March 22, 2007 Music » Sound Advice

Sound Advice 

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click to enlarge Rosie Thomas - These Friends of Mine - - - - Nettwerk - - Sounds like: Folk music sans any hint of pop - - Short take: Engaging for the Pitchfork crowd - - After existing for years on the indie rock fringe under - the Sub Pop umbrella, singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas - recently broke to Nettwerk. However, the material found - on her fourth album, These Friends of Mine, is - pure retro. Folk, that is, and not in the Jewel sense. - Epitomizing the entire album is the mid-tempo "Why - Waste More Time?," in which a banjo ebbs and flows - while Thomas and friends Sufjan Stevens and Denison - Witmer create an introspective mood for universal sorrow - and, hopefully, self-redemption. Odds are, Thomas - won't become an adult contemporary artist, nor will she - change the indie rock scene, but you can be damn sure - she'll affect those who give her material the time it - deserves. John Benson
  • Rosie Thomas

    These Friends of Mine

    Nettwerk

    Sounds like: Folk music sans any hint of pop

    Short take: Engaging for the Pitchfork crowd

    After existing for years on the indie rock fringe under the Sub Pop umbrella, singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas recently broke to Nettwerk. However, the material found on her fourth album, These Friends of Mine, is pure retro. Folk, that is, and not in the Jewel sense. Epitomizing the entire album is the mid-tempo "Why Waste More Time?," in which a banjo ebbs and flows while Thomas and friends Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer create an introspective mood for universal sorrow and, hopefully, self-redemption. Odds are, Thomas won't become an adult contemporary artist, nor will she change the indie rock scene, but you can be damn sure she'll affect those who give her material the time it deserves. John Benson

click to enlarge LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver - - - DFA - - Sounds like: A dance-floor mix tape for all - occasions - - Short take: Dancers (not rockers) wanted! - - "Dance the night away" is the rallying cry behind LCD - Soundsystem visionary James Murphy's recently released - sophomore disc, which basically picks up where the act's - 2005 Grammy-nominated self-titled effort left off. - Granted, the nine tracks lack the element of surprise that - made its antecedent so engaging, but there are plenty of - twists and turns to keep listeners honest. "North - American Scum" has a trashy '70s CBGB feel; the title - track succeeds in sounding both spacey and trippy; and - "Someone Great" is the song Beck's been trying to make - for years. Where Murphy may trip up is in trying to make - this into a historical dance-music lesson. Sound of - Silver not gold, not bronze sounds about right. - John Benson
  • LCD Soundsystem

    Sound of Silver

    DFA

    Sounds like: A dance-floor mix tape for all occasions

    Short take: Dancers (not rockers) wanted!

    "Dance the night away" is the rallying cry behind LCD Soundsystem visionary James Murphy's recently released sophomore disc, which basically picks up where the act's 2005 Grammy-nominated self-titled effort left off. Granted, the nine tracks lack the element of surprise that made its antecedent so engaging, but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep listeners honest. "North American Scum" has a trashy '70s CBGB feel; the title track succeeds in sounding both spacey and trippy; and "Someone Great" is the song Beck's been trying to make for years. Where Murphy may trip up is in trying to make this into a historical dance-music lesson. Sound of Silver not gold, not bronze sounds about right. John Benson

click to enlarge Jesse Malin - Glitter in the Gutter - - - Adeline - - Sounds like: Music to bullshit to - - Short take: Malin delivers a transition album - - Three albums into his midlife crisis, ex-D Generation - frontman-turned-singer-songwriter hero Jesse Malin - finally gives his influences and idols their due. Glitter - in the Gutter is an adult alternative disc that finds - the New York City native cashing in his critical credibility. - Bruce Springsteen gets down and battered on "Broken - Radio," while Jakob Dylan sings backup on the album's - best shit-kicker, "Black Haired Girl." Malin can't help - himself with a faithful cover of the Replacements tune - "Bastards of Young." There's no denying Malin has - successfully left behind his punk past and justifiably - earned our attention, but what eludes this engaging - singer-songwriter is a drop-dead classic album that - refuses to be turned off. John - Benson
  • Jesse Malin

    Glitter in the Gutter

    Adeline

    Sounds like: Music to bullshit to

    Short take: Malin delivers a transition album

    Three albums into his midlife crisis, ex-D Generation frontman-turned-singer-songwriter hero Jesse Malin finally gives his influences and idols their due. Glitter in the Gutter is an adult alternative disc that finds the New York City native cashing in his critical credibility. Bruce Springsteen gets down and battered on "Broken Radio," while Jakob Dylan sings backup on the album's best shit-kicker, "Black Haired Girl." Malin can't help himself with a faithful cover of the Replacements tune "Bastards of Young." There's no denying Malin has successfully left behind his punk past and justifiably earned our attention, but what eludes this engaging singer-songwriter is a drop-dead classic album that refuses to be turned off. John Benson

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