Kevin Mathews:
December, 2004
So Much Music
… So Little Time
Sorry,
no time to chat…let's get right down to it, okay?
Blurb-O-Rama
Unleashed!
Pleasant
Grove The Art of Leaving
(Badman)
Spine-tingling, expansive, atmospheric, emotive and ultimately
arty indie jazz-folk-rock! Yes, I managed to find an all-encompassing
label for Pleasant Grove's powerful musical expression. You
want references? American Music Club, Red House Painters,
Pernice Brothers and a little dash of the Zombies. Highly
recommended. www.badmanrecordingco.com
Cheese
Enlarge Your Johnson (Pink Hedgehog)
With better-known bands like Dogs Die in Hot Cars hogging
the attention for quirky, edgy art-pop, it's a pity that equally
deserving bands like Cheese get short shrift in the process.
Let me attempt to redress this injustice. This is Cheese's
proper debut and it showcases a group that is in tune with
the same touchstones as Andy Partridge, Ray Davies, Paddy
McAldoon and Roddy Frame. Brit pop fans needn't hesitate…
www.pinkhedgehog.com
Paul
Weller Studio 150 (V2)
This man is a hero of mine. So, an album of covers left me
feeling cold and confused, I must confess. Still, Weller is
consistent, if nothing else, so the Modfather gives 110% with
a delivery of soulful R&B rock that seldom disappoints.
Obvious selections include Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower"
and Neil Young's "Birds" whilst less so perhaps
a rendition of Bacharach-David's "Close To You"
that recalls the Style Council! A bit of a curiosity item,
Studio 150 is strictly for fans only.
Tim
Lee No Discretion (Paisley Pop)
Tim Lee is certainly on a roll now. Lee has gone from an album
every decade to consecutive releases - which is great news
for every follower of authentic country-folk rock music executed
with passion and vigor. And this is the real McCoy, boys and
girls, not the corporate countrified travesty that the Eagles
are dishing out on tour - if you're not touched by the heartfelt
energy in songs like "I Wanna Believe" and "Across
the Tracks," you're comatose! www.paisleypop.com
Lolas
Something You Oughta Know (Jam)
Yes, the new Lolas alnbum certainly lives up to the stellar
examples of its predecessors. The tunes are crisp, the rhythms
are bouncy and the vibe is so pleasing, it's almost intoxicating.
Cases in point - the Byrds meet Who ambience of the opening
"We're Going Down to the Boathouse," the joyous
harmonium of "Weird Daughter," the energetic "It's
You I Want," the breezy title track, the garage groovy
"Jungle Girl" and loads more… www.jamrecordings.com
Lauren
Agnelli Love Always Follows Me (Bongo Beat)
"On the Street Where You Live" translated as a rustic
folk song? Truth be told, track number 14 is where Agnelli
connected - this gorgeous Rodgers-Hammersmith classic brought
to vivid life. The rest of *Love…* is sophisticated and
stylish, straddling pop songs from the thirties (eg. "September
Song," "I'm Confessin'"), gorgeous torch songs
like the title track and glossy jazz-rock originals ("Technicolor
Shadows"). Mature. www.bongobeat.com
Cristina
Dona s/t (Rykodisc)
Dona is a neu folk troubadour that fancies a slowburn quality
over driving 'in-yer-face' ambience. And, to be honest, it
works… like Bjork in her more accessible moments. There
are genuine instances on this eponymous release. The moody
"Yesterday's Film," the oddly incongruent "Truman
Show" and the smoky "Goccia (Featuring Robert Wyatt)".
Mixed bag and that dour version of "How Deep Is Your
Love" is just pointless. www.rykodisc.co.uk
Simon
Stinger Some Kinda Voodoo (Self released)
Glam rock gone overboard, anyone? However, instead of rock
'n' roll boogie substitute with Euro-disco. Imagine Army of
Lovers rocking out or ABBA with a bit of an edge and you might
catch a glimpse of Simon Stinger. All right, so the rhythm
might be too dancey and the electronics too ubiquitous for
trad rock palettes but sometimes change is good. Sometimes…
www.simonstinger.com
Brad
Mehldau Trio Anything Goes (Warners)
Accomplished jazz piano workouts is what you get from Brad
Mehldau, Larry Grenadier and Jorge Rossy and unsurprising
material like "Get Happy," "Smile" and
Theolonius Monk's "Skippy" sits uneasily next to
Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years"
and Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place."
Doesn't always work but hey, nothing ventured…
Demolition
Doll Rods On (Swami)
Dumb. Not a word I'd use lightly but the combination of the
Rods' swampy, grungy, molten power chords and song titles
like "Take It Off," "The Thump," "Hot
Pink" and "Fat Pussy" leave little to the imagination
and I won't even get into their erm image - I mean, the Ramones
in drag? C'mon! Altogether now - "the pussy will excite
you!" www.demolitiondollrods.com
Gomez
Split the Difference (Hut)
So despite appearances, the new Gomez album is not psychedelic
or whimsical. What it is a concise melting pot of (other)
60s/70s rock influences - you will not doubt pick up the latter-day
countrified Byrds, the beaty powerpop of the Who and the widescreen
dynamism of the Band. Highly strung-out, rustic and yet strangely
urban, Spilt the Difference is the work of an artist
making a significant step up in its evolutionary chain.
Flickerstick
Tarantula (Idol)
Any coincidence that Ride's last hurrah was also called Tarantula?
Maybe… but to these ears, Flickerstick's Tarantula
surpasses even the highlights of that jaded release with its
brilliant assimilation of the shoegaze ethic within its indie
rock agenda. And on extended tracks like the poignant "Bleeding,"
epic "All We Are Is Gone" and the sinister "Pistol
In My Hand," Flickerstick expand the boundaries of their
scheme with progressive space rock musings. Otherworldly ecstasy.
www.idol-records.com
Joy
Electric Hello Mannequin (Tooth and Nail)
"This recording contains vocals and synthesizers"
Thankfully too that this time out, Ronnie Martin has decided
not to treat his vocals at all, letting his natural timbre
work brilliantly with the "old-school" synthesizers
perfectly. The result - sheer electronic joy, the way it was
always intended to be… www.toothandnail.com
Number
One Gun Celebrate Mistakes (Floodgate)
Seems logical that young Christians weaned on the emo-punk
wave should choose the genre as its weapon of choice. It just
smacks too much of uniformity for my liking. Take Number One
Gun. What distinguishes them from the multitude of emo bands
currently signed to labels like Vagrant or Militia Group e.g.
Brilliant Mistake, Hot Rod Circuit, Dashboard Confessional
et al? Nothing. www.numberonegun.com
That's
all, folks - now to get back to work on that year-end list…
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