Album Reviews
GOTH JONES
Goth Bless America
(Black Blood/Rudyland)
As you might guess by the name of both band and album, Goth Jones doesn't take itself particularly seriously. The quartet mixes bits of new wave, power pop, hard rock and, yes, Goth into its fizzy concoction, and song titles like "Body Rot," "The Nite Life" and (my favorite) "Boys of Doom" are the froth dribbling over the edge. Theatrical vocals and hooky riffs complete the package. I suspect the band is probably more potent live (god knows what kind of visuals go along with this shtick), but Goth Bless America has its moments of cheeky goodness. Michael Toland
THE GUNSHY
Souls
(Latest Flame)
Matt Arborgast's voice is pretty good, and I even like the use of horns on "Last Songs," but the record left me thinking there must be something else. Clearly and intentionally an emotional record, Souls fails to deliver anything more than a passing interest. My interest is, however, piqued by what else Arbogast may have in store. Given better songs and clearer direction, his ground-up voice would sound great in any number of different scenarios, just not here. And the nonsensical lyrics on songs like "Souls" is a little goofy, even for a record so absorbed with its own darkness. Lance Looper
GARY HIGGINS
Red Hash
(Drag City)
Connecticut troubadour Gary Higgins released his sole album Red Hash in 1973, but his career was derailed by jail time. If there's a textbook definition of acid folk, this record, newly remastered with added bonus tracks, should be the cited example. Sticking mostly, but not exclusively, to acoustic sounds (cello, piano, mandolin, flute, plenty of 12-string guitar), Higgins croons "I Pick Notes From the Sky," "Thicker Than a Smokey" and "I Can't Sleep at Night" in a soft but firm voice that resembles David Crosby's. Despite the druggy overtones, the music never sounds sloppy or strung out; Higgins and his musician buddies stick close to the melodies as they pay equal time to the peaks and pitfalls of a life lived under the influence. It's often gentle, but never what I'd call laid-back; there's too much bad trip paranoia at work for any truly relaxed vibes. Never less than engaging, often surprisingly beautiful, Red Hash manages the difficult feat of being of its time without sounding dated. Michael Toland [buy it]
HONEYBROWNE
Something To Believe In
(Compadre)
Austin's own Honeybrowne is back with their Compadre debut release, Something to Believe In. Furthering the Texas roots sound, Fred Andrews and the rest of the band have crafted a finely-tuned record. From the upbeat title track to the final note of "Take Me Home Tonight," Honeybrowne demonstrates a mature sense of songwriting befitting a Texas band. No matter your particular taste, this record should be on everyone's wish list this holiday season. Lance Looper [buy it]
THE HYPSTRZ
Live at the Longhorn
(Bomp!)
The Hypstrz were a Twin Cities club institution in the 70s and 80s, and one of the first American bands to revive the 60s garage rock sound. The quartet gained a receptive audience in the burgeoning punk/new wave movement for its incendiary live shows, a couple of which are captured here. The usual suspects make an appearance—the 13th Floor Elevators' "You're Gonna Miss Me," the Litters' "Action Woman," the Music Machine's "Talk Talk," Love's "7 & 7 Is," tunes by James Brown, the Chocolate Watchband, the Troggs, Mitch Ryder, the Pretty Things and more, plus a couple of punkish originals. The Hypstrz don't put a new coat of paint on these songs so much as clean away the grime, but the band's enthusiasm for the tunes is palpable. This isn't quite the landmark release it might have been in 1979, but it's still a fun party record. Michael Toland [buy it]
DAN JONES
Get Sounds Now
(Daily)
Dan Jones has the clever lyrics required of singer/songwriters these days, and he's certainly capable of pretty indie pop ditties like "The Rain and the Swell," "Redbird in the Rain" and "Little Machine." But the Oregonian can also kick out the jams. He's no MC5, but tunes like "Sunrise Man" (which boasts an awesome off-kilter guitar solo), "Success Wars" and the opening instrumental "Successtro" get the blood moving. Regardless of when he's playing hard or soft, Jones never forgets the virtues of memorable melodies, especially when he splits the diff with "Bluebird." Michael Toland [buy it]
ILONA KNOPFLER
Live the Life
(Mack Avenue)
In 2003, vocalist Ilona Knopfler released her debut album Some Kind of Wonderful, a jazzy interpretation of pop hits of the sixties and seventies. Critics hailed that effort as a bold exploration of the soul of pop music. Her second album, Live the Life, takes on the diverse genres of world music while also saluting such jazz giants as Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk and Edith Piaf. With arrangements ranging from Nelson Riddle-lush to barebones simple, the album seeks to showcase the full extent of her vocal ability. Throughout Live the Life Knopfler—who was born in Paris, raised in Hong Kong and now lives in Atlanta—also switches easily from French to English, often within the same lyric. While she hopes that this album will "paint a picture of myself that will let people know who I am, "this pastiche of styles, languages and influences reveals very little of Knopfler herself. Instead, its dizzying variety paints a portrait of a sophomore singer with a wide range of influences, but no voice of her own. Scott Hoffman [buy it]
THE LISTING SHIP
Time to Dream
(True Classical)
Led by eels string player Heather Lockie and guitarist Lyman Chaffee, the Listing Ship resurrects the emotionally trenchant folk rock of Richard & Linda Thompson as if that pair had grown up listening to the Velvet Underground's third album instead of British folk music. The songs move from sweet to sour and back again, covering all phases of human emotion without making a fuss about it. A prime example of 21st century folk music, no question. Michael Toland [buy it]
THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT
Lords Have Mercy
(Gearhead)
Like Pittsburgh's Cynics, Los Angeles' Lords of Altamont have always had the potential to become more than just another bunch of garage rock revivalists. The band boasts an open-minded approach to the genre without stinting on energy or excitement. Lords Have Mercy, the quintet's second album, puts melody and some clever lyrics alongside the furious tempos and general baddassery; frontman Jake Cavaliere's keyboard work (including Mellotron!) gives the Lords a nice touch. "Action," "Live Fast" and "She Cried" should be future classics in the garage rock universe, and the Lords will only move forward from there. Michael Toland [buy it]
