it lives in all of us

Next post will be a little early because then I'll be taking a week off for some much needed vacation. Enjoy this week's selections.


Comments, questions, leave 'em here. :)


Cat Power "You Are Free"

This is my first listen to Cat Power, and overall I am pleased. If you dig female voices, lo-fi production, and very simple songwriting, you will be too. I think the album's biggest flaw also lies in its simplicity: I was waiting for one of the 14 tracks to have some sort of dynamic arc--I would settle for one loud and one soft section--but no! Kind of surprising. I think everyone's entitled to their slow and soft ballad and their amps-to-11 rock tune, but most music that people like to listen to has dynamic contrast. The instrumentals are also sometimes extremely elementary in nature (I didn't know people actually played parallel root position chords on piano except in piano lessons), but there is a time and a place for simplicity. I just wish the entire album wasn't like that. Favorite track is "Good Woman"; I like the fuzzy guitar in place of a more conventional clean one on this sad song.

Les Nubians "One Step Forward"

Funky. Groovy. Smooth. Very cool. All ways to describe Les Nubians, a duo of singing sisters from France backed up by some very cool arrangements. The sung language most often used in French, although there are spots with English and Spanish lyrics as well, but all of these songs seem to have universal appeal. Just the tones of the sounds used are enough to make this purchase worth it. The songs are interesting, well performed, and most importantly they have a great groove to them. Conventional instruments combine with electronic sounds and beats combine with ethnic instruments and it all makes sense. They are able to use drum beats, flutes, and ankle bells and yet it doesn't sound like you're in a dimly lit New Age shop about to sample tea somehow made from hemp. If I had to give it a category, I'd say R&B, although many world music influences run strongly throughout, including French but also various Latin genres as well as Western pop, hip hop, and club music. Recommended for fans of R&B, French pop, modern jazz, Latin, and anything with a groove. Isn't that most of us?

Menomena "Friend and Foe"

Ok, so this one I received perfectly fine, unlike Mines. Based on this CD, Menomena is the kind of band that was opening for the band you came to see at the local pub and you actually ended up liking and remembering. Good mix of standard rock band stuff, wacky electronics, organs, and the occasional trombone or what have you. I think maybe the sounds themselves are new and different but the way they are put together is recognizable and that's why it's easy to listen to this album. Fans of indie rock of all kinds, check them out.

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals "Cardinology"

Yeehaw, friends. Good old-fashioned songwriting with country-toned guitars. Pretty straightforward, all listenable stuff. This music would be at home on adult, pop, and college radio stations. Overdubs and well crafted mixing give these tunes a nice arc and interest. Talented playing from all instrumentalists produce a harmonious collective sound and an undeniably comfortable feel. You can hear bits and pieces of various influences, so it's hard to commit this to just one genre, but I would recommend it to fans of Wilco, Communipaw, Jackson Browne, and other "alternative country" groups, as well as listeners of Coldplay, Keane, and other pop-writers. This is also the kind of music that can be listened to by multiple generations; it could definitely be enjoyed by people in their 20s/30s and their parents. Check it out for yourself!

Air "Pocket Symphony"

Much better than the other Air record I heard and reviewed last week. First of all, these are actually songs (ok, for the most part) with structure and contrast and interest. Lots of electro sounds, weighing heavily on the brooding, wispy, and dark, but these are combined with plenty of acoustic instruments as well: drums, piano, guitars, strings, percussion. Most of these tracks have a tune that is recognizable and that you can hum. There are some more brooding pieces but the CD is not dominated by them and I like the contrast. Whatever you do, skip track 4, "Napalm Love." These are the actual lyrics: "I'm falling in love, I'm falling down, falling down, down on the ground." Later: "I'm hitting the ground, it's hurting me, hurting me, it's hurting my love." Seriously? Worst lyrics ever. With the exception of that track though, I have to give this 2007 release positive marks. Some pop influence, some trippy electronic/new agey stuff, definitely worth a listen.

