5 Reviews a Week – Back on track, track-by-track

Well, I’m back on schedule this week. Finally stole some time to get these finished up. When I started these reviews, I had a nice back log of write-ups to post. But now I am caught up with this years releases. Perhaps I will post some of my old reviews from my old Myspace blog. Well anyway, here are the latest. I might come up with something a bit different next week. Stay tuned!

Paul Westerberg – 49:00 – *** – Paul Westerberg has lately been happy to release disheveled collections of half songs and ideas, but this takes the cake. Without even splitting up tracks or giving names to anything, he has produced an album that sounds like a cassette tape that got recorded over again and again and then thrown out, only to be uncovered years later. Which could be the greatest thing ever! Or not, but I’m cool with it.

The Major Labels – Aquavia – **** – Awesome CD! Bleu, Mike Viola, and Ducky Carlisle put their heads together to come up with and album that sounds fun, energetic, and it is clear that all the members wanted to make the best record possible in this style. The style is pure pop/rock with so much energy and power, you can’t help but take the ride.

Skydiggers – City Of Sirens – *** – I only recently got into Skydiggers, and I like a lot of their stuff. Some of their early stuff was a bit sketchy, but they have become this really great, rich sounding group. This album continues in that vein, basically folky stuff with a full soundscape that brings everything together in a clear and cool fashion.

Sharon Little – Perfect Time For A Breakdown – *** – I saw this CD randomly in a store and looked at the back, and saw it was produced by Scot Sax, so right then, I knew I had to hear it. So I went home, heard some clips and liked it, so I decided to pick it up. It’s a soulful record, she has a good voice, that can be really soulful, but has enough variety to it, that it doesn’t come off as too soulful. Very good pop-soul record.

The Disciplines – Smoking Kills – ***1/2 – Wow, this is an explosion of energy and rock. The group, lead by Ken Stringfellow of the Posies, is a pure rock and roll band, similar to the White Stripes or the Raconteurs. It seems like he enjoyed creating this more energetic sound, but it really isn’t his strong suit, I think he does best when he puts his heart out on the floor. But it is an enjoyable record when you forget all the previous Stringfellow records.

5 Reviews A Week – The Travails of Mr. Lackidaisical

Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry! I promised this would be weekly! What am I doing!! Listen, folks, I’ve been awfully busy, and I apologize for not giving you your music tidbit fix. I will explain that last Tuesday I was busy, because I was at a She & Him concert! Which was awesome. They showed so much energy and love to the crowd that I might even consider that concert to be one of the best! If you haven’t heard the band yet, do it…it’s a collaboration between Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, and brings all sorts of influences into a great album. But here you go with this weeks picks!

Stew – Passing Strange Original Cast Recording – **** – Excellent record, from what sounds like an electrifying musical experience. You can tell Stew has been working on this idea for a long time. From hearing songs that he has played live previously to seeing the depth that this journey is explained show a real caring hand was put to telling the best story possible from these experiences. I want to see this show so much, unfortunately I can’t afford it, but hearing this recording is almost as good as being there. Since it is a live recording, it has that energy that is so appealing.

Eef Barzelay – Lose Big – *** – Eef Barzelay, former lead singer of Clem Snide comes back with more of the same type of sharp, introspective songs with a laid back style and self-assuredness that make it engaging and interesting.

Matthew Sweet – Sunshine Lies – *** – I loved Matthew Sweet’s early records, they were fun and had great songs on it. In the past few years, his songs, while not lacking energy or his sound, just don’t hit as hard as those first albums did. They are great, but seem to lack a spark. This album gets closer than the last few though.

Wire – Object 47 – *** – I have only been slightly a fan of Wire. I did get their first three albums in a box set a year or so ago, and liked it. Before that, I just knew Outdoor Miner. This album is quite good, and shows that they can still have an impact musically.

Smoking Popes – Stay Down – ***1/2 – I became a Smoking Popes fan late in the game. I actually was more of a Duvall fan, which was the band Matt came out with after the break-up. But i do enjoy the Smoking Popes, and I think this album finds the happy medium between Duvall and the Popes. It’s really quite enjoyable.

Bonus: as a gift to those who were so patient with me, here is what I said about She & Him earlier this year: She & Him – Volume I – ***1/2 – I really like this album. It is an entirely entertaining experience. At first you kind of wonder about the voice and the sort of off nature of it, but as soon as you accept it and fall in, it is a great record.