Album Reviews

HANNAH FURY
Subterfuge
(Mellow Traumatic)
Hannah Fury is an Austin treasure, a keyboard-wielding enchantress that drifts through the much the same mists as Kate Bush, but with greater mystery and melody. Subterfuge is the latest fairy to escape her ring. "Je Taime," "A Latch to Open" and "Girls That Glitter Love the Dark" (best Fury song title ever) are glimmering, ethereal things, like the golden sparkles in which Zeus would take form to seduce earthly maidens. The deceptively pretty "My Next Victim" is a great example of Ms. Fury's patented lovely creep-outs. "Carnival Justice (The Gloves Are Off) Part II" (also a video on the accompanying DVD) adds percussion and drive to swirling vocal overdubs that are the audio equivalent of wraiths filling the screen of a Tim Burton film. To top it off, the EP begins with an unusual but drop, um, dead gorgeous take on the Byrds' "You Showed Me." Six songs, as lusciously lovely as they are, is a bit of a tease. Here's hoping that soon Hannah Fury will remove the corset and show us everything she's got. Michael Toland [buy it]

GENTLE BEN AND HIS SENSITIVE SIDE
The Sober Light of Day
(Spooky)
Gentle Ben does indeed have a sensitive side, but since he comes from Australia and has ties to the fabled Aussie underground, it's tempered by a tough exterior. That's not to say the songwriter/crooner is bluffing, but he doesn't wallow in his rough-hewn balladry so much as allow it to leak out. Nick Cave is an obvious touchstone for The Sober Light of Day, as is Ben's Spooky labelmate Spencer P. Jones, but the man definitely has his own interpretation of barroom sorrow and rage. Check the burly "The Dogs of Valparaiso" and the reflective "The First Song of the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life" for a couple of quick belts. Michael Toland

JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
Stay in the Shade EP
(Hidden Agenda)
Swedish native (for those experiencing cognitive dissonance, he's of Argentine descent) José González' debut album Veneer is so good it'll make you want new music immediately. Stay in the Shade EP is comprised of the titular Veneer single, plus three new songs and a cover of Kylie Minogue's "Hand On Your Heart." "Stay in the Shade" and the trio of fresh tunes waft beautifully across the breeze, letting scents of melancholy and passion gently penetrate your senses. This is just a taste of new González, but it should suffice until the next masterwork. Michael Toland [buy it]

CHRISTIAN KIEFER & SHARRON KRAUS
The Black Dove
(Tompkins Square)
The wave of so-called apocalyptic folk music clouding the coffeehouses has its ups (honesty, bravery) and downs (self-consciousness, self-absorption). But Sharron Kraus hasn't hit a downward slide yet, and The Black Dove, a collaboration with like-minded songwriter/academic Christian Kiefer, is no exception. Minor-key melodies and haunting drones characterize these songs, with seasick violin and sharp-toned banjo adding to the twilight atmosphere. Kraus and Kiefer's keening floats around the arrangements like ghosts, leading the melodies into the darkness. Flashes of major chords and hope pull the mystery back from the edge. If all that sounds a bit Goth, it's not dissimilar in some respects, but there's no black eyeliner here. This is more like the darker side of early Fairport Convention. The Black Dove exists in its own distinctive universe, where folk tradition is honored but never worshipped. Michael Toland [buy it]

JON LANGFORD
Gold Brick
(ROIR)
Leeds-to-Chicago roustabout Jon Langford is best known for his long-running stewardship of British punk progressives the Mekons and Windy City cowpunk roughnecks the Waco Brothers. Gold Brick is his third solo album and one of the most accessible records in his decades-long career. Casting himself as the mature, resigned angry old man of alternative country, Langford performs melodic tunes like "Invisible Man," "Little Bit of Help" and the title track with a deadly combination of wit, heart and unvarnished soul. His only radical move here is a fine cover of Procol Harum's "Salty Dog." Which is all no problem; Langford has proven his forward-thinking status often enough that he can relax once in a while and just concentrate on songcraft. When the results are as striking as they are on Gold Brick, it's impossible to argue the point. Michael Toland [buy it]

