The Six Parts Seven/ The Black Keys

Eddie December 25, 2003 No Comments

Split EP

The EP starts off with “A Blueprint of Something Never Finished,” a lovely number by Ohio’s finest instrumental ensemble, the Six Parts Seven. Formed in 1995 by the brothers Karpinksi, the band has become quite the force on the indie slow-core circuit, which has given rise to such acts as Maserati, Mogwai and the Mercury Program. The Black Keys throw the somewhat somber mood into a tailspin with cuts from an on-air performance at a college. Such tracks as “The Moon” and “Thickfreakness” restore faith in the two-man-band configuration. Singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney tear through some bluesy, distorted numbers that not only recall but also stand up against any Junior Kimbrough or T-Model Ford release. Odd pairings rarely ever work. Somehow, this all makes sense.
(SN&R)

U2

Eddie December 18, 2003 No Comments

Go Home: Live From Slane Castle

Everybody’s favorite figurehead, Bono, returns with his Irish companions in tow to rock you in their hometown of Dublin, Ireland. This DVD compilation finds the band digging deep into its early repertoire, including “Out Of Control,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day.” Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton are still a competent rhythm section, and The Edge still churns out wall-of-sound, effect-laden leads like no other. Even frontman, Bono, seems energized and enthusiastic as he waxes nostalgic about the first time the band played in Ireland as support for Phil Lynott’s Thin Lizzy. Some may scoff at U2 for its indulgent live shows and Bono’s politics, but one thing is certain: U2 is still a great live act. “Where The Streets Have No Name” and “One” didn’t make the pop charts on good looks alone.
(SN&R)

Erase Errata – At Crystal Palace

Eddie December 11, 2003 No Comments

Although gender shouldn’t be an issue, San Francisco’s Erase Errata has gained more attention for its femininity than for its musical prowess. At Crystal Palace should lay to waste any ill-conceived notions that female bands can’t play. The girls in Erase Errata rock as hard as any early Sonic Youth or Alice Donut and have a stunning live show to back it up. The new album picks up right where the previous release, Other Animals, left off. Songs like “Driving Test” and “White Horse” feature the odd, juxtaposing rhythms of bassist Ellie and guitarist Sara against the snarl of vocalist Jenny. Sure, there are moments of sloppiness where the use of a metronome might have helped. It’s these moments that make the Erase Errata experience such an aural, blissful, psychotic hodgepodge.

(RN&R)

Mando Diao – Bring ’em in

Eddie October 9, 2003 No Comments

While everyone races to find the next Stones or Velvet Underground, few actually deliver the goods. Enter Mando Diao, a Swedish quartet that borrows sparingly from the Kinks and the Animals without sounding coerced or manipulated. Although virtually unknown in the United States, the band has managed to stir up quite a buzz with its frenzied live show and the double vocal-guitar assault of Gustaf Noren and Björn Dixgárd. During such tracks as “Sheepdog” and “The Band,” the meter jumps all over the place, and the band seems to barely hold it all together. However, “Bring ’em in” manages to override any technical misgivings with infectious melodies and a hell of a 1960s vibe. Fans of Eric Burdon and the Libertines should lap this up like milk.

(RN&R)

Primus

Eddie October 9, 2003 No Comments

Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People

Led by Les Claypool, a skinny, quirky bassist with a penchant for fretboard calisthenics and slap bass, the Primus machine always held its comedic edge while impressing throngs of musicians with its respective instrumentation. The current lineup is near-original: guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander. Since its humble beginnings as Sausage, playing weekly at various North Bay haunts, it’s attracted a loyal legion of Primus-heads. These fans have been waiting for just such a reunion. This collection features a DVD of all of Primus’ music videos and a CD with five new songs. If “Pilcher’s Squad” and “Mary the Ice Cube” don’t get you interested, chances are Primus’ upcoming tour won’t matter, either. But for the devoted minions, this new offering couldn’t have come at a better time.
(SN&R)

