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Chicago ( IL ) - United States
Website : http://curragh-labs.org/blog
Joined : November 16, 2008
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Folk music, Punk, ska, Pop music, Rock music, swing, blues, bluegrass, celtic, Alternative rock, novelty
I've come to appreciate the European version of ska that has emerged, blending classic Polka sensibilities with punk/ska aesthetic. The result are ska songs driven less by horns and more by accordions. Ivan and the Krauts are an excellent example of this genre. I particularly like "Velospied," but they're all solid songs. Not knowing what the Russian lyrics are saying, I'm somewhat limited in enjoying the songs, but they're still a solid entry.
This collection of classic folk-style songs with a modern sensibility works pretty well for me. Having listened to some Guthrie and Seeger over the last couple months, I was happy to hear the original songs, as well as the reworked classics. I particularly like "Sunshine Revisited" and "Mary Lou."
Buckley's light-hearted songs and solid lyrics are a delight. I am reminded a lot of Jude or perhaps someone like David Gray. The high-spirited air of the title track particularly captured my imagination. I'll definitely be downloading more Buckley in future.
Sea and Field have assembled a short collection of solid Irish or Celtic folks songs with skillful instrumentation and execution. If not for the French lyrics, they would be at home on albums of any of a number of popular Celtic bands. I see them as a bit more up-to-date than The Chieftans, but not quite as "pop" as Celtic Storm. They also remind me of Carbon Leaf, but with a bit more classic feel. Definitely worth a listen.
I downloaded some Sinkhole before and was happy to find a couple more albums here. They appear to have recorded in the mid-nineties (which makes their sound a lot more contemporary than it feels now). I think Retrospectacles really works well. It's got a solid pop-punk sensibility with jaunty writing and catchy songs. Go listen to "Donut" to see them at their best.
AiF reminds me of early Tool or Bush. They have a growly sound that grows from the "alternative" tradition and uses a meditative vocal style. Solid and compelling guitar work. Definitely worth a listen if you like the other bands I mention here.
Noble’s album includes a nice selection of folk songs infused with a number of different perspectives (the ID3 tags include pop-folk, reggae, ambient, instrumental, country, meditative, new age, and vocal). The pseudo Caribbean feel of “So let’s dance” works very well, as do the more meditative “middle of the road” and “all around.” My least favorite song is “Victor,” which has a driving guitar track and a harsh vocal track–by intention, I think. Noble’s approach feels much like it lies somewhere between folk artists like Greg Brown and Bill Morrissey on one hand and guitar artists like Leo Kottke on the other.
It isn’t bad, it’s just not to my taste. I suspect no listener will avoid losing at least one or two tracks to the question of taste, as the range exceeds what one might expect from an album. This range of approaches and skillfully created tracks works well, but could use a bit more coherence as an album. This feels less like an album than like a collection of songs unified only by the fact that a single artist created them.
Talco has a lively sound well within the bounds of the usual ska fare. The beginning of each song has a good, horn-driven hook that announces “this is a ska song,” and often continues to be enjoyable throughout. The punk elements of the album are strong without succumbing to screeching or amateurism. I also like the lively, speedy lyrics. The only downside to the album is that many of the songs sound very similar. In that regard, Rachel and La Crociata del Dittatore Bianco are great for their tonal differences.
The album seems to be pretty bold or political, from the few sets of lyrics I’ve translated and from the title, which translates as All Acquitted. Because of the jaunty beats and the language barrier (Talco is an Italian band) , I encounter the Engels Leren problem. For instance, one of my favorite songs, Corri, has a delightful rhythm, but its lyrics are actually pretty grim. Here’s the Babelfish translation of some of the Italian lyrics:
"Murderous fire in the sky dell’ East Roads smeared of blood and dolor Face left of the imperialist monster Legalizzare un’ orrenda invasion A threat come from far away Cosparge of terror and died un’ other L’ society; ominous wave of the western cancer With the tracked ones it invades the cities Earth promised from books and tradition A large farce for this truth The blind fury of the superstizione It is destroying un’ other civilization Roads of Gaza between victims and ruins."
Overall, a delightful album, well worth listening to.
This album is fantastic. I really like the modern/retro 80s feel, and the vocals are very good. The moody voice and solid rhythms work very well.
“Dropping out of School” really works well. The infectious beat and solid lyrics capture an 80s feel without feeling retrograde. “Fake it” makes great use of the Seattle grunge guitar, weaving in under the lyrics. By contrast, “Bad Sign” uses acoustic guitar with the same kind of slightly-processed sounding vocals to develop a very different feel, meditative and melancholy. “Total Breakdown” has a vocal pattern with sustained notes that reminds me of Beach Boys, but rockin. Like Everclear, kinda.
The only song I don’t like is “Gasoline,” not because there’s anything wrong with it — it just doesn’t suit me.
My favorite song on the album is “There’s Something Wrong,” which captures many of the excellent qualities of Brad Sucks and his music.
A solid pop-punk album in the vein of Blink 182 or Less Than Jake. The first song, “Pineview,” sounds very reminiscent of an LTJ song, enough that I keep thinking it’s a cover.
All five songs are delightful, but “Spin at 33″ stands out to me. The song has a bit more mellow feeling than the others, and its metaphor carries a bit more heft than the other songs. I like the idea of wanting to make lost love last a bit longer, and the connection to the punk/ska tradition of releasing 45s works well for me.
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