Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Nov 2021 Vol. II

ABBA – Voyage
There’s lots of people in their 70’s making music today and they don’t sound like their whole audience should be in their 70’s too like this new ABBA album does. (5)

ADELE – 30
She got a fantastic voice, she’s got class, and she’s good at doing pop music for adults addressing adult themes. She deserves the superstardom. (7)

CONVERGE FT. CHELSEA WOLFE – Bloodmoon: I
Sounds unlike any previous Converge album, this was essentially created by an enhanced line-up featuring not only Chelsea Wolfe who goths things up, but also Cave In’s Stephen Brodsky who piles on the hooks. A masterpiece of heavy music. (10)

ENDLESS BOOGIE – Admonitions
It’s boogie, and it’s endless. (7)

ENUFF Z’NUFF – Enuff Z'Νuff's Hardrock Nite
There’s a strong Beatles influence on their sound anyway (after all, they’ve always been a power pop band masquerading as a hair metal band), but they’re taking this to its logical end with a full album of Beatles covers. And you’ll actually love it if you always wished that The Beatles would play these great songs just a little bit harder. (8)

CURTIS HARDING – If Words Were Flowers
Atlanta-based soul man is mates with Mastodon and the Black Lips and it shows here, as he infuses his Curtis Mayfield/Parliament old-school funk with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. (8)

KHEMMIS – Deceiver
Closer to traditional metal than to doom metal this time around. Cool riffs but the tunes could be a bit more memorable. (7)

SETH LAKEMAN – Make Your Mark
His previous album “A Pilgirm’s Tale” was the biggest surprise of 2020, an ambitious outlier that came seemingly out of nowhere to land high on the Music Geek’s year-end List. His new album is more low-key, but another excellent take on English folk played with rock intensity. (8)

LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS – Cockadoodledeux
Starting the album with a faithful version of “Rawhide” and including a song titled “Punk Rock Retirement Plan” (“Well it’s Johnny Cash for Johnny Rotten / Johnny Horton for Johnny Ramone / He’s swapping out his records / For something more down home”) is a clear statement of intent, they’ve gone full country. They’re still funny as hell. (7)

WILLIE NELSON – The Willie Nelson Family
Country music’s legendary stoner is 88 and just won’t stop releasing new music. This one’s together with his sons, daughters, and sister, and it’s a solid combination of reinterpretations of Nelson classics and covers (George Harrison, Hank Williams, Kris Kristofferson etc.). (7)

ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS – Raise The Roof
A sequel to 2007’s “Raising Sand”, which actually paved the way for everything Plant has done since, this collaboration with Bluegrass superstar Krauss focuses on innovative covers of folk, blues, and country deep cuts and is, of course, excellent. (8)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E-STREET BAND – The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts
The E-Street Band in all its glory, the energy on this live album is just insane. (10)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Cuba: Music and Revolution: Culture Clash in Havana Cuba: Experiments in Latin Music 1973-85 Vol. 2
Going beyond the Buena Vista Social Club, another great collection of mostly unknown Cuban artists from the next generation. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Nov 2021

THE LOUDER STUFF

KAYO DOT – Moss Grew On The Swords And Plowshares Alike
Post-metal pioneer Toby Driver reunites the original line-up of his previous band, Maudlin Of The Well, for something darker and heavier than Kayo Dot’s recent output, sort of like Emperor meets The Cure. (7)

LIMP BIZKIT – Still Sucks
Well, if you thought they did back in the day, this album won’t change your mind. But really. they were never THAT bad: At worst, they’re inoffensive in their sophomoric offensiveness. (7)

LUCIFER – IV
Lots of help from hubby, but within the occult rock genre the Green Lung album is too recent to avoid comparisons and this one doesn’t even come close. (7)

MASTODON – Hushed And Grim
Let the haters hate, this is a great metal album. (9)

