SEPTEMBER CD
SPINS
by Staff
PORCUPINE TREE
DeadWing
(Lava Records)
On October 11th,
Porcupine Tree will return to the Park West, and it’ll be cause for
celebration for fans of British progressive rock in the tradition of
King Crimson and early Genesis.
I’ve heard
from fans and band members alike that Porcupine Tree’s Park West
experience last Spring featured pristine sound and picture-perfect
video backdrops (no matter how startling or disturbing their content
may be) and their return to Park West should be as equally as
exciting.
Porcupine
Tree has been more than art-rock revivalists for over a decade, and
they’ve garnered a strong fan base in Britain and in Europe.
While they
may rock harder than I generally do, I’m drawn to their complex
sound sculptures, challenging lyrics, lilting melodies, and no holds
barred full-tilt rock and roll that bring me back to the first time
I heard In the Court of the Crimson King.
Porcupine
Tree has attracted a strong a loyal US following thanks in part to
exposure on XM Satellite Radio, and Deadwing continues
the band’s exploration of the limits dreamt generations ago by
Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew (who guests on Deadwing).
Robert Fripp will be opening up for Porcupine Tree at the Park West
show in addition to other Midwestern stops.
Deadwing, the band’s second Lava Records CD, balances raging
and complex songs like “Shallow,” “Halo” and “Open Car”
with the liltingly melodic (think Brian Eno, Before and After
Science) “Lazarus,” “She’s Moved On,” or “The Start
of Something Beautiful.”
Porcupine
Tree’s prodigious CD holdings include In Absentia,
XMII (recorded at the XM Satellite Studios), and
Warszawa (recorded at Polskie Radio), and collectively,
these releases set the standard for progressive rock for a new
generation.
To
rediscover British progressive rock at its level best, discover
Porcupine Tree, and expect that Deadwing will be on
the top-five lists of many rock mavens this year.
– Eric Steiner
SEAN ADLEY
Searching For Stars
(Local Indie)
Local artist Sean
Adley creates a unique sound for the region via his first album,
Searching For Stars.
Adley hails
from Munster and has been playing guitar, writing songs and
performing since he was 18 years old.
He found his
niche while creating music as a student at Indiana University in
Bloomington. Those “four most influential years of his life”
inspired him to write and perform original music, piecing his
material together with a beat up, old acoustic guitar.
Adley’s music
is soft and mellow, combining elements of folk, country and rock.
Comparisons?
Jeff Tweedy is the artist that immediately came to my mind when I
first played Adley’s album… and I’d even go as far as to say that
he’s also got a bit of an early Wilco flair.
The album’s
eight tracks explore themes such as love, heartbreak, change and
everyday situations.
Adley’s
smooth voice is a real pleasure to the ears. The rootsy
instrumental combinations are a rarity amongst the region’s current
talent, and it’s a treat to hear something a little different in the
area. The use of mandolins and steel slide guitars really give the
album a great edge.
Notable
tracks on the album include the upbeat “She Breaks Hearts”, a
kitschy tune about a presumably sassy, heartbreaking lady, and
“Next to You”, a softer ballad about love.
Overall, I’d
give this album a rating of 7 out of 10. Although the country/folk
genre isn’t my favorite style of music, I can’t deny that Adley is a
solid talent who should have a bright future ahead in the music
industry.
– Corine Jurgerson
RAGING SPEEDHORN
How The Great Have Fallen
(SPV/USA)
This is the third (10-song) CD, from this UK band that formed in
1998. Lucky for us, they are finally available in the U.S.
Their bio
says, “This is the sound of angry men making violent music for
unhinged people.”
I’d say
so…can you say angst with a capital A? I’m totally blown away by
this EXCELLENT, heavy handed, mesmerizing CD.
The Hardcore
vocals, with a slight Death Metal edge are cord shredders. The
vocals x 2 team, John Loughlin and Frank Regan have twice the
impact, perfect enunciation and compliment each other superbly!
You gotta
love a band that that runs you over from the very start. The first
cut is “A Different Shade of Sh*t”. It sinks you into the
depths of their despair. We’ve all been there and obviously we are
not alone!
A stoner
vibe can be found in this CD as it sounds like Sea Of Green guitar
style, Sodom, old Black Sabbath and a slower version of Cathedral.
You guys
ought to identify with, “How Much Can A Man Take”. I
actually felt guilty after listening to it! Ha!
The best
track has got to be, “Don’t Let The Bastards Grind You Down”.
This anthem will have you screaming along and proudly waving your
Bic! This song is on Quaaludes, which is a real treat.
Raging
Speedhorn have played the main stage at the second UK OzzFest and
also performed at The Reading Festival. Could this be the start of a
British Invasion? I sure hope so!
The label
describes Raging Speedhorn like this, “Let’s set the scene:
Smashed teeth and broken glass. Pills, pain and perversion. A gang
of rats in the corner and a human liver in the toilet. Where the
hell are we? And why is there blood on everything?” Let the
fun begin…
– Diane Demeter
SONS OF CHAMPLIN
Hip Little Dreams
(Dig Records)
In 1977,
the “King Of Rock & Roll” passed away. 1977 was also a sad year
because it was also the last time we saw a studio record from The
Sons Of Champlin.
It is now
2005, some 28 years later and we now can confirm these two things.
1.
Elvis really is dead.
2. The Sons Of
Champlin are back and far from being on life support.
