Category: Reviews

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Eric Salt & The Electric City – The Hail Mary (2007)


Eric Salt & The Electric City
The Hail Mary
2007

Two minutes and forty seconds into “Open Doorway” from Eric Salt & The Electric City’s album, The Hail Mary, the listener is submerged in a sea of cascading vocal harmonies. It’s the culmination of a three song opening sequence that is thoroughly engaging. “Stand In The Light” kicks things off with its syncopated guitars and snarling vocals while “Pearls” oscillates between the vibrant and ominous. By the time of the final snare hit of “Open Doorway”, it’s hard to imagine any other way Eric and company could have unveiled The Hail Mary.

The record sheds some of its drama with the fourth track, “Never Intended”, complete with Billy Preston-esque electric piano flourishes and light-hearted backing vocals. “Beatle Chord” doesn’t hide its Abbey Road influence in title or style. Throughout the 12 song CD there are hints of Wilco, Elvis Costello, and the occasional guitar line or vocal melody that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Paul Westerberg penned tune. The earnestness of the record would be burdensome if it wasn’t so damn honest.

There’s a high level of musicianship on The Hail Mary. Eric and his crew know when to play fast and loose and when to show some restraint. Vocals go from breathy to biting without ever sounding forced. Denis Saulnier’s drums are clockwork steady yet never lack feel. Layers of guitars all seem to know their place. Nuanced mixes from Ed Valauskas and Rafi Sofer (and Eric himself on “Long Livin’ Life”) tie it all together. The Hail Mary has all of the expected polish and sheen of an album produced by Ed at Q Division.

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Vic Firecracker – Mixed Not Mastered (1998)


Vic Firecracker
Mixed Not Mastered
1998

“Sevens” is one of my all time favorite songs in an odd time signature. When a band can make a song in 7/4 time sound effortless they’re onto something. That’s what Vic Firecracker does on this opening track to their EP, Mixed Not Mastered.

Standout tracks include the aforementioned “Sevens”, the syncopated and melodic “Connect The Dots” and the heaviest song on the CD, “Booksmart”. “Booksmart” is a ticking time bomb full of shrapnel, with call and response vocals, chunky riffs and a flurry of cacophonous guitars.

Vic Firecracker keeps you on your toes throughout Mixed Not Mastered. The six songs contained here are sharp and angular. Time signatures change and tempos shift. This is indie rock that makes you think.

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Tad & Kate – “Bad Presents” (2011)


Tad & Kate
“Bad Presents”
2011

Like some demented version of “The Twelve Days Of Christmas”, Tad & Kate bring you “Bad Presents”. Rogue Roombas, allergic reactions, over-sized turtleneck sweaters and the unfortunate outcome of a dog eating chocolate covered fruit-shaped flowers are not your typical holiday song fodder. Even so, any song with lines like “I don’t mean to sound naughty / But if I could stuff your stocking / With the heat that I feel when we touch” is bound to be a holiday classic.

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Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola – “Eight More Days of Hanukkah!” (2011)


Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola
“Eight More Days of Hanukkah!”
2011

Tonight is the fourth night of Hanukkah. Wouldn’t it be great if it could go on forever? Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola seem to think so. They wrote a song about it. The duo’s plan involves adding eight more days of Hanukkah after every holiday. Like Groundhog Day. And St. Patrick’s Day. And Christmas.

If this song was the basis for a Rankin/Bass holiday special, it would probably end with everybody realizing that Hanukkah is more special when there are only eight days. The rest of the year we can carry Hanukkah in our hearts. This isn’t a Rankin/Bass special, though. It’s an Epstein/Cacciola special. In their version, every day would actually be Hanukkah. There would be an endless festival of lights.

We’re going to need some more candles.

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Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys – Anticlause Superstar (2011)


Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys
Anticlause Superstar
2011

Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys have unleashed a dark and twisted holiday EP with some nifty cover art. Anticlause Superstar opens with the environmentally/socially conscious “Hole In The North Pole”. The message rises clearly above the gypsy din. “SlitWrist For Christmas” features graphic lyrics written by Walter Sickert when he was a morbid teenager. Teen angst wrapped in a flowing, eclectic sonic blanket. There’s a third, very cool bonus track when you download the EP. I’m not going to spoil the surprise, though. You’ll have to download this to find out what it is.

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Streight Angular – “It’s Christmas” (2011)


Streight Angular
“It’s Christmas”
2011

When I first heard the opening synthesizer line of “It’s Christmas”, Streight Angular’s new holiday song, I feared the worst. Thoughts of Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time” flashed through my mind. I blacked out.

Thankfully, when I came to, what I heard was a Beach Boys inspired Christmas song with a classic holiday message. Streight Angular stick with the tried and true: kids, Christmas magic and big group vocals. The result is a joyous celebration of the season.

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Christians & Lions – More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake (2006)


Christians & Lions
More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake
2006

In 2006, Christians & Lions returned with More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake. Sound familiar? It should. It’s the same title as their previous effort, with many of the same songs. The original version was created by the band’s original duo in preparation for a tour. This updated version gets the full band treatment.

The songs are as good as ever. The intimate recordings of the past have given way to fully polished indie folk pop gems. Songs as good as “Bones,” “Longboy,” “Tender Sparks (October & Over)” and “Stay Warm” would sound good sung into one of those micro cassette dictation recorders. The fact that they happen to beautifully recorded by Jack Younger certainly isn’t going to hurt.

While comparisons to The Shins and Iron & Wine are still somewhat relevant, the band branches out this time around. These recordings play up the influence of The Kinks and The Beatles on the band. You can even hear some Jack White in the distorted guitar sounds. It’s hard to pin Christians & Lions down, other than to say they know what they’re doing and they do it well.

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Rule – “Bloodletter” (2011)


Rule
“Bloodletter”
2011

Remember when I asked you to remember when you liked metal? This is why…

“Bloodletter” is Rule’s first single and it’s awesome. The future classic metal riffs come flying right from the start. John Brookhouse’s throaty guitar riffs are propelled by the bombastic duo of Greg Beadle on drums and Jim Zavadoski on bass. This metal has a groove. Even when they thrash through the song’s outro they never lose the heaviness. The guitar solos have just the right ratio of flash to trash.* Above it all, Mike Soltoff’s vocals soar to metal glory. The dude can wail. Rule can wail.

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* This is metal and John Brookhouse is on guitar. You knew there would be guitar solos, right?

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The Wrong Shapes – “Places I Used To Hunt” (2011)


The Wrong Shapes
“Places I Used to Hunt”
2011

There’s something about The Wrong Shapes I find intriguing. This group makes music that spins my head. The guitar and cello are intertwined in a double helix. This is musical DNA. I feel like Bo Barringer and Rachel Arnold are toying with me. The sounds are looped and processed until they become some kind of twisted, cryptic puzzle. The vocals only give me clues, never the whole meaning. I’ve heard Bo and Rachel perform “Places I Used To Hunt” as a duo. The recorded version is augmented by Reuben Bettsak’s intricate drum patterns. Another twist in the plot.

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The Organ Beats & Friends – “This Christmas” (2010)


The Organ Beats & Friends
“This Christmas”
2010

Last year, The Organ Beats got together with some of their friends and recorded “This Christmas”. The song has the familiar longing of of “Blue Christmas” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” set over a power pop beat and big guitars. Noelle LeBlanc and Ronnie Ragona trade off verses before joining in their plea to Santa for a holiday reunion. The xylophone is the kicker here. Nice touch.

Need more incentive? All of the proceeds go to the MSPCA. C’mon. Do good this holiday season.

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