The Big Green House

Friday, May 23, 2003

 

Rock & Roll Roundup

Here are a few quick-hit reviews. Some of these albums I�ve only had the chance to listen to once or twice, so this is very much about the first impression. I reserve the right to change my mind upon further listening.

Wire Send: These guys have aged well. (I can say that because I�m approximately the same age.) Lotsa loud guitars and what singer/guitarist Colin Newman refers to as �shouty bits�, which is an apt description. Some of the tunes tend to get stuck in that techno-disco lockstep groove which so annoys me; Science Girl would probably take issue with that, but she�s much more of a fan of that sort of thing than I. �In the Art of Stopping� avoids this (to my mind) setback, as do �Mr. Marx�s Table� and �The Agfers of Kodack�, as I recall. Overall it�s quite good, thumpa-thumpa aside. Fast art punk by the band that invented it.

We ordered our copy through the Wire mail-order website, so included a copy of the limited-edition live set, recorded in Chicago last year. Frankly, I much prefer the live versions of most of the songs which appear on both discs. No slam on the studio stuff; the live performances just have a bit more room in which to breathe. Play it loud, but be warned that it will frighten the dog.

The New Pornographers The Electric Version: Power pop, in the very best sense of the word. Smart and snappy, New Porn features the dulcet tones of Miss Neko Case on several tunes, including the makes-me-jump-around-and-embarrass-myself-every-time �All for Swinging You Around�. (Neko, if you read this, please get John Doe to record something with you ASAP � you could do a cover of �Jackson� in honor of June Carter Cash, maybe. Think about it.) Anyway, the rest of the band ain�t slackin� off either. I think I prefer their debut album Mass Romantic, but the dreaded sophomore slump seems to have passed this band by.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever to Tell: Yet more proof that the nostalgia curve has caught up with the Eighties. I don�t hate it (and I�m gonna be hearing from cowboy_sally on that, I fear). It�s nice to hear a singer having fun on the job for a change, even if Karen O is detailing the sexual angst inherent in modern life, blah-de-blah . I dig �Y Control�, but guitarist Nick Zinner needs to watch out or he will head straight into Flock of Seagulls territory. Needs more listens, but I think it will grow on me.

bmarkey 5/23/2003 08:10:00 PM