Today I walked into Bookmans (a local used book store and internet cafe) today, which is a pretty regular occurrence, and I was greeted by something a little irregular. A world band called Wine and Alchemy had invaded dressed as Gypsies. As the acoustic guitar and accordion harmonized, their vocalist and belly dancer flitted around the cafe. They played a variety of Greek, Armenian, “Gypsy”, Flamenco, and Middle Eastern styles while here, and they did it really quite well. They hail from San Antonio, and brought some delightful gypsy fun to the mountains of Flagstaff. You can find some tracks to listen to at wineandalchemy.com. I would highly recommend them to anyone that appreciates world folk music.
Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
Wine and Alchemy: World comes to Flag
Review: Parenthetical Girls – Entanglements
Parenthetical Girls
Entanglements
Tomlab, 2008
Parenthetical Girls – “A Song For Ellie Greenwich” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/a-song-for-ellie-greenwich.mp3]
From the first seconds of Parenthetical Girls’ third release, it’s clear that Entanglements isn’t going to be one of those albums that starts with a track that doesn’t fit the rest of the record. The over-the-top, theatrical approach taken with “Four Words” marks the band’s theatrical approach as they provide an endearing twist on indie pop. (more…)
Released This Week: Salme Dahlstrom – The Acid Cowgirl Audio Trade
Salme Dahlstrom
The Acid Cowgirl Audio Trade
Kontainer Music, 2008
Salme Dahlstrom – “Superstar Crash” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/salmedahlstrom-superstarcarcrash.mp3]
Electronically oriented pop music hits all the right spots for some people: Salme Dahlstrom, for those people, can’t be hitting too far off those. The Acid Cowgirl Audio Trade is full of interesting synthetic textures and sounds, but at some points, it lacks a bit of that important impact.
Other times, though, Dahlstrom demonstrates a nice understanding with the pop music she’s writing, and it’s those points that really define the record. While this certainly won’t be named electronic album of the year, it does feature some engaging tracks. Where Dahlstrom really succeeds is not her writing, though: Her vocals are straight from the style’s top shelf, shifting with some abandon between a sassy, in-your-face attitude and nicely harmonized standard modern pop.
Sure, The Acid Cowgirl Audio Trade isn’t the best album of the year, but Dahlstrom’s vocals will be enough for some to keep listening, and the writing, while fairly typical of pop-centric electronica, isn’t bad enough to drive away listeners.
Track Review: Joel Plaskett Emergency – “Fashionable People”
Joel Plaskett Emergency
Ashtray Rock
“Fashionable People”
Joel Plaskett Emergency – “Fashionable People” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/joel_plaskett_emergency_-_fashionable_people.mp3]
“Fashionable People,” named for the falsetto-inflected chorus line from this song, a track from 2007’s Ashtray Rock, is an entertaining romp in power pop that experiments with a variety of instrumentation styles to reach its easily listenable destination. Top it off with an entertaining video (embedded after the jump,) and you’ve got a song that sounds almost Weezerish (if I can coin a term, like all good music journalists) in its methods; however, there’s an unrestrained feel here that would place it above most recent efforts from the band Joel Plaskett undoubtedly drew some influence from.
Spotlight: Mokshya
Mökshya (Pronounced Moke-she-ah) is, simply put, a metal band. Hailing from Flagstaff, Arizona, they combine a message of acceptance and love with anger and disdain toward the core of this countries beliefs and systems. When I put their promo cd into my computer to listen to for the first time, I had no idea what I was in for. After hearing the first 10 seconds, I was forced crank my stereo up. I was absolutely delighted with what I got. Mökshya is not one of your run of the mill garage metal bands. These guys show real promise and real talent. They write intelligently, it’s not all guitar solos, and it’s not all thrashy, thrown together chords. All in all, I couldn’t be more pleased with Mökshya. I can only hope that I hear more music from here in Flag that shows as much promise as these talented musicians do. You can find more tracks by Mökshya on iTunes, where they have released their debut album, “?We the People!” They punch you in the face with their tunes and leave you begging for more.
Mökshya – “Blacklight”
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/01-blacklight.mp3]
Review: Stereolab – Chemical Chords
Stereolab
Chemical Chords
4AD August 18, 2008
Stereolab’s made enough of a name for themselves by now that most releases will hit the radar of an assortment of music fans, especially those finding themselves attracted to the indie pop sound this bold outfit is known for producing so elegantly.
Stereolab – “Three Women” | download | preview at Beggars Group USA
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/stereolab_threewomen.mp3]
Track Review: Chris Cotton – “Going Home”
Chris Cotton
The Big Sea
“Going Home”
Chris Cotton – “Going Home” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/chris_cotton_-_going_home.mp3]
“Going Home” is shocking in its immediacy: a track from Chris Cotton’s latest, due out September 2nd on Little Fish Large Pond Publishing. This vintage-style piece, recalling some of the earliest recorded American folk music, is a refreshing blast from distorted guitars and whining vocals. There’s something strangely enthralling about anachronistic music, isn’t there?
Track Review: The Ritz – “It’s The…” from The Night of Day
The Ritz
The Night of Day
“It’s The…”
Content warning: Lyrics involve use of the ever-ominous “f” word. I don’t mind.
The Ritz – “It’s The” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/theritz-itsthe.mp3]
My first thought, after hearing this track from the debut album from The Ritz? I was impressed, honest. The combination of bass-heavy beats with string samples and a nice use of stereo rapping (Elliott Smith influence, maybe? Likely not.) is fairly evocative and engaging. My only real complaint? The bass is mixed a bit too heavily, as it ends up slightly excessive and punchy on my well-balanced headphones (Sennheiser HD 485s, nothing too expensive,) distracting from the rest of the track, a well-mixed hip-hop introduction track.There’s nothing too adventurous about this track, but its efficient execution bodes well for the full release, due out August 19th.