Album Reviews

AMON AMARTH
Fate of Norns
(Metal Blade)
When it comes to heavy metal, it seems Sweden can do no wrong. At least Amon Amarth can't. The quintet fits squarely into the melodic death metal arena erected by At the Gates and its progeny, doing it as well as anybody ever has. Guitarists Olli Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg lay on the Iron Maiden-derived riffs as thick as molasses, drummer Fredrik Andersson keeps the double-bass drum pounding within tasteful limits and singer Johan Hegg's lycanthropic growling is unusually articulate and full of personality. And it's just impossible to argue with gleeful amp-blasters like "Beheading the King" and "Where Death Seems to Dwell" (whaddaya mean seems?). Exceptional. Michael Toland [buy it]

PETER CASE
Who's Gonna Go Your Crooked Mile?
(Vanguard)
How you feel about this compilation of singer/songwriter Peter Case's Vanguard records depends on how much you like his work for that label. Personally I prefer his first two albums for Geffen in the 80s; his Vanguard stuff, while always solid, seems too calculatedly "adult album alternative" for my tastes. This comp doesn't help make the case since, of the two Vanguard disks I unabashedly admire, one (Torn Again) is tapped only once and the other (Sings Like Hell) is ignored completely. Most critics seem to love his late Vanguard-era albums like Full Service No Waiting and Flying Saucer Blues, however, and they'll love this collection as well. Lyrics and personal notes on each tune included. Michael Toland [buy it]

DYNAH
01011001
(Dynah)
This is the record of the year. Well, at least the best debut of the year, and by a long shot. Leading with scintillating guitars and guided by the influences of The Cure and Radiohead, the Austin band Dynah has guaranteed their spot on Best of 2004 lists across the land. Mike Freitag's (who also produced the album) guitar work on "Ones and Zeros" and "Plastiscene" is brilliant, and drives the disc. Rion Basyus' vocals follow dutifully, through both bizarre and funny lyrics, lacing the tunes with emotion. Dynah should expect to see this record in heavy rotation. Every one of these tunes could be a hit. Lance Looper

ENTRANCE
Wandering Stranger
(Fat Possum)
Why young singer/guitarist Guy Blakeslee decided to saddle himself with as awkward a sobriquet as "Entrance" I don't understand, but, hey, it's his career. Fortunately he could have called himself Guy Smiley and he'd still command attention. I'm usually skeptical of cracker bluesmen, especially of the country blues stripe, but on his debut Wandering Stranger Blakeslee pulls it off. He's mastered the guitar technique while adding his own noisy twists, and he certainly channels his soul into both covers ("Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor," "Honey in the Rock") and originals ("Lonesome Road," "Train is Leaving"). But he does it all without trying to imitate the black blues singers he obviously reveres by letting his high, Caucasian tenor soar without baggage. The blues should always a medium for personal expression, and Entrance understands that deeply. Michael Toland [buy it]

FALCON
Falcon
(Liquid Flames)
L.A.'s Falcon is an underground metal supergroup (for lack of a better term) of sorts, featuring Destiny's End guitarist Perry Grayson, Pale Divine drummer Darin McCloskey and, most startling, bassist/keyboardist Greg Lindstrom of trailblazing 70s/80s weirdos Cirith Ungol. (Pentagram's Bobby Liebling guests on the Thin Lizzy tribute "On the Slab.") The vibe here is pure 70s power trio , with a stripped-down production aesthetic that lets riffs take precedence. With a program alternating earthy Grayson tunes like "Downer" and the statement-of-purpose "Throwback" with Lindstrom's more fanciful Ungol leftovers like "Shelob's Lair" and the wry "Route 666," Falcon raises high the flag of retro rock without taking itself too seriously. Falcon is a fun romp, no bongs or black lights required. Michael Toland

MICHAEL FRANTI
Songs From the Front Porch: An Acoustic Collection
(Boo Boo Wax/iMusic)
The subtitle says it for this album, as Spearhead frontman Michael Franti unplugs for a mostly acoustic roundup of tunes old and new. With arrangements revolving around Franti's grainy, personable singing and jazzy guitar strums, the emphasis is squarely on the songs here, and both upbeat anthems ("Love Invincible," "Love'll Set Me Free"), sociopolitical manifestos ("Stay Human," "Oh My God") and introspective ruminations ("Anybody Seen My Mind") hold up nicely under the spotlight. Franti's work oozes both melody and soul, comparable to the best of folk/soul troubadour Bill Withers. An excellent record. Michael Toland [buy it]

