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Freddie Hubbard – “Pinnacle: from Keystone Korner”Resonance Records-out now4.5 / 5 Wow. Let’s just say that first. One of the most blazing jazz trumpeters in the history of the music comes back from the vaults with this posthumous live release from San Fran. Next, let’s get this out of the way: the sound quality is maybe 3.5/5. It’s recorded live, some 30 years old. Get over it. Now, onto the juice of the matter: Pinnacle is pure gold. We don’t feature jazz often enough, and Hubbard blasts through with “The Intrepid Fox,” tearing a veritable hole in our eardrums – in a good, earth-shattering wayRead More →

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Slow Club – “Paradise”Moshi Moshi-out now3.5 / 5 We admit, we’re a little slow to get onto this train, but we’ll admit our shortcomings: Slow Club has a good thing going. Yes, we’re still a fan of those slower ditties, “You, Earth or Ash” and “Gold Mountain,” but on this release (the UK duo’s sophomore) we think they hit upon a winning combination of rock, Rebecca Taylor’s strong vocals, and Charles Watson’s bangin’ guitar (he also vocalizes a bit, too). The songs on Paradise run a strong gamut of rockers and ballads, just steaming on the kinda sexist “Where I’m Waking,” (“I can see youRead More →

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Deer Tick – “Divine Providence”Partisan Records-out yesterday3.5 / 5 Deer Tick, one of our favorite bands from the Ocean State, has been cranking these albums out like it’s a bad case of fleas. But there is good news here: if you have an itch for J. J. McCauley and Co., then you should scratch. Divine Providence, while not truly divine (see War Elephant, Black Dirt Sessions, or one of his many excellent collaborations) is still the same old grizzled, beer-guzzling, ditch-your-blow-up-doll-on-route-195-and-don’t-look-back kinda band that rocks out your socks out. But this album isn’t somber and gorgeous as BDS, nor is it as brilliant and barebonesRead More →

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A Classic Education – “Call It Blazing”Lefse-out tomorrow2.5 / 5 There are any number of ways to make a particular release stand out sonically: good hooks, powerful vocals, Robert Plant’s exposed chest. Consider this, then, a backhanded compliment: A Classic Education is capable of making themselves sound like other bands. The vocals and song structure reminisce over Band of Horses, while early Yo La Tengo almost certainly inspires “Place a Bet on You.” Now, the reality of these comparisons is that ACE doesn’t really add their own to the mix here. At least, we hope not. Because the end result of Call It Blazing isRead More →