SKATENIGS – What Could Go Wrong?
Mordred’s back, The Skatenigs are back. Happy 1992 everyone, Sub Pop never happened and THIS is the alternative to traditional heavy metal, who’s next? Monster Voodoo Machine? Stabbing Westward? Psychefunkapus? (6)

EDDIE SPAGHETTI & FRANK MEYER – Motherfuckin’ Rock ‘n’ Roll
Supersuckers & Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs frontmen get together to play some motherfuckin’ rock ‘n’ roll. Of course. (8)


THE OTHER STUFF

HAYES CARLL – You Get It All
Steve Earle has dissed Carll calling him a less talented version of himself, but take that statement with a grain of salt since Earle’s ex-wife Allison Moorer had left him for Carll right before this quote was taken. Gossip aside, the truth is that Carll is probably the best student of Earle’s Texas Country Singer/Songwriter style. (8)

HAYSEED DIXIE – Shattered Grass
I became a Hayseed Dixie fan before I became a bluegrass fan, and despite their “joke band” status they probably played a major role in my current appreciation of some great contemporary music I’d have otherwise missed out on, so I must thank them. That being said I’ve heard better albums by these guys, and funnier jokes too. Or maybe this just isn’t the right time for their brand of faux-redneck humor. (6)

JACKSON+SELLERS – Breaking Point
Jade Jackson (who made The List in 2019) and Aubrie Sellers join forces and rock harder than two country ladies should be expected to rock. (8)

PEPE DELUXE – Phantom Cabinet Vol. 1
Their previous record “Queen Of the Wave” might as well be the best album of all time, but this one comes pretty close, and it’s just as bonkers. (8)

DEAN WAREHAM – I Have Nothing to Say to the Mayor of L.A.
Luna/Galaxie 500 frontman’s solo album is the type of indie rock record I never really got into (not enough guitar distortion, slightly off-key vocals, plenty of irony) despite trying very hard over the past 30+ years, but there’s at least one truly great song here (“As Much As It Was Worth”). (7)

THE WAR ON DRUGS – I Don't Live Here Anymore
A good album, probably Granduciel’s best. But really, it’s funny how he is God to 20-something music critics who’ve never heard of the Dire Straits and dismiss Don Henley as boomer hippie shit. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Oct 2021 Vol. II

THE LOUDER STUFF

DREAM THEATER – A View From The Top Of The World
A typical Dream Theater record, i.e. it’s one month long featuring one track that lasts a fortnight and six shorter ones ranging in duration between two and three days each, but it’s a good month. No seriously, this is definitely the best Dream Theater album with Mangini in the fold. (8)  

GREEN LUNG – Black Harvest
What if Ghost was a doom metal band influenced by Queen and Uriah Heep? (9)

KING WOMAN – Celestial Blue
I didn’t know that Chelsea Wolfe had joined Eyehategod. (8)

MELVINS – Five Legged Dog
4-LP, 36-track acoustic album featuring reinterpretations of songs from their catalogue plus a bunch of covers. Still manages to sound heavy as fuck. (7)

TOM MORELLO – The Atlas Underground Fire
A somewhat disappointing mix of recycled Audioslave riffs, simplistic EDM beats, and sensationalist guest choices (Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder duetting on a cover of “Highway To Hell”???). (6)


THE OTHER STUFF

BEDOUINE – Waysides
Another one of Joni Mitchell’s spiritual children, one of the good ones. (7)

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – B-Sides And Rarities Part II
Get the proper albums first. (7)

LANA DEL REY – Blue Banisters
Her second album this year is much more autobiographical and for the most part steers clear of the 60’s/70’s Americana mythologizing. It’s not “Norman Fucking Rockwell!” but then, nothing is. (8)

GROUPER – Shade
It’s getting rave reviews from all serious music media but it’s a bit too low-fi for my taste. She clearly knows what she’s doing and I’m sure that sounding like a stoned amateur folkie’s bedroom demos is a deliberate thing, but I find getting any enjoyment from this too taxing. (6)

