Album Reviews

ANDROID LUST
Devour, Rise and Take Flight
(Projekt)
Songwriter/musician Shikhee returns with her latest album of unstable electrogoth. I'm not a huge fan of this style of music, but I gotta admit, Shikhee does it better than just about anybody. She's equally adept at harsh, pounding tracks like "The Body" and "Lover Thine" as she is more pop-friendly loads like "Wicked Days" and "Hole Solution." There's also a genuine exorcist feel here; this is the sound of someone working out her demons in a way as friendly to the masses as she's capable of doing. Nine Inch Nails hasn't been this interesting since 1993. Michael Toland [buy it]

ASS PONYS
The OKra Years
(Shake It)
The Ass Ponys made some noise in the 90s due to a celebrated twisted worldview. Of course, the universe described in tunes as goofy as "We All Love Peanut Butter" and "Is It Blood?" or disturbing as "Hey Swifty" and "Ball Peen" is strange only to those not used to hearing such things espoused over tuneful, lightly psychedelic folk rock. And it's that combination that made the Cincinnati combo so appealing. The OKra Years covers the band's early, out-of-print records, adding comp tracks, covers (like a psych rocking take on the Velvet Underground's "All Tomorrow's Parties") and unreleased cuts, and it's chief songwriter Chuck Cleaver's firm grasp of melody that makes these songs hold up so well. Come for the unhinged rep, stay for the catchy tunes. Michael Toland

THE BACKYARD BABIES
Live Live in Paris
(Liquor and Poker)
The last couple of albums from Stockholm's Backyard Babies have been pretty hit or miss, as the sleaze rock kings try to find a workable compromise between underground gutter rock and commercial accessibility. On-stage before an enthusiastic French audience, the Babies drop most of the gloss (if not the incongruous pop hooks) and just rip the joint. Formerly lukewarm tunes "The Clash," "Star War" and "Earn the Crown" swing some seriously heavy balls, while already-raging rockers "Brand New Hate," "U.F.O. Romeo" and "Made Me Madman" will tear you a new one and make you like it. Let the air punches begin! Michael Toland [buy it]

BELLE & SEBASTIAN
The Life Pursuit
(Matador)
Though its legions of devotees don't like to admit it, Belle & Sebastian can be inconsistent, as likely to follow up a brilliant album (like If You're Feeling Sinister) with a solid but lackluster effort (like The Boy With the Arab Strap). The Glaswegian ensemble's last record Dear Catastrophe Waitress was one of its greatest, which led me to keep my hopes low for the new one. Silly me—The Life Pursuit is as spectacular a triumph as Waitress. Once again, leader Stuart Murdoch and crew take their fey pop/folk and expand on it. Pursuit boasts successful dips into T. Rexian glam ("White Collar Boy"), fashionable new wave ("We Are the Sleepyheads"), supper club jazz ("Act of the Apostle II"), SoCal country rock ("Mornington Crescent") and 70s soul ("Song For Sunshine"). And that's without stinting on the band's trademark sound ("Funny Little Frog," "To Be Myself Completely," "The Blues Are Still Blue"). Murdoch's vision of balancing stark emotion with sardonic wit flourishes in this new, eclectic context. The Life Pursuit is a fabulous record. Michael Toland [buy it]

GARY BENNETT
Human Condition
(Landslide)
Gary Bennett co-led BR549 into its various roots country glories, and now hopes to reach the same heights with a solo career. Human Condition doesn't have the giddy energy or playful humor of his former band, substituting an inevitable adult maturity in "My Illusion" and "Headin' Home." That's not to say there aren't a few chuckles—check out "Better Than This" for some sardonic winces—but overall Human Condition is the work of a C&W-loving grownup looking at life and making observations accordingly. Michael Toland [buy it]

MEREDITH BRAGG AND THE TERMINALS
The Departures EP
(The Kora)
Book your departure today for an emotional journey with Meredith Bragg and the Terminals. But don't forget to pack a scarf and hat because a trip with this East Coast band is chilling. The Departures EP will gently take you to a world of heartache through songs like "Empty Beds" and "Postcard from Boston." Although introspective, this indie crooner is anything but whiny. Bragg couples emotionally-charged lyrics with the band's soothing piano, cello and percussion talent to create a sound not unlike Death Cab for Cutie or The Shins. Deirdre Walsh [buy it]

