Eclectic Vibes - Rökktober 2009
CD/DVD Micro Reviews by Andrew Frey
This Month’s Micro Reviews: Baroness, Dunkelbunt, Jimi Tenor/Tony Allen, Halloween II, Kepa Junkara and the Melonious Quartet, Mad Love, Perry Weber the DeVilles, Putumayo Presents, Something To Burn, Roots Collective, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Yonder Mountain String Band
Baroness
Blue RecordRecord Label: Relapse Records
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 9
Epic heavy riffs pushed by purposeful plodding beats and innocent yet voluminous teasings of the determinate droning disillusionment. Storming forth from their Savannah home, this engaging engine of dark and entrancing operations is hurtling to a vast new plane of resilience and recognition.
Reader Votes: 1
Dunkelbunt
Raindrops & ElephantsRecord Label: Piranha Records
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 10
Constructing a fervent yet asymmetric upswing of global rhythms into a calliope of contemporary stylings, this intoxicating brew of Klezmer, reggae, jazz, funk, dub, and electronica has been finessed into an audio jungle of delight and satisfaction.
Reader Votes: 0
Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen
Inspiration InformationRecord Label: Strut Records
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 9
Pairing together Finnish experimental musician Jimi Tenor with Tony Allen, an amazing Afrobeat drumming legend, has ushered forth a curious cache of mind warbling avant jazz creations . Lyrics are spun with experience and dark sarcasm while being treated with tribal beats, horns, flutes, and samples through a wildly unpredictable imagination.
Reader Votes: 0
Kepa Junkera & Melonious Quartet
FandangoRecord Label: Hiri Records
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 9
Renowned folk ambassador from the Basque regions of Spain matches his impressive prowess on the trikitixa (Basque diatonic accordion) with the entrancing stringed offerings of the Melonious Quartet. These 14 instrumental compositions effortlessly float by as they integrate traditional with contemporary.
Reader Votes: 0
MadLove
White With FoamRecord Label: Ipecac Recordings
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 7
Dwelling in the dreaminess of a sardonic state induced by the oft melancholy female fronted lyrics, this Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3, Fantomas) project executes resolutely refined rock band outcroppings via a quirky collection of music aficionados. While potentially falling off as initially flaccid, repeated listens evokes a more memorable and shapely timbre.
Reader Votes: 0
Perry Weber & the DeVilles
The Riot ActRecord Label: Stumpy Dog Music
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 8
Tight and spunky root rockin’ blues born from the Milwaukee bustle and emanating from a collection of well seasoned musicians. Outside of the appetizing guitar, bass and drum chops, their authentic vintage sound comes decorated with Hammond organ, harmonica and piano which all compliment the gruff n gritty vocals of Weber to a tee.
Reader Votes: 0
Putumayo Presents
Jazz Around The WorldRecord Label: Putumayo World Music
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 8
Putumayo’s third jazz entry showcases jazz on a global perspective. Mali, France, New Zealand, South Africa, USA and Canada are all represented on this fun venturing into the influences and inflections intoned on the musical journey through cultures, boarders and time.
Reader Votes: 0
Roots Collective
RisingRecord Label: Self Released
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 8
Patterned after the famously horn fronted reggae bands from the past, this Madison based outfit regales tales of love and unity with a soul felt altruism. By featuring a rotation of three vocalists (including one female) each of these 5 tracks bolsters a separate sound and vibration to be inspired by.
Reader Votes: 0
Something To Burn
TransitionsRecord Label: Softdrive Records
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 5
Powerful and dynamic hard rock with strong choruses and inescapable commercial appeal. Dynamically designed but mostly over polished to the point of sterility. Softdrive Records was founded by Scott Weiland so unsurprisingly they’re touring with Stone Temple Pilots this fall.
Reader Votes: 0
Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
Greatest Hips Volume IIRecord Label: Self Released
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 9
YMBFBB’s live show captured here is saturated with shooting anthemic lyrics, crowd pleasing antics, mega grooves, a booty shakin’ brass section and an energetic audience. Six heady hard working musicians from Asheville, NC blow the doors off the joint through their elevated conflagration of musicianship and attendance participation. Find a sweet spot and ride out the jams man!
Reader Votes: 0
Yonder Mountain String Band
The ShowRecord Label: Frog Pad Records
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 8
Sweet, clever, quaint, touching or zany this Colorado foursome continues to please by carrying on with their tradition of invigorating and infusing traditional bluegrass and stringed instrumentation with a swinging new rock n roll view. If you are lucky enough to have a chance, their live show will revitalize and renew as few do.
Reader Votes: 0
Rob Zombie
Halloween IIRecord Label: Universal Music
Review published: October 2009
Rating: 7
In case you are unaware, horror specialist Rob Zombie is at the helm of the new Halloween II movie and this is the Soundtrack. We find a mixture of scary movie sound bites, cool classic rock entries and a smattering of new themed songs but not the original theme music. Rob himself will also be touring this fall coincidentally.
Reader Votes: 0