Muzsikas "Blues for Transylvania"

A way cool mix of stuff on this album of traditional folk songs and melodies of Hungary and the Transylvania region. Performed on bowed string instruments, bagpipes (who knew?), and sometimes hurdy-gurdy as well as male and female vocals, a wide swath of Hungarian timbres are heard doing what they do best--playing Hungarian music. Again the influence of and/or their possibility of being mistaken for other cultures' music is staggering at times, notably bagpipes for Scotland and Ireland, but also Jewish and Russian music in their quick, foot-stomping major key jams. The second track "Istenem, Istenem (My Lord, My Lord)" features a slowly picked tamboura with such reverberation that you might think you are in for an 80's rock ballad until the vocal kicks in. Let's hope no out-of-touch shopkeepers are playing adaptations of these songs with MIDI keyboards set on "Cool Strings" and "Shakuhachi." You want the real thing? This is it. Recommended for world music enthusiasts.

Sufjan Stevens "The Age of Adz"

Before listening to this record, I heard strong language used in the opinions of friends about The Age of Adz, regarding it with a certain tone like a symphony of grandiose proportion, intricacy and artistic merit. This description couldn't be more accurate. Sufjan Stevens is clearly an extra-terrestrial, since there is just no real reason how one human being could hear and compose everything that goes into The Age of Adz. On one level there is songwriting: melody, accompaniment on an instrument, a sense of rhythm and structure. On one level there is an unbelievable sense of instrumentation, orchestration actually. The instruments and specifically the tones of all instruments (or sound sources, as the permeating electronically produced sounds should be more accurately described) are carefully constructed, mixed and laid out in stereo. Everything for a reason and so specific. This reminds me of the practice by the greatest symphonists of writing articulations like staccato-legato in one section and staccato or detache in another seemingly identical section because of a sense of necessary contrast, even upon the finest details in one instrument's part embedded in a massive score boasting 20+ different instruments. Stevens' orchestra becomes all the normal rock instruments plus brass sections, string sections, and electronic sounds and effects by the boatload, with various vocal layers. You will be hard pressed to find a record using more sonic sources this effectively. And finally there is another level that was hinted at during the majority of the record: that something about this is a bit different from everything else you've heard before, somewhat familiar but then again somewhat altogether original. This becomes apparent in the final "track," the 25-minute "Impossible Soul," a concerto for orchestra in its own right, a Mahlerian finale movement, a would-be significant compositional achievement for anyone in and of itself, which is only (and not only) the coda to this entire 75-minute album/work/symphony. The last track goes somewhere very, very new. I'm not certain that it is going too far to say it is revolutionary songwriting. In any case, I believe The Age of Adz is a significant work of music and I strongly suggest that everyone listen to it.

Taking Back Sunday "New Again"

This 2009 effort from TBS starts off on a very good foot with the title track. I'm picking up hints of metacommentary based on the fact that the sound of Taking Back Sunday has changed again with this album, and yet they still retain much of their signature sound. It's a little more advanced, a little more refined, a little more interesting rhythmically, with a little more contrast--just a little more to listen to and like. The next couple of tracks satisfy similarly, and then the sound tends to go backward in time a bit. Not a career-changing album in my opinion, but a very good one by all means. I hold a special place in my heart for Tell All Your Friends, but all TBS fans will love New Again. Also recommended for pop, rock, and punk fans.

put your body next to mine and dream on

Got a good batch of varied music for you this week. Enjoy. 

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The Beijing Instrumental Ensemble "Ancient Music From the Dynasties"

Unlike other traditional instrument ensemble recordings I've listened to lately, I was pleased to find all of the selections on this record are in fact traditional, that is to say, very old, tunes and not modern compositions. The size of the ensemble seems perfect for each track, not too big, not too small. I recognized the tune behind "Moonlight Dancing Song" from a track on another CD labelled "Dance of the Yao People" so this one sticks out in my head. The only set back with this CD is the lack of quick and to the point 3-minute singles like we are used to in the West, with most tracks clocking in between 7 and 10 minutes, but for fans of traditional Chinese music, this is a great recording.

