September 23, 2006
CD: The Giranimals, Imperfectly Timed Words (Detach Records, July 2006)
Although we have posted other reviews before this one (shame on us), they were not, in fact, the first CDs we received for review. In actuality, The Giranimals’ Imperfectly Timed Words was the very first submission to Pitch Perfect Reviews. So a big, huge thank you and a humble apology for not getting this review written sooner goes out to the members of The Giranimals.
This Albuquerque-based band is made up of Connie Crandall (vocals/guitar), Maury Crandall (drums/vocals), Fox Fletcher (guitar) and Jamie Rushad (bass), and claims to have been born from a secret pact in a treehouse. Well, the secret is out and the group is busy bopping around and spreading the happy vibe in Burque and elsewhere.
The song “Bonnie and Ned” and many other tunes has a poppy, retro feel, and the music is a blend of Beach Boys-style pop, a peppy surf sound (if you close your eyes you can almost see the Brady Bunch on stage singin’ these songs in their polyester bellbottoms and leather fringe vests) and most noticeably, a fixation on melody. On the whole, The Giranimals’ music is simple but not simplistic, cute but not cheesy. It’s not a kind of music you hear very often in Albuquerque or anywhere else for that matter, and that’s the most pleasing part. The only distracting aspect of Imperfectly Timed Words is that sometimes Connie’s lyrics are illegible due to the fact that her vocal parts are so high, as is the case with the opening track, “The Sound Ultra.” Fortunately the glitch is only an occasional one, and her soprano parts are pretty and worth missing out on a few words here and there.
One of the record’s more memorable songs is, “For Shelly,” which is absolutely adorable both musically and lyrically: “Today’s the day when all her dreams just might come true / Her clothes are all laid out, new ones just for school / She walks downstairs only two hours to go / Time to show the world all that she knows / I like my teacher but sometimes he talks too fast / The boy who sits up front, cutest in my class / Today is the best day of the best week of the best year of my life / Some day I’ll grow and move into my own place / I’ll have a tv and plenty of space.”
While the chances that “For Shelly” will win awards for its profundity are slim, the song is deserving of a nod for being one sweet little ditty, and lucky Shelly has been immortalized through song and there’s no better gift for a girl than that.
The Giranimals put on a fantastic and fun show, so the next time you find yourself driving through New Mexico, keep one eye open for signs of a live performance, don your party wear and prepare for an evening of merrymaking.
For more information and future show dates, visit www.giranimals.com. And Imperfectly Timed Words can be purchased in Albuquerque at Natural Sound, MusicGoRound, Guitar Boy and Grandma’s Music.
CD title: Veruca Salt IV (Sympathy Records, September 2006)
Times change, people change, bands change. More than a decade ago (has it really been that long?!?), Louise Post and Nina Gordon, frontwomen of Veruca Salt, were showing the world just how hard chicks can rock. Songs like “Seether” and “Volcano Girls” shook up the charts and shot the women into rockstardom. Unfortunately, the vivacious writing team burned out quickly, and Gordon took leave in 1998 to try her hand at a solo career, leaving Post to do whatever she wanted to with the group. She ended up taking the well-known moniker and moving forward with new musicians, new songs and new tours. I was lucky enough to see the band perform last year, and to this day it is still one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Sadly though, I never saw the girl geniuses take the stage together so I can’t make a viable comparson between then and now, but Louise Post was nothing less than spectacular all by her lonesome.
Veruca, which currently consists of Ms. Post, guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick, drummer Kellii Scott and bassist/vocalist Nicole Fiorentino, rocks and rumbles on its new release, Veruca Salt IV. The album’s overall feel is parallel to what the original put forth on its albums in the ’90s, with heavy drums, distorted alternative guitar riffs and of course Post’s unmistakeable vocals, but the songs also have a very strong Pixies likeness.
“What I love about making albums is they are documents of times in a band’s life,” Post explained. “I instinctively stayed true to the aesthetic I established with this band while trying to write lyrics that reflect where I am now.”
Though Post has always had the band name, the writing talent and the gumption, Veruca is in no way a one-woman show. According to Post, the songs “So Weird” and “Centipede,” both rocking hits, began life as riffs written by Fitzpatrick, and he and Post have become creative partners. And she goes on to define Scott as her “dream drummer,” and says that Fiorentino “sings like a fucking angel.”
Hardcore Gordon/original Veruca fans will be hard-pressed to find fault with the tunes, especially the opening track, “So Weird” and the raunchy, bellowing “Innocent.” Post says that this Veruca Salt record is the strongest to date, big words coming from the co-writer of such breakthrough albums such as American Thighs and Eight Arms to Hold You. The new songs do much to show just how much Post contributed to the old V.S. sound, and though her writing style has changed slightly over the years, she’s still wild, and it was the unbridled aspect of the music that has always made Veruca Salt so damn entertaining.
“There was so much love that was put into the album,” Post said. Share the love at an upcoming Veruca Salt show in your town, and expect to hear the “oldies” as well as the “newies.” For more information, visit www.verucasalt.com or www.myspace.com/verucasalt.
