Be Here Now: First Take On New Album Releases 11-4-14
Calvin Harris: Album Of The Week 11-3-14
Allergic To Water – Ani di Franco – You either get Ani or you pass and with the exception of an “Untouchable Face” here and there, her gifts as a songwriter seem to be more in the modified strum and riff style I pass on. This acoustic album is precisely what you think it is – C+
It’s The Girls – Bette Midler – As my friend Sherry Davis wondered aloud: “what took her so long?”. The first half is mostly Shirelles, Ronettes, like that. The second half gets a little lachrymose, though a left field “Waterfalls” and Midler meets the Andrew Sisters (again) “It’s The Girl” are very good– B
Live In Memphis – Big Star – Oh yeah, from the only professionally filmed Big Star concert. I bet the DVD kills, this is OK as well – B
The Basement Tapes Sampler: The Bootleg Series Volume 11 – Bob Dylan – Sure, pretty terrific, the “Folsom Prison Blues” is actually, you know country blues. But really, there is no excuse for not buying the 138 song, six and a half hour complete version… which I’ll review when I’ve had more time to get a handle on it – Sampler: B+ Complete: A+
Motion – Calvin Harris – The best EDM album since Bassnectar, is the best big star filled extravaganza since Avicii’s remix album. It is all pretty excellent, but the Haim, Gwen Stefani and house banger “Slow Acid” are simply magnificent – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A-
Black Metal – Dean Blunt – you might know him as Hype Williams but you don’t know him like this dark and sullen electronic Americana. Brooding, disturbing, completely original. Chillwave? And then some – A-
Songs – Deptford Goth – Like James Blake but a little less capable – B
With You – Dirty South – A Serbian Australian DJ, a little obvious – B-
Ella Eyre EP – Ella Eyre – She blew me away when I saw her perform with Rudimental a coupla years back and this four song EP is soulful dance music and very well done – A-
Love Lights The Underground – Groove Armada – Old school DJS release fine house album – B+
All Of My Memories – John Denver – A handful of really fine songs and dozens of rocky mountain bores – C
Maddie And Tae EP – Maddie And Tae – Teen girls think they’re Pistol Annies and they may be right – B+
Mariachi El Bronx – Mariachi El Bronx – More than a goof, this is very well executed classic rock played to a mariachi beat – B
Storytone – Neil Young – First solo and then with a full orchestra, it is a pity the songs suck so bad – C-
White Noise – Pvris – Any bets as to how long before Lindsay dumps the boys and go solos? Straight after the second single breaks through is my bet – B-
Alone For The First Time – Ryan Hemsworth – We’ve heard this ambient mood beats before, and this ain’t the worst of em – B-
Sly Stone’s Flower 1969 – 1979 – Sly Stone And Various Artists – From Pitchfork (who prolly cut and pasted it themselves): “five 45s and 10 additional previously unreleased tracks. Everything has been remastered from the original tapes. Artists included are Little Sister, Joe Hicks, 6ix, and Stone himself.” Start with the harp beauty “You Can, we Can” by 6ix (so now we know something else Prince stole off Sly) and then go deep – A-
Vibes – Theophilus London – Remember when this guy was the next big thing? He was appearing at every gig in Bensonhurst. Well the hip hop indie pop ambient mash upper is back with a very good new album. Hey, that is Kanye West on “Can’t Stop”, he also produced the album… bet you wish you had Theo’s rolodex – B+