This
legendary SF Bay area favorite has returned with an 11 track
recording, chock full of solid R&B, funk and a dash of ‘60s
psychedelia.
It’s got it
all – screaming guitar solo’s, jazzy vibe riffs, punchy horns, tight
harmonies and soulful singing from one of the best, well versed
musicians that the biz has to offer – Mr. Bill Champlin.
Formed in the
late-‘60s, Champlin continues to front this heavily soul-influenced
band with stellar cuts like “For Joy,” “The Swim” and
“Maybe,” which will have you tripping back to the days of the
Fillmore or those 4 days on Yasgur’s farm.
Besides
Champlin, longtime members James Preston (Moby Grape), Dave
Schallock (Big Brother) and Geoff Palmer, continue to provide a
very tight rhythm section.
Palmers vibe
solo’s are an added treat. We don’t “need more cowbell,” we need
more VIBES!
Guitarist Tal
Morris’ tenure in the Sons was a short one, but his searing fret
work on this project will make many seasoned players drool. The horn
section of Mic Gillette and Tom Saviano only adds to the already
powerful mix, proving that brass does indeed kick ass.
As Champlin
continues to be a card carrying member of the horn-based group,
Chicago, it is obvious that the Sons are his passion project. It is
also where he shines the best.
This group
continues to stay way ahead of the curve musically, infusing horns
and B-3 all into one hell of a package.
And with the
stale music scene being what it is, Hip Little Dreams,
is a much needed shot of what a “real band” should sound like.
Let’s just
hope we don’t have to wait another 28 years! As Champlin recently
said – “This is too good not to continue.” I for one, tend to agree.
– Brian Pearson
ALBERT CUMMINGS
True To Yourself
(Blind Pig
Records)
I’ve shouted about guitar slinger Albert Cummings for a few
years now, as I particularly liked his 2003 effort, From the
Heart (Under the Radar), when he worked with Double Trouble.
I’ve continued to
be impressed with Albert’s songwriting and Stratocaster gifts. His
story is unique, too. While he learned bluegrass as a young man, he
didn't actively pursue a blues career until his mid-to-late
thirties.
Cumming’s Blind Pig debut reunites him with Tommy Shannon
of Double Trouble, and True to Yourself is a rare CD.
Rare for the way Albert tears up the fretboard consistently
throughout, and rare for 10 original, solid blues songs that are
built around traditional blues songwriting forms.
I keep turning up “Work It Out” for Albert’s
solo workout, and I enjoy the way that “Blues Makes Me Feel So
Good” floats on a Memphis-inspired groove built around Riley
Osborne’s keyboards, backed by Shannon on bass and Frosty Smith on
the drums.
True to Yourself is an outstanding CD.
– Eric Steiner
HEAD OF FEMUR
Hysterical Stars
(SpinART Records)
Head of
Femur’s fresh new album, Hysterical Stars, recently
hit store shelves and is destined to become a hit with the college
radio crowd.
Hysterical Stars
is the sophomore release for the Chicago-based band, and their
latest endeavor is every bit as creative as the band intended.
In short,
Hysterical Stars really isn’t like anything you’ve ever
heard before or ever will listen to on mainstream radio. Timid
melodies (although not timid in a negative way) are created by an
ingenious orchestration of strings, horns and percussion.
Overall, the
disc has a very mellow pop tone topped with quirky song lyrics. I’m
not going to lie, the sound is a little weird. Think Barenaked
Ladies meets Talking Heads and The Flaming Lips.
While Head of
Femur is actually comprised of eight members on stage, at least 28
musicians played on the record, including members of Bright Eyes,
Mayday, The Flying Luttenbachers, Hella, Bobby Conn and The Glass
Gypsies, The Sea and Cake, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Hysterical
Stars was mixed and recorded at Chicago’s Wall to Wall Studios with
engineers Chris Brickley (Wilco, R. Kelly) and Dan Dietrich.
The album
opens with the high-energy track, “Elliott Gould Is In California
Split”. The catchy song sets the tone for the rest of the
album. The quick tempo and staccato drumbeats sound somewhat
similar to No Doubt’s hit single “Spiderwebs”.
The rest of
the CD is as equally captivating and entertaining.
I was
particularly impressed by the bizarre track “The Sausage Canoe”.
Brilliant campy horn melodies and Partridge Familyesque choruses are
infectious and amusing.
The CD
closes with a bang with the haunting, piano/horn driven “Jack and
the Water Buffalo”. Soft and mysterious, much like the rest of
the album, the track provides perfect closure to an intriguing,
artistic disc.
– Corine Jurgerson
DOUG MacLEOD
Dubb
(Black & Tan)
Doug MacLeod’s
Dubb, takes its name from the nickname George “Harmonica”
Smith bestowed on MacLeod because the elder bluesman couldn’t (or
wouldn't) pronounce Doug’s first name properly.
No matter what
you call this inspiring Southern Cali-based master of the National
Reso-Phonic steel guitar, Dubb continues MacLeod's stripped down and
sparse exploration of the blues with 12 original cuts.
When I want to
hear some heartfelt acoustic blues, I tend to turn to folks like Keb'
Mo', John Hammond, or Doug MacLeod – artists of this caliber carry
the tradition of Honeyboy Edwards, and Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Standout cuts
here include “She Boogy'n” and “Have a Little Taste”
for some rollicking piano courtesy of Carl “Sonny” Leyland, or
“North County Woman” for Dubb’s sweet slide guitar.
– Eric Steiner
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