LILLY HIATT – Lately
Americana heiress continues her streak of solid “7” albums. (7)

JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT – Georgia Blue
During 2020’s U.S. election thriller he went live on social media promising a charity tribute album to his favorite Georgia artists if the Democrats would win the state, and Jason’s a man of his word. So here it is, great covers of great tracks (REM, James Brown, Cat Power, Otis Redding, Black Crowes, Indigo Girls, Gladys Night, Allman Brothers, Vic Chesnutt…) featuring great guests. (9)

MY MORNING JACKET – My Morning Jacket
Long hair, long jams, long wait between albums. A welcome return for these Grateful Dead disciples. (7)

POKEY LaFARGE – In The Blossom Of Their Shade
Caribbean-flavored old-school Americana, like if Hank Williams had grown up in Haiti. (8)

BUFFALO NICHOLS – Buffalo Nichols
Best blues album of the year, with lyrics like a punch in the gut. (9)

STICK IN THE WHEEL – Tonebeds For Poetry
Even though there is a strong possibility these guys have never heard of Kristi Stassinopoulou & Stathis Kalyviotis, and even though they take their cues from English traditional music rather than anything Balkan-related, they fit very comfortably next to that Greek duo’s Greekadelia/folktronica sound. (7)

VINTAGE TROUBLE – Juke Joint Gems
The blues/rock/soul band’s fourth album is actually their second one, recorded in 2012 but unreleased until now, and has much more in common with their fun, raw debut than with later releases. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Oct 2021

BADBADNOTGOOD – Talk Memory
Goodgoodnotbad. (7)

BRANDI CARLILE – In These Silent Days
This Highwoman’s new solo album reminded me of k.d. lang, and it’s not just because they’re both gay. (8)

LAURA JANE GRACE – At War With Silverfish
If you’re not already sick and tired of stripped-down lockdown EPs here’s another one, from Against Me’s leader and punk rock icon Laura Jane. Songs are kept short and sweet and are depressing in a cathartic sort of way. (7)

ILLUMINATI HOTTIES – Let Me Do One More
Music critics somehow love this, even though it mostly sounds like the 00’s pop-punk music critics hated back in the day. (8)

KATATONIA – Mnemosynean
A collection of non-album tracks by one of the best metal bands around, a must for fans despite the fact that most of these songs were left off the albums for a reason. (7)

THE RECORD COMPANY – Play Loud
Black Keys meets INXS. (7)

ESPERANZA SPALDING – Songwrights Apothecary Lab
Songs for healing and meditation, a weird exercise combining jazz with neuroscience and psychology. (7)

STRAND OF OAKS – In Heaven
A bit too loud for the “indie folk” label this guy has been carrying around. (7)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Country Funk Volume III 1975-1982
The title says it all really, 17 nuggets of southern deep-fried goodness featuring some household names (Dolly Parton, JJ Cale, Tony Joe White…) and a strong supporting cast. (8)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico
As if anyone needed proof that VU’s debut album is the cornerstone of all indie rock that followed, here’s a tribute featuring everyone who’s anyone in that particular universe, from Michael Stipe to Kurt Vile. As is usually the case with cover versions, those who take the greatest risks reap the greatest rewards. (8)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – I’m A Freak Baby 3: A Further Journey Through The British Heavy Psych And Hard Rock Underground Scene 1968-1973
Another excellent 3-CD compilation of proto-metal Neanderthals, known and unknown. This one goes to (11)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Sep 2021

THE LOUDER STUFF

THE BRONX – Bronx VI
Top notch high-energy punk rock ‘n’ roll a-la Hellacopters/Supersuckers from the best band still around doing that sort of thing. (8)

CARCASS – Torn Arteries
As expected in the same vein (sorry) as everything the extreme metal pioneers have released from “Heartwork” onwards, as expected excellent. (8)

THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Aeromantic II
Another nostalgic trip through 80’s AOR, this will remind you of everything from Rick Springfield to Aldo Nova. A throwback, but lots of fun. (8)

THRICE – Horizons / East
Post-hardcore’s answer to Radiohead. (7)

TUESDAY THE SKY – The Blurred Horizon
Jim Matheos goes New Age. (7)

TURNSTILE – Glow On
This is supposed to be a hardcore band but this album is all over the place and I mean that in the best possible way: The last time I heard a heavy album as crazy as this was probably “Toxicity” back in 2001. (9)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – The Metallica Blacklist
Only Metallica could pull off something of this magnitude, i.e. getting 53 different artists from every possible genre to each choose and cover their favorite “Black Album” track, and of course the results are uneven but overall this is enjoyable (best of all is probably Jason Isbell’s reimagining of “Sad But True” as a Texan barroom stomp). That being said, I’ll be very happy if I never have to hear “The Unforgiven” or “Nothing Else Matters” again for as long as I live. (8)


THE OTHER STUFF

BIG RED MACHINE – How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?
Start-studded side project of Bon Iver/The National is a pleasant listen, more pop than indie rock, but the guy’s Auto-Tune is REALLY starting to get on my nerves. (7)

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB – Buena Vista Social Club (25th Anniversary Edition)
The most famous, and arguably the best, world music album of all time, now expanded with outtakes and alternate versions. If you missed it the first time around - a must for every record collection. (10)

FELICE BROTHERS – From Dream To Dust
Their most Dylanesque album. (8)

STEVE GUNN – Other You
For the most part sounds like Ryley Walker’s cousin. (7)

AMYTHYST KIAH– Wary + Strange
One-fourth of black female Americana supergroup Our Native Daughters on solo album, more bluesy than folksy, its main strength being Kiah’s deep, soulful voice, more Otis Redding/Paul Rodgers than Rhiannon Giddens. (7)

LOW – Hey What
Dig deep beneath the distorted electronics and you’ll find beauty. (8)

KACEY MUSGRAVES – Star-Crossed
This is a break-up album following her recent divorce and it’s more pop than country, but unfortunately it lacks the spark that made previous efforts like “Same Trailer Different Park” and “Golden Hour” so great. (7)

ADIA VICTORIA – A Southern Gothic
Reinventing the blues. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, August Round-up

THE LOUDER STUFF

CREEPER – American Noir (EP)
My Chemical Romance produced by Jim Steinman. (8)

DEAFHEAVEN – Infinite Granite
The most polarizing metal band of the last 10 years drops the metal entirely and does full-on shoegaze. No blastbeats, no screaming, still great. (8)

FOXING – Draw Down The Moon
Emo revivalists go pop. (7)

LINGUA IGNOTA – Sinner Get Ready
If you told me she’s Diamanda Galas’ daughter I’d probably believe you. (8)

QUICKSAND – Distant Populations
Another excellent album  from influential post-hardcore veterans to whom bands like Deftones owe their whole existence. (8)

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM – Primordial Arcana
Nature-loving, tree-hugging black metal feels strangely appropriate this summer as wildfires destroy every single forest and humankind’s climate change fuckups become even more apparent. (8)


THE OTHER STUFF

BODY MEΠA – The Work Is Slow
Avant-rock supergroup (including drummer Greg Fox from Liturgy, guitarist Sasha Frere-Jones who’s perhaps better known as a music critic, and a couple of other guys) on post-everything jazzy psychedelic jams. Interesting, but don’t expect anything resembling a proper tune you can hum. Quick note to the band: Fuck you for that ONE character in the band name, I’m not taking the trouble to figure out if it’s supposed to be Greek or Cyrillic, I’ll just use the Greek keyboard I already have installed and I don’t care if it’s right or wrong. (7)

BILLIE EILISH – Happier Than Ever
She’s still a teenager and mega-successful and good on her and I’m an old fart and I don’t want to be mean because it’s most likely my fault for not getting it, but I think this is a boring album and it’s essentially one straight hour of a 19-year-old whining about not being able to handle being rich & famous and getting older. (5)

