Album Reviews
SLIDESHAKER
"In the Raw"
(Bad Afro)
"In the Raw" is right. This Finnish trio eschews niceties like bass or clean recording for an aggressive garage rock assault that puts the riff and rhythm über alles. Which isn't to say that the band brushes melody aside, mind you—just that tunes like "Her Sun Going Down," "Better Version of You" and the slide-driven "Easy Street" don't pull any punches. And even with occasional fripperies like acoustic 12-string guitar and organ, Slideshaker still sounds stripped to the bone. The White Stripes wish they sounded like this. Michael Toland
THE STEMS
Terminal Cool - Anthology 83-86
(Get Hip)
The Stems were Australia's answer to the 80s garage rock revival. But the band was led by the great Aussie pop genius Dom Mariani, so the quartet was much more than a mere Nuggets copyist. Mariani's ultra-melodic songwriting touch recombines nicely with the raw production and hopped-up energy of tunes like "Under Your Mushroom," "She's a Monster" and "Sad Girl." This first comprehensive American comp for this long-accoladed band is overflowing with gem after catchy gem. Nice to hear that the Stems live up to the legend. Michael Toland [buy it]
THE STRUGGLERS
You Win
(Acuarela)
Quiet in volume but loud in emotional resonance, the Strugglers' third album You Win takes the listener on an intimate tour of the mind and conscience of Randy Bickford. The Carrboro, North Carolina-based songwriter keeps the songs burning on a low flame, but that's all the better to let the melodies breath and the feelings flow out comfortably. Sounding a little like a countrified Red House Painters fronted by a quavery baritone, the Strugglers are the sound of the sun breaking through the black clouds. Pick to click: the magnificently dynamic "Being Shown Blues." Michael Toland [buy it]
THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND
Synchestra
(InsideOut)
Former Steve Vai associate Devin Townsend is best-known for his long-running freak metal project Strapping Young Lad. But he has a jones for progressive rock as well, which he satisfies with Synchestra, the latest from his eponymous Band. Being the wacky guy he is, Townsend folds in plenty of metal, as well as some Cheap Trickesque pop and even country, all well within his self-imposed boundaries. His topnotch sense of melody and impressive singing (everything from a gentle croon to a horrific howl) are the threads stitching it all into one big, throbbing tapestry. Michael Toland [buy it]
UGH!
Meat Fairies
(Elektrohasch)
It's been a while since an album title gave me the willies, but Meat Fairies, the latest from German art metal trio UGH!, does the job nicely. I mean, what the hell is a meat fairy? Do I even want to know? Do I really want to examine the graphics that closely? I'd rather just listen to the music, which is fine, unusually melodic skronk rock, like Blue Cheer being molested by the Jesus Lizard. From the title on down, this is a healthy dose of the uglies. Michael Toland
VIOLET
The Last Cathedral
(Wine & Vinyl Music)
The Last Cathedral is the second record from NY-based duo Violet. Meredith Minogue and Jim Barry pine their way through wispy folk songs. Minogue's voice makes up for in honesty what it lacks in power. Barry pulls a pretty good range of sounds from his guitar playing and the two have great chemistry, particularly on "Beneath the Sun" and "The End of Each Song." The couple really come together on the edgier "Fill You In," which is the closest thing to rock we get from Violet. While not spectacular, I found this record very repeatable. Lance Looper [buy it]
ROCKY VOTOLATO
Makers
(Barsuk)
Makers is Rocky Votolato's fourth record, but since this is the first I've heard of him, let's consider him a new artist. That said, Makers is the best album from a new artist I have heard in a while. Sparse and poetic, the songs here are great. Votolato's vocals are smooth and his playing is pretty good. The balance between folksy coffee house-type songs and radio-ready hooks strike a solid note. Makers should generate plenty of buzz around this guy. Lance Looper [buy it]
THE WEATHER MACHINES
The Sound of Pseudoscience
(Tigers Against Crime!!!)
South Dakota's Weather Machines come bursting out of their geographical shell with The Sound of Pseudoscience, as nifty a contemporary power pop album as you'd care to find. Of course, "contemporary" is a relative term here, as the caffeinated rhythms, blatant catchiness and Jason Ward's urgent yelp point to a love affair with the guitar pop of the early 80s. This is the kind of band one usually finds on the venerable Not Lame label. Underground pop fans, take careful note. Michael Toland [buy it]
TOMMI ZENDER
Will Work For Harmony
(Smaller Than Life)
The latest album from sometime Bon Mots sideman Tommi Zender is the work of an individual in love with melody and, yes, harmony. The multi-instrumentalist concerns himself less with slick radio-ready production than a true realization of his artistic endeavors, letting the songs tell the tale. Whether the text amounts to acoustic simplicity or lusher sounds, Zender's unerring sense for hooks and melodies and soulful lyrical intelligence make tunes like "Something to Hide," "A Shot of Truth" and the clever, melancholic "The Ambiguity of Aloha" irresistible to the hardest heart. Michael Toland [buy it]
VARIOUS ARTISTS
To: Elliott From: Portland
(Expunged)
It's appropriate that this tribute album dedicated to the late Elliott Smith would come from Portland. After all, it's the town where the reclusive songwriter cut his musical teeth. Outside of the addition of prominent beats on some tracks (Crosstide's "Angeles," Knock-Knock's "Speed Trials," We Are Telephone's "Division Day") and a radical hip-hop remake of "Happiness," these takes Smith's tunes are fairly faithful, sticking to his intimate, melodic mood. Which is fine, as it highlights what an engaging, brilliant songwriter Smith was. Michael Toland [buy it]
