»Album Reviews For Release Date: 06.08.10
by Joshua Krage

So much summer out this week, it’s glorious, but there’s a big lack of major label releases and only one culprit: vampires. The Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack is a behemoth I would not wish upon any competitor entering the ring this week, but for any of you looking beyond the teenage supernatural melodrama, you’ll find some incredibly meaty summer tuneage to kick start your poolside chillin’ (or warmin’, but I digress). Step outside where the vampires can’t get you, and enjoy the good times while you got ‘em:

Against Me!, White Crosses – with these guys you know you gotta come ready to accept some protest rallying, but since their major label debut with last album New Wave, they’ve gone from folk-punk to full-on arena-punk. Expansive guitars, surprise piano textures and anthemic, huge-sounding production dominate the landscape courtesy of Butch Vig, who smoothed out any rough edges (formerly one of their strong points) save for Tom Gable’s visceral, anarchist yowl, which continues to call out the government and established authority in general. Most surprising, however, is Gable’s progression, maturing from one-note anti-establishment propaganda to introspection and soul-searching but not enough to take the bile out of his bark. If you’re a fan and you liked the last LP you’ll love the direction they’re going here.

Christina Aguilera
AM Taxi
Ariel Pink’s
(DJ) Baby Anne
Andy Bell
Dierks Bentley

Blitzen Trapper, Destroyer of the Void – one of Sub Pop Records’ more consistently eclectic signings of the last few years, this acoustic-flavored indie rock band has progressed from the backwoods straight into prog-rock territory on this LP. Challenging at first but mountainside traces remain such as the lush string and vocal arrangements and the overall classic ’70s tinge in the production.

BLK JKS

Casiokids, Topp Stemning På Lokal Bar – true to their name, these Norwegian showmen make most of the optimistic indie dance-pop on this album with vintage Casio keyboards and drum machines. I actually own an old Casio keyboard from the late ’80s, and I recognize its glorious synth-flute, voice and keyboard percussion tones all over this work. The release is a double disc, with one disc originals (cobbled together from previous EPs and such) and one a remix disc, but it’s all sung in vintage Norwegian so you Sigur Rós fans rejoice and start dancin’.

Chali 2na
Deer Tick

Delorean, Subiza – continuing their evolution toward Europe’s best indie dance band, these Spaniards incorporate even more sampling and meaty loops into their Ibiza house sound and dig deeper into the obscure/classic new wave trench in a new and accessible way.

The Delta Spirit, History From Below – these SoCal rockers’ high-energy debut was handed to me by a good friend last year and they hooked me immediately with their raw, rambunctious enthusiasm and sprawling arrangements. This followup finds them losing a member but adding layers and layers of guitar noise and rootsy landscaping to fill in the sound, and frontman Matthew Vasquez’ sun-dried yowl delivers each track from a convincing hillside overlooking the beach. Add this to your list of Perfect Ways To Start the Summer.

Ducks Deluxe
Due Voci

Renee Fleming, Dark Hope – the esteemed classical soprano tackling modern indie and rock tracks? Believe it. Included here are songs from Muse, Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Peter Gabriel, Death Cab, and more. An interesting diversion though she rarely reaches for her operatic register; ultimately the largest potential victory is in the possible introduction of these new classics to folks who feel Philip Glass is the only “current” artist worth listening to. I can see aged NPR enthusiasts reservedly bobbing their head to Ben Gibbard lyrics in the near future…

Glee – Regionals
A Guy Called Gerald
Hail the Villain

Hanson, Shout It Out – seeing this album materialize is bittersweet for anyone who thoroughly enjoyed Taylor Hanson’s diversion into indie supergroup Tinted Windows (because it means that group’s on the back-burner). Likewise, many folks may still be grasping illusions this group was over after “MmmBop.” Luckily one listen will enlighten anyone paying attention to the full-voiced, well-crafted business these three rockers have been about for the past 10+ years. Serious soul instrumentation, crisp vocal arrangements, and of course Taylor’s voice has aged well since their ascent to teen stardom and beyond. The brothers’ Motown and classic soul upbringing shines brightly all through the album, ending up with a solid grip of rocking soul tuneage so bursting with hooks it could be a tackle box. Highly worth checking out.

