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)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Apr 24 Vol. II

THE LOUDER STUFF

EARLY MOODS – A Sinner's Past
Sounds like a cross between Saint Vitus and Count Raven. BTW “Early Moods” can be anagrammed as “Doom Slayer”, which is probably a more appropriate name for these guys. (7)

GUN – Hombres
Nobody plays anthemic, melodic hard rock like this anymore. A very strong album, right up there with “Taking On The World” and “Gallus”, with Dante Gizzi’s transition from bassist to lead vocalist/frontman a great success story. (8)

HEAVY TEMPLE – Garden Of Heathens
This fucking rocks (or, rather, RAWKS) in a High On Fire/Yob sort of way, plus I’d listen to a band with a frontwoman named High Priestess Nighthawk any day. (8)

WHOM GODS DESTROY – Insanium
This is basically a new version of Sons of Apollo and the fantastic Croatian guy replacing Soto on vocals is the only real surprise here, other than that it’s the Dreamy Theatery stuff you’d expect. But my question is, how come every single fucking band that copies Dream Theater has a better singer than Dream Theater? (7)


THE OTHER STUFF

CINDY LEE – Diamond Jubilee
This one has been getting 9+ reviews from virtually every music critic in the solar system but I assume that’s because they were teenagers in 2000 and they got all nostalgic when Cindy Lee, in a genius zero-budget marketing move, decided to only make the album available on GeoCities. But really, 128 minutes of low-fi late 90’s indie pop influenced by 60’s girl groups? My attention span is too short for that. (7)

ENGLISH TEACHER – This Could Be Texas
Some people call it post-punk but it’s really just some very cool music that’s a bit all over the place, I haven’t enjoyed an album like this coming out of the UK since, I dunno, Wolf Alice’s “Blue Weekend”? Which is a pretty good point of reference BTW, along with Black Country New Road. (8)

SHABAKA HUTCHINGS – Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace
WTF is wrong with you man, you used to be fun. People could actually dance to your jazz, and now you’re doing this cosmic hippy shit? (5)

WILLIE NILE – Live at Daryl’s House Club
Bruce Springsteen without the budget, Lou Reed without the high art, Bob Dylan gone power pop, I love this guy. (8)

AARON LEE TASJAN – Stellar Evolution
Maybe you know Tasjan as an Americana artist but his versatility is well documented (he even played guitar in the 21st century version of the New York Dolls) and this is a fantastic glam pop album. (8)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – My Black Country: The Songs Of Alice Randall
Tribute album to trailblazing African American female country songwriter, a companion release to her autobiography with the same title. Rhiannon Giddens, Adia Victoria, Sunny War, Valerie June and others pay their respects. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Apr 24

BEYONCE – Cowboy Carter
The previous album was Beyonce’s club music album, this one is supposedly her country album but it’s not: Instead, Beyonce just uses country imagery and signifiers as a springboard to make a statement about black women artists in a white man’s world. None of this would matter without decent songs, but “Cowboy Carter” has some great ones. I really enjoyed this. (8)

SCOTT H. BIRAM – The One & Only Scott H. Biram
A true road warrior honing his craft in sleazy honkytonks all over Texas, Biram mixes southern rock, outlaw country, blues and punk and kicks some serious ass. “Sinner’s Dinner” even sounds like prime Steppenwolf, and I love fuckin’ Steppenwolf. (8)

BLACK KEYS – Ohio Players
Probably their best album since 2011’s “El Camino”, certainly the most fun. (8)

CEDRIC BURNSIDE – Hill Country Love
The “Mississippi Country Hill Blues” subgenre, made popular in juke joints across the South by the likes of Cedric’s grandpa R.L., in all its joyous glory. If you thought blues was sad music, check this out and bring some moonshine and fried chicken to the party. (8)

COFFIN STORM – Arcana Rising
A bunch of Norwegian underground metal lifers including Apollyon and Fenriz play some riff-tastic epic doom, like Candlemass with Hellhammer’s attitude. (8)

SHERYL CROW – Evolution
Her previous album was supposed to be her last one but I’m glad it wasn’t, Crow remains one of the best songwriters out there and this album once again proves that her radio-friendly heartland rock with huge pop hooks is up there in the Pantheon with the likes of Tom Petty. (8)

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO – Echo Dancing
Legendary septuagenarian Texan revisits 14 tracks from his long solo career and bands he played in like Buick McKane and The True Believers. Given his ease in moving between diverse genres from punk to country, it’s not entirely surprising that a lot of these reinterpretations sound nothing like the originals and might even remind one of Suicide in places. (8)

PHOSPHORESCENT – Revelator
Competent country rock by a guy who obviously knows what he’s doing even when he’s singing about not knowing what he’s doing. (8)

THE SECRET SISTERS – Mind, Man, Medicine
Americana duo from Muscle Shoals, Alabama knit their close harmonies once again on a wonderful little album that will appeal to fans of everyone from the Everly Brothers to Phoebe Bridgers. (8)

SARAH SHOOK & THE DISARMERS – Revelations
File under “cowpunk with pop ambitions” next to Lydia Loveless. (7)

VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Only God Was Above Us
I always liked bands coming out of NYC but that ended sometime in 90’s with people like Cibo Matto and Soul Coughing, the 00’s New York scene always seemed a bit too preppy/upper class for my tastes (with the notable exception of hard-drinking working class classic rockers The Hold Steady, of course). Vampire Weekend are among the survivors of that scene and on this album the intelligent pop (slightly) dominates over the preppiness. (8)