Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Aug 24 Vol. II

THE LOUDER STUFF

FUCKED UP – Another Day
Hardcore experimentalists’ new album is a bit chaotic and not among their best. That being said, they’ve never released an album that’s not at least very good. (8)

HAIL DARKNESS – Death Divine
It’s been a while since we got a really good new occult rock band but Hail Darkness are finally here and they’re fantastic – their thing being adding a Jefferson Airplane twist to the Sabbathian riff-fest. Horns up! (8)

NILE – The Underworld Awaits Us All
A strong brutal technical death metal record, this is probably the 6th best Nile album, and probably the 6th best Morbid Angel album as well. (8)

POISON RUIN – Confere EP
They’ve been called a crust punk band, they still sound like The Wipers meets Motorhead to me. (8)

UNIFORM – American Standard
This is an industrial/noise album about eating disorders and even though there’s an artistic value to this, it makes for extremely uncomfortable listening. Godflesh and black metal fans might like it, and I do hear echoes of Cop Shoot Cop somewhere in there. (7)

ZEAL & ARDOR – Greif
It’s funny how all the people who screamed “THIS ISN’T METAL!!!” in 2016 and hated them for defying expectations grudgingly grew to accept them, but they’re back to screaming “THIS ISN’T METAL!!!” in 2024 for defying expectations. (9)


THE OTHER STUFF

BEACHWOOD SPARKS – Across The River Of Stars
Competent Byrds cosplay produced by L.A. country-rock veterans, produced by The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson. (7)

JADE JACKSON – Silent Wings
Country rocker’s last full-length made the List, this 5-track EP is slightly poppier but just as good. (8)

MILTON NASCIMENTO & ESPERANZA SPALDING – Milton & Esperanza
Jazz bassist coaxes Brazilian singer out of retirement for a beautiful collaboration album bringing together reimagined classics from the latter’s catalogue with new tracks from the likes of Paul Simon. (8)

FRANK TURNER – Undefeated Acoustic
The acoustic version of this year’s “Undefeated” album has its charms but is non-essential, just like its parent record. (7)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Aug 24

THE LOUDER STUFF

THE ANGELS – Ninety Nine
If you know me you know I love these guys, and the latest incarnation of the band still rocks hard and kicks ass. (8)

DWARVES – Keep It Reel
Mini-LP featuring new tracks and a few older ones, this is classic Dwarves – pop punk with a juvenile sense of humor. Refreshing. (8)

GHOST – Rite Here Rite Now
Haven’t seen the movie yet but the soundtrack, essentially a live album, is flawlessly recorded but a bit disappointing for those of us who’ve been following the band from the start, as the first two albums are totally ignored. (7)

HARVESTMAN – Triptych Part II
Neurosis mainman Steve Von Till continues on the ambient dub path he opened earlier this year. Al Cisneros (Om/Sleep) guests. Get the bong out. (8)

ORANGE GOBLIN – Science, Not Fiction
Every time these guys release an album you feel like having a pint or three with them down at their local, just shooting the breeze about Sabbath and Motorhead. (8)

REO SPEEDWAGON – Live at Rockpalast 1979
The good news is that this one catches the band at peak hard rock power, between “You Can Tune A Piano…” and “Hi Infidelity” and before the soppy power ballads took over. The bad news is that it’s poorly recorded and therefore mainly interesting for historical reasons rather than for listening pleasure. (7)

SCENE QUEEN – Hot Singles In Your Area
The feminist/empowerment message is commendable, but the rehashed nu metal riffs and everything-turned-up-to-10 production don’t hold up. (6)


THE OTHER STUFF

AMERICAN AQUARIUM – The Fear Of Standing Still
This is exactly the type of album I love nowadays – catchy rock ‘n’ roll from the American South, one foot firmly rooted on Isbell/DBT ground and the other stuck in Springsteen/Petty country, with a big heart and even bigger balls. (8)

ZACH BRYAN – The Great American Bar Scene
Like the bastard son a bedroom lo-fi Jason Isbell and a Nebraska-era Springsteen, Bryan comes across as a great Americana storyteller. The bad news: He only knows how to write one song. The good news: It’s a hell of a great one. (8)

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – Southern Rock Opera (deluxe reissue)
DBT’s breakthrough album from 2001 gets a long-awaited reissue with extra tracks and a new sequencing which reinforces its status as an early 21st century classic – a concept album loosely based on the story of Lynyrd Skynyrd by one of the best bands of their generation. (9)

JAMES XERXES FUSSELL – When I'm Called
If you’re into acoustic country folk you’ll find much to love here. (8)

CASSANDRA JENKINS – My Light, My Destroyer
If Phoebe Bridgers had spent a lot of time listening to Tom Petty and “The Bends”-era Radiohead, she might have ended up sounding a bit like this. (8)

