Kevin
Mathews:
May,
2004

I enjoyed putting Blurb-O-Rama together so much last time out that I've decided that it should be a permanent feature of this column till I get sick and tired of it. So boyz and grrls, I present…

Son of Blurb-O-Rama

Starflyer 59 I Am The Portuguese Blues (Tooth and Nail) Scratch beneath the hard rock veneer of I Am The Portuguese Blues and one will discover that Jason Martin and co have taken the current modern rock obsession with '70s hard rock and utilized it as a template for intriguing post-millennial indie rock gems like the strident "The Big Idea," the rolling "Wake Up Early" and the boogie fest that is "Sound On Sound." Rock on! www.sf59.com

Ness Up Late With People (High Pilot) This intriguing album lives up to its hype and more - ultimately arriving at the 12 minute-plus title track which is an innovative trek through the diverse styles and tones of our beloved rock music in the best tradition of 70s prog rock sans the pomp and artifice. Imagine Genesis and Jethro Tull at their absolute peak with the roots of classic pop & rock of the last four decades as their inspiration. www.nessmusic.com

Mojave 3 Spoon And Rafter (4AD) Severely underrated, this UK trio have released their fourth album reveling in a rustic, melancholy, ambient style that recalls the finest reflective moments of American Music Club, Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev & Grandaddy. Songs like the nine-minute long "Bluebird of Happiness," wistful "Writing to St. Peter" and the slightly breezy Starlite #1, are magical wonders to behold. Indispensable.

Phillip Hardy Old Dog, New Tricks (Self-released) This is an expanded version of a 3-track EP, which Hardy released a little earlier in the year. The inclusion of songs like the lively "Youth," the robust "Western World" and the exuberant "Season of Faith" which together with the sanguine vibe of "Bourbon Street," the country-folk musing of "She's the One" and the upbeat "The Drift" make for a value-for-money acquisition.

Roy Loney & the Longshots Drunkard in the Think Tank (Career) Rock 'n' roll at its gravelly, gritty best from ex-Flamin' Groovie Loney that will connect with every true blue aficionado of our beloved medium. Direct, honest and without affectation, the sixteen tracks on Drunkard in the Think Tank will continue to excite and thrill long after the latest American Idol has been forgotten. www.careerrecords.com

Doug Gordon Promotional CD (Self-released) There is a self-deprecating manner in which this CD is presented which belies the exceptional quality of the music found here. Austere it may be, but songs like the mildly psychedelic "No Regrets," the sweet "Angel of My Life" and the rustic "Oneonta" indicate the tremendous potential that Gordon possesses literally at his fingertips. Someone give this guy a recording contract! www.douggordon.org

Paul Edelman and the Jangling Sparrows North American & Susquehanna (Self-released) Forget alt-country. This is honest-to-goodness Cosmic American Music, the kind Gram Parsons championed before he prematurely departed this mortal coil. Gorgeous tracks like the sumptuous "Lead Me Out," the strident "Letter in the Dirt" and the rollicking "Thumb Me Down" mark an earnest collection that deserves your attention. www.cdbaby.com/cd/pedelman

Mountain Mirrors Lunar Ecstasy (Self-released)Jeff Sanders (who is Mountain Mirrors) strives to build a bridge between cutting edge modern rock and expansive progressive music. Think of Beck collaborating with Rush! Thus, Sanders erects on a bedrock of propulsive electronic beats, a soundscape that traverses a diverse range of styles and genres to create an intriguing hybrid. Different. www.mountainmirrors.com

Brent Daniel Better Late (Self-released) Very '80s and in a good way! The way Daniel mixes guitars, synths and tunes recalls the likes of Utopia and Klaatu, whilst imbued with the melodic sense of Crowded House and World Party. All told, very impressively constructed and highly recommended art-rock. Never a dull moment. www.brentdaniel.com

The Lisa Marr Experiment American Jitters (Sympathy For The Record Industry) Bit thrown by the bluegrass authenticity of the opening "Carolina's Last Ride" before I realized that this Canuck quintet excels in all things enlightened country and indulges in edgy roots rock as highlighted by "All of This Pain," "Niagra, Niagra" and "The Boy with the Lou Reed Eyes." www.sympathyrecords.com

BlueNevada The Day Be You (Self-released) The sax on "It's A Crazy World" sets the tone wonderfully on this amazingly eclectic album. Elsewhere, "Rhythm Boy" lives up to its billing sounding like Captain Beefheart covering Stax classics, "MSG" sticks in your throat with its funky veneer and "Robot People" channels the Animals in bizarre fashion. A delightful lo-fi package! www.bluenevada.com

