Audioholic Media

»Album Reviews For Release Date: 10.13.09
by Joshua Krage

Lots to cover this week, and (un)fortunately many Christmas albums are dotting the landscape (et tu Niel Diamond?), but the real bright spots are from well-established bands and frontmen of bands as well as a famous offspring doing a solid for himself in the mix as well. Dig in and let me know what you find:

David Archuleta Christmas
Joan Baez CD/DVD
Baroness
Bowling For Soup
Michael Buble
Dead By Sunrise
Del the Funky Homosapien
Neil Diamond – A Cherry Cherry Christmas (yes this is seriously the name of this album)
Jerry Douglas Christmas
Bob Dylan
Linda Eder
Carmen Electra
Melissa Etheridge Christmas
Fanfarlo
Five For Fighting

The Flaming Lips, Embryonic – the ethereal dream-pop Yoshimi feel has been rather prevalent over these guys’ last few LPs, so it was about time they bust loose with something a bit out of left field, and this album is definitely it. From the spats of grating, fuzzed-out krautrock, to the divergent keyboard stabs, to the over-modulated drums, to Wayne Coyne’s reverb vocals from space, the Lips get deep into experimental all over this puppy, and “expansive” is definitely an adjective that applies. I’d call it Space Power Jazz if even that term weren’t too limiting. If you’re looking for more battles against pink robots, you’d best look elsewhere, but if you’re ready for something more dangerous and out of this world, you’ll enjoy this ride through their current universe…

Holly Golightly
John Gorka
Hall and Oates box set

Har Mar Superstar, Dark Touches – if you’re still unaware of Sean Tillman’s schtick with this project, picture Justin Timberlake in Jon Lovitz’ body and you’re pretty much there. He’s ridiculous to look at, but you can’t deny the dirty, sexiness of these pimped-out dance floor tunes, and since he’s in on the joke, the lyrics are so over the top and unrestrained that most of his tracks evoke the three-pronged reaction of blush/grin/dance, and in the best way.

The Heavy, The House That Dirt Built – a gloriously gritty bluesploitation rock sound with a side of samples, effects, and vintage fuzz is a great place to start, and when you top it with singer Kelvin Swaby’s spot-on roadhouse yowl, you’ve got an album and a band that can take anybody on and win.

Natalie Imbruglia
Jackson 5 Christmas
Kansas
Lightning Bolt
Los Lonely Boys
Barry Manilow Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller
Mario

Nellie McKay, Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day – no Eminem-style rapping this time out — it’s all classic arrangements as the cheeky piano chanteuse attacks her subject with gusto in a very reverent manner, with upbeat and sweet results.

James McMurtry
Hudson Mohawke
MV & EE
Wayne Newton Christmas
Nightmares on Wax best of
Grant-Lee Phillips
Say Anything

Sherwood, Qu – slowly getting older and wiser, San Luis Obispo’s sunniest powerpop-rock band haven’t slowed their tempo or the massive amount of infectious hooks and molasses-sweet melodies, but the songs have become a bit deeper, more contemplative, and definitely more lushly arranged on this album. Perhaps it’s the addition of fifth member David Provenzano; perhaps it’s that Nate and Mike have significantly stepped up their songwriting contributions; perhaps chief songwriter/guitarist Dan Koch has just grown up a bit in the past two years. Whatever it is, with this album you get the same great Sherwood flavor you’ve always loved, with additional awesome provided by even more vocal arrangements, big strings, and even bigger choruses — this from the band who doesn’t know how to make a chorus that’s not already 1) huge and 2) catchy as a flu bug. Even the quiet, reflective moments are memorable. Great third album, top job boys!

Brian Setzer Orchestra

Harper Simon, Harper Simon – having already proven his distinctives away from all-star patriarch Paul Simon in psych-scenester outfit Menlo Park, young Harper can finally turn his efforts guilt-free to the heartfelt philosophical acoustic sound his dad perfected many decades ago. These are mellowed-out, harmony-laden melodies which are so similar to the Paul Simon sound that you expect Art Garfunkel to chime in any moment. Great, mature-sounding stuff.

Snoop Dogg
Sonicflood
Sugarland

The Temper Trap, Conditions – decent-quality Aussie buzz band gaining prominence on the dual foundations of excellent, expansive U2-influenced guitar work, and incredible vocals from singer Dougy Mandagi, who’s possessed of a voice that resonates from the middle-ground between Bono, Shirley Bassey, Kyp Malone, and Jeff Buckley. These guys have a huge sound that’s like ’80s radio rock with modern atmospheric production. Worth checking out.

Thao (Nguyen) with the Get Down Stay Down
Tinariwen
Rick Wakeman live
Imaad Wasif

All I can say is that at least the Christmas albums aren’t all bad… actually I can’t really say that. Even that Bob Dylan Christmas grates on me, but at least the rest of the pack this week wasn’t too shabby. Did you find anything good? Do share, and I’ll see you next week.

P.S. As if reading about them weren’t enough, you can enjoy a playlist featuring most of these fine artists on my MySpace Page. Enjoy.

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