JOHNNY BLUE SKIES – Passage Du Plaisir
Sturgill Simpson infuses his country with… yacht rock??? (8)

LANKUM – Live In Dublin
Playing Irish folk with the intensity of Swans, they released one of last year’s best albums and this live set confirms that they are one of the best bands in the world right now, a force to be reckoned with. (9)

CHARLIE OVERBEY – In Good Company
Is this country? Maybe. Is it rock? I think so. Does it kick ass? Most definitely. (8)

SML – Small Medium Large
LA-based quintet fusing jazz with electronica with impressive results, and RIYL Miles Davis’ fusion era. I was quite surprised to find out it’s Anna Butterss on the bass, because last time I saw her she was rocking out in Jason Isbell’s band. (8)

SUSS – Birds & Beasts
I’ve seen these guys described as “ambient country” but trust me, this is much more Brian Eno than Kenny Rogers. (8)

WAND – Vertigo
Wand frontman Cory Hanson has made The List in recent years not once, but twice with solo albums, one of which sounded like Radiohead playing country rock. Well, his band’s latest sounds like Radiohead playing post rock. (8)

JACK WHITE – No Name
The heaviest and White Stripiest album in White’s solo career, this is just a terrific blues-based heavy rock record, like Led Zeppelin on amphetamines doing an unrehearsed Elmore James tribute record. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Jul 24

DAVE ALVIN & JIMMIE DALE GILMORE – TexiCali
Ex-Blasters guitar-slinger joins forces with legendary “hippie country singer” on a competent mix of bluesy country rock originals and covers. (8)

JULIE CHRISTMAS – Ridiculous And Full Of Blood
The Queen, possibly the inventor, of Bjorkcore is back, and it's a welcome return. (8)

THE DECEMBERISTS – As It Ever Was So It Will Be Again
An excellent proggy folk-rock album including a few left turns such as the 19+ minute epic closing track that starts all jangly, then transforms to Pink Floyd, and ends up metal. (8)  

JOHN GRANT – The Art Of The Lie
Funky and poppy on the outside but sad and angry on the inside, this is one of Grant’s better albums. (8)

HUUN-HUUR-TU, CARMEN RIZZO & DHANI HARRISON - Dreamers In The Field
A mesmerizing album of Tuvan throat singing featuring a Western-style new age-y production, with a little help from their friend Dhani (George’s son). (8)

NOMEANSNO – Wrong (Reissue)
A masterpiece from 1989 by the best band you’ve never heard of, punk at heart but jazz at brain and metal at testicles. Now reissued on red vinyl. (10)

RED KROSS – RED KROSS
Power pop veterans are in top form this year, rawking out on a bunch of catchy tunes that sound like 1969 The Who reinterpreted with the enthusiasm of 2023 The Lemon Twigs (who seem to have modeled themselves after Red Kross anyway). (8)

RICH RUTH – Water Still Flows
A fantastic ambient/prog/doom/jazz instrumental record, which I’ll just call “SunnO))) Ra” as a shortcut. (8)

SUMAC – The Healer
Uneasy listening and heavy as fuck, it does reward the most patient of metalheads in the end. (8)

LINDA THOMPSON – Proxy Music
Better known as a singer of someone else’s songs (her then husband Richard’s) on some of the best folk-rock records of all time and having lost her voice to a rare neurological disorder, Thompson turns the tables by writing some great folk-rock songs for others to sing. Her own children, John Grant (singing about being in love with a man called John Grant on a song titled “John Grant”), an assortment of Wainwrights, and others are happy to do the job. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Jun 24

THE LOUDER STUFF

BEATEN TO DEATH – Sunrise Over Rigor Mortis
If you ever wished Kvelertak played grindcore… (8)

BIG SPECIAL – Postindustrial Hometown Blues
If I tell you that this is synth-based post-punk from the UK with lots of spoken word vocals you’ll immediately assume it’s a Sleaford Mods rip-off, but these guys have their own thing going. For starters Joe Hicklin can actually sing where required, and Big Special are grimier, sounding like Birmingham where they come from. An excellent debut. (8)

ULCERATE – Cutting The Throat Of God
“Brutal and melodic” might sound like an oxymoron, but this is precisely what this death metal band pulls off on their new album which is more streamlined and less chaotic than previous efforts. (8)

UMBRA VITAE – Light Of Death
Converge’s Jacob Bannon goes full-on death metal, along with members of The Red Chord and Job For A Cowboy. Kurt Ballou produces, of course. Absolutely brutal and one of the best extreme metal albums released in 2024. (8)


THE OTHER STUFF

AROOJ AFTAB – Night Reign
Dark and beautiful folk-jazz mainly sung in Urdu, Grammy winner Aftab’s new album is probably her best. Essential after-dark listening. (8)

BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN – Keep Me In Your Mind / See You Free
Folk supergroup of sorts record their third album in an Irish pub. It’s a double album so it could’ve taken a bit of a trimming down, but it still sounds timeless and haunting. (8)

DANA GILLESPIE – First Love
She’s 75 now and better known as a blues singer, but in the early 70’s Gillespie was the hottest girl in London and had a promising rock career derailed by record label bullshit. You can read all about that stuff in her saucy memoir, but for now listen to this collection of interesting “rock cabaret”-style versions of songs by artists ranging from David Bowie to Lana Del Rey, a project that could be right up the alley of her contemporary, Marianne Faithfull. Marc Almond duets on Cohen’s “Dance Me To The End Of Love”. (8)

LANDLESS – Luireach
Lankum opened the door for us and now we’re discovering seriously amazing Irish folk music practically every month. (8)

MINT MILE – Rough Rider
The main attraction for me was the closing track “I Hope It’s Different”, a collaboration of the band with Nina Nastasia who holds a special place in my heart. Led by a guy from indie rockers Silkworm, Mint Mile actually specialize in the kind of alt-country Songs:Ohia’s Jason Molina had become known for (and actually share a drummer with that band). It’s not pretty, but it rocks. (8)

WILLIE NELSON – The Border
May he live forever, releasing excellent country records. The title track, a Rodney Crowell cover, is a masterpiece. (8)

NIAMH REGAN – Come As You Are
RIYL Laura Marling, which means RIYL Joni Mitchell. (7)

JOANA SERRAT – Big Wave
A pleasant throwback to the early 90’s, as if someone attempted a mash-up of My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless” and The Cocteau Twins’ “Heaven Or Las Vegas”. (8)

RICHARD THOMPSON – Ship To Shore
At 75 years young Thompson can still run circles around every guitar shredder out there, and he can still write a mean tune. The new one doesn’t rock as hard as 2018’s “13 Rivers”, focusing instead on his folk-rock side. But it’s just as good, and that one made The List. (8)

TRÁ PHÁIDÍN – An 424
Another great record from Ireland, these guys take folk and filter it through a kraut/prog/post-rock filter, not dissimilar to early Tortoise. Only available on Bandcamp, I think. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, May 24 Vol. II

THE LOUDER STUFF

KERRY KING – From Hell I Rise
Essentially a post-Hanneman Slayer album, King never stepping away from his comfort zone. Decent but non-essential. (7)

PALLBEARER – Mind Burns Alive
I like the new Pallbearer, it’s less about crushing doom riffs and more about the vibe and the atmosphere, in an almost post-rock way. (8)

SHELLAC – To All Trains
Oh man, I loved Albini, he was the real thing. His swan song is a perfect example of the Albini ethos, huge drum sound, razor-sharp noise-rock riffs, the sarcasm and attitude turned to 11. I’ll miss him. (8)

SLASH – Orgy Of The Damned
Star-studded blues album (“Blues Your Illusion”?) with everyone from Brian Johnson to Demi Lovato joining the G’n’R guitar slinger on some overplayed classics. Lots of cool guitar solos but come on, really, does the world need another cover version of “Crossroads”? “Hoochie Coochie Man”? “Born Under A Bad Sign”? (6)


THE OTHER STUFF

ANDREW BIRD TRIO – Sunday Morning Put-On
Bird loves jazz so he digs deep into the Great American Songbook and beautifully covers a bunch of tunes by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington etc. with a violin-bass-drums lineup. (8)

BLITZEN TRAPPER – 100s Of 1000s, Millions Of Billions
First heard these guys in 2008 when “Furr” was released on Sub Pop (I loved that one), had no idea they’re still around but their psych-leaning folk rock remains potent. (8)

BETH GIBBONS – Lives Outgrown
The voice of Portishead returns with an album that takes careful steps to distance itself from the trademark Portishead “trip hop” sound but still manages to create a very strong emotional response, beautiful and haunting. (9)

MICHAEL HEAD & THE RED ELASTIC BAND – Loophole
2022’s “Dear Scott” was the surprise on that year’s List, the new album by cult songwriter (you know him, or don’t, from The Pale Fountains) and Love aficionado Head is a bit scrappier. (7)

KAIA KATER – Strange Medicine
Canadian folkie adds jazz and R&B elements to her roots music and comes up with something great. (8)

THE MAVERICKS – Moon & Stars
A gorgeous album seamlessly blending Tex-Mex/Tejano influences into the band’s country rock. And Raul Malo’s Orbison-like tenor remains unbeatable. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, May 24

HOT WATER MUSIC – Vows
If you’re a HWM fan then this will not disappoint – it’s stacked with melodic post-hardcore bangers and huge sing-along choruses. (8)

