http://metropulse.com/news/ae-reviews/records/?partner=RSSMetroPulse Stories: Recordsen-usae-reviews/records/news/ae-reviews/records/?partner=RSShttp://metropulse.com/feeds/headlines/ae-reviews/records/2008-11-21T16:16:21.772580Copyright MetroPulse, 2008http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/local-cd-review-johnson-swingtet/?partner=RSSeverettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/local-cd-review-johnson-swingtet/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records140102008-11-19T17:00:002008-11-19T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008An anomaly among Knoxville bands, even in Knoxville’s jazz scene, the Johnson Swingtet sticks to a catalog of strictly pre-World War II jazz on its self-titled debut CD.Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettLocal CD Review: Johnson SwingtetMetroPulselocal-cd-review-johnson-swingtethttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/belle-and-sebastian/?partner=RSS ]]>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/belle-and-sebastian/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records140052008-11-19T17:00:002008-11-19T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008At the start of their career, Belle and Sebastian seemed to exist in the same sort of pleasantly maudlin time capsule as an old pair of mittens or a Wes Anderson movie. The seamless beauty and consistency of their first few albums made them instant old pros, sliding their lazy afternoon tunes alongside the twinkly ballads of Nick Drake, the Velvet Underground, and the early Rolling Stones.Knoxville, TNBelle and SebastianMetroPulsebelle-and-sebastianhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/boston-spaceships/?partner=RSS ]]>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/boston-spaceships/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records140062008-11-19T17:00:002008-11-19T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Robert Pollard’s rationale for breaking up Guided by Voices in 2004 was that he was a grown-ass man and it was somehow unbecoming to be a member of the boy’s club that every all-male group becomes. So what does he do four years later? He starts another band, Boston Spaceships. And what’s the difference between this band, the last band, and the umpteen solo discs that arrived in the interim? Not much.Knoxville, TNBoston SpaceshipsMetroPulseboston-spaceshipshttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/local-cd-review-john-thomas-oaks/?partner=RSSBlue York, a solid set of contemporary and classic bluegrass songs based on Oaks’ recent stint in the music and theater world in New York. ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/local-cd-review-john-thomas-oaks/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records139872008-11-12T17:00:002008-11-12T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Knoxville banjo player and singer John thomas Oaks recalls his years in the big city on <em>Blue York</em>, a solid set of contemporary and classic bluegrass songs based on Oaks’ recent stint in the music and theater world in New York. Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettLocal CD Review: John thomas OaksMetroPulselocal-cd-review-john-thomas-oakshttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/isobel-campbell-and-mark-lanegan/?partner=RSSBallad of the Broken Seas. Campbell, who wrote or co-wrote 16 of the 17 tracks here, provides full arrangements that draw out sharp, session-quality contributions from the backing band, but Sunday at Devil Dirt actually outdoes its predecessor in dreariness—where the gritty Ballad hit one grim note over and over, Sunday climbs to risible heights of folk melodrama. ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/isobel-campbell-and-mark-lanegan/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records139792008-11-12T17:00:002008-11-12T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008This second collaboration between former Belle &amp; Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell and ex-Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan expands on the stark, hard-bitten austerity of 2006’s <em>Ballad of the Broken Seas</em>. Campbell, who wrote or co-wrote 16 of the 17 tracks here, provides full arrangements that draw out sharp, session-quality contributions from the backing band, but <em>Sunday at Devil Dirt</em> actually outdoes its predecessor in dreariness—where the gritty <em>Ballad</em> hit one grim note over and over, Sunday climbs to risible heights of folk melodrama.Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettIsobel Campbell and Mark LaneganMetroPulseisobel-campbell-and-mark-laneganhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/jay-reatard/?partner=RSS ]]>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/jay-reatard/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records139782008-11-12T17:00:002008-11-12T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008After releasing a spate of monthly singles on Matador, each with a more limited run, Memphis punk auteur Jay Reatard has seen fit to release the entire collection on one convenient CD—so the collector scum can duke it out on eBay while the rest of us just enjoy the music.Knoxville, TNJay ReatardMetroPulsejay-reatardhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/streets/?partner=RSS ]]>Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/streets/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records139442008-11-05T17:00:002008-11-05T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Those Brits love their scoundrels. England’s pop-music culture is rife with quasi-celebrities—see Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse—who are better known for their chemical ingestion and star-fucking than for their music.Knoxville, TNThe StreetsMetroPulsestreetshttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/deerhunter/?partner=RSS ]]>Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/deerhunter/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records139432008-11-05T17:00:002008-11-05T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008This week’s indie savior, Atlanta’s hyped-to-the-stratosphere “ambient-punk” group Deerhunter, has created an album that is more or less deserving of the anticipation that was painstakingly manufactured for the band in recent months.Knoxville, TNDeerhunterMetroPulsedeerhunterhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/wetnurse/?partner=RSSInvisible City. ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/wetnurse/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138872008-10-29T17:00:002008-10-29T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Ugly is the new pretty. Rooting through the nastier side of punk, noise, and metal to uncover a perverse sort of widescreen majesty is nothing new, and plenty of bands have done it to divergent ends, from the pop sludge of the Melvins to the raw, open-hearted candor of Converge. But a young wave of underground bands is laying down a new level of ugliness that at the same time reaches new heights of sonic grandeur. New York four-piece Wetnurse steps to the head of that class with its second album, <em>Invisible City</em>.Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettWetnurseMetroPulsewetnursehttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/montreal/?partner=RSSHissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? comes in an elaborate, psychedelic, faux-primitive fold-out case decorated with phantasmagoric flowers and lithe, asexual but utterly naked people surrounded by said plant life. ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/montreal/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138862008-10-29T17:00:002008-10-29T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008First you have to get through the packaging. Of Montreal’s follow-up to <em>Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?</em> comes in an elaborate, psychedelic, faux-primitive fold-out case decorated with phantasmagoric flowers and lithe, asexual but utterly naked people surrounded by said plant life.Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettOf MontrealMetroPulsemontrealhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/local-cd-review-tenderhooks/?partner=RSSNew Ways to Butcher English, the surprisingly quick follow-up to last year’s Vidalia. New Ways starts with the dead-end-job kiss-off “Customer Service,” a chugging, bitter riff topped off by Ben Oyler’s distinctive lead guitar and a lilting-but-angry chorus (“My ideas, man, but no one gives a damn except me”). ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/local-cd-review-tenderhooks/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138902008-10-29T17:00:002008-10-29T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008The Tenderhooks strip the twang from the jangle-pop of their earlier efforts and emphasize the “power” part of power pop on <em>New Ways to Butcher English</em>, the surprisingly quick follow-up to last year’s <em>Vidalia</em>. <em>New Ways</em> starts with the dead-end-job kiss-off “Customer Service,” a chugging, bitter riff topped off by Ben Oyler’s distinctive lead guitar and a lilting-but-angry chorus (“My ideas, man, but no one gives a damn except me”). Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettLocal CD Review: The TenderhooksMetroPulselocal-cd-review-tenderhookshttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/cd-review-lucinda-williams/?partner=RSSLittle Honey suggests that if and when Lucinda Williams does settle down, there’s no real reason to think that her music will. Who the hell knows what’s really going on with her? But recent recordings have captured her singing about things that no longer lead you to believe she’s living in her car or pawning her own guitars to get someone else’s out of hock. ]]>barrettc@metropulse.com (Chris Barrett)Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/cd-review-lucinda-williams/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138542008-10-22T17:00:002008-10-22T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008<em>Little Honey</em> suggests that if and when Lucinda Williams does settle down, there’s no real reason to think that her music will. Who the hell knows what’s really going on with her? But recent recordings have captured her singing about things that no longer lead you to believe she’s living in her car or pawning her own guitars to get someone else’s out of hock.Knoxville, TNChris BarrettCD Review: Lucinda WilliamsMetroPulsecd-review-lucinda-williamshttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/cd-review-bob-dylan/?partner=RSSTell Tale Signs is 27 alternate takes and demos, previously unreleased songs, and live cuts of material from 1989 (Oh Mercy) through 2006 (Modern Times). Regardless of which Dylan subcult you belong to, it’s hard not to acknowledge that this has been a flattering span for him. It might be his age. It might be the age in which we live. ]]>barrettc@metropulse.com (Chris Barrett)Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/cd-review-bob-dylan/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138532008-10-22T17:00:002008-10-22T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008<em>Tell Tale Signs </em>is 27 alternate takes and demos, previously unreleased songs, and live cuts of material from 1989 (<em>Oh Mercy</em>) through 2006 (<em>Modern Times</em>). Regardless of which Dylan subcult you belong to, it’s hard not to acknowledge that this has been a flattering span for him. It might be his age. It might be the age in which we live.Knoxville, TNChris BarrettCD Review: Bob DylanMetroPulsecd-review-bob-dylanhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/local-cd-review-jay-clark/?partner=RSSI’m Confused, his third album. ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/local-cd-review-jay-clark/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138552008-10-22T17:00:002008-10-22T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Singer/songwriter Jay Clark, who splits his time between Knoxville and Hazel Green, Ala., mixes it up musically on <em>I’m Confused</em>, his third album.Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettLocal CD Review: Jay ClarkMetroPulselocal-cd-review-jay-clarkhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/15/local-cd-review-christopher-scum/?partner=RSSWed, 15 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/15/local-cd-review-christopher-scum/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138332008-10-15T17:00:002008-10-15T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008There is a chasm of disconnect between the real Chris Andrews and the Christopher Scum persona he’s created over the years. The Chris that many of us know dearly loves his partner and works steadfastly to rebuild his life through his music and writing in the aftermath of a decade-plus of suicidal substance abuse, mental illness, and occasional stints in jail. And then there’s the raging beast known as Christopher Scum, a violent, profusely bleeding maniac who screams his curses at the world on a one-way descent into eternal damnation.Knoxville, TNLocal CD Review: Christopher ScumMetroPulselocal-cd-review-christopher-scumhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/15/cd-review-gojira/?partner=RSS ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/15/cd-review-gojira/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138312008-10-15T17:00:002008-10-15T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Gojira takes its name from the original Japanese name for Godzilla, and it’s an appropriately gigantic title for this French progressive metal band, which combines the pounding, robotic grooves of Meshuggah with the sprawling ambition of Opeth on its fourth album.Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettCD Review: GojiraMetroPulsecd-review-gojirahttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/15/cd-review-oasis/?partner=RSS(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? arrived at the perfect juncture. In 1995 everything old was new again, and the group’s guitar-heavy, Beatles-influenced anachronisms ruled the airwaves, at least for a moment. In the ensuing decade, brothers Liam and Neil Gallagher have sought to recreate Morning Glory with varying results. ]]>Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/15/cd-review-oasis/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138302008-10-15T17:00:002008-10-15T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Releasing an album that became representative of its time has been a blessing and a curse for Oasis. <em>(What’s the Story) Morning Glory</em>? arrived at the perfect juncture. In 1995 everything old was new again, and the group’s guitar-heavy, Beatles-influenced anachronisms ruled the airwaves, at least for a moment. In the ensuing decade, brothers Liam and Neil Gallagher have sought to recreate <em>Morning Glory</em> with varying results.Knoxville, TNCD Review: OasisMetroPulsecd-review-oasishttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/08/cd-review-gang-gang-dance/?partner=RSSSaint Dymphna, titled after the Catholic patron saint of those with mental illness and of the possessed, is almost entirely electronic, with intense and intricate (mostly) live percussion. ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/08/cd-review-gang-gang-dance/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138032008-10-08T17:00:002008-10-08T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Where Gang Gang Dance formerly mixed free-form rock with ambient electronics, the excellent new release <em>Saint Dymphna</em>, titled after the Catholic patron saint of those with mental illness and of the possessed, is almost entirely electronic, with intense and intricate (mostly) live percussion. Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettCD Review: Gang Gang DanceMetroPulsecd-review-gang-gang-dancehttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/08/local-cd-review-central-funktion/?partner=RSSTeenage Geezer. ]]>everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/08/local-cd-review-central-funktion/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138062008-10-08T17:00:002008-10-08T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Despite the band’s name, there’s very little funk on Central Funktion’s <em>Teenage Geezer</em>.Knoxville, TNMatthew EverettLocal CD Review: Central FunktionMetroPulselocal-cd-review-central-funktionhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/08/cd-review-ti/?partner=RSSWed, 08 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/08/cd-review-ti/?partner=RSSae-reviews/records138022008-10-08T17:00:002008-10-08T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008It’s not easy being Tip. Yes, as of right now, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. (who just turned 28) has the number one album in America. And it’s true that the new record does a fair job of reasserting his claim to rap hall-of-fame credentials, not that those should be in any doubt. So why is this one such a recurrent bummer? Probably because T.I.’s going to jail.Knoxville, TNCD Review: T.I.MetroPulsecd-review-ti