Sara Bareilles "Kaleidoscope Heart"

This record is definitely more pop and mainstream oriented than "Little Voice," but it's still good stuff. Only a few times while listening did I stop and think, "Wait, this sounds too much like pop radio for me to like," but it is a fleeting feeling and some songs are more poppy than others. Not a CD that I'll put in my car on repeat, but it's got good moments. My favorite track is probably "King of Anything." Recommended for fans of pop piano and melodic/easy-to-listen-to pop that does not require a fuzzy synthesizer in every song.

David Byrne "Big Love: Hymnal (Music Written For the HBO Series Plus Other Recent Compositions)"

I hope it costs David Byrne absolutely nothing to produce records because the amount of them he has put out is kind of staggering. In any case, this one is a little different--or a lot. Written as snippets of soundtrack for the HBO TV Series "Big Love," Byrne flexes more of his classical music muscles than usual while also bringing a pop element to some of them (not all). The interest is in the themes themselves and in the choice of instrumentation. Apparently Byrne did his homework on Mormon sacred music and used that as a departure point for his composition. With that said, it's not really something you put in your car stereo. I don't know if it's even worth producing a CD of it to be honest. I'm sure some of them will find homes in amateur YouTube videos, as the camera operator slowly pans over the Grand Canyon. Good for light listening, not a required purchase.

Devo "Duty Now For the Future/New Traditionalists"

Listening to the first five tracks of "Duty Now For the Future" will make you feel like you're going crazy. They couldn't possibly be all on the same album, but they are. "Clockout" is a punk rock tune low on the wackiness. "Timing X" will satisfy your prog rock tendencies, as an asymmetrical melody that grows but never changes. "Wiggly World" as you might guess brings a bigger dose of Devo wackiness. "Blockhead" is an interesting amalgam of the odd time signatures, punk rock aesthetic, and a palm muted harbinger of the grunge era. The second half of this CD is the original 1981 album "New Traditionalists" where Devo undergoes a notable change in sound. Darker, a little less freakout, but WAY more 80's. Synths, synths and more synths. Guitars are background or for color and synths are the main driving instrument (reversed from nowadays). The songs are a bit more straightforward in structure and people with an ear for 80's pop will feel more at home here. I will not overlook the synth sounds though! These were a big deal at the time, and actually a ton of them pretty much sound like presets on the digital MicroKorg, so thank you Devo for giving us plasticine tone, now and forever.

Traveling Wilburys "The Traveling Wilburys Collection"

The supergroup that's got more than just a collection of famous names (although they are: Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne (of ELO)), the Traveling Wilburys compile two CD's worth of music, a DVD and a few bonus tracks onto this set. Rock 'n' roll, country, folk, singer/songwriter, always with a groove and sweet thick group harmonies. Some sound like hits more than others, but the quality of the tracks is nonetheless high even at the low points of these albums. Some may tire of the never-changing drum beats, chord progressions that loop forever, and maybe--for the more picky--a particular grainy voice or two, but I think any blues, rock, classic rock, and guitar-pickin' fan needs to hear the Wilburys and see for themselves.

Barenaked Ladies "Stunt"

"Stunt" is the perfect example of the transition from 90's rock to 00's pop. Starting with the 90's classic "One Week," we have some good slices of what life sounded like in 1998. Solid songs, poppy, rocky, listenable. Some tracks though are stepping on the 00's mainstream side of the tracks, and personally I find these tracks lacking substance, filled with mostly predictable guitar chords and corny lyrics ("Call and Answer"). A little bit of everything, it still beats All in Good Time by a long shot.

