Roky Erickson with Okkervil River – True Love Cast Out All Evil (Anti)
Roky’s first new album in fourteen years is an absolute gem. Comprised of songs written during different periods of his life, producer and OKKERVIL RIVER singer/guitarist/songwriter WILL SCHEFF chose these dozen songs out of 400(!). Additionally, he also wrote liner notes to the booklet that comes with the beautiful, gatefold sleeve vinyl release.
The album starts off with a hissy archival recording called “Devotional Number One”, which was recorded when Erickson was still a patient at the Rusk Institute for the Criminally Insane in East Texas back in the early ’70s, and also ends with another archival recording called “God is Everywhere”. In between, the emphasis is on the quieter, gentler side of Erickson. Of course, his voice isn’t quite what it used to be, but at age 62, it’s moving and affecting. This is especially true when his life experiences are taken into account, but this is music that fans of his more introspective work will enjoy regardless. In between excellent ballads like the title track and “Please Judge”, there are also more upbeat numbers like “Goodbye Sweet Dreams” and “John Lawman” and Okkervil River are a skilled and sympathetic backing band.
Roky Erickson – I Have Always Been Here Before (Shout! Factory)
I can’t think of a better starting point for those unfamiliar with Roky Erickson, or for those who hear the new album or who only know “You’re Gonna Miss” me and wanna hear more than this excellent double-disc compilation from 2004. Starting with “We Sell Soul”, a regional hit for his first band THE SPADES, disc 1 covers ten songs from the first two albums by his seminal pysch-rock band THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS and continues with solo career highlights up to the late ’70s. Disc 2 covers the ’80s and ’90s and contains older versions of several songs on his new album.
LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening (DFA)
The third (and reportedly last?) album by LCD Soundsystem is as engaging as the first two. After the disappointment I felt listening to Caribou’s new album, putting this on made me feel a lot better. JAMES MURPHY still drinks heavily from the vast well that encompasses the recordings made by DAVID BOWIE and BRIAN ENO (including his work with TALKING HEADS) in the late ’70s and though others hear MARK E. SMITH in his hiccuping, stuttering vocals, I hear more similarities to DAVID BYRNE and BRITT DANIEL of SPOON personally. Nevertheless, with a record this strong, I hope they make more.
Don LeRoy – Paul’s Boutique (Continuum, 2005)
In my quest to read more books in the 33 1/3 series, I got around to reading this book about one of my favorite hip-hop albums ever. I must say that it’s among the better ones in the series. Unlike some books in these series, where the reader feels as if the author relates his or her experience with the album in question, this one is strictly about THE BEASTIE BOYS, how the album was made, the major players, the cultural context under which it came out in 1989 and its subsequent influences. Additionally, there’s a thorough dissection of each of the album’s songs as well as its B-sides and some demos as well. I highly recommend this for any fan.
Caribou – Swim (Merge)
After the brilliance of 2007’s Andorra, I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, I’m disappointed. Instead of wonderful, acid-sprinkled sunshine pop mixed with DAN SNAITH‘s inventive beats to keep it from sound too retro, here we have something that sounds like ROYSKOPP outtakes. Maybe I’m the wrong person to review this since I’m generally not a big fan of the genre he’s mining here (house and electro-pop), but I’m just not feeling this one.
Iggy and the Stooges – Raw Power (CBS)
Everyone knows what an absolutely brilliant record this is, but the release I’m including it on this week’s list is because of a great radio special that I heard the other night on WXPN. Narrated by JON LANGFORD and featuring commentary by HENRY ROLLINS as well as IGGY POP and JAMES WILLIAMSON, this is a treat for any fan. You can listen to it here.
Party Down (Starz, Friday)
Although I was a bit disappointed with the first episode of the new season, I’m just glad that it’s back!
The Feelies – “Fa Ce-La” EP (Bar/None)
This is a repress of their very first single, released by Rough Trade in 1979, and issued by Bar/None and limited to 1,000 copies. The version of the A-side is a bit different than what ended up on Crazy Rhythms as the mix is a bit rougher, but its B-side is the Crazy Rhythms album cut “Raised Eyebrows”.
Strapping Fieldhands – Penn Treaty Park (Philadelphia, PA) – April 24, 2010
Playing as part of “Shad Fest” in this beautiful park in Fishtown which is just about the only place that citizens can access the Delaware River here in Philadelphia and on a beautiful sunny day to boot, a Strapping Fieldhands live set is a lot like their recordings. They start with a classic rock template combining the loose vibe of Exile on Main Street and surrealist lyrics that seem to be inspired by mid ’60s BOB DYLAN, but add in a disorienting element that sounds almost CAPTAIN BEEFHEART or free jazz-esque. The end result sounds a lot like their ’90s indie-rock contemporaries, though considerably less poppy than some. It’s great to see them back at it.
The Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique (Capitol)
Reading the 33 1/3 series book on this album made me listen to it as well as its demos and I love it just as much as I did when I first heard it!