Warren Haynes – Benefit Concert 3

The Henry Clay People, Somewhere On the Golden Coast – this album is a party waiting to happen, and your summer just got a better soundtrack. Bottling up the bluesy rock swagger indigenous to the outlying Los Angeles hillside suburbs, this is a lo-fi rawk extravaganza with vocals which fall somewhere between Tom Petty’s hazy drawl and Black Francis’ frenetic howl. Drawling slide guitar work weaving throughout the tracks gives a bonus sepia-tone tinge in just the right places, and a bevy of uptempo barn burners threatens to get entire area codes dancing. Currently on the road with Against Me! and Silversun Pickups, which makes a bill that’s bulletproof, baby.

Here We Go Magic, Pigeons – began mostly as a bedroom electro-pop offshoot of downbeat frontman Luke Temple’s eclectic folk, the second proper LP finds this project grown into a full band and playing like one. Springing from the debut’s ethereal foundations, this album ups the tempo and takes the sound on the road, delivering a lot more invigorating sounds (whether live, looped, programmed or stumbled-upon) and sees Temple get a bit excited across a few of the tracks. Ultimately a much more focused (but still deliberately hazy) dreampop record with gorgeous spaces and interesting places along the roadside.

Kristin Hersh
Hot Hot Heat
Ingidenous – acoustic
Jewel
Nigel Kennedy, Shhh! – the modern violin anarchist breaks out some original compositions for his quintet, including a rather interesting take on Nick Drake’s “River Man.” Always fascinating stuff in this UK classical hooligan’s braincase…
Lil’ Jon
Travie McCoy
MyChildren MyBride
Nachtmystium
Nada Surf
Nevermore
OCR – The Addams Family
OCR – Fela!
Off With Their Heads

Orianthi, Believe (II) – anyone who saw Michael Jackson’s This Is It will remember the striking, out-of-place-looking Aussie blonde who was shredding her six-string in his band. Her “second” album here is basically perfect for anyone who likes Disney rock like Demi Lovato or Selena Gomez but wishes it had some serious metal ballz. Some of the Meg&Dia gang join in the songwriting action for added hooks & giggles.

OST – Twilight: Eclipse – I have not, at this point, watched any of the Twilight films, but I would gladly watch all of them ten times each in succession if it guaranteed their soundtracks would continue to be this good. Taken apart from the film, it’s an indie and mainstream A-list artist roster (including Muse, Dead Weather, Beck & Bat For Lashes, Sia, Band of Horses and so on) contributing a smorgasbord of specially-crafted tunes, all of which are memorable among their respective artists’ bodies of work, and all of which you’ll only hear on this album. I’m sure they fit in and make many emotional moments in the film as well, but I hope to never have need of finding out. Mad props to Alexandra Patsavas and the Chop Shop Records crew for leveraging this franchise into a mighty and marketable vehicle to get our generation’s best musicians’ work in the ears of mainstream tweens everywhere.

Pain of Salvation
Plies
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

Ratatat, LP4 – that an instrumental indie rock band continues to even exist, let alone thrive in this day and age is amazing enough, but it’s a testament to dual masterminds Evan Mast and Mike Stroud that this group continues to both garner praise from innumerable peers and to earn that praise with high-quality compositions such as the ones found on this, their fourth LP (if the title didn’t clue you in). Everything heard here is pretty much a continuation of the heights they reached on previous LP3, with chunky rhythms, electronic noisecraft, and wizardly guitar textures creating a flurry of different feelings and moods, but some tweaks include somber (and deftly arranged) strings and a fully-ironic talkbox employed as a rhythmic device for maximum effect. Innovative to the last, these tracks have enough ingenuity in them to drive three lesser bands, and every sound is deliberate and delightful.

Refused
Rhymefest
Rocket to Memphis

Rooney, Eureka – third album of sunny, summer-tinged pop/rock from the photogenic Los Angeles quartet. Lots of bouncy choruses and decent guitar hooks guarantee fans will be dancing, and while not a lot here sounds new per se, they’re getting older and wiser while chasing that perfect sound which will unite their ’70s rock influences with the modern hipster-kid landscape.

