January 2006 Reviews with Love

Monsignor Boucher
Reviews January 06

Joybang!- 1000Mg
This was a surprise to me. For some reason I had a predisposed opinion that I wasn’t going to like this. Don’t know why. Possibly the fact that I never heard of them and that it looked lo-fi, which normally juices me, anyway I almost made up my mind before listening. Turns out I rather enjoyed this disc.

Its hard to find information about them. All I could uncover is that they were a 3 piece band from Atlanta (maybe?) and that are no more. Their sound is definitely indie, but with good hooks. Decent drumming surrounding solid licks overlaid with an unquestionable indie vocalist. I hear Rush, Dinosaur Jr., Smashing Pumpkins, Blonde Redhead and non-expansive Sonic Youth. Songs refreshingly evolve and don’t follow a strict A/B/A structure. They seemed to be on the verge of taking off with their songs dissonantly but they hold back. Maybe live they actually do this. Dare I say that if you added 8 minutes to their songs they could be in Progland?

Really liked “Bride’s Day” and “I’m Not Sure Yet”. Too bad they gave up and too bad this disc is only 21 minutes. (3)

Mars Volta- Frances the Mute
This was a perplexing and exasperating disc. There was nothing easy about this disc. The music is amazingly difficult, conceptually abstract, it requires discipline to listen to and you spend energy trying to figure out why they did some of the things they did. Zappa”esque” instrumentation, on a dime time and style changes, musicianship extraordinaire, lyrically musical and vocals more instrumental than singing. I couldn’t hate this but I can’t love it either.

I feel that Mars Volta believe length equals quality where I think they get their concept and ideas across in a much shorter time. The first 9 minutes of “Cygnus” is incredible and engaging. Guitar is fantastic. The next 4 minutes could be stricken without loss. “The Widow” is good quasi-power ballad for 3 plus minutes then unnecessary organ noodling (Mike H knows a lot about this). “L’Via L’ Viaquez” is a great rock song that segues into a samba then back to a blazing guitar solo back to a samba… good but exhausting and repetitive- we get the idea. Extended crickets chirping to open Miranda adds little to the song.

Take away these unneeded song extensions and I think this is a very strong album. The album is critically acclaimed but the critics must be tossing aside these elongations. Because of these extensions it is a disc I will rarely put on as I would have to either fast forward a few minutes here or there or I would have to re-edit all the tracks to just what I liked. If I did there would be some great stuff, but should I have to, to enjoy an album? (2)


Waterboys- A Pagan Place
There is an E-Street feel to this disc. And as with Bruce, sometimes the band sounds- albeit good and professional- a little too familiar and expected. You know where the song is going musically. Intro/lyric/chorus/sax fill back to lyric etcetera. Mike Scott is good songwriter. This disc is bookend by two real good songs “Church Not Made With Hands” and “A Pagan Place”. His Lyrics are well crafted as the story in “Red Army Blues…” There is just something about many of the songs that incorporate the body of the disc where they blend too much together. I’m listening and before I know it I’m up to “Rags” and couldn’t remember the songs prior.

Does this mean I am ejecting the disc and tossing it away, no. But I have a bigger problem that my favorite Waterboys disc is Fisherman’s Blues which is very different from this. It is a good disc of songs. It will remain with my collection. (3)

Cursive- The Ugly Organ
These guys must be downright zany. If they were any happier they would crack a frown. Cursive’s Ugly Organ is dramatic, edgy and tense. They also don’t love themselves too too much. Ugly Organ sounds very Murder By Death-like. The cello is haunting but in your face. The guitar work is erratic but compelling. Vocals are decent until they reach an over the top scream-a-la-Muse or Far. Song structure is solid, but few of the songs leave a lasting impression with me. “The Recluse” and “Sierra” I liked. It’s not that the rest are dogs there is just something missing that hooks me entirely.

Ugly Organ gained points each time I listened to it, but I think it has reached its peak with me by now. The disc is one that has to be played within the right pissed off or self deprecating frame of mind. This will probably limit me playing it, but the songs are interesting and not throwaways. For this reason The Ugly Organ is a keeper. (2.5)

FUGS
Lyrical complexities and intricate pathos are rarely seen in union musical virtuosity. And by no means is it remotely seen here. I will accept a small percentage of the responsibility for this, but I am not apologizing. The Fugs are one of the first of the “we don’t give a fuck” bands. They sang about what they wanted in the words they wanted. And hell, much of it is a pisser. “Nothing”, “Cocka Rocka”, “Defeated” always crack me up. Their unabashed verse on sex is still beyond couth. Their total intoned melody and their lack of any musical chops leaves you wondering are they serious or not? Is it total comedy or are they making social commentary? Not for kiddies or those with weak constitutionals, but I will always have a wet spot for the Fugs. Hypothalamus. That’s the brain for me.

Selling Out
Times have changed. Many bands sell their music for ads to get exposure. This would have been sacrilege 20 plus years ago. But with limited radio airplay a new band has to think of new ways to get heard. I’m probably going to be in the minority, but I am not offended when artists, even those I worship, sell their music for commercials PROVIDED the following; a) all of said artist’s songs released pursuant thte ad don’t sound like that ad over and over again implying artist has become a jingle writer over an artist, b) the song wasn’t written with the intent to sell a product then released as a ‘serious’ song, c) the product being peddled does not maim babies, deliberately cause cancer or is stupid, d) they don’t perform at corporate events or pep rallies, and e) the song isn’t being totally used out of context (ie Reagan using “Born in the USA”). Most everything else I feel is okay. It is their right since it is their music.

Best of last 10 Years
I must go on record that the limit to 10 words rule sucked.

Rick Rubin. Produced across genres with integrity. Stayed true to artist. (I could elaborate but I will not break the rules)

These are not honorable mentions but artists I could have put together arguments for.

Considerations: Dylan, Cash, Green Day, Liz Phair, Wilco

For Your Consideration
Ken’s Top 10 of 2005

Not in any particular order.

Beck- Guero
Kaiser Chiefs- Employment
James McMurtry- Childish Things
Death Ray Davies- Kick and a snare
Spoon -Gimme fiction
Neil Diamond- 12 Songs
Hold Steady- Separation Sunday
TSAR- Band-Girls-Money
The Sun- Blame it on the Youth
Giant Drag- Hearts and Unicorns

Not Honorable Mentions just discs worthy of purchase by me but were missing that special sauce to put them on the final list.

Soundtrack of Our Lives –Origin Vol 1
Dandy Warhols–Welcome to the Odditorium
Audioslave- Out of Exile
Todd Snider – That Was Me
Neil Young- Prairie Wind