September 18, 2006
CD title: Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat (Vanguard Records, September 2006)
Two years ago Carbon Leaf made headlines with the release of the CD Indian Summer, and since then the group has spent its time on the road and writing, and have followed up with Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat, an album that threads its way through happy and sad and back again to its original happy home.
There’s a comforting familiarity in Barry Privett’s vocals, and because Carbon Leaf’s music is at times a little more mellow than some of us would prefer, it’s Privett’s intriguing voice, which sounds almost bored or distracted and at the same time very expressive, that makes Carbon Leaf special. Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with the music–Carbon Leaf has performed with the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows and John Mayer (and are signed to Vanguard Records, also home of Hootie, Blues Traveler and Yonder Mountain String Band), which just by simple association tells in what vein their music leans toward–a little bit jam band and a lotta bit pop. Their live shows are said to be tight with full walls and layers of sound, and in fact their fan base has been greatly built upon their captivating live sets.
The songs on Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat are scaled-back versions of their live songs that thrive on acoustic guitar, and producer Peter Collins (Bon Jovi, Jewel, Lisa Loeb) did a superb job of making each instrument audible, and the inclusion of unexpected and subtle vocal, guitar and piano nuances add a refreshing level of quiet sophistication. As for the lyrics, Privett proves himself quite the poet.
“I wanted songs that were emotionally available to the listener and to me, without trying to mask what I’m saying with clever language.” Privett said. “The feelings are anxious and regretful. They talk about living up to the mistakes you’ve made. They examine the humanity and weaknesses of everyday life.”
This explaination may make Privett sound somewhat girly, but although his words are sentimental, they are also metaphoric and work well with the music and in the end don’t sound overly sensitive. The song “International Airport” is a good example of Privett’s acute writing style: “I’m on a plane out of town / I’m losing track of myself / On all the time zone lines / And if I daylight save / Do I jump ahead of fall behind?” or “A Girl On Her Horse”: “With no words to say / A girl and her horse can communicate / ‘Cause motion is motion / And nothing’s up for to debate.”
Carbon Leaf is a wholesome good time and this CD is an enjoyable lesson in love, loss, hope and all the other things that make humans human.
For more information on Carbon Leaf, visit www.carbonleaf.com.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
9/21/2006-The Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood
9/22/2006-Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
9/25/2006-The Clubhouse, Tempe
9/26/2006-Club Congress, Tucson
9/28/2006-Suede, Park City
9/29/2006-Bluebird Theater, Denver
September 13, 2006
Event: Henderson Live! Music Festival and grand opening of the Henderson Events Center
Yes, it’s true! Hundreds of Henderson residents spent their Saturday (Sept. 9) hanging out outdoors with friends and family members, listening to live music and eating shaved ice, pulled pork sandwiches and downing a few beers, all of which were on sale at the Henderson Live! Music Festival and grand opening of the Henderson Events Center.
The music venue offers a casual atmosphere. The $8 million project was completed in May and consists of a 4,000-square-foot plaza complete with a shaded canopy amphitheatre with tiered lawn seating and grass seating for up to 400 guests. The water entertainment center has a great interactive dry deck water feature/fountain, which on Saturday, kept the kiddies cool and busy for hours.
The event ran from 1-9 pm and featured performances by Sophie Milman, Midnight to Twelve, Bonefide and others playing everything from jazz to rock to Reggae. An outstanding showing was made by flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook and band. Cook’s exquisite chops and dynamic music had kids and adults on their feet, dancing in the afternoon sun.
While there are many sections of Henderson that need a lot of work, it’s truly amazing that a small city would invest such time and money to create an area dedicated to the arts. It usually takes governments a long time to come around to the fact that music, art and entertainment are vital when it comes to strengthening and meshing a community. Props to Henderson for seeing the light sooner rather than later.
For a schedule of upcoming events in Henderson, NV, visit www.visithenderson.com.
September 9, 2006
CD Title: Popularity (Tooth & Nail, Oct. 2006)
The story is one that has been heard time and time again: A few guys from Smalltown, USA, catch the music bug and start a band. But whereas the story ends there for many groups, that was just the beginning for Jonezetta. With years of practice and some big goals, the band worked its way up the musical ranks and has now found itself on a legit record label, touring with groups such as The Classic Crime, The Fold and Far-Less and making a name for itself around the country.
Jonezetta is thriving on their first CD, Popularity, with their upbeat style, which is made up of melodies that fit into the currently popular neo-new wave genre. Jonezetta has a little more of a serious side than bands like The Killers (which could be a good thing) but with not as much imagination (which could be a bad thing), and a few touches of retro-late-’80s-early-’90s-rock-pop beats like those delivered in the past by bands like Afghan Whigs (sans the creepy factor) and The Music.
Songs like “Man In A 3K Suit,” “Communicate” and “Imagination” tend to run together from an unfortunate lack of stand-out hooks, and the song “Backstabber” may as well have been written by The Killers it sounds so much alike, but there are a few moments of originality, with the soft and sweet intro to “Hot Machete” and the acoustic guitar that makes its way through on “Waiting.”