Menomena "Mines"

Um. Rarely have I found myself with no opinion about a piece of music. No opinion--that is to say, no strong inclination one way or the other. Confusion. Nothing obvious. I could tell you that this album is good because there is nothing in it that is inherently bad. And I could also tell you that this album is bad for the reason that there is nothing in it that strikes me as notably good. This is indie rock for the most indie among us, a little bit esoteric, a little bit familiar, tons of overdubs, unexpected song structure. You couldn't categorize the music by genre either because of the difference between the tracks. I will make a recommendation to fans of TV on the Radio and My Morning Jacket. This is definitely one for a second & third listen.

Lady Gaga "The Remix"

I'm not usually a fan of remix albums. They always seem to take away whatever elements I really liked about the track and add in completely unnecessary and incongruous dancehall elements. Therefore I was not surprised at the first track on here, the remix of "Just Dance." However, the next track, "Poker Face," was more in line with what I was looking for: taking the basic song, retaining the structure overall (not just sampling and making a completely new thing out of it--I think this is another activity altogether, not "remixing") and adding some details, usually different drum beats. "LoveGame" with added vocals by Marilyn Manson is interesting, didn't like the remix of "Eh, Eh," but then "Paparazzi" was ok. My favorite remix was of "Bad Romance" by Starsmith. It's a grab bag, and most remix albums are. I think everyone can agree that Lady Gaga has milked these tunes for all their worth--now on to new music.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti "Before Today"

If you listen to this album, I guarantee you will check and re-check the copyright year listed on the back cover. Let me help you out: it's 2010, even though it sounds like late 70's to early 80's. Alternatively, it sounds like a cassette tape transfer to CD that was original from vinyl. It's not just the sound quality that is reminiscent: the style is definitely a throwback to many styles of bygone years: classic punk, new wave, 80's ballads ("Round and Round" seems like a perfect genre parody for the likes of Flight of the Conchords), and classic rock. Is it just me or is there a chunk of "Can't Hear Me Eyes" that is the same as a chunk of "Who's Crying Now" by Journey? Oh ok, it's not just me. I don't know, I don't think this album is really saying anything new, so to get accolades like #15 album of 2010 or 9/10 rating from Pitchfork, is ridiculous. But if you feel like taking a fictitious trip down retro lane, check this out; you will be convinced.

more than one post!

Presenting the rest of the backlogged album reviews! Expect an update of some kind, probably a few albums at a time, every week. That's the usual rate I listen to new stuff. 

And HEY: Do you have a particular album you want to see a review about? Leave a comment so I can ponder that. Hmm, hmm.

Soundtrack "TRON: Legacy"

I may lose my unofficial membership to the I LOVE DAFT PUNK! Club by saying this, but the truth is upon hearing this much hyped and talked about soundtrack, I was decidedly underwhelmed! Yeah Daft Punk knows their way around the coolest of the cool electronic sounds, but pairing them with an orchestra has only stifled their creativity. The music as a whole is impressively dull; I understand that the main theme's recurrence is a very important part of the score, but the bottom line is I expected something altogether more creative and out-of-the-box than this. This sounds like very predictable orchestra + synthesizer music and 21 tracks of it on this CD leads to track-forward-button mashing. Curious how the only danceable track on the album is the same track that was released ahead of time to hype up the album and the movie. Because it actually sounds like a Daft Punk song. Because it actually has musical interest. I didn't see the movie. Maybe the music works with the film, maybe it doesn't. Unfortunately, the music by itself is near disgraceful alongside anything else Daft Punk has put out.

Devo "Freedom of Choice"

If you love Casiotone and social commentary, there is no reason you would not like Devo. This album includes the famous "Whip It" but proves that Devo deserves to be more than a one-hit-wonder. Lots of good stuff on here, and while some of the sounds are dated, many are surprisingly relevant. Recommended for 80s music fans of course, but also for dance music and punk music fans.

