Album Reviews

BOB MOULD
Body of Song
(Yep Roc)
Longtime fans of alt.rock pioneer Bob Mould have been anticipating Body of Song for almost three years, heralding it as a return to more "traditional" Bobcraft after what many perceived as a disappointing diversion into electronica with 2002's underrated modulate. Well, they partially get their wish—guitars return as the main melodic instrument. Plus there are tracks that recall Mould's alleged glory days, like "Missing You," which is very much in the style of Mould's Hüsker Dü work, "Best Thing," the anguished "Underneath Days" and "Beating Heart the Prize," which give fans a Sugar fix, and the ballads "High Fidelity," the cello-laced "Gauze of Friendship" and "Circles," all of which would slot nicely on Mould's 1989 solo masterpiece Workbook. But Mould hasn't forgotten the electronic experimentation that's galvanized his interest in music-making the last few years—"(Shine Your) Light Love Hope," "I Am Vision, I Am Sound" and "Paralyzed" add rhythm adapted from techno's thumping pulse, plus some digital ephemera that would have been unthinkable on a Mould record prior to modulate. All the tunes are united by Mould's black coffee belting, savage-yet-lyrical guitar style and watertight songcraft—not to mention the bittersweet emotions that boil to the surface. This album isn't a retrenchment to a more fan-friendly style—it's a summary of where Bob Mould has been, what he can still do better than anyone else, and where he's headed in the future. Which makes Body of Song a much stronger and more interesting album than any "return to form" could ever have been. Michael Toland [buy it]

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
The Complete ESP-Disk Recordings
(ESP-Disk)
I've babbled about "acid folk" a time or two (or three), but no discussion of this admittedly dubious subgenre could be complete without mentioning Pearls Before Swine. Songwriter Tom Rapp practically invented acid folk on One Nation Underground and Balaklava, the albums he recorded in the late 60s for ESP-Disk and collected here. Rapp's imagistic, poetic lyrics sound influenced less by LSD and grass than by heavy infusions of John Donne, William Blake and Bob Dylan; with atmospherically produced acoustic music, an acute political consciousness and Rapp's keening delivery, the tracks here manage the difficult feat of sounding earthy and spacy at the same time. "Images of April," "Morning Song" and "I Saw the World" keep feet on the ground but minds in another dimensions. A cut like "Drop Out!" inevitably comes off as dated, and no one needs to put music to anything by J.R.R. Tolkien, as Rapp does on "Ring Thing," but most of this music holds up very nicely. Essential for psychedelic music fans, and of interest to students of strong songwriting as well. Michael Toland [buy it]

THE QUARTER AFTER
The Quarter After
(Bird Song)
One of the good things about the Brian Jonestown Massacre is not only the band's music, but also its offshoots. Whenever a BJM member decides he can't work with Anton Newcombe anymore, he or she goes off and forms another group, and it's usually a good one. (Cf. the Warlocks, Smallstone, the Out Crowd.) Add to the list the Quarter After, led by erstwhile BJM guitarist Robert Campanella and his singing brother Dominic. Like former BJMer Matt Hollywood's band the Out Crowd, the QA sticks fairly close to the BJM style of guitar-based psychedelic pop. The folk rock sound of the Byrds is a bit more prominent an influence on the Campanellas, as evidenced by beautifully melodic tracks like "Always Returning," "So Far to Fall" and "Mirror to You." But the band knows when to crank up the muscle as well, as on "One Trip Later" and the epics "Taken" and "Too Much to Think About." The Quarter After isn't taking psych rock to the next plateau, but the band's expert songwriting, gorgeous harmonies and shimmerjangle guitars give it a healthy, tuneful kick in the tuchis. Michael Toland [buy it]

THE REDWALLS
De Nova
(Capitol)
So many bands rip off the Faces that it's nice to hear an artist emulating that band's predecessor the Small Faces. The Redwalls are hardly a SF clone, mind you, but the young quartet has the same ability to evolve Beatlesque pop out of R&B-based rock & roll as Steve Marriott and crew did so well in the 60s. The band's second album De Nova practically brims over with strong melodies, soulful harmonies and the kind of youthful exuberance that drives so much great rock. Social commentary ("Falling Down," "Glory of War") isn't yet the Redwalls' forte, though at least they're trying. It's the more lighthearted tracks like "It's Alright," "Build a Bridge" and "Robinson Crusoe" (which adds a T. Rex-like choogle to the mix) that make De Nova a solid delight. The Redwalls may be fairly imitative of their 60s pop/rock idols, but they're no less enjoyable for that, and they have too much talent to remain derivative for long. Michael Toland [buy it]