Popularity is a great jumping-off point for a band like Jonezetta, but there is a nagging worry that if these boys don’t step it up a notch they may get left behind along with the vast number of unknowns that are playing this kind of music, which has breaking pop/rock levees and flooding the mainstream airwaves over the past few years. Let’s just hope they have a few more tricks up their sleeves that will help carry them up and over the heads of the others in a wave of music that is filled with heart and blessed with staying power.
For more information, visit www.jonezetta.com or www.toothandnail.com.
Upcoming Performances with Mute Math:
9/19/06 The Showbox, Seattle, WA
9/20/06 Alladin Theater, Portland, OR
9/21/06 Slim’s, San Francisco, CA
9/22/06 Underground Cafe, Roseville, CA
9/24/06 Soma, San Diego, CA
9/25/06 Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA
9/27/06 Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM
September 3, 2006
CD title: Full Moon Cigarette (Hollywood Records, July 2006)
Raised in a small town in Ohio by parents who appreciated music and encouraged their children to play, Gran Bel Fisher has taken their encouragement to heart and run with it. And his debut album, Full Moon Cigarette, is a chronicle of his life, loves and the loses he has experienced throughout his 24 years.
Each of Fisher’s compositions has a clear-cut direction, and in its entirety, the CD is fully realized work that flows smartly and smoothly from one song to the next. The majority are straightforward mainstream pop songs that are catchy and easy to listen to with somewhat predictable chord progressions. There are a couple of numbers (“Edible”) on which Fisher lets loose with harder rock beats and intense and emtional vocals. Coldplay fans will find many similarities between the two–sometimes the similarities are so much so that if you didn’t know better you’d swear you were listening to Chris Martin (“Moment”). And due to the fact that Fisher’s music is both guitar- and piano-driven, there is a tinge of Ben Folds Five-type vibe that occasionally comes across.
The album is more produced than many debut attempts, but the production does in no way go overboard to sterilize Fisher’s fresh, empowered voice. Full Moon Cigarette tries to be, and at times is, philosophical, but the lyrics take a backseat to the music unless you’re attention is solely fixed on hearing the finer points Fisher is trying to make. But when you do take the time to listen and/or read the lyrics sheet, you see Fisher has a profound way of expressing himself and telling his tales.
“Lyrically and musically this is the record I’ve always wanted to make,” Fisher said in a press release. “The journey of making this album, even with some hard times and problems I ran into along the way, was really just a blessing in disguise.”
Full Moon Cigarette is a fantastic CD to listen to on a lazy Saturday morning when you’re kicking back and looking for a cheerful pick-me-up, or to stick on during a relaxed gathering of friends and family. And, considering the songwriting on this CD was so sophisticated, it will be interesting to see where Gran Bel Fisher takes his music in the future.
For more information about Gran Bel Fisher, visit www.granbelfisher.com or www.myspace.com/granbelfisher.
Upcoming performances:
9/21/06 Cambridge Room at House of Blues, Cleveland, OH, with Ari Hest, 8:30 pm
9/22/06 High Dive, Champaign, IL, with Ari Hest, 7 pm
9/24/06 Schuba’s, Chicago, IL, with Ari Hest, 7:30 pm
9/25/06 Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI, with Ari Hest, 8 pm
9/27/06 20th Century Theatre, Cincinnati, OH, 8 pm
9/28/06 Jakes, Bloomington, IN, with Will Hoge, 9 pm
9/29/06 Exit In, Nashville, TN, with Will Hoge, 8 pm
September 1, 2006
Wolfgang’s Vault Retro Memorabilia
There’s only one rule when it comes to band T-shirts: You never wear the band’s shirt to the band’s show. Except for that one instance, rock tees are totally hip, and they are a great way to show some personality through your wardrobe. And Wolfgang’s Vault knows more than anyone that showing you love a particular group-whether it’s with a pin on your jacket, sticker on your car bumper or or poster on your wall, is a trend that will never go out of style, and they’re helping get their unique, classic musical items to beat lovers everywhere.
The Vault began in 2003 as an online source for rock memorabilia, including vintage posters, clothing, concert photos, more than 5,000 live audio and video performances and much more by artists including, but not limited to, Cream, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Madonna, Pearl Jam and others from the ’60s to today. A majority of the vintage memorabiliia consists of rock impresario Bill Graham’s complete archives and photos by Jim Marshall, and was purchased for a whopping $5 million in 2002.
But how do you really know if the vinatge garb is original? According to Wolfgang’s Vault, “The vintage U2 and Black Sabbath T-shirts among hundreds of others may even have remnants of cigarette smoke, sweat, and tears, from the concert they were purchased at in the late 70s and early 80s.” And there’s nothing more rock ‘n’ roll than 30-year-old sweat.
For more information and to purchase some of this great stuff, if you’ve got the funds, visit www.wolfgangsvault.com.