THE GOURDS
Blood of the Ram
(Eleven Thirty)
It genuinely pains me to say it, but I think I've finally reached my saturation point with the Gourds. Blood of the Ram sounds just like the Austin quintet's last album, and the one before that: Cajun-spiced roots rock melodies, absurdist lyrics, good-natured grins all 'round. There's greater use of electric instruments here, but the songs remain the same. (Except for "Escalade," a well-intentioned if only vaguely successful stab at Al Green-style soul.) I could call it consistency, I suppose, but there's no denying that what sounded so fresh and exciting ta decade ago sounds stale to me now. It's a solid enough record; newcomers will find it agreeable, maybe even revelatory. But it makes me want to pull out Ghosts of Hallelujah or Bolsa de Agua as a reminder of why I loved the Gourds in the first place. Michael Toland [buy it]

ANGIE HEATON
Let It Ride
(Parasol)
Falling somewhere between Grey De Lisle and Lisa Loeb, Angie Heaton's music is an alternative country/folk/pop cocktail. Let It Ride is Heaton's third solo record after stints with Corndolly, Liquorette and the Tractor Kings. The songs bristle with stunted humor and heartache, delivered with Heaton's stylishly plain vocals. "Be Still" is a poetic journey through a painful breakup and is followed by "Moth Vs. Flame," an equally troubling ballad boasting lyrics such as "the blackness of your souls is what you'll never show." But Let It Ride is not a complete downer. Heaton balances the disc with tunes like "Drive" and "When Olivia Smiles." This is a heavy album, but the emotion doesn't override the songs. Heaton strikes an effective balance on Let It Ride. Lance Looper [buy it]

HOT DAMN!
The Girl Can't Help It
(Steel Cage)
When Midwesterners get bored, they apparently put on devil horns and negligees, lose the panties, strap on strategically-placed bass guitars and form bands like Hot Damn! The co-ed quintet combines trashy garage punk with an almost complete lack of modesty on titles-tell-all fireballs like "He Likes 'em Dead" (a cheerful tribute to necrophilia), "Show Us Your Goodies" and "No Car No Phone No Life." Sex gets the biggest thumbs-up if "Fuck Monster," "She's a Devil" and "Sex Zombie" (not to mention lead singer Zebra's underwear-challenged appearance) are any indication. The group salutes the past by ramming (ahem) through the Royal Teens' "Short Shorts" and Little Richard's title cut as if it wrote 'em. There's no subtlety here, but there's plenty of gutterminded fun. Michael Toland [buy it]

MARK MALLMAN
Mr. Serious
(Badman)
Mark Mallman holds the world record for longest pop song ever played: 26.2 hours. Known for his electrifying (and lengthy) live performances, Mallman succeeds in bringing some of that energy to disc. Mallman belts his way through Mr. Serious, commanding what sounds like a stadium full of instruments on tunes like "True Love," then pulling back on subtle tracks like "Simply in the Distance." I wasn't sure what to expect from this album, but what I got was some surprisingly well-written songs. It would be easy for Mr. Serious to be an overly ambitious 70s-style pop anthology ("Executioner" begs for a film short). But the Mallman-written songs are surprisingly layered and arranged with a sensitive ear. Mr. Serious isn't for everyone, but I think it succeeds in revealing the substance of Mallman's writing. Lance Looper [buy it]

THE MOTHER'S ANGER
The Mother's Anger
(Dionysus)
Israel is not the first country you think of when it comes to disgorging quality rock bands, but between Rock Four and this incendiary duo, that's likely to change. Guitarist/vocalist David Stitch and drummer Jimi Nostalgia (aided here and there by producer Michael Davis—yes, the MC5 bassist) bring the melodic punk 'n' roll as if they invented it, ripping up the floorboards on "Scream," "Solitude" and "Follow Me." The Anger has its sensitive side as well, as evidenced by the pretty, soulful "Heart of the Sun" and "Loser." Forget place of origin, this is simply excellent rock & roll. Michael Toland [buy it]