A classic of the genre.

Posted : 6 months ago on 25 February 2008 01:29 (A review of Two Sevens Clash: 30th Anniversary Edition (Dlx))

Everything that could possibly be said about the music on this album has already been put forward in the glowing reviews it has received since its original release 30 years ago so instead I'll comment on the presentation and sound of this new deluxe edition.

First of all, the packaging is not the standard 5" H x 5.5" W jewel case that most CDs come in. Instead, it measures 7.5" H x 5.5" W, the size of a DVD case. Not a big deal, but worth pointing out.

Inside the case is a sleeve containing a 12 page booklet. In the booklet are several essays about Culture, and about the creation of Two Sevens Clash and its impact written by music critic Lenny Kaye, Culture's bandleader Joseph Hill, producer Joe Gibbs, reggae godfather Burning Spear, legendary reggae percussionist Sly Dunbar, and others.

One of the biggest worries when buying roots reggae albums is the quality of transfer to CD. I've personally been burned on a few reggae purchases where it seems as though the producers simply recorded straight from an LP of questionable quality. Well, I'm happy to report that the sound quality of Two Sevens Clash is absolutely pristine, easily as a good as any of the excellent Bob Marley reissues that Island released a few years ago.

Definitely worth picking up.

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brilliant virtuosity

Posted : 9 months, 1 week ago on 19 November 2007 11:00 (A review of Liszt: 10 Hungarian Rhapsodies)

Franz Liszt (1811 - 1886) was THE keyboardist of his day. He was the Paganini of the piano. His compositions, therefore, require incredible skill and dexterity to perform. Thankfully, Georges Cziffra is up to the task.

Presented here are 10 of Liszt's 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies for solo piano. These performances were recorded in 1972 so the sounds quality is very clear and clean.

Included are:
No. 2 in C sharp
No. 6 in D flat
No. 8 in F sharp
No. 9 in E flat
No. 10 in E major
No. 11 in A minor
No. 12 in C sharp
No. 13 in A minor
No. 14 in F minor
No. 15 in A minor

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Heaven's soundtrack

Posted : 9 months, 4 weeks ago on 3 November 2007 03:35 (A review of Chopin: Nocturnes)

Absolutely beautiful piano pieces composed by Chopin and played with supreme skill and emotional intensity by pianist Ivan Moravec.

This particular release includes all 19 of Chopin's nocturnes, here recording in 1965 by Moravec. The sound quality is rich, free of hiss or distortion. Each note played is clearly and cleanly captured.

The included booklet contains a track listing and a 6-page 1965 essay on the composer by James Lyons, then editor of The American Record Guide.

No amount of praise I could give this music would come close to matching that already bestowed upon Chopin, but I do have to say that this is some of the most moving stuff I've ever had the pleasure to hear.

And I'm not a classical geek by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I primarily listen to rock, electronic, blues, jazz, some country, and some hip-hop. In fact, until a few weeks ago my only exposure to classical music was the ubiquitous stuff used in pop culture like Beethoven's Fifth. But this music by Chopin has inspired me to give a closer look to the genre. I hope you will, too, and to that end I can't recommend this two-CD set enough.

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worth a standing ovation

Posted : 11 months ago on 2 October 2007 03:44 (A review of Please Clap Your Hands)

The Bird and the Bee's new EP, "Please Clap Your Hands," their first follow-up to their self-titled debut album, builds on and expands the strenths of their previous effort (intelligent pop phrasing, multitracked vocal harmonies, and self-conscious lyricism) while eliminating the weaknesses (stylistically uneven refrains, outdated synth patches).

The album consists of only 5 songs, but it's 20 minutes of pure charming bliss.

Inara George (vocalist, aka, the Bird) turns in one fantasticly seductive performance after another on every track, while Greg Kurstin (keyboards, drum machines, aka, the Bee) provides the pitch perfect compliment to her breathy voice.

If you've got $5 to spare, and have any sort of taste for electronic pop and/or female vocalists, I definitely recommend that you check this album out.

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smart and fresh electronic pop

Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 27 April 2007 02:11 (A review of The Bird & The Bee)

Remember the late 90's / early 00's when everyone and their mom jumped on the techno diva bandwagon and we were treated to a disco redux? Driving four to the floor house beats, repetitious synthesized melodies, and even the old vocoder was dusted off and pulled from the 70's closet. Ugh.

Thankfully, though the The Bird and the Bee are an electronic pop act, they have nothing in common with the likes of Cher, Madonna, and the like. Instead, TBATB has smart lyrics, insistent (but not incessant) rhythms and catchy melodies, and a beautiful voice that's not filtered/flanged/reverbed/pitch-shifted into oblivion. Greg Kurstin's production is top-notch, slick without feeling plastic and artificial.

You can stream a few songs from the album here:
http://cruxy.com/features/tbatb

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As magical as the movie...

Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 27 April 2007 09:45 (A review of Amelie: Original Soundtrack Recording)

Alternating between the brightly life-affirming and heart-wrenching melancholy, this unmistakably French instrumental soundtrack to 2000's best film, Amélie, is fantastic in its own right. My only complaint is that the songs are so short, averaging only about 2 minutes each.

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powerful stuff

Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago on 30 March 2007 10:36 (A review of Yes, Virginia...)

A piano and drums duo that rocks harder than most fully stacked bands today? Indeed. The songs are inventive and interesting lyrically and melodically without losing the strong hooks that make it so darn fun to hum/whistle/sing along with.

Having picked up this album and their self-titled debut at the same time, I think "Yes, Virginia" is a consistently stronger effort, though I'd easily recommend both to anyone and everyone.

Standout tracks, in my opinion:
Backstabber
My Alcoholic Friends
Dirty Business
Shores of California
Necessary Evil
Mandy Goes to Med School

(Yeah, that's, like, half the album. The other half is pretty darn good, too.)

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Technically impressive, but soulless

Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago on 30 March 2007 10:22 (A review of Hard Normal Daddy)

As a drum programmer, Squarepusher shows he has few equals on "Hard Normal Daddy," but, IMO, music is about more than being technically proficient. Still, if you're looking for intelligent drum and bass dance fodder to shake your ass to, you can't go wrong here. For something similar, but with more feeling pick up Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy" or "Richard D. James Album" instead.

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The Fucking Champs fucking rock!

Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 22 December 2006 03:22 (A review of V)

I'm not a huge fan of metal, mostly because I find metal bands to be too theatrical for my tastes. By jettisoning the aggressive lyrics and costumed posturing of the genre while maintaining the raw instrumental power (the trio is made up of two guitarists and a drummer - no bass and no singer!) The Fucking Champs have succeeded in warming me over to the genre big time. Great stuff.

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Eclectic angels with attitude

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 6 October 2006 02:22 (A review of Moon Over the Freeway)

Similar in style to The Ditty Bops' genre-blending swing-revivalist self-titled debut album, "Moon Over the Freeway" is a noticable step up in lyrical quality. The track selection is quite a bit more upbeat, as well, with less than half the album being folky ballads this time around.

If you loved The Ditty Bops first album then you'll love this one, too. If you've never heard of The Ditty Bops then this disc would be an excellent introduction. It's more accessible and infectiously fun than their first effort, even.

Standout tracks: "Moon Over the Freeway," "Fall Awake," "Fish to Fry," and "In the Meantime."

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