Eclectic Vibes - September 2008
by Andrew Frey
Rockin' for the Red Cross
DRINKING FOR CHARITY
On 8/20 at High Noon Saloon was “Rockin’ for the Red Cross,” an event with proceeds going to Wisconsin flood relief via Red Cross. www.redcrossgig.com
The drink special of the evening was a Scotch Ale who’s sale benefitted the relief cause. Needless to say, we were happy to oblige the fund and quench our tastes in one fell swoop. “Another beer for charity!” was the call of the evening.
The show lineup was great, with Bu.R.P. (ex-Run Side Down) sporting their groovy techno funk jams, followed by a much improved; now quite formidable Elf Lettuce and their solid traditional jam sauce. Baghdad Scuba Review was hot on their tails with each member donning white shirts with red crosses on them and blasting through their impressive jam rock offerings.
Well worth the night out and about.
MICRO REVIEWS:
This Month's Rating Scale is from 1- Not Exactly thru 10 - Exactly
- Drown Out The Daylights
Album title: Drown Out The Daylights
Record Label: Crustacean Records
Rating: 8
Highlighting the cream of their musical crop, Crustacean Records (Wisconsin’s most prolific and longest lasting punk/indie label) provides us with a double DVD visual vanguard for 10 of their most amazing performers. Over 2 ½ hours long with tons of extras.
(3802) Page Views
online:
• Website
Free Falls Burning - Frenzy Of The Absolute
Free Falls Burning
Album title: Frenzy Of The Absolute
Record Label: Conspiracy Records
Rating: 7
This incessantly slow grind and churn outfit pulls out achingly somber yet meditative sonic soliloquies that would leave few standing. Time warping trance etheric tonalities.
(3772) Page Views
Free Falls Burning online:
• Website
• Purchase Frenzy Of The Absolute on Amazon
Zach Hill - Astrological Straits
Zach Hill
Album title: Astrological Straits
Record Label: Ipecac Recordings
Rating: 9
This tumultuous solo project by “Hella” drummer provides a blizzard of percussion and inventive sideline groove activities that are turbo-charged up by an eclectic selection of guest musicians, including Les Claypool, Jonathon Hicshke and Steve Borth. Zowie!
(3657) Page Views
Zach Hill online:
• Wiki
• Purchase Astrological Straits on Amazon
HR (of Bad Brains) - Hey Wella
HR (of Bad Brains)
Album title: Hey Wella
Record Label: DC Underground
Rating: 6
This legendary and highly influential Bad Brains vocalist and front man extends his lengthy career (starting in 1978!) with another solo offering, utilizing their time tested signature juxtaposition of hardcore punk and reggae, with hip hop inflections. A slick and well produced release, yet I am under-whelmed.
(3901) Page Views
HR (of Bad Brains) online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Hey Wella from Amazon
Infernofonic - Spark It Up
Infernofonic
Album title: Spark It Up
Record Label: Godlyke Distribution
Rating: 7
Empowered female vocals from Elaine Tuttle lead the charge for this hard rockin, metal outfit. The big rock riffs and punchy drums blast out some decent grooves, but they shine when flirting their edgier, experimental facets.
(3512) Page Views
Infernofonic online:
• Purchase Spark It Up on Amazon
Emory Joseph - Fennario - Songs By Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter
Emory Joseph
Album title: Fennario - Songs By Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter
Record Label: Iris Records
Rating: 8
Dead fan or not (and I’m not) these 12 cherry-picked tunes culled from Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter’s considerable repertoire form a charming selection of what these legendary song writers and performers are all about. Well produced, good sounding and chock full of guest musicians.
(3707) Page Views
Emory Joseph online:
• Website
• Download Fennario - Songs By Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter from Amazon
• Purchase Fennario - Songs By Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter on Amazon
Legendary Pink Dots - Plutonium Blonde
Legendary Pink Dots
Album title: Plutonium Blonde
Record Label: ROIR
Rating: 8
Disquieting platitudes from the sardonic seedy underbelly of pop music adoration. Edward Ka-Spel and crew spin tales of gothic disturbances that uproot and empower unknown musical pathways to your brain.
(3418) Page Views
Legendary Pink Dots online:
• Website • Wiki
Willem Maker - Stars Fell On
Willem Maker
Album title: Stars Fell On
Record Label: Fat Possum Records
Rating: 8
Bluesy rock torn from Turkey Heaven Mountain. Written, recorded and mixed entirely by the artist, this balls-out musical journey refuses to be neat and tidy, but shows off powerful reflexive expanses with the structure available.
(3572) Page Views
Willem Maker online:
• Website
• Purchase Stars Fell On on Amazon
Teddy Presberg - Blueprint of Soul
Teddy Presberg
Album title: Blueprint of Soul
Record Label: Ropeadope Records
Rating: 9
A flowing improvisational funk-jam experience created as a musical impression of Portland; all done in one take. Quite an impressive excursion into the instrumental psychedelic jam rock realm
(4017) Page Views
Teddy Presberg online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download Blueprint of Soul from Amazon
• Purchase Blueprint of Soul on Amazon
Putumayo Presents - Acoustic Arabia
Putumayo Presents
Album title: Acoustic Arabia
Record Label: Putumayo World Music
Rating: 7
Sandstorm powered acoustic grooves delight the senses and take us on subtle, laid back journeys through distant lands with a variety of Middle Eastern and North African artists including Les Orientales, Jamal Porto, and Zein Al-Jundi.
(3503) Page Views
Putumayo Presents online:
• Website
• Purchase Acoustic Arabia on Amazon