Best of the Week
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
2022 22 tracks (1:50:32)
Yes, this was released in 1997 when Yo La Tengo found their footing that would blaze a path for the next twenty-five years and beyond. Most label them as an alternative rock or indie pop band, but there is no one label that can describe how they lay down basic pop lines with a minimal set of instruments and use the studio like an artist palette. They don’t get stuck in a predictable pattern, each song is not just an extension of adjoining songs. They sound like they are a different band from cut to cut. Which is why you can listen to the (original) 16-cut album and not tire of listening to it. Even with the ten-minute bizarro “Spec Bebop” track. There are six additional cuts to the anniversary edition, four of which are alternate takes of “Autumn Sweater”. This could be a rock classic. A+
Skating Polly - Chaos County Line
2023 18 tracks (1:07:30)
It would be easy to dismiss Skating Polly as a base level girls band with the cutesy vocals and the lyrical focus on boys/relationships, but that’s a mistake. There is true pop craftsmanship (or is it craftsthemship now?) taking place. The song structures are not simple A-B-A-B patterns, much more sophisticated than that. They are still young and much of that comes through, but they have been at this for a dozen years and have developed their musical chops tremendously. Stylistically, they do float around a bit, but there really isn’t a stinker on this 18 cut tracklist. It kicks serious butt all the way through. A-
Ghostwoman - Hindsight is 50/50
2023 10 tracks (41:07)
If there is such a genre as psychedelic pop shoegaze (psych-gaze?) this would be it. The ghostly vocals and piercing over-fuzzed guitars is an intoxicating combination which Evan Uschenko uses to great effect. Occasionally, he pulls the guitar back a little bit to give the mid-60’s The Ventures vibe. It’s a blast to listen to. A-
Robyn Hitchcock - Shufflemania!
2022 10 tracks (37:50)
Unlike the relaxing Life After Infinity, Hitchcock is at his usual playful self with the set of irrepressible tunes and lovely singing he has been known for. He’s always been a great lyricist which has not changed here one bit. The songs are fun, lively, and enjoyable. May he never change. A-
Interesting Finds
Tomahawk - Tomahawk
2001 13 tracks (41:41)
Debut album by Mike Patton (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More) based supergroup that formed and plays for a while, goes into hiatus, and then returns when they aren’t working with their home groups and other projects. They have been playing this form of alternative metal and grunge music for twenty years now, often playing with Melvins and Tool. Their rough-around-the-edges metal pop sound is appealing even if the vocals are less than great (or even good) with the Wolfman Jack/John Kay singing. Mike Paton, the singer, intentionally uses this form of singing despite having a tremendous vocal range. Still, that doesn’t detract from the basic appeal with many of the songs inventive and intriguing. B
Faith No More - Album of the Year
1997 12 tracks (43:13)
Not sure what people were looking for when this album came out, but they weren’t very happy with it and I don’t know why. There are some songs on here that are excellent. The legendary Mike Patton was the lead singer by now (see above Tomahawk capsule in this segment) and it showcases his range of vocal delivery. Pitchfork compared this album to a used condom (“sure, the ride was fun while it lasted, but what remains is just plain icky. And you definitely don’t want it in your CD player”). That’s unfortunate because it can easily be mistaken for a Foo Fighters album. It is far from perfect, but there is plenty of meat to chew on. B+
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Reunions
2020 10 tracks (41:13)
A nice set of tracks in a southern rock Americana style by this former Drive By Truckers member. The songs all have a certain amount of hooks characteristic of country or folk music which adds a lot of sameness to the set, almost to the point of you’re asking yourself, didn’t I just hear that? The vocals are pleasant and they play in a relaxed style. Nothing really wrong with it, just a little repetitive. C
Vince Clarke - Songs of Silence
2023 10 tracks (42:45)
Known for his work with the duo Erasure and early work with OMD, Clarke produces a relaxing synth record using simple patterns augmented by brief punctuated sound effects. It’s soothing, not energetic. Not great playlist material, but there is nothing wrong to put this whole record in a dimly lighted room and let it ease the day’s stresses from your body. C
David Holmes, Raven Violet - Blind On A Galloping Horse
2023 14 tracks (1:14:36)
David Holmes, a DJ and film soundtrack composer, does music that could be described as electro pop - electronic based music with lots of programming. Raven Violet provides a soft airy voice to the songs. Many of the songs are given pithy titles like “You Will Know Me by the Smell of Onions” and “Tyranny of the Talentless” as well as the title track. The music is fine and mostly enjoyable. Good rhythmic background music. B-
Hector Tellez Jr. - The Great Unknown
2023 12 tracks (43:52)
Good on you if you had a Cuban national become someone to look at in the future for blues based rock n roll on your bingo card. Tellez was able to rope two rock icons in Krist Novoselic and Peter Buck to help on his first US release. After growing up listening to US and UK rock - and lots of Muddy Waters - Tellez was able to secure a leave of Cuba where he knew playing salsa and covers was not his lot in life and made the jump to Nashville. His fluid guitar playing and resounding vocals, almost entirely in English, has the talent to be a major player. If anything, his vocals are too perfect as rock tends to favor vocals with some rough edges. A couple of the songs could be better, but for a first release this is a nice start. B
Beartooth - The Surface
2023 11 tracks (37:32)
Brutally hard rock or metalcore or metalpop, whatever you want to call it, has its moments. The music features many of the same elements as a Disturbed or Fall Out Boys without resorting to growling throat singing. Make no mistake, there are plenty of near scream level vocals, but at least the lyrics are still decipherable. The songs are a little ordinary, using common constructs found in many bands. A little more imagination would go a long way. C
Robyn Hitchcock - Life After Infinity
2023 11 tracks (37:20)
Known for his bouncy pop act, Robyn Hitchcock decides to go mostly acoustic and leave the vocals behind in this set of relaxing and contemplative work. This would have found a home in the old Windham Hill records family many years ago. They are all very lovely and touching, sometimes a welcome change to the fast and furious life and music that dominates the landscape. B
The Veils - …And Out of the Void Came Love
2023 15 tracks (56:39)
The Veils are essentially Finn Andrews with whomever he finds to play the songs he writes and sings. In general, it is an alt-rock band with spooky psychedelic backdrops, pop music on quaaludes. The dreary dreamy tone doesn’t overpower the good pop sense that is evident. The songs are well-structured and inventive albeit with a few clinkers to skip. It has some of the production level one would have expected from a David Bowie album but is more likable. Towards the end of the album, I was fatigued by the schtick and the cuteness of the production. B-
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