Hamfatter Fireworks (Pink Hedgehog) The rolling "Bluesy Grooves," the bucolic "We Never Know," the touching "Bad Karma" and the hilarious "John Peel (On My Phone) color this intriguing release from Cambridge-based Hamfatter. Singer-songwriter Eoin O'Mahony's style & approach evokes fellow Cambridge natives Syd Barrett and Robyn Hitchcock i.e. quirky but melodic pop, and whilst it's clear that O'Mahony is still learning, there is enough evidence on Fireworks to suggest that he may just get there one day. www.pinkhedgehog.com

Apers The Wild And Savage Apers: Singles & Outtakes 1997 - 2002 (Stardumb) This Dutch band takes no prisoners with their primal, old-school punk rock. With hi-octane songs like "Work Sucks Bigtime," "I Hate Guys With Girlfriends," "Crazy Cows" and "Pinwal Wizard" (not that one), not much is left to the imagination on this compilation. If you like your rock loud and obvious, then the Apers should fit the bill. www.stardumbrecords.com

Various Artists Shake Your Popboomerang 2 (Popboomerang) Is Melbourne, Australia the powerpop capital of the world? As the cool releases come rolling off that conveyor belt, it is beginning to be difficult to um shake that proposition. Here's another 23 reasons why this may be the place to be if you love your pop music dulcet, beaty and bouncy. To top it off, Her Majesty's Finest provides the theme song to go with all that buzz. Think not, simply buy! www.popboomerang.com

Smith, Funk & Strauss SFS (Self-released) Sophisticated folk musings from this accomplished trio awaits the discerning listener where thoughtful lyrics and heartfelt melodies are pooled into a satisfying sonic experience. The relevance of songs like "Holy War," - 'How can I defend myself anymore/I don't want to live in your us and them world/God knows there is only us," defining the conceptual intent on SFS which delivers on almost every level. www.smithfunkandstrauss.com

UFO Jim Dancing with Aliens (Caprice) Retro futurist? Out of this world? UFO Jim sings about um… alien abductions, the apocalypse and yes, even Kris Kringle! But he wraps these zany ideas in pretty good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. Closely resembling the likes of Frank Zappa, ZZ Top, Kim Fowley, Captain Beefheart and Neil Young, this is visceral rock despite the celestial themes. I like it!

Jet Get Born (Elektra) Jet stakes its claim with an invigorating blend of the Who's crunch, AC/DC's swagger, the Stooges' energy coupled with the melodism of mid-90s Britpop (Supergrass, Oasis, the Verve). From the Motown strut of "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" to the Beatlesque beauty of "Look What You're Done," from the bluesy holler of "Get What You Need" to the cosmic Americana of "Move On," Jet displays promise beyond its tender years.

The Treat In Technicolor (Self-released) It's hard to resist lumping UK rock band The Treat with the hype generated by the Darkness in the British music scene. After all, any half-serious student of rock history will recognize the early 70s classic rock influences that inform the Treat's repertoire: The Who, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Free, Mott the Hoople etc. To be honest, In Technicolor boasts much perspiration but scant inspiration. www.thetreat.co.uk

Beatallica (Online release only) Yes, the basic premise behind Beatallica, is to imagine Metallica performing Beatle songs in their own um imitable fashion. Songs like Blackened in the USSR (Back in the USSR), Sandman (Taxman), Got To Get You Trapped Under Ice (Got To Get You Into My Life), Leper Madonna (Lady Madonna) etc Whilst the joke lasts, two truths become evident - James Hetfield's singing style grows old fast and Metallica doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as the Fab Four. www.beatallica.org

Nowhere Man Considered To Tears (I Like Red) Vikas (Nowhere Man) Pawas played everything heard here and it sounds fine. Steeped in 80s alt-rock tradition (e.g. Pixies, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, the Dream Syndicate, Long Ryders), Considered To Tears is a veritable feast as Vikas melds his influences well without too obvious nods to deliver a work that is distinctly his own - no mean feat! Songs like the wistful "I Am Forgetful," the dynamic "100 Lies," the anthemic "Wait" betray a psychedelic bias that informs Vikas' fundamental alt-rock leanings.

Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did - good bunch of music here, something for everyone. Please give all of them your valued attention and find the soundtrack that moves you where you are. See you again soon. Cheers!

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