Aural Fixations

ERIK FRIEDLANDER
Maldoror
(Brassland)
Cellist Erik Friedlander is well known for taking risks, as evidenced by a career that's moved him from philharmonic orchestras to jazz combos, with names like John Zorn, Laurie Anderson and Dave Douglas on his resume. I can imagine he probably leaped at the chance for a project like Maldoror, a series of solo improvisations based on Lautreamont's celebrated surrealist classic. (more)

AUDRA KUBAT
Million Year Old Sand
(Times Beach)
The hallowed rock critic practice of describing an artist as "so-and-so meets such-and-such" or "she's a cross between Doody Horowitz and the Prairie Dog Riders" is usually a cheap, effortless way for us lazy-ass scribes to get out of work. But in the case of Detroit's Audra Kubat, I think it's a good way to get across just how remarkable this young songwriter is. (more)

WHITE COWBELL OKLAHOMA
Cencerro Blanco
(Slick Monkey)
I usually hate shtick bands, but I can't resist this one White Cowbell Oklahoma is a Toronto-based collective that spits out odes to the American South in licks more faithful to the spirit of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers Band and Black Oak Arkansas than any Stateside band has bothered with in years. (more)

CHRIS WHITLEY
War Crime Blues
Weed
(Messenger)
I've said it before and I'll say it again, loudly: Chris Whitley is one of the most underrated artists on the face of the planet. Lots of folks celebrate his virtuoso guitar work, his soulful, elastic vocal chords, his distinctive songwriting or his deeply personal vision of the blues, but so few seem to consider the whole package. Maybe releasing two records at the same time is Whitley's way of calling attention to his many talents. (more)