CJSW is a radio station in Canada. This two-CD compilation has a country record and a rock record. How thoughtful. Here are some highlights: Matt Masters sounds like Lou Reed on “Candle Flame” Eamon McGrath sounds like John Cougar Mellencamp in “Cut Knife City Blues” Rural Alberta Advantage musically sounds like Kacy Crowley’s “Nickel to [...]
Archive for the ‘Music reviews’ Category
Various Artists “Tunes for Baboons: Live Sessions from CJSW”
January 29, 2012Jessica Jalbert “Brother Loyola”
January 29, 2012Finally, music the whole family can agree on. Jessica Jalbert has a voice that doesn’t rely on gimmicks to be enjoyed. “Necromancy” gets the album off to a great start with fantastic harmony in the backing vocals and strings. It is a cello, which is a shame, because I wanted to say I liked the [...]
The Kabbs “The Kabbs EP”
January 29, 2012I don’t remember why I grabbed this one, but that’s OK. It’s slightly heavier power pop with some fierce surflike jangle on “Never Knew.” It sounds like what would happen if the Hi-Fives weren’t a punk band. “Golden and Blue” is a bit more rockabilly/alt-country. Bob Dylan comes to mind when I hear “Down This [...]
Darkness Falls “Alive in Us”
January 29, 2012Darkness Falls focuses on the ’60s-style sensitivity with the musical talent of Hope Sandoval. You would never guess they were from Denmark. But these Danes are great. “Noise on the Line” has the same tambourine as Mazzy Star’s “Flowers in December,” which really doesn’t say much because lots of songs have tambourine, but that’s the [...]
Cherri Bomb “Stark”
January 29, 2012It sounds exactly like you would expect it to. It’s rock enough that Naked Rob could play it on his show. “Mirror Mirror” is as LA-sounding as it gets. The guitar in “Already Dead” reminds me of Damone when they didn’t suck. “Let It Go” isn’t about farting. This track is a bit more anthemic, [...]
Donora “Boyfriends, Girlfriends”
January 29, 2012More, please. There’s a woman who sings like in Mates of State, and there’s keys. This record is perfect for ex-Cure fans in their mid-30s who want to feel cool. Uh oh. “Champion” is a standard indie pop song with piano that builds and the guitar and bass you have come to expect. If you [...]
Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun “Wildfire”
January 29, 2012Very familiar La Roux/Metric sound here. But you don’t have to be innovative to be good, as my boss says. This is the kind of band that always plays at the Rickshaw Stop when I am there. “We Were Wild” is a microcosm of this. Those who like their dance-pop with hand claps and hints [...]
The Chambermaids “China Blue”
January 29, 2012There are four tracks, but they’re identical. It’s really a single with three A sides. The band continues recent excellence to come out of the Twin Cities. The song itself is classic male-female dreampop. Pixies fans would be proud. And all these hot women in rock. No wonder Joe Mauer took a hometown discount.
Cloud Control “Bliss Release”
January 8, 2012My grandma is Japanese, so this band’s name makes me giggle. At any rate, they’re just another indie rock band with an emphasis on ’70s-style power pop. “Meditation Song #2 (Why, Oh Why)” reminds me vocally of Catherine Wheel’s “Judy Staring at the Sun.” I’m a sucker for simple hooks, and Cloud Control thrives on [...]
Big Deal “Big Deal EP”
January 8, 2012“Chair” is the first track, and iTunes thinks this is the Chair EP, but the album art begs a different story. This is kind of an advance, in that “Chair” and “Locked Up” will be tracks on the upcoming full-length, “Lights Out,” is released. In a lot of ways it’s a standard male-female indie rock [...]
