Rerun sneaking in a tape recorder to The Doobie Brothers on the old TV show *What's Happening* either. Catching the band after two albums and one EP, the 17 songs hit most of the highlights from those excellent releases. No band is more richly deserving of a comparison to Cheap Trick, having a very similar mix - ballsy Who/Move rhythm base and classic '60s rock melodies on top. They don't have the same hard rock jones, preferring to go in offbeat directions like "Sparkleroom" and "Chipper Cherry Daylily". Not the place to start, but most fans will enjoy this. Notlame.com

Various Artists -- Coming Up (Oglio): The companion to the previously released Listen To What The Man Said Paul McCartney tribute put together by the folks at Tribute L.L.C., with proceeds going to breast cancer research. This spotlights independent artists, and the closest thing to a heavy hitter is veteran Christian artist/guitar genius Phil Keaggy. Rabid power pop fans will know a lot of the names on here. This is a terrific collection - the much missed Star Collector's epilogue is a peppy take on "My Brave Face" which shows off their great harmonies and pop-rock instrumental prowess. Michael Carpenter, an established master at cover versions, nails "Getting Closer", just as you'd expect he would. If you're like me, and are one of the few who actually like Macca's original "Temporary Secretary", you'll really dig how The Andersons rearranged the verses to take out the robotic feel, but maintained the essential strangeness of the tune - if you're like most Paul fans and hated it, this may change your mind. Kyf Brewer's devotion to his track, "Mull of Kintyre", is revealed by an inner sleeve photo of Kyf in a kilt. Thankfully, Kyf reveals no more. Starbelly, Cockeyed Ghost, The Masticators, The Shazam, Ray Paul, Cliff Hillis and Mark Bacino are amongst other good to great performances on this hour of fun. If you're hung up on which of the two tributes to get, get this one first. Oglio.com

Various Artists -- Lost Weekend - Australian Independent Power Pop 2001 (Tomboy): This disc was released in conjunction with the successful Lost Weekend festival held in Sydney in October. Rarely will you find a more consistent compilation - perhaps one could quibble that there could be more variety, but from the standpoint of a pure power pop fan, this is one disc where you probably won't be skipping tracks. While many of the usual influences can be found here (Beatles, Big Star, Byrds), this comp makes a compelling case that Oz has developed its own distinctive strains of power pop: the You Am I school, the DM3 sound, by way of New Zealand, the Crowded House group, and Michael Carpenter, who between his performing (solo and with The Finkers) and production, looms ever larger in the region. Particularly great tracks include '70s stars The Innocents with the clever "B-Side" (fans of The Records and The Jags will dig this), Autopilot's Down Under version of music hall ("Haemophiliac"), The Replacements-influenced Challenger 7's "Rock and Roll Sound", Quick 50's urgent jangler "Tenth Time", and P76's "Sleeping In", produced by Dom Mariani. Starky, Chevelles, Lynchpin and DM3 are also featured. Purepop.com.au

Ralph -- This Is For The Night People (Bongo Beat): If you're reading this in your Manhattan penthouse apartment, sitting at your computer in your smoking jacket, martini by your side, looking for the Vargas girl in the next Esquire and longing to get in touch with your inner-Beat, Ralph's your man. Ralph's a descendant of the berets-and-bongos set of the late-50's/early '60s, walking down the trail blazed by Word Jazz guru Ken Nordine and others. Backed by smoky retro jazz sounds, Ralph has the right rhythm and vocal presence to stylishly pull off the narrative vocalizing trip. He also pens some nice lyrics that pay tribute to the tradition he works in, but don't overdo it. Most of the songs are pithy snapshots. On a couple numbers he pays eloquent tribute to New York City, the songs obviously gaining extra resonance in light of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The album develops a feel somewhat akin to a Raymond Carver collection of short stories - the combined weight of the songs gives the disc a certain life of its own, each track building on the noir ambience. Lauren (Washington Squares, Nervus Rex) Agnelli and Lee Aaron guest. Bongobeat.com

___________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________