ALASDAIR ROBERTS
No Earthly Man
(Drag City)
Scottish singer/songwriter Alasdair Roberts first appeared as the leader of indie rock group Appendix Out. But he's truly made his name with projects like No Earthly Man, his third solo album and second to consist of his readings of traditional U.K. folk songs. Unlike The Crook of My Arm, however, these aren't solo acoustic recordings; Roberts is joined by friends like Will Oldham and Isobel Campbell to flesh out the arrangements. It's still pretty quiet, mind you, but subtle percussion, strings and synths add atmospheric dimensions to "The Two Brothers," "Sweet William" and the beautiful yet horrifying "The Cruel Mother" without obscuring the traditional melodies. No Earthly Man is haunted by ghosts of the not yet dead. Michael Toland [buy it]

SLOW MOTORCADE
Sex, Drags & Rock 'N' Roll
(Populist Anthems)
Slow Motorcade likes melody, and it likes guitars, and it likes to have a good time while having something to say at the same time. Thus its debut album Sex, Drags & Rock 'N' Roll has much to adore. Anthony Castillo and Joe Hutchinson's guitars sound sweet and crunchy, singer John Napier croons and bawls soulfully, Derrick Anderson and Thom Sullivan keep the rhythms tastefully rolling and Castillo's smart writing (in tandem with various ex-bandmates) combines the best attributes of power pop and scarf-tossing rock & roll. Imagine Cheap Trick and the Faces jamming on Jellyfish tunes and you're in the right dressing room. "Have and Have Not," "Sixteen Forever" and "Juggernaut (At What Cost?)" are terrific tunes given committed performances, and the rest of the LP follows strong suit. Slow Motorcade is the kind of band rock & roll is all about. Michael Toland

SNOW & VOICES
Snow & Voices
(Bird Song)
West Coast songstress Lauri Kranz has a pretty voice, writes pretty songs and, with the assistance of producers Jebin Bruni and Darrell Thorp and Cali notables Greg Leisz, Buddy Judge, Jennifer Condos and others, has made a very pretty album. If that sounds dismissive, it's not meant to—"Like a Flower to the Sun, "You Are Beside Me" and "Goodnight New York" are genuinely gorgeous pop tunes, lush and flowing gems that caress both the ears and the soul. Kranz tempers the sweet with some bitter, letting harsh electronics scar "In Pieces Through the Door" and lending the album some alternate flavor. She also proffers a slow, meditative version of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own May" that uncovers emotional depths in the song beaten out of it by radio repetition. Snow & Voices is lovely stuff. Michael Toland [buy it]

SONIC LOVE AFFAIR
SLA
(Dollar Record)
Full of piss, vinegar and liquids it's best not to think about, Sonic Love Affair resurrects the sound of late 60s Detroit and late 70s New York through the lens of mid-00s punk rock on SLA. Pounding out riffs that would have been considered metal in 1973 and punk in 1977, the Sacramento quintet oozes spite on chronic rockers like "Never Said Goodbye," "Street Preacher" and "Why You No Love Me?" Frontperson Dylan Rogers sings as he was trying to kill everyone in the front row; the rest of the band backs his aggression with fire and spit. A self-deprecating sense of humor surfaces from time to time as well—"Feelin' tough/I got new shoes!" Rogers snarls in "Panther Piss." A well-executed garage punk cover of Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" fits in perfectly. Excellent. Michael Toland [buy it]

SON VOLT
Okemah and the Melody of Riot
(Transmit Sounds/Legacy)
Son Volt is one of my favorite bands. Never mind that most of these songs are supposed to be these deep, political or emotional statements carved from the personalities of Middle America—I just like the way Jay Farrar sings. Okemah and the Melody of Riot comes in heavy on the meaning, but kicks ass in the music department. After a half-decade of nothingness, the group doesn't miss a beat. "Jet Pilot" and "Atmosphere" show off the best of the band—scorching guitars and edginess followed by shotgun harmonies and subtlety. This is the one fans of the group have been waiting for. And for the intellectuals, there's something for you here too. Lance Looper [buy it]

THE STARVATIONS
Gravity's a Bitch
(Gold Standard Laboratories)
You'd think sleazy barroom poets would be a dime-a-dozen in rock—it just seems like a natural phenomenon. But there are few enough of them, and enough variations on the theme, to keep this little mini-genre fresh. Point being, there's nothing on the Starvations' Gravity's a Bitch you haven't heard Nick Cave, Tom Waits or the Great Crusades do before. But the queasy slide guitars, detours into country and polka and Gabriel Hart's end-of-his-alcoholic-rope vocals still give "Nightshade Sweats," "Purgatory" and "Lost at Sea" enough of a compelling punch to keep the band from being just another drunk at the end of the bar. Michael Toland [buy it]

THOR
Thor Against the World
(Smog Veil/ThorToen/Chompa)
Canadian singer/bodybuilder Jon Mikl Thor has been slaying dragons and ripping phone books in half onstage for 20 years. He's best known, however, for his starring roles in a pair of brain cell-killing grade Z films, Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare and Zombie Nightmare, the latter of which was properly skewered by Mystery Science Theater 3000. Thor Against the World is his latest album, and it's…not altogether horrible. "Megaton Man," "Creature Feature" and "Long Time" are catchy and tough in a Kiss-meets-Thin Lizzy sort of way, and while he doesn't have the greatest voice in the world, Thor definitely projects a certain bare-chested charisma. Produced and largely written by Messiaz (AKA Frank Meyer and Bruce Duff from Sweet Justice), this record is pretty dumb, but its participants are perfectly aware of their place in the universe, and it's got enough decent metallic hooks to be a pleasant enough diversion. Michael Toland [buy it]