LOS LOBOS – Native Sons
America’s best and most underrated rock band celebrates their native Los Angeles with a wildly eclectic covers album, paying tribute to Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, War, The Blasters, Jackson Browne and others. (9)

LUMP – Animal
I’m a huge Laura Marling fan and this side-project where she works on more electronically-flavored ideas that don’t fit on her regular albums is almost as exciting as her day job. (8)

WILLIE NILE – The Day The Earth Stood Still
A harder-rocking Dylan? A poor man’s Springsteen? Say whatever you want, I’m really having a blast. (8)

TY SEGALL – Harmonizer
Garage rocker who almost topped the most reliable year-end lists back in 2018 now goes a bit sludgier. (7)

SHANNON & THE CLAMS – Year Of The Spider
A delightful little album of 60’s -influenced nuggets. Garage punk, girl groups, surf rock, doo-wop, all meshed up in a retro-sounding but never derivative package. (8)

STURGILL SIMPSON – The Ballad of Dood & Juanita
Country music’s renegade continues taking wild left turns, this time releasing a concept album set in Kentucky in the 1860’s that plays like a classic Western movie and includes a guest spot by Willie Nelson, who was probably born around that time. (8)

YOLA – Stand For Myself
A wonderful Southern-fried country soul album from the Nashville-based Brit. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Jul 2021 Vol. II

 

THE LOUDER STUFF

LEE AARON – Radio On!
Look, I was a teenage metalhead in the 80’s, OK? I’m entitled to like Lee Aaron even if she’s always sounded more AOR than Metal Queen. (7)

MAYHEM – Atavistic Black Disorder/Kommando
EP featuring outtakes from the “Daemon” LP plus a bunch of hardcore punk covers including guest appearances from two of the band’s ex-vocalists (Messiah and Maniac). The Discharge & Dead Kennedys songs alone are worth the price of admission. (8)

MORDRED – The Dark Parade
I kept telling you back in 1989-90 that this was a great band but you wouldn’t listen then, would you? Well, you better pay some attention now because this is some great fucking funk/rap metal. (8)


THE OTHER STUFF

RODRIGO AMARANTE – Drama
Brazilian residing in L.A. attempts to update the bossa nova tradition, infusing it with elements from a bunch of different genres. (7)

NATACHA ATLAS – The Inner And The Outer
Beautiful, bold, meditative EP blending elements of Arabic music, jazz, hip hop, and electronica. (8)

RODNEY CROWELL – Triage
Another masterclass in songwriting from the Americana veteran. (8)

JACKIE LEVEN – Straight Outta Caledonia: The Songs Of Jackie Leven
Compilation of songs by unknown Scottish singer/songwriter. I’d never heard of the guy before so this is a revelation – the guy is as good as Elvis Costello. (9)

LITTLE STEVEN & THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL – Summer of Sorcery Live! At the Beacon Theatre
A very fun rock & soul party from The Boss’ main sideman on 3 CDs, featuring a 13-piece backing band and special guests like the God Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band). Perfect for blasting extremely loud on a Summer night. (8)

KATHERINE PRIDDY – The Eternal Rocks Beneath
The Next Big Thing in English folk and already championed by giants like Richard Thompson, on a very strong debut album. (8)

THE SECRET SISTERS – Quicksand
4-track EP from this excellent country/Americana duo. Their groovy cover version of Fiona Apple’s “Heavy Balloon” will put a smile on your face. (8)

VARIOUS - May The Circle Remain Unbroken: A Tribute To Roky Erickson
Fantastic posthumous tribute album featuring Billy Gibbons, Jeff Tweedy, Neko Case, Gary Clarke Jr., Ty Segall, Lucinda Williams (she kicks so much ass on this one!), Chelsea Wolfe, Mark Lanegan and others. (9)