KINGS OF LEON – Can We Please Have Fun
“Mustang”, the lead single, was fucking amazing and probably the best song these guys have ever come up with. The rest of the album has its moments but it’s mostly MOR/AOR from the heartland. (7)

POKEY LAFARGE – Rhumba Country
An Americana heart decorated with Latin-flavored influences and a great sense of humor. (7)

THE LEMON TWIGS – A Dream Is All We Know
Re-confirming their status as power-pop royalty for the 20’s. (8)

MDOU MOCTAR – Funeral For Justice
This is not the “desert blues” made popular by Tinariwen, this is “desert punk fucking rock”! And the guy really shreds, like Sahara’s answer to Eddie Van Halen or something. (8)

JESSICA PRATT – Here In The Pitch
Pratt’s records are always magical, and on her fourth she expands on the dreamlike qualities of her music by utilizing richer instrumentation. Simply gorgeous. (8)

LAWRENCE ROTHMAN – The Plow That Broke The Plains
A strong and very personal Americana album (basically it’s country), by non-binary Rothman who has previously worked with everyone from Kim Gordon to Duff McKagan to Lucinda Williams and even a pre-fame Billie Eilish. Here with a little help from friends/guests including Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, and S.G. Goodman. (8)

ROTTING CHRIST – Pro Xristou
All the songs have the same mid-tempo beat and the same riff, but it’s a great beat and a fuckin’ awesome riff. (8)

FRANK TURNER – Undefeated
Beloved by the fans (he just sold out his 3000th show) but snubbed by the “serious” music press (I don’t think I’ve ever seen one word about him in Pitchfork or Uncut), Turner reached album #10. “Undefeated” is solid, like Billy Bragg backed by The Hold Steady, a bit more low profile than 2022’s “FTHC”. (8)

KAMASI WASHINGTON – Fearless Movement
Featuring rappers, George Clinton, Thundercat, and a Zapp cover, this is Kamasi at his most playful. Of course, this is still jazz for a large ensemble and the musicianship remains unparalleled. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Apr 24 Vol. III

THE LOUDER STUFF

BIG|BRAVE – A Chaos Of Flowers
Bjork goes post-metal. (7)

DOOL – The Shape Of Fluidity
A dark, gothy prog with some modern post-metal elements that would not disqualify the band from sharing a bill with mid-period Anathema or latter-day Katatonia. Good, but not as good as 2020’s “Summerland”. (8)

HARVESTMAN – Triptych Part One
Neurosis mainman Steve Von Till goes full-on ambient dub with contributions from Yob and Sleep members. Fire up that bong. (8)

HIGH ON FIRE – Cometh The Storm
It’s fuckin’ High On fuckin’ Fire, what do you think this sounds like? Prepare to have your eardrums melted by awesome riff after awesome riff at an unbearably loud volume, like Mastodon trying to be heard over Motorhead playing right next to them, and please welcome the incredible Coady Willis (Big Business, Melvins) on drums. (8)

MELVINS – Tarantula Heart
I’ve been following these guys for decades, listened to 30+ of their albums and EPs, and I’ve read about a “return to form” for at least a dozen of those where the reviewer usually means their slightly more accessible “Houdini”/“Stoner Witch” era. That’s what reviewers are saying about this one too but reviewers are full of shit because this one’s weird as fuck, but in a good way – thrown some Butthole Surfers into their sludge, perhaps? (8)

MY DYING BRIDE – A Mortal Binding
Is it just me or is the violin slightly off-key/out of tune? I like the riffs, more brutal than their last few albums, and nobody plays doom/death metal like MDB, but I find that violin a bit distracting. (7)

PEARL JAM – Dark Matter
Who would’ve guessed that Pearl Jam not only would outlive Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains but, 33 years after their debut, still be capable of releasing one of the year’s best pure rock albums? (8)


THE OTHER STUFF

T-BONE BURNETT – The Other Side
A quiet, beautiful, introspective record by Burnett who’s better known as a Grammy-winning producer but is also the King of Americana. (8)

IRON & WINE – Light Verse
A return to form for Americana stalwart, and his duet with Fiona Apple on “All In Good Time” is a serious candidate for song of the year. (8)

ST. VINCENT – All Born Screaming
Probably the best St. Vincent album to date, Annie Clark has never sounded realer and, well, more fun, moving with ease between funky rock, NIN-inspired industrial, and dream pop. (8)

TAYLOR SWIFT – The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology
It’s fine. (8)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – The Power Of The Heart: A Tribute To Lou Reed
A really good tribute album, most of the artists put their own spin on the songs, very few play it straight. Featuring Keith Richards, Rufus Wainwright, Joan Jett, Rickie Lee Jones, The Afghan Whigs, Mary Gauthier, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash and others. (8)