KEVIN TIHISTA
Home Demons Volume 1
(Parasol)
Kevin Tihista is hardly a household name, even in the pop underground, so it may seem like hubris for him to release a collection of demos. But he's already proven himself a brilliant pop tunesmith on his last album Wake Up Captain, and I for one am happy to have new Tihista music so soon. And it is new—only "Sweet" has appeared in final form on his previous platters. Fresh tunes like "Idiots," "I Don't Blame You" and "15 Hundred Miles" (which, contrary to Tihista's liner notes, does not suck) equal anything officially released; there are no obvious reasons why they didn't make the cut. I guess when you have a surfeit of good tunes, you gotta draw the line somewhere. It's also nice to hear songs like "Jim Henson's Blues/You're Not Bad" and the "Dracula" instrumentals that show a lighter touch than his melancholy main albums. Home Demons Volume 1 is as strong as any of his "produced" records; even if you're not a diehard, this is an absolutely worthy purchase. Michael Toland [buy it]

UNCLE FUCKER
Usurpers of the Tradition
(Uncle Fucker)
It's an idea whose time has finally come. On Usurpers of the Tradition, Uncle Fucker (Uncle Faulkner to the more FFC-minded) crossbreeds the two fastest musical guns in the west: bluegrass and thrash metal. It's been tried before, but these NYC hellbillies succeed where so many others have failed by playing both styles with equal reverence and power—at the same time. K.T. the Crusha's firebreathing fiddle shares equal time with Slick Dick Grizzly's skull-ripping power chords; both sing and/or caterwaul. Bassist Snickers Fucken Skwire (that's what he's called in the booklet, I swear) and drummer Freeball flail away as if possessed by the ghosts of Slayer and Bill Monroe, with the two spirits fighting for control of the boys' souls. The band's take on standards "Tennessee Stud," "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms" and, god help us, "Rocky Top" is exactly what you would expect from such a shotgun marriage, and what this crew does to "Man of Constant Sorrow" ain't at all pretty. "Long Black Veil" doesn't work too well as a power ballad, but "Y'all Come" (AKA "Y'all Cum") gets along fine as a salacious call to arms. This is what happens when city folk meet their country cousins without a chaperone. Michael Toland [buy it]

THE VOLEBEATS
Like Her
(Turquoise Mountain)
Another few years, another Volebeats album. That sounds more dismissive than it's meant, but Detroit's most countrified pop/rock band also remains its most consistent. Though guitarist/songwriter Bob McCreedy is absent, there's little difference between Like Her and the band's previous LPs. It's still all creamy harmonies, jangly melodies and hearts on sleeves. Singer/songwriters Jeff Oakes and Matthew Smith (of Outrageous Cherry fame) still spin gossamer threads of melody out of the simplest materials. "Outside," "Touch Me One Time" and especially "Everytime" are the kind of tunes of which pop dreams are made. Michael Toland [buy it]

X-RAY SPEX
Germ Free Adolescents - Expanded
(Art-i-ficial/Castle/Sanctuary)
A legendary album from the original British punk era, X-Ray Spex's Germ Free Adolescents finally gets the remastered/expanded treatment in the U.S. At the time of its original 1978 release, the album was important for its assertion that women would not be marginalized in the punk movement the way they had been in the rest of rock & roll. But the reason it's held up over the years is because it's simply a damn good rock record. Leader Poly Styrene's powerful vocals and catchy, witty tunes ("Art-I-Ficial," "Identity," "The Day the World Turned Dayglo" and the infamous "Oh! Bondage Up Yours!") make a strong case for this band being one of the greats from the first wave of U.K. punk and new wave. Augmented by tracks taken from singles and Peel sessions, Germ Free Adolescents - Expanded is no mere exercise in nostalgia—it's a living, firebreathing document of kickass rock & roll. Michael Toland [buy it]

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Planet of the Popboomerang Vol. 2
(Popboomerang)
Planet of the Popboomerang Vol. 2 is a collection of pop music from bands from around the world. Luckily we Americans merit our very own disc. The first disc (non-American bands) is a diverse mix of acts of varying degrees of popularity as well as talent. There are tracks from the Cosmic Rough Riders and the Lemon Clocks, as well as newbies like Jim McCulloch, who used to front the Soup Dragons. The music is pretty good, but at first it takes some concentration to get past how choppy the disc is, an impossible problem with compilations. The USA disc has fewer big names, but there are some tunes from Blue Ash and Jeremy. The net-net is this: a ton of funky pop for the cost of one disc. That's a pretty good investment. Michael Toland