Reviews with a view

September 2009

Music Club

Papas Fritas-Papas Fritas

Catchy, but not overly inspired power pop. The musicians aren’t all that talented but they make do with what they got. The album sounds like they deliberately tried to make it sound low-fi for the cool factor. (2).

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It’s Blitz

Another critical darling that I’m trying to figure out. 80s Duran Duran like rock with Motels like vocals (I also hear some Chrissy Hynde and Kazu Mikino from Blonde Red Head). Basically post-disco-radio friendly-rock. Songs are well structured with enough drama to keep them interesting. The drumming sticks with me the most and “Dull Life” was my song of the disc. Last word- good but not as edgy as the pundits say. (2.5)

Wilco- Wilco

I’m sure Mr. Hopkins is expecting me to ram this one up the wazoo, but I can’t totally with a clear conscience. I still think Tweedy has gotten too reliant on the studio and has allowed his genius to get in the way of writing good from the gut rock songs, but Wilco, the album, was palatable. A few songs bordered on snore inducing and others mere ditties, the triumvirate that held this disc together were “Bull Black Nova”, “You and I” and “You Never Know” (thank you George Harrison). Wilco continues to sound like an adult contemporary, AM radio band, but at least they show at times they can still put something like a good song together (3)

Richard Thompson- Rumor and Sigh

I’m from the camp that Richard Thompson just can’t put out garbage. Even his purely adequate releases deserve a listen. And that’s where Rumor and Sigh lands- purely adequate. Guitar work is great as usual but there is something missing from many of the songs that render them plainly adequate. “I Feel So Good” on the other hand is pure brilliance and is the Richard Thompson I flip for. It’s still a (3) because it is Richard Thompson even though he is jus adequate here.

Dinosaur Jr-Farm

Being only a peripheral fan I figured I would find a few good cuts and disregard the rest. And that was true except that every song was freakin’ good. Mascis has finally grown from the total whiny vocal to a whiny vocal that frames a melody (listen closely and you can hear a little Eddie Vedder). The guitar sound filled every nook and cranny of every song giving each song girth. Had the chance to see them this summer when I was at the Cape and didn’t force the issue. What a mistake. (4)