By:
On:
In: _CD Reviews 2010, Album Reviews
With: 0 Comments

Blackmarket – “St. Vincent Decor”Zoom-out now3 / 5 Power-pop group from AZ Blackmarket definitely sound like they’re enjoying a rush from beginning to end of their second full-length album. And it’s a good ride, too: there are good songs, good lyrics, good vocals throughout this album. But on a second and third spin, Blackmarket ends up lacking what’s so vital in the crowded music market, which is individuality. They sound like most any other power-chord rock group, and while they’re good at what they do, what they do is not particularly special, in terms of style or flavor. “Blue Lemon” is a perfect example; anRead More →

By:
On:
In: _CD Reviews 2010, Album Reviews
With: 0 Comments

Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore – “Dear Companion”Sub Pop-out now3.5 / 5 It’s bluegrass, Jim. And what more could you expect from Kentuckians Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore on their first collaboration (along with producer Jim James of My Morning Jacket); of course they’re going to pick up a jug, a jig, and start jiving. Meant to put a spotlight on Mountaintop Coal Mining in the Appalachians, Sollee and Moore compose these folk/bluegrass songs with honesty and simplicity, which here, make for good companions. “Only a Song” is the most political of these tracks, yet the basic guitar chords and cello backing aren’tRead More →

By:
On:
In: _CD Reviews 2010, _Four or More 2010, Album Reviews, Recommended
With: 0 Comments

Tift Merrit – “See You on the Moon”Fantasy-out June 1; UK May 244 / 5 It’s strange that such an unusual song as “Mixtape” – with its staggered, clustered vocals and soft, intimate lyrics – would be so effective to open Tift Merritt’s fourth solo studio. In stark contrast to her “Another Country,” which at times plays by the book, the Houston-born singer-songwriter ventures into different musical flavors, darker hues of orchestration, violins, slower tempos, piano and acoustic guitar. Fans here will find a slight shift in color, but will rejoice with the title track and the trembling cover of “Danny’s Song”; those unfamiliar withRead More →

By:
On:
In: From the Management
With: 2 Comments

Which means:-We’re going to return to the albums we’re still listening to-A review of some CDs we might’ve missed earlier in the year-It’s finally time to break out the flip-flops and chicken-stained beaters Okay, so we’re not passing out food-stained beaters to our staff over here. But it’s almost summer, and man, it’s been one heck of a year of music! Unfortunately, we missed most of it…Like “Surfer Blood,” Yeasayer, Heligoland, a couple others. If you or someone you know (that smelly, mid-30s guy who lives in his mom’s basement) has a CD out this year that you want reviewed, feel free to send itRead More →