Aural Fixations

NIC ARMSTRONG & THE THIEVES
The Greatest White Liar
(New West)
Remember when rock & roll, before the multiple genres and gazillion stylistic permutations, was a much simpler proposition? When all you needed was a couple of guitars, a rhythm section, three or four chords and a working knowledge of your rockabilly, R&B and country forebears? I talking about the Beatles pre-Rubber Soul, the Kinks before Ray Davies blossomed into a social critic, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry. Nic Armstrong remembers, which is kind of odd, since the English songwriter/guitarist wasn't born until 1980. (more)

THE BELLRAYS
The Red, White & Black
(Vital Gesture/Alternative Tentacles)
As a music reviewer/critic, I'm often asked if I have a favorite band. It's impossible for someone with as many albums as I have to answer that, of course, but I can narrow it down a bit. If you're talking about the live arena, there's only one choice for me: the BellRays. I've seen a lot of incredible live shows over the years, but nothing comes close the power, fury and soul of the BellRays in full flight. Fortunately for this intrepid Riverside, California band, there's nothing lost in translation between stage and studio when the band makes a record. (more)

DAMON & NAOMI
The Earth is Blue
(20 20 20)
I've always dismissed Damon & Naomi, thanks to their past association with indie rock icon Galaxie 500, a band I can't stand. That's turned out to be a mistake, as the music emanating from the loving duo is light years beyond anything their former band ever emitted. The wonderful Damon & Naomi with Ghost, a collaboration with the great Japanese acid folk ensemble Ghost, turned me on to them and their latest record The Earth is Blue has made me a fan for life. (more)

PETRA HADEN & BILL FRISELL
Petra Haden & Bill Frisell
(Sovereign Artists)
PETRA HADEN
Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out
(Bar/None)
When popular 90s alt.pop band That Dog split, most eyes turned toward singer/songwriter Anna Waronker regarding the solo career. No disrespect to the talented Waronker, but the smart money is on violinist/harmony singer Petra Haden. While she's pursued a willfully eccentric path in her music, Haden—daughter of jazz giant Charlie Haden and brother of Spain frontperson Josh Haden—has never been less than interesting and often riveting. (more)