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University of Richmond Radio

 

 

 

 

10

Album Reviews

Music Worth  Hearing

 

Steinski: What Does it All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective (Illeagle Arts) - Steinski (Steve Stein) was a DJ and record collector that hooked up with Double Dee (Douglas DiFranco, a studio engineer) to produce the series of records known as The Lessons for the Tommy Boy label.  They combined analog tape cut and paste samples from across pop-culture with turntable action and funky breakbeats.  Once the copyright owners came calling, the party was over – forcing the records into to bootleg underground.    His works, especially The Lessons, have been cited as definitive influences by DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Fatboy Slim and others – and rightfully so.  Highly Recommended.  [2nd disc is Nothing to Fear – a rough mix Steinski produced for Solid Steel/ BBC London]

J. Spaceman / Sun City Girls: Mister Lonely [Soundtrack] (Drag City) – The soundtrack-score for Mister Lonely, a 2008 film by auteur Harmony Korine (Gummo, Kids), is comprised of tracks by J. Spaceman (Spaceman 3/ Spiritualized) and Arizona’s Sun City Girls.  The film centers on a French Michael Jackson impersonator – and a secret society of other "surrogate stars" including Queen Elizabeth, Buckwheat, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Three Stooges, etc.  As one might expect, the music is impressionistic, strange and wondering.  Most tracks are under 2 minutes.  Recommended. 

Jeremy Jay: A Place Where We Could Go (K) – The debut LP from Los Angeles based Jeremy Jay transforms shadowed 1960’s inspired crooner moodiness into reverb drenched, soulful, back alley beat music.  Jeremy Jay’s voice hovers above the piano, synth, guitar, finger-snaps and steady percussion as echoes of classic k resonate against the bricks.  Recommended. 

 

Plantlife: Time Traveler (Decon) - West-coast MC / in-demand producer Jack Splash latest Plantlife LP really is a Time Traveler.  A sophisticated, genre-blurring brew of neo-soul and electro funk that extracts and transforms elements of old-school R&B, funk, soul and rock into a fresh, future funk that expounds on love, sex, and politics.  Recommended. 

Julie Ocean: Long Gone and Nearly There (Transit of Venus) - Washington D.C. jangle pop combo Julie Ocean is the namesake of a Irish ensemble the Undertones' 1981 single.  Leaders Jim Spellman (Velocity Girl) and Terry Banks (Glo-Worm) craft well constructed pop with a timeless feel.  Its sugary, guitar fronted power-pop with snappy rhythms and falsetto harmonies.  Short and sweet, the ten tracks are done in just over 25 minutes.  Good. 

Lucky Dragons: Dream Island Laughing Language (Marriage) – Los Angeles based electronic artist Lucky Dragons (Luke Fischbeck) is a graduate of Brown University's electronic music program.  Dream Island… is an exceptional statement of contemporary electronic composition that could be considered “new music”.  Despite the brevity of most pieces, there isn’t a sense of under-development – it’s more of a distillation to the essences.  Worldly samples are folded into a seamless laptop loops of circular rhythms to create a language of its own.  RYIL Sublime Frequencies

The Black Angels: Directions To See A Ghost (Light In The Attic) – Heavy, post goth psych from Austin, Texas.  As the dense, brooding rings encircle your psyche, The Black Angels’ music may indeed contain Directions to See a Ghost.  Fuzzed-out guitar drones, genital waves of organ, periodic sitar, pronounced bass-lines and pounding drums meet heavily echoed vocals.  RIYL: Pink Mountaintops, Velvet Underground, Opal 

[Note: check out the beautifully done – textural packaging at your favorite local record store]

Joan of Arc: Boo Human (Polyvinyl) – Boo Human has Chicago post-rockers Joan of Arc open the studio door to a variety of talented musicians.  Principal songwriter Tim Kinsella provides the framework and the guests add perspective.  Over the course of a week, some 14 musicians who reportedly worked with Wilco, Iron & Wine, Bonnie Prince Billy, Beth Orton and Prefuse 73 contributed.  Though promo copy lacks details, it’s clear that the results are among their finest.  I’d bet my ass that more from these sessions is yet to come.  Recommended. 

Devon Williams: Carefree (Ba Da Bing!) - Los Angeles artist Devon Williams once led Epitaph punk trio Osker.  Now on his own, the singer /multi-instrumentalist looks back for something more Carefree.  Drawn from the 60’s, these sugary, orchestrated indie-pop works reveal some darker sides.  Dan Bejar (Destroyer / New Pornographers) turned the Ba Da Bing! Folks onto him- it’s a good fit, considering it should appeal to fans of Patrick Clendenin and Jermey Jay.  Good. 

Ed Harcourt: The Beautiful Lie (Dovecote) - 2006 LP from UK Alt. singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt makes it stateside via Dovecote.  His raspy vocals and tortured tales of grow from melodic piano accompaniment.  Stylistic cues are found in '70s pop ballads and acoustic folk – as lavish string washes, weepy trumpet and organ elevate the emotions.  Good.