JENNY LEWIS WITH THE WATSON TWINS
Rabbit Fur Coat
(Team Love)
I'm one of the few critics I know who's mostly indifferent to the much-lauded Rilo Kiley (though I admit to being impressed by the band's Austin City Limits appearance). I gotta say, though, that I'm absolutely bowled over by Rabbit Fur Coat, the debut solo album by Kiley singer/multi-instrumentalist Jenny Lewis (with her harmony pals the Watson Twins). For those looking for acclaimed indie rock goodness, there's a cover of the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care" featuring Lewis trading libretto with Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and Death Cab For Cutie's Benjamin Gibbard. But for me, it's her sly wit, honeyed croon, appropriation of gospel imagery, rootsy melodies and heart-as-big-as-all-outdoors that make songs like "Born Secular," "Happy" and "You Are What You Love" instant winners. The most gorgeous song is called "Melt Your Heart," which is exactly what Ms. Lewis has done to this cynical bastard. Michael Toland [buy it]

MAGNET
The Tourniquet
(Filter US)
The Tourniquet, Norwegian pop troubadour Even Johansen's second album as Magnet, is a fine example of contemporary pop in the post-electronica age. Digital doo-dads enhance some of the tracks here, contributing to the general lushness. But the emphasis is squarely on the songs and Johansen's plaintive voice. On cuts like "Believe" and "Fall At Your Feet," his folk melodies draw you in and the intricate production (by pop genius Jason Falkner and Jellyfish producer Jack Joseph Puig) keeps your interest, but it's ultimately the heart-on-sleeve performances that make you want to wrap your arm around Johansen's shoulder and commiserate. Michael Toland [buy it]

RHETT MILLER
The Believer
(Verve Forecast)
The frontperson for Texas' country rockin' Old 97's, Rhett Miller uses his solo albums as an opportunity to explore his more pop-oriented side. Produced by George Drakoulias, The Believer revels in melodic gems like "I Believe She's Lyin'" and "Help Me, Suzanne," flirting with lush arrangements but withholding kisses. Miller also rocks harder than I thought him capable of with "Ain't That Strange." There are a couple of missteps; "Singular Girl" sounds like a 97's outtake and the Rachael Yamagata duet "Fireflies" practically defines the term "tepid." But overall The Believer makes a strong case for Miller's new stance as a classic pop artist. Michael Toland [buy it]

NEBULA
Apollo
(Liquor and Poker)
Heavy acid rock triad Nebula has always faced the classic rock & roll conundrum: the SoCal band's records, good as they are, have never matched up to the powerhouse intensity of live shows. Whether it's a sign of maturity (or lack thereof), the influence of producer Daniel Rey, the competition from Valis or the ingestion of some really good drugs, it's a problem no more. Apollo is the ass-kicking superrock record the trio has always had in it. "Controlled," "Loose Cannon" and "Fruit of My Soul" blaze with brawny riffs, rampaging rhythms and fretboard-frying solos. For all the flash, though, the group doesn't neglect its psychedelic side, frosting the tracks with odd effects and burbling synth noises, even laying back for the jazzy "Decadent Garden." You want the ultimate in cosmic rawk? Visit Apollo. Michael Toland [buy it]

NINE HORSES
Snow Borne Sorrow
(Samadhi Sound)
Nine Horses is the latest incarnation of singer/songwriter David Sylvian, in collaboration with drummer Steve Jansen (Sylvian's brother and former Japan bandmate) and electronicist Burnt Friedman. Following the sparse, strange Blemish, Snow Borne Sorrow is a return to the sophisticated, jazzy pop for which Sylvian is best known. The de-emphasis of guitars marks the sound here, but Sylvian's patented blend of worldbeat rhythms, lush keyboards, spare horns and spiritually introspective lyrics remains. It's a quiet, often sensual journey, with many engrossing stops along the way and an engaging, if enigmatic, tour guide. Snow Borne Sorrow is a masterful creation. Michael Toland [buy it]