Saving Abel
Silverstein – live
Since October

Rachid Taha, Bonjour – you might have heard this French/Algerian Rai dance swami’s take on “Rock the Casbah” on this season’s Chuck soundtrack. This album finds the multi-cultured and well-traveled bard transplanting his sound a bit further west into Europop and even country music territory, all while continuing to blend traditional middle eastern flavor with solid dance club rhythms.

Teenage Fanclub
Tiesto – hits

Tokyo Police Club, Champ – getting a bit older and wiser, this angular indie rock quartet has slowed their tempo a bit and get more ambient use out of Graham Wright’s keyboard, but the group keeps plenty of pogo swagger in their backbeat; singer/bassist David Monks still comes on like Beck on Red Bull and their guitars swarm and shimmer in blistering walls of hazy drone, frenetic and dizzying. The tempo drop is the biggest change in landscape, however, and when a tune titled “Breakneck Speed” is among the slower numbers, you can’t help but wonder why this madcap ride is applying the brakes. That aside, this LP has plenty of arty corners to traverse, and advances their overall sound in a direction which might be a bit more sustainable in years to come…

VA – Twistable Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein – featuring a large list of top-shelf rock, folk, indie, and even country artists ranging from My Morning Jacket to Bobby Bare to Black Francis to Andrew Bird. Completely fitting, I can’t wait to hear this.

VA – Warped Tour 2010
Villagers
Clay Walker
Steve Winwood – best of
Wye Oak – My Neighbor
Yo La Tengo – Here To Fall remixes

What a great way to start your summer, no? Aside from the tuneful amazingness of that Twilight soundtrack, there’s enough rock, dance, and fringe goodness to give anyone something enjoyable to dig on that road trip, by that pool, waiting for the tide to come in, or whatever your summertime activity of choice might be. Dig it well, and I’ll see you next week.

—–

To view past reviews, visit our archives.

For the price of your email address, the SOLOBOB website is giving away the mp3 of “The Victim” for free. In the coming weeks, SOLOBOB will release more songs as well as the videos to accompany them. Tentatively, “Funny Money” is the next scheduled video release, but per Schwartzman, “It’s going to require lots of animation, so it may take a little while to get it finished.”

If the anticipation is killing you, you can also catch (un)SOLOBOB in Rooney form via the band’s new release Wild One, available exclusively at their live shows.

—–

For more information about SOLOBOB, visit solobob.com.

Crash Kings and Rooney stopped by the Hawthorne Theater last week to bring a welcome taste of Southern California to Portland’s frigid weather forecast. With both set lists replete with rock-laden songs unconcerned with being overly self-serious, both bands played impressive and exciting sets that never felt boring or unnecessarily ostentatious.

With Crash Kings opening, the show began on the rock-iest note of the evening. The Los Angeles-based band showcased their ability to make both “intentionally sloppy” sound just as solid as “effortlessly polished.” With a piano taking the place of the lead guitar in the usual generic guitar/bass/drums three-piece rock band lineup, Crash Kings have developed a kind of piano-driven rock ‘n’ roll that can be based around a melody just as easily as any badass progression of piano chords.

Rooney played a set comprised of songs from both studio albums and their brand new EP, Wild Thing; the EP was created during the recording of their third and currently untitled album, which will be out at some point during the spring of 2010.

The crowd was notably young and squealy, so the lyric “You’re too young for me, but I can keep a secret” seemed a bit too candid, given the circumstances. Nevertheless, lead singer Robert Scwartzman worked the stage and was the perfect showman, seeming to have just as much fun as anyone in the audience.

Among the new songs from Wild Thing, “Wild One” offers a change of pace with drummer Ned Brower on lead vocals. The band also covered Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and brought out their famous Rooney state flag for two songs. (That thing makes picture-taking a frustrating and awesome experience, by the way.)

Tally Hall played the second slot of the evening, wearing matching outfits and singing songs about monsters and bubblegum. They did their entire sound check in fake mustaches. Here are all of the pictures: