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Springhouse – From Now to OK (Independent Projects)
Well it’s been 14 years since their last record and this one, which will be out later this year on BRUCE LICHER’s Independent Projects label, was definitely worth the wait. It’s still recognizably Springhouse, as singer/guitarist MITCH FRIEDLAND’s voice and unique-sounding acoustic guitar leave the listener with no doubt as to who this is. However, there’s a much greater and more audible late ‘60s/early ‘70s folk influence on some of these tracks that separate this album from any of their previous work. For instance, Mitch says that the super catchy “Grateful” was inspired by JOHN MARTYN. Furthermore, he also says that “Never Impossible” was inspired by his hero RALPH MCTELL and not NICK DRAKE, though to these ears it sounds very much like Drake indeed. I hear the influence of GEORGE HARRISON on several other tracks as well, so imagine a mixture of these sounds with the dream-pop (some would say “proto-shoegaze” though not me) of yore and you have one excellent disc.
R.E.M. with Modest Mouse and The National – Mann Center (Philadelphia, PA) – Wednesday, June 18, 2008
What a great triple bill! I’m constantly amazed by how much of a more pleasant experience going to the Mann is as opposed to other, larger, less music-oriented ampitheaters. The sound is great (though to be fair, the sightlines could be a bit better) and all 3 bands played really good sets. R.E.M. was even better than the last time I saw them (a great show back in 2003 at Madison Square Garden when they encored with “Life and How to Live It” from 1985’s Fables of the Reconstruction) with MICHAEL STIPE particulary inspired and in a great mood. EDDIE VEDDER (PEARL JAM was in town to play several local concerts the next few nights) came out to trade lines in “Begin the Begin” (the opening track from 1986’s Life’s Rich Pageant) for one of R.E.M.’s encores and then JOHNNY MARR (currently in Modest Mouse) came out to play guitar on “Fall on Me”. What a treat! Modest Mouse themselves were good, too, though they played a bit too much newer stuff for my liking. The National showed they could keep up with the bigger bands by playing a great set of brooding post-punk equally inspired by mid ‘80s ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN and modern indie rock ala THE STROKES, et al., though they clearly have their own identity.
R.E.M. – Accelerate (Warner Brothers)
I’ve already written about this album here, so I’ll just say that I’m still enjoying it quite a bit and that it’s my favorite R.E.M. album in a long time.
Modest Mouse – Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Sony)
Back in 2004, when “Float On” was a massive hit (“Ocean Breathes Salty” was a hit, too) that led this album to surprising platinum status, many older fans predictably shunned the band for its mainstream breakthrough. I liked this record then and after not listening to it for years, I can say that it still holds up for me. At the same time, though, I can understand some of the haters’ quips, too, especially after last year’s only so-so We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, which could be the blueprint for uninspired albums that follow-up big hits. DENNIS HERRING’s production is slicker than on any previous Modest Mouse album, though just the right amount to prevent it from being unenjoyable. Plus, the songwriting is solid, too. “Bukowski” may be the album’s best moment, with ISAAC BROCK’s lyrics questioning the titular author’s reputation, albeit not his literary prowess.
The National – Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
Vivian Girls – “Wild Eyes”
After hearing of this band a few months back, I made a mental note to check them out because the influences on their MySpace page list both WIPERS and THE SHANGRI-LAS and influences. Between that and the name, they sounded intriguing, so I finally took the plunge and boy am I glad I did! First off, ignore the influences they list. This is pure, early ‘90s twee indie-pop like a lost TIGER TRAP track. It’s also one of the best songs in this genre that I’ve heard in years. I promptly ordered the 7” (the link is on their MySpace page, as is this incredible track) after listening to it for half an hour straight after first hearing it. The other 3 tracks you can hear on their MySpace page are good, too, especially “Tell the World”. This song is on their album, which is already sold out. However, In the Red will be putting out in the fall and I can’t wait to hear it!
Alex Kapranos – Sound Bites (Penguin, 2006)
You don’t even have to like FRANZ FERDINAND or even know anything about either the band or the Austrian archduke they’re named after in order to appreciate this book. Kapranos, a former worker in many Glasgow kitchens, loves food and this obvious love rolls off the pages. His sense of food as adventure is similar to ANTHONY BOURDAIN, but without the attitude. It’s a series of vignettes about eating experiences in different locales and as such, I wish that some of the stories were a bit longer and more detailed. In any case, whatever this book lacks in volume is made up by its adventurous spirit and love of exotic foods and destinations.
Live from Daryl’s House
This is a web-only TV show that features DARYL HALL (yes that one) playing songs with other musicians at his house in London. The most recent episode features NICK LOWE playing a range of material from his 1979 hit “Cruel to Be Kind” to selections from his last few excellent albums as well. The quality is excellent and while it’s primarily for fans of Lowe, fans of Hall should also take note as he plays “Perkiomen” as part of a sequence of songs about rivers. This is a rare ‘70s demo that they’ve apparently never played live. You can watch it here.
Various Artists – Soul Gospel (Soul Jazz)
As the title implies, this typically excellent collection from the UK-based Soul Jazz label attempts to link the African-American styles of soul and gospel music. Although well-known artists like ODETTA (a haunting version of WOODY GUTHRIE’s “Pleasures of Plenty”) and ARETHA FRANKLIN (“Lee Cross”) are present and these tracks are excellent, it’s the lesser-known names that make the biggest impressions here. My favorite track here is JESSY DIXON’s “Love Lifted Me”, a spectacular disco/funk/gospel tune from 1980 (the latest song in this collection, which focuses on the ‘60s and ‘70s) and KIM WESTON’s take on THE BEATLES’ “Eleanor Rigby” (more famously covered by Franklin, but not as well) is excellent as well.
The Len Price 3 – Rentacrowd (Wicked Cool)
This got a great review a few issues ago, so I picked it up yesterday and boy was it worth it! The first song, which is also the title track, is like a modern take on THE WHO’s “Substitute” and though you immediately know that you’re in for a super high-energy rush of mod-rock, it’s a bit of a ruse. The second track, “If I Ain’t Got You”, seems to quote THE UNDERTONES’ “Jimmy Jimmy”, thus highlighting that this 3-piece from the Midlands aren’t just some ‘60s fetishists (despite dressing in matching striped shirts and featuring a Rickenbacker in the insert). Rather, throughout this awesome disc they remind me the most of ‘80s UK garage rock like THE PRISONERS or even BILLY CHILDISH, though also drawing on their obvious love of mid ‘60s UK freakbeat and late ‘70s pop-punk as well. The bottom line is that if you like any of these genres, you won’t be disappointed. The only small misstep is the dreaded “hidden track” at the end of the last song “Australia” (appropriately KINKS-like given its title, though more like an album track from The Kink Kontroversy rather than Arthur), a DUANE EDDY-like surf/twang workout. Then again, I get the feeling that this would be a cooler trick on vinyl. They even color code the songs on the back of the CD to indicate sides of a record.
