Soundcheck

Each week, the Soundcheck staff digs through their inboxes for the best, catchiest, or strangest music they can find.

Soundcheck's CD Picks of the Week

Soundcheck

July 21, 2008

Garth Knox, “D’Amore”

As the violist of the Arditti String Quartet, Garth Knox has played some of the music world’s most outrageous pieces, including going up in a helicopter to play in Karlheinz Stockhausen’s notorious Helicopter Quartet. Maybe all that noise got to him, because on his new solo record, “D’Amore,” Knox turns to one of the quietest string instruments in the world: the viola d’amore, an instrument that even Bach considered old-fashioned. But it has a beautiful, intimate tone, and Knox uses it to great effect on a set of Renaissance and contemporary works. - John Schaefer

Dr. Dog, “Fate” (Park the Van)

Our next pick of the week comes from the Philadelphia-based band Dr. Dog. On their new album “Fate,” the quintet continues to update psychedelic nuggets and Southern rock gems from the ‘60s and ‘70s. [feigning seriousness] Now, the jury is still out on whether Dr. Dog is a terrible band name … or actually a brilliantly “sticky” marketing tactic. Either way, Dr. Dog is hard to forget – especially on tracks like this one, “The Old Days.” —Joel Meyer

Sigur Rós “Med Suð I Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust” (XL Recordings Ltd.)

Our final pick is from the Icelandic quartet Sigur Ros. They have a new album with a tongue-twister of a title that roughly translates as “With A Buzz In Our Ears We Play.” Thankfully, you don’t have to be fluent in Icelandic to understand Sigur Rós's music, which is known for its atmospheric sound and long, sophisticated song structures. On this, the group’s fifth album, there’s a leaner, more direct sound – particularly in “Gobbledigook,” the album’s lead-off track – and overall it feels like a summertime album. – Brian Wise

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Soundcheck

July 14, 2008

Vladimir Horowitz, "Horowitz in Hamburg: The Last Concert" (Deutsche Grammophon)

In June 1987, the great Russian pianist Vladimir Horowitz arrived in Hamburg, Germany at the end of a long European tour. He was 83 and it turned out to be his last public engagement. Fortunately, there were microphones from North German Radio ready to record every brilliant run, quirky accent, and crashing chord. This new disc documents that event. Listen to his performance of Chopin’s Polonaise No. 6 in A-Flat and you'll get a taste of that Horowitz magic, mellowed only slightly by age. --Brian Wise

Silver Jews, “Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea” (Drag City)

Our next CD pick comes from Silver Jews, the longtime project of the musician and writer David Berman. The band's lineup has included some of indie rock’s biggest names -- Pavement's Stephen Malkmus co-founded the group nearly 20 years ago. Now, with his wife Cassie backing him up, Berman’s storytelling talent continues to shine, like on the character sketch "Aloyisius Bluegrass Drummer." –-Joel Meyer

Peter Gabriel, et al. "Big Blue Ball" (Real World)

For some 20 years, Peter Gabriel has lived and worked in a refurbished mill outside the English city of Bath. The mill houses his Real World studios, and at three points during the 1990s, Gabriel invited musicians from all over the globe to what can only be described as a world music camp. For a week, musicians would live and eat and play together, and some unexpected, and unexpectedly good collaborations ensued. Big Blue Ball is a collection of some of those performances, from a motley crew that touched on the traditions of Madagascar, Central Africa, the Near East, American Gospel, indie rock, and of course, Peter Gabriel’s own brand of global pop.--John Schaefer

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CD Picks of the Week

Soundcheck

July 10, 2008

Every week, the Soundcheck staff digs through our inboxes for the best new releases.

Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis, "Two Men with the Blues" (Blue Note)

The iconoclast and outlaw Willie Nelson has a passion for jazz standards. For two nights last January, he shared the stage with bebop master Wynton Marsalis at the cozy Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The tape was rolling and now an album of that performance is out. It's not only a great musical encounter between two icons, but it's also proof of the universal language of music that makes for a simply fun show. --Gisele Regatao

Sloan, "Parallel Play" (Yep Roc)

Our next CD pick comes from the Canadian rock band Sloan. Devoted fans of the band can often be heard moaning that this ultra-talented quartet of songwriters doesn’t enjoy an equal level of success in the States. It IS a bit puzzling. Sloan seems to have an endless supply of solid -- if somewhat retro -- pop albums to release. The latest is "Parallel Play," and if you listen closely, you can hear Sloan fans moaning that this … should … have … been … THE … record! No matter … it’s great. --Joel Meyer