DUWAYNE BURNSIDE AND THE MISSISSIPPI MAFIA
Under Pressure
(B.C.)
The son of the late, great RL Burnside, Duwayne Burnside scorches roadhouses around the world with his brand of electric blues. Interestingly, Duwayne draws less on the driving tradition of his father and more on the accessible side of the blues, with traditional song structures and lots of guitar solos. Albert King, whose "I Got the Blues" Burnside covers here, and the late little Jimmy King, who gets a shout-out, are fair comparisons. Fortunately, Duwayne keeps his lead breaks within the bounds of taste, and his molten tone and throat-bruising singing make clear that his interest is in ripping emotion from his soul, rather than impressing guitar geeks and cracker blues fans. Listen to the narsty "King" for a swift kick in the amplifier. Michael Toland [buy it]

CALLENISH CIRCLE
[Pitch.Black.Effects]
(Metal Blade)
The fourth album by Dutch extreme metal ensemble Callenish Circle will hardly change the landscape of heavy music. But so what? [Pitch.Black.Effects] is the sound of a band fully in control of its destiny, ripping out punishing riffs, scorched-throat vocals, shifting rhythms and majestic melodies as if born to the form. Besides the filth and the fury, CC masters the art (and it is an art) of inserting actual hooks into their brutal brew. (Nothing even close to pop hooks, mind you, but still.) Damned impressive. Michael Toland [buy it]

THE CAPES
Hello
(Hard Soul)
The British are invading again; however, unlike the Redcoats, the Capes refuse to march in a straight line. The debut album from this South London band features supersonic synthesized beats, grainy guitar riffs and the energetic vocals of frontman Kris Barratt. Although the lyrics on Hello are immature, songs like "Super Girls" and "Carly (Goddess of Death)" will have the MTV2 generation dancing in their Minis. Fans of Bloc Party and Blur are sure to give he Capes a "Shinjuku High 5" during the band's superhero appearance at SXSW 2006. Deirdre Walsh [buy it]

CORDERO
En este momento
(Bloodshot)
My first impression of this record is that it kicks all kinds of ass. The first track, "En Este Momento," could be about the gum on the bottom of my shoe for all I know. But it sounds insane. And the smart money is on front-chick Ani Cordero being smoking hot. The rest of the album mashes Mexican beats and horns with Cordero's sultry vocals and bounces around from dark alleyways to the sparkly discos. The New York-based group has created a masterpiece and maybe even a new genre altogether. Viva Cordero! Lance Looper [buy it]

SUGAR PIE DESANTO
Refined Sugar
(Jasman)
Refined Sugar, the latest offering from the 69-year-old Sugar Pie DeSanto, is a lesson in R&B. DeSanto oozes jazz, and the songs are reflective of her five decades in the business. While her voice is less than stellar, the passion with which she delivers songs like "Matter of Tears" and "Black Rat" more then makes up for it. There is also a healthy dose of humor here, especially present on "Blues Hall of Fame" and "I Need Help." For DeSanto fans and jazz historians, this is a must-have record. Lance Looper [buy it]

DESTROYER
Destroyer's Rubies
(Merge)
Dan Bejar's Destroyer reaches a zenith on its sixth album Destroyer's Rubies. The record is a suite of songs that crosses the glam/folk of T. Rex and David Bowie's Hunky Dory with the pop sweep of the Zombies and Brian Wilson, relocating all of it firmly in the 'aughts. Like Robyn Hitchcock's, Bejar's lyrics seem surrealist at first, but reveal purpose as they unfold—art, war, science, love, politics and religion all figure heavily. Likewise, Bejar's casual, conversational singing seems offhand, but fits his rambling narratives and observations as no other voice could. Besides, he's smart enough to wrap his quirk with some of the most engaging melodies and lush arrangements he's ever created. Destroyer's Rubies is both madly ambitious and confidently relaxed, the work of an artist fully flowered in the garden. Michael Toland [buy it]