Traditional Chinese "Shao Shu Min Zu Qi Yue Qu Ji"

[no cover image available]

The liner notes to this CD are almost entirely in Chinese which I cannot read, but I am glad I did not let that discourage me from taking a listen. The tunes are very cool, the arrangements are well done and varied, and the virtuosic playing is noteworthy. I am somewhat knowledgable of Chinese traditional instruments, and there are one or two sound sources on this CD that I cannot identify! I do appreciate the presecne of the sheng (it sounds as difficult to play as I have read about) and the hulusi, an instrument so soft and easily drowned out that it does not often appear in chamber music and larger groups, but it does well on this recording. I also found it interesting how some tracks would probably not be obviously recognizable as Chinese music had you not known its origin. One might guess regions as varied as Russia, Italy, the greater Arabic region, and even South America. (We are reminded that there is music beyond the pentatonic scale from China!) Beautiful music that any fan of folk music would enjoy.

Barenaked Ladies "Snacktime!"

Having written a pretty bad review of a Barenaked Ladies album not too long ago, I didn't have high hopes for this album, but I was pleasantly surprised. Clearly Barenaked Ladies either need to stick to the world of children's music or write music for adults anywhere near as well done, interesting, and entertaining as their children's music. This 24-track album boasts a varied selection of original tunes about various topics from numbers, food, words, food, trees, and also food. There's bad children's music and good children's music, and I give my blue ribbon award to They Might Be Giants, but this record is also among the best original children's music I've heard to date. My favorite tracks are "Allergies" (definitely a toe-tapper) and "I Don't Like", which is full of humorous dialogue. Kids and adults alike will enjoy "Snacktime!"!

Air "Love 2"

Got this CD because of their association with Phoenix. Overall I found it to be rather bland and empty. Minimalist for sure (but not in a Reich sense at all, more of a Yo La Tengo sense?), it sounds more like background music to...something else...since there's nothing of particular interest in the foreground here (unlike YLT). I did like the track "You Can Tell It to Everybody" because I thought it had more interest and a nice arc to it.

Jack Johnson "On and On"

This 2003 effort from everyone's favorite barefoot guitar player stands up well aside other music of his I've heard. Some of the lyrics are pretty banal, and I suspect that is the reason people who don't particularly like Jack Johnson don't particularly like him. However, there is no denying the catchiness of many of these songs. There are plenty of acoustic guitar & bongo tracks, but the tracks with electric guitar exhibit pretty exceptional understanding of the instrument, much like the best tracks of John Mayer on electric. I would think John Mayer himself would have "Wasting Time" on his iTunes hotlist for just the main riff. Other favorite tracks include "Gone," "Holes to Heaven" and "Fall Line." Would make a decent addition to most collections.

a blog is born!

Hello all! I've decided to actually share some of my opinions about the records I listen to. I have been listening to music for a long time now, and I've had ears for even longer, so I feel I am pretty qualified to do this. I am also a professional musician, love all kinds of music, and love listening. Because there is so much music out there, most of the time I borrow CDs from a library, have a listen, and then return them. Therefore many of my opinions about records are first impressions upon hearing the album in its entirety just once. There are a million album review blogs, and I know that some CDs require multiple listens before one can fully understand or appreciate them, but I think first impressions are valid and interesting in their own way.

I've already written a bunch of reviews before just now creating this site, so now, without further ado, they find a home on the internet. Questions & comments, just let me know. Thanks for reading!

Joanna Newsom "Ys"

Only five tracks but most of them are monster sized. I have experience with one other album of hers, and the length of the tracks is a downside in my opinion. I don't have a problem with what she's saying, just the length of time she's saying it. Tracks 1 & 2 didn't stand out to me, but Track 3 "Sawdust & Diamonds" caught my ear and made tracks 4 & 5 easier to digest. A second listen is definitely in order. Joanna Newsom's mad harp skillz are on grand display along with a chamber orchestra accompaniment with decidedly no percussion. Recommended for fans of indie acoustic who enjoy particularly odd (read as: unique) voices.

