THE LOUDER STUFF
DEAD CROSS – II
Hardcore/thrash crossover with the occasional Dead Kennedys/Cramps surf-influenced guitar riff, Mike Patton fronting, and Lombardo on drums? What’s not to like?? (8)
ENUFF Z’NUFF – Finer Than Sin
Unstoppable, they just keep releasing albums at a rate unmatched by few other bands in the 21st century, and they’re all pretty good too – this one’s no exception, featuring their trademark hard rock/power pop blend, sort of like a metal version of the Beatles. (8)
L.S. DUNES – Past Lives
Emo supergroup is a “what if early My Chemical Romance was fronted by Cedric Bixler-Zavala?” proposition. (7)
SOEN – Atlantis
Recorded live in the studio with an 8-piece orchestra and backing vocalists, these prog metallers (if "Katatonia meets Porcupine Tree" counts as prog metal, that is) offer interesting reworkings of some of their best songs, a new track, and an impressive cover of Slipknot’s “Snuff”. Good stuff. (8)
MARC URSELLI’S STEPPENDOOM – SteppenDoom
If you discovered Mongolian/Tiverian throat singing via metal and The Hu, it’s time to grow up and upgrade to Steppendoom – Urselli’s a Grammy-award winning sound engineer & producer who has worked with everyone from Elton John to John Zorn, and on this project he brings together local throat singers with metal royalty like Matt Pike, Aaron Aedy, Johannes Persson, Steve Von Till, Trey Spruance, Dave Chandler and others. (8)
THE OTHER STUFF
RICHARD DAWSON – The Ruby Cord
I love Dawson and the fact that he’s totally bonkers, one minute creating strange folk songs about jogging or whatever and the next collaborating with Finnish metal provocateurs Circle, and he has even made The List, but there’s a big hurdle to overcome with “The Ruby Cord”– the opening track is a whopping 41 minutes long and doesn’t really get to the point until the 12-minute mark. If you can get past that, and you can stand his vocals which are certainly an acquired taste, the remaining 40 minutes are highly enjoyable. (8)
PJ HARVEY – B-Sides, Demos & Rarities
6-LP or 3-CD box set is a real treasure trove for Polly’s fans, and just as enjoyable as her best studio albums. (11)
LARKIN POE – Blood Harmony
Another excellent swaggering blues-based southern rock record from the Lovell sisters. Tons of kick-ass electric guitars, and smoky vocals like Paul Rodgers after oestrogen injections. (8)
FRANZ NICOLAY – New River
Solo album by The Hold Steady’s not-so-secret weapon, “New River” occasionally sounds a lot like his main gig (“Your Ode Played By French Horns”), but for the most part it ventures into wild diversions that are all over the place but lots of fun, from the 70’s Tom Waits boho of “It’s Dawn” to the Against Me! punk strut of “First-Person Spectacular”. (8)
ONE ELEVEN HEAVY – Poolside
If you’re in the mood for some Cosmic American rock in the Little Feat/Grateful Dead tradition… (7)
CAITLIN ROSE – Cazimi
Nashville veteran does her all-country/Americana thing well, with a glossy pop sheen that’s more late 70’s Fleetwood Mac than Lucinda Williams. (7)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Only The Strong Survive
Bruce does old soul covers from the Temptations to the Commodores, arrangements remain more or less faithful to the originals. (7)
COLIN STETSON – Chimaera I
This time around he goes full-on drone and gets some REALLY spooky sounds out of his sax. I think I’ll call him SunnO))) Rollins from now on. (8)
TRAMPLED BY TURTLES – Alpenglow
Innovators within a centuries-old music genre, bluegrass (so let’s call them nu-grass), this time around they enlist Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy as producer to beef up the indie rock credentials. (7)
WEYES BLOOD – And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
Her voice is like chocolate sauce drizzled over choux pastry balls, her lyrics are deep, but her orchestral pop songs need a few more hooks. (7)
