Be Here Now: Snapshot Reviews Of New Album Releases, Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

It’s a nice day for a white woman

Turn Blue – The Black Keys – Not available on Spotify and believe me I would have saved myself eleven bucks if it wasn’t for the opportunity to warn you that this typical blues exercise with lots of psychedelic whatnots is nothing remotely as good as you’re being told it is. If you can get through the seven minute “Weight Of Love” you’re a better human being than I am. Swans 34 minute track went by faster – C

Blondie 4(0)-Ever/Ghosts of Download – Blondie – I had a problem with the EP released last year, you know the modern disco tracks one, even though it was treat to hear Beth Ditto singing with Debbie Harry. The rerecorded tracks are neither here nor, the new tracks are smarter than average modern disco and the EP tracks seem to work better in context – B

White Women – Chromeo – I’ve never been much of a fan of this disco duo, never hit me as inventive as Holy Ghost for one, but they get it right here. High energy, melodic, if a little old fashioned. The Solange song is terrific the Ezra Koenig song uses his falsetto to great effect and the opening track masterful – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – B+

A Special Life – John Mayall – I’ve listened to this guy play the blues since I was pre-teen and he ran the Bluesbreakers and I’ll take him over the Black Keys any day… which doesn’t make this a great album – B-

XSCAPE – Michael Jackson – Remember this column is called “Snapshots” -0first listen this clicks in much much better than I thought it would. As long as it keeps to dance it is alright –especially the title track and “Do You Know Where Your Children Are” – B

Days Of Abandon – The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – After an excellent debut album, they got hit by the sophomore jinx. The good news is this is a fine return to form after getting hit by the sophomore jinx. The sound like early Belle And Sebastian for high school ners – B

To Be Kind – Swans – I once saw Michael Gira’s band at CBGB’s and I liked em fine but came out with a pounding heachache, loud, aggressive, distilled fury. This over two hour manifestation is more of the same more or less – B-

Unrepentent Geraldines – Tori Amos – I liked this chick fine once, circa “Talula”, but the same damn thing every other year –she bores the hell out of me by now – C