Thomas Feiner & Anywhen, “The Opiates, Revised” (Samadhi Sound)

Anywhen was a Swedish rock band in the 90s, and The Opiates was their third, their most ambitious, and their last record. Originally released in 2001, the band fell apart during the two years it took to make this album, with its lush orchestrations, moody lyrics, and Thomas Feiner’s worldweary voice. Now, Feiner has revisited "The Opiates," revised and remastered it, added some new songs, and the result is something of a lost classic, rediscovered.--John Schaefer

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CD Picks of the Week

Soundcheck

July 02, 2008

Each week, the Soundcheck staff digs through our inboxes to find the best new music.

The Hold Steady "Stay Positive" (Vagrant)

One of indie-rock’s top bands, The Hold Steady has been on a tear since moving from Minnesota to Brooklyn. Their latest, "Stay Positive," still has the band’s odd combination of heartland rock’n’roll with Craig Finn’s slice-of-life storytelling. But Finn, who has a distinctive speech/song delivery, actually gets closer to genuine singing on songs like "Sequestered in Memphis." --John Schaefer

Ahmad Jamal, "It’s Magic" (Birdology/Dreyfus Jazz)

In the 50s, pianist Ahmad Jamal was a major influence on Miles Davis. Jamal’s music contrasted simple and complex, sound and silence, can be clearly heard on the album "Miles Ahead." These days Jamal is sampled by rappers like Jay-Z and Nas. And the 77-year-old composer, producer and pianist continues to make music. His new album, “It’s Magic,” features him accompanied by drums, bass and percussion in an exhilarating recording. --Gisele Regatao

Dennis Wilson, “Pacific Ocean Blue” and “Bambu” (Caribou/Sony) Until now, this flawed rock masterpiece has been tough to find. “Pacific Ocean Blue” was the only solo album released by Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. When it came out in 1977, it revealed an introspective side of this handsome, funloving drummer. Sadly, his new career would be cut short. Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983 while diving off his boat. He was 39 years old. The reissue comes with an unfinished album called Bambu" that hints at what might have been. --Joel Meyer

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Soundcheck

June 26, 2008

Every week, the Soundcheck staff digs through our inboxes for the best new releases.

Al Green, "Lay It Down" (Blue Note)

Four decades into a legendary career, Al Green could just sit back and collect the royalties from his recording catalog. But the Memphis-based singer still loves making records. And he’s turned to the members of the hip-hop generation to enliven his latest album, called "Lay It Down." The drummer ?uestlove of hip-hop outfit The Roots co-produced the disc, which features guest appearances from R&B singers John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae and Anthony Hamilton.--Brian Wise

Chumbawamba, "The Boy Bands Have Won" (Trade Root)

Chumbawamba started as a loose collective of anarchist punks in the early 80s – and no one was more surprised than they were when their song "tubthumping" became a summertime pop hit in 1997. Now, they’ve reinvented themselves as an acoustic band. Like so many of their earlier records, the title is a skewering of the music industry. And the songs? Well the band describes them as "calmly stating their case about the state of the world. Then buggering off." --John Schaefer

Rachid Taha, "Rock el Casbah: The Best Of" (Wrasse Records)

Think The Clash’s song Rock the Casbah, Arabic version. Growing up in France, Algerian singer Rachid Taha has often been a victim of prejudice and discrimination. On his album, "Rock el Casbah: The Best Of," he gives an angry take on intolerance, re-interpreting the hit by his punk idols. –-Gisele Regatao

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CD Picks of the Week

Soundcheck

June 20, 2008

"String Poetic," Jennifer Koh, violin; Reiko Uchida, piano (Cedille)

The New York violinist Jennifer Koh and her frequent piano collaborator Reiko Uchida shape a century’s worth of American contemporary music on the new album "String Poetic." The disc features rare and unusual works by Carl Ruggles, Lou Harrison and John Adams. But the biggest draw is the title piece, Jennifer Higdon’s "String Poetic." This five-movement suite is one of the freshest and most appealing new works for violin that we’ve heard in a long while. It spans a range of moods – from the slow, ethereal "Nocturne," to the breathless movement called "Jagged Climb," in which the violinist seems to be scampering up a mountain peak at full throttle. --picked by Brian Wise

Laura Marling, "Alas, I Cannot Swim" (Astralwerks)