Barenaked Ladies "All in Good Time"

Snore. I recall having heard a few albums by these guys, and while I don't recall being overjoyed, I also don't recall being stunned by boredom. I could only even tolerate a few tracks on this 14-track album from 2010. The only track having anything to offer outside the norm is track 4, "Four Seconds," which seems like a cross between white boy rap and Jewish folk song. Even just the song structure on a basic level is interesting though, not found anywhere else on the record. As such, track 4 sticks out like a sore thumb. I almost feel bad for it. C'mon, let's get you out of here.

John Mayer "Battle Studies"

Upon hearing this I was impressed and happy for John Mayer. Falling somewhere between the glittery simplicity of teen heart-throbbing anthems and what might in some record store be categorized as "adult contemporary," Battle Studies fits equally among iTunes libraries and pop rock radio stations. This is mature songwriting. Something for people who like catchy tunes they can hum later in the day. Something for people enamored by guitar skills. Something for people who appreciate musicality regardless of genre. Recommended for most people.

David Byrne "Grown Backwards"

Having listened to something like five previously unheard David Byrne albums in a week, this one is by far my favorite. A healthy serving of varied but collectively cohesive tracks, David Byrne is joined by an impressive number of musicians playing an impressive number of instruments. I hold a special place in my heart for David Byrne because of his genius behind Talking Heads, so I was notably disappointed by the banality of so many of his solo efforts. This one, however, retains interest for the entirety of the album. A good combination of good old fashioned songwriting, some world music (Latin, of course) influence and classical/chamber pop overtones. Your ears do not deceive you on track 3: that really IS Rufus Wainwright singing a duet by Bizet with Byrne. A selection from La Traviata also makes an appearance later on the album. Beautifully scored, yes, operatically sung, no. A cover to be sure. I've never thought of David Byrne as a particularly "trained" singer so, in performing a selection from a genre characterized by superhuman singers with decades of vocal training, it is a bit unusual at first. Not sure if he's trying to make a statement or is just having a lot of fun. Recommended for David Byrne fans, chamber pop fans.

Keane "Night Train"

Interesting effort from Keane. An EP clocking in at around 30 minutes in length, the interior tracks are a bit surprising. Taking a bit of a "Maroon 5 discovers MTV" turn, they break out the electro drums, synths, and call in...a rapper? Yes and in fact the two tracks featuring K'naan turned out to be my favorites. A good sampling of other more expected fare as well, so it's hard to say if this is a diversion or the beginning of a new direction for Keane. Definitely worth having, but do you really think they're ever going to top "Under the Iron Sea"?

Soundtrack "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

I wanted to hear this CD because I didn't know the Taking Back Sunday song "Capital M-E." Yes, that means I haven't listened to "New Again" but I promise I'm getting to it!! With that said there's not much reason to have this album. In fact, one glance at the back cover reveals it's a veritable who's who of groan-worthy modern rock bands: Linkin Park, Hoobastank, Staind, and yes, Nickelback. I had some fun torturing my girlfriend by making her listen to the first minute of the Nickelback song. (Not the whole song--I love my girlfriend.) The Used makes an appearance with "Burning Down the House," and yes it really is the Talking Heads classic. A pretty much horrible rendition, I have no idea why The Used would pick that song to cover. I feel sorry for David Byrne and embarrassed for liking The Used's self-titled (but those were simpler times). The last track is Cheap Trick playing the Transformers theme. Do I need to say more?

Putumayo Presents "Brazilian Cafe"

Everyone's favorite world music compilation series in this edition brings you highly listenable, highly danceable, highly spirit-lifting contemporary pop from Brazil. Fans of the bossa nova, samba, and the beautiful Portuguese language will not be disappointed. My favorite is definitely track 11 by Arranco de Varsovia, which mixes all the awesome aforementioned elements with male/female/group vocals in cool harmonies. Recommended for the first day of summer vacation or the biggest snowstorm of the year.