The Durutti Column

Eddie September 25, 2003 No Comments

Someone Else’s Party

The latest album from Vini Reilly, a.k.a. the Durutti Column, serves to reconnect to fans of the late-1970s music scene after a lengthy absence from touring. Reilly, a gifted guitarist who released several ambient/electronic-leaning albums, delivers a potent 14-track affair aimed at the early New Order and Joy Division crowds of yore. Reilly still has a penchant for flowery guitar wash and isn’t afraid to stretch, as evidenced on tracks like “Requiem For My Mother” and “Spanish Lament.” Although his following has been reduced to today’s 30-somethings, chances are this album could draw some curious indie hipsters looking for influences from the early Manchester scene. Unfortunately, the Durutti Column revels in obscurity, mostly due to Reilly’s lack of touring and constantly evolving musical works.
(SN&R)

Boubacar Traoré

Eddie September 11, 2003 No Comments

Je Chanterai Pour Toi

The soundtrack to independent filmmaker Jacques Sarasin’s documentary on this gifted guitarist and troubadour from Mali will be a real treat for fans of both Traoré and Ali Farka Touré. On this field recording extraordinaire, Traoré treats the listener to passionate and political soliloquies, both of which are integral parts of the film. When he teams up with daughter and vocal partner Rokia Traoré on “Sa Golo,” you can sense the spirituality and nobility of his dynasty. Others, like the lovely, lazy opening song, “Mouso Teke Soma Ye,” and the short “Adieu Pierrette,” require nothing more than imagination to guess where this sonic journey is going. Mix in one part blues with the pentatonic scale of his homeland, toss in some good ol’ fashioned grit, and you’re heading down the right path.
(SN&R)

Ghostride

Eddie September 4, 2003 No Comments

So Italian, So Intense

From the sepulcher of Sacramento hardcore legend Will Haven comes a new project teeming with promise, vigor and urgency. Ghostride is three-quarters of Will Haven plus Tinfed’s Rey Osburn and Oddman’s Cayle Hunter. Ghostride melds mid-tempo, down-tuned guitars into a fresh, mesmerizing mélange that recalls Nebula, Sub Pop-era Soundgarden, Helmet and latter-day Deftones. More importantly, Ghostride finds Osburn stretching his increasing vocal range to new heights (“Long Live the Buffalo” and “Greased Up Robots”) against the din raised by Will Haven’s backbone of guitarist Jeff Irwin, bassist Mike Martin and drummer Mitch Wheeler. Until the band finds a proper label with U.S. distribution, this four-song EP will more than suffice. It’s available at www.ghostrideband.com and at shows.
(SN&R)

Slayer: War at the Warfield

Eddie August 28, 2003 No Comments

American Recordings

When Slayer started playing the Los Angeles-San Francisco club circuit in the 1980s, it quickly garnered the support of fans and the press for its over-the-top themes and manic live show. Slayer’s latest DVD is a live recording of its December 2001 set at San Francisco’s Warfield Theatre. From the opening “Disciple” to the closing “Angel of Death” comes a sampling of Slayer’s catalog that runs from “Hell Awaits”to the more obscure “Chemical Warfare.” Although vocalist and bassist Tom Araya struggles with some high notes, you can never go wrong with the dual lead-guitar work of Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Never before had so many single notes been crammed into 16 bars of music. Amen to the guitar gods. Slayer. Dude.

(SN&R)

The Dragons

Eddie August 21, 2003 No Comments

Sin Salvation

This San Diego-based combo is one of the few garage bands that manage to drink from the cup of their predecessors without reverting to stale song structures and, ultimately, swigging more than they can handle. Sin Salvation, the Dragons’ first offering for San Francisco-based Gearhead Records, is an eyebrow-raising affair complete with ganged vocals and wicked, soaring leads. “Play for Keeps,” perhaps the album’s best track, recalls both vintage Social Distortion and Backyard Babies without sounding derivative of either. Led by vocalist and guitarist Mario Escovedo and the driving leads of Ken Mochikoshi Horne, the Dragons’ high-energy delivery is unrelenting from beginning to end. Salvation for less than 15 bucks? You betcha. Vodka and Red Bulls, on the house.

(SN&R)