Our next CD pick of the week comes from -- you guessed it -- another incredibly talented young woman from the UK! Eighteen-year-old folkie Laura Marling aims to join a successful, transatlantic crowd that includes Lily Allen, piano-pop star Kate Nash, Welsh neo-soul diva Duffy, the brassy upstart Adele, and and a certain troublemaker whose name rhymes with "Schmamy Vinemouse." On a full-length debut called "Alas, I Cannot Swim," Laura Marling does more than keep her head above water, buoyed by rapid-fire confessional lyrics and a voice that can hang with any of her British sisters. Or brothers. The album is available on iTunes and gets a CD release in August. --picked by Joel Meyer

Etenesh & Le Tigre, "Enaf", (Buda Records)

Our final pick this week is an album of Ethiopian pop played by a French jazz band. Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, was known as “Swinging Addis” in the late 60s/early 70s, when a strange and potent brew of European brass band music, Indian film music, James Brown funk, and Ethiopian folk took hold. Now, Le Tigre des Platanes, a French jazz quintet, and the Ethiopian singer Etenesh, have recorded contemporary arrangements of some classic Ethiopop. The album is called “Zeraf!”--picked by John Schaefer

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CD Picks of the Week

Soundcheck

June 04, 2008

Avishai Cohen Trio, “Gently Disturbed” (Razdaz)

Several jazz musicians in New York share a country of origin: Israel. Among them, two even share a name: Avishai Cohen. One is a trumpet player and this is a bassist and composer. He has recorded with pop star Alysia Keys, often performed with pianist Chick Corea and is considered one of the best bassists in jazz today. In his new album with his trio -- his fourth under his own label -- Avishai Cohen shows why. --picked by Gisele Regatao

Aimee Mann, “@#%&*! Smilers” (SuperEgo Records)

Our next pick of the week comes from do-it-yourself songwriter Aimee Mann. Back in the ‘90s, the former Til Tuesday frontwoman started collecting these things called “e-mail address” and developed a loyal online fan base. At the time, it all seemed quaint and even a bit ... nerdy. Today, she’s the model for self-sufficiency in a crumbling music industry. Her latest CD is called "@#%&*! Smilers,” referring to those who put on a happy face all the time. But Aimee Mann’s new one gives us plenty of reasons to smile, including the opening track “Freeway.” –-picked by Joel Meyer

Michael White, “Blue Crescent”

Our final CD pick takes us back to the world of jazz, but this time from a place long associated with the form. New Orleans clarinetist Michael White – actually, that’s Doctor Michael White – has been a major force on the New Orleans jazz scene for decades, but “Blue Crescent” is his first new CD since Hurricane Katrina. After living in his car, and then in a FEMA trailer, White is now back teaching at Xavier University, and his long journey, and that of his hometown, are reflected in an album that’s alternately poignant and joyful. --picked by John Schaefer

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Soundcheck

May 12, 2008

The Weepies, "Hideaway" (Nettwerk)

If you’re looking for an album to put you in a summer mood, The Weepies might have the solution with their new album “Hideaway.” This husband-and-wife duo, originally from Boston and now based in California, has an admittedly silly name but writes insistently well-crafted folk-pop songs. They’re the kind of songs that film and television supervisors would cry for. --picked by Brian Wise

Firewater, "The Golden Hour" (Bloodshot)

Our next pick comes from Brooklyn via south Asia. Singer/songwriter Tod A leads Firewater, a world music/punk collective whose latest cd is called "The Golden Hours." Tod traveled through Indonesia, India, and Israel -- because he could. His goal was to get to Iraq and Afghanistan. That he couldn’t do. His recorded the local musicians in these various countries, and used them as a basis for his new songs. A few stick doggedly to the political views that sent Tod on his trip in the first place, but much of the album is a celebration of the enduring and infectious sounds of South and southeast Asia –- and how easily they blend with Firewater’s own. --picked by John Schaefer

Nortec Collective, "Bostich + Fussible: Tijuana Sound" (Nacional Records)

And now we go from south Asia to south of San Diego: Tijuana. That’s the hometown of Nortec Collective, a band whose name explains their sound: it’s is an abbreviation of Northern Mexico techno. You might have heard their music in the film "Babel" or in TV ads for Volvo and Fidelity Mutual. Their new album keeps their signature of mixing traditional sounds with new stuff -- like lots of Mexican horns next to loops –- and most importantly, plenty of irreverence. –-picked by Gisele Regatao

Ed Harcourt, “The Beautiful Lie” (Dovecote)

Our final CD pick this week is from British singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt. The onetime Mercury Prize nominee’s latest CD is "The Beautiful Lie." It’s been out for nearly two years in the UK, where Harcourt’s raspy voice, big string arrangements, and classy pop sound earned comparisons to XTC, Jeff Buckley and Tom Waits. Now, Americans are getting a chance to hear heartbreaker tunes like "You Only Call Me When You’re Drunk" and "Visit From the Dead Dog," from Ed Harcourt’s album “The Beautiful Lie.”--picked by Joel Meyer

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Soundcheck

May 05, 2008

Paul Bailey, "Retrace Our Steps"
The term oratorio historically refers to a kind of unstaged opera, often sacred in nature. Handel’s Messiah is the best-known example. Paul Bailey and his Ensemble have recorded what they term a secular oratorio in 4 acts, and while it is nothing like Handel’s Messiah, it might be somewhat like Philip Glass’s early operas. The Paul Bailey Ensemble describes itself as an alt-classical garage band, and the first of Bailey’s four elliptical songs of alienation and dislocation is built around a text by Gertrude Stein. --picked by John Schaefer

Rica Amabis, Pupillo and Dengue, "Tres na Massa"(Nublu Records)

Our first pick sounds like a racy confessional soundtrack -- and that’s exactly what it is. Three Sao Paulo-based musicians conceived this album as the score to the erotic comic books of Italian artist Milo Manara. It’s called "Tres na Massa," or three in the dough, and it’s released by Nublu records in New York. Producer Rica Amabis, percussionist Pupillo and bassist Dengue then enlisted popular singers and actress to sing about desire and seduction. --Picked by Gisele Regatao

Michael Gandolfi, "Y2K Compliant" (BMOP/sound)

Classical compositions about technology can often be dry, rather charm-less affairs. But the Boston composer Michael Gandolfi has written a piece about computers that’s full of bright, quirky sonorities and bustling rhythms. It’s called “Y2K Compliant,” and, as the title implies, it’s a satirical response to all the doomsday predictions of the Y2K bug back in 1999. The piece was premiered in 2000 and it’s now just out on a CD by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Picked by Brian Wise

Santogold, "Santogold" (Downtown)

Our next CD pick of the week comes from Santogold, the stage name of a well-traveled producer and songwriter named Santi White. At age 32, White has already done time as a Sony A&R rep, fronted a punk band, and worked with artists like Spank Rock and Ashlee Simpson. Her self-titled solo debut generated lots of internet buzz before its release last week, thanks to high-profile outings at South by Southwest and Coachella. The baile funk and dub sounds on the record have drawn comparisons to another Brooklyn-based artist, M.I.A. But White rounds out the record with plenty of ‘80s dance pop and new wave. --picked by Joel Meyer

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Soundcheck CD Picks of the Week

Soundcheck

April 28, 2008

Ralph Van Raat, pianist; Frederic Rzewski – "The People United Will Never Be Defeated!" and "Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues" (Naxos)

Composer and keyboard firebrand Frederic Rzewski has written numerous works steeped in left-wing politics but one stands out as a modern classic: "The People United Will never Be Defeated!," his 1975 homage to Latin American liberation struggles. The piece is an hour-long set of variations on the protest song of the same name by Chilean composer Sergio Ortega, himself a leftist figure in South America. In a new recording, Dutch pianist Ralph Van Raat steers through the many different aspects of struggle, from angry modernism to nostalgic folk music and dense polyphony. - Picked by Brian Wise

French Kicks, "Swimming" [Vagrant]

Our next pick is the CD "Swimming" by the Brooklyn-based band French Kicks. Sometimes, new work in the post-punk genre can leave you with that cold “retro” feeling. But in the hands of French Kicks, the legacy of the Cure and early U2 sounds pretty fresh. The fourth album by this is filled with jangly guitars, galloping drumbeats, and enough “echo” for all the Bunnymen. Here’s “New Man” from “Swimming” by the French Kicks. - Picked by Joel Meyer

Cryptogramophone Assemblage 1998-2008 (Cryptogramophone)

In an era of declining album sales, some tiny labels find a way to survive in music niches. Cryptogramophone Records is a boutique label based in L.A. which specializes in cutting edge improvisation. They just celebrated their 10th anniversary with a week of shows in town last week, but if you missed it, you should check out Cryptogramophone Assemblage 1998-2008. It’s a compilation of the label’s history in two 2 CDs and one DVD. You might recognize many names there from the rock or jazz worlds, but chances are they will sound very different here. – Picked by Gisele Regatao

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