Album Review: Lemuria -The Distance Is So Big

Lemuria

The Distance Is So Big

**** out of *****

After a quick blip of an intro "Brilliant Dancer" kicks off Lemuria's neweset release with a splash of catchy-cool, pop-based rock that showcases the immense musical confidence this band has in store for the listener. While they still show their love of 90's alt-rock, it is in a sweeter tone, fuzz and feedback are gone, more quirkiness and odd changes are mixed in.

The Buffalo, NY based trio of Alex Kerns (Drums, Vocals) Sheena Ozzella (Guitar, Vocals) Max Gregor (Bass) have crafted a winning disk with their third full length. "Clay Baby" is engaging power pop with a slight 80's vibe. The trio continues to hang their hat on ear altering changes that are unique and rich making short pop-rock tracks can seem like winding adventures. "Scienceless" showcases the wispy vocals of Ozzella behind sturdy rock while "Oahu, Hawaii" shows off an odder side if ending up a bit thin.  

"Paint The Youth" is a disk highlight with it's angular style, electro flourishes and positive message over a bumping bass line outro. On past disks the male/female vocals got stuck in relationship bickering, on songs like this one the words elevate the whole proceedings.

"Dream Eater" brings back the Veruca Salt-lite comparisons as the band dips into the 90's scene while the dynamic drumming gives the low-end showcasing "Bluffing Statistics" some edge. "Public Opinion Bath" could be a reaction to critics, or an enemy and while the music bubbles, the lyrics distract; when the groups lyrics seem to be cast-off, the songs suffer no matter how fresh the trio's instruments sound.

Tracks like "Congratulations Sex" however are a the total package as the band bangs out in different tempos before linking for a bridge behind Ozzella's best vocal and lyrical effort here.  Honesty and heartfelt emotion are on display in front of dynamic crescendos and gallops.    

Lemuria seem to be on the verge of a breakthrough and The Distance Is So Big could easily push them to new heights as the band continues to evolve. 
_____________________________________________________________________
Having caught Lemuria live and reviewed their album back in 2011 we were excited to see what they did; color us impressed. They are a hell of an act, and one that could get even better with time, age and frankly a bit better lyrics.  Overall though this is an excellent album, the playing is top fucking notch.

Support the band here, buy the album here and for a limited time you can stream the album at NPR. Also peep some samples below:
"Brilliant Dancer"
 

Dylan Cover #91 Died Pretty "From A Buick 6"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is by Died Pretty doing a cover of "From A Buick 6"

Thoughts on Original:
The electric Dylan and one of the few songs where the Band Bob played with overshadows his early talents. Namely Al Kooper on organ and the great Mike Bloomfield on guitar as the two rip it open.  Bob is in a lighter mood and recalling old blues tunes like "Milk Cow Blues" but he also has a stream of consciousness appeal to the lyrics. Nowhere near one of his best, but one that lots of musicians like to cover because of it's kick ass blues rock feel.   
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
I have never heard of Died Pretty, but I love their name. They are a "alternative" band from Australia who were big in 80's/90's down under. From their Wikipedia page they seem like a group I could really get into, will need to check them out more.
Thoughts on Cover:
The raucous feeling and heavy bass instantly are enjoyable to these ears. The group seems to be goofing around with the heavy speedy playing, slicing guitar notes and then things are really cooking. The one down spot is the vocal recording. The volume is just too low, it is almost as if the full band were playing in front of the lead singer as he is tough to make on the recording.  Even with that detriment I can't hate on this track too much as the music is a pure joy.  
Grade: B+

Full Show Friday: The Dead Weather Montreux Jazz Festival 2010

Last year we searched the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and posted them to the site monthly.  That was all well and good but this year RtBE is upping the ante with a show every week to celebrate Full Show Friday's.  These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...The Dead Weather!

This Month we have a special focus, RtBE favorite Jack White is getting all the love with our Full Show Friday's.

This week White moves to the Drums with his leather rocking outfit The Dead Weather.  We loved this group from the first moment we caught them live, they had it...Sexy is the word that keeps coming to mind and with reason. This show is pro shot, so lots of closeups and visuals, if it is edited a bit choppy for our tastes. 

Highlights from this night of rocking in Canada are the power filled "Gasoline", the guitar screeching of "Will There Be Enough Water?" and Mosshart's powerful vocals for "The Difference Between Us".  The band was focusing on their second release and firing on all cylinders.  Enjoy:

No Horse
Gasoline
The Difference Between Us
I'm Mad
Hustle and Cuss
Die By The Drop
New Poney
Will There be Enough Water?
Blue Blood Blues
I Can't Hear You
Treat Me Like Your Mother

Album Review: Candye Kane - Coming Out Swingin'

Candye Kane

Coming Out Swingin'

*** out of *****

The California Songstress Candye Kane has had a rough go of it lately (recently battling Cancer a second time) but her new release Coming Out Swingin' finds her on top of her game when it comes to the blues/soul/rock that she has become famous for.

The title track pumps some tight horn arraignments in a retro swing style reminiscent to The Brian Setzer Orchestra. "Rock Me To Sleep" plays up the old timey blues rock with a tight guitar provided by the fantastic Laura Chavez.  That 50's rock takes on a distinct Jerry Lee Lewis piano turn on "Au Revoir Y'all" and the shaking blues styles may have hit a high with "Barbed Wire Mouth".

Kane tries a bunch of classic tried and true styles, but her voice fits much better to the rock and blues numbers then when she tries to get soulful.  "When Tomorrow Comes" and "Rise Up" are cuts straight out of Motown and while the band carries off the playing, the vocals just don't match up all that successfully.

However when Kane lets the blues flow she is dynamic and that happens for the majority of tunes on Coming Out Swingin'.  "I'm The Reason Why You Drink" is catchy, punchy blues rock while the horn led "Darling Baby" cooks.  Her vocals also take center stage on two slow burners, "Invisible Woman" and "What Love Can Do" showing that Kane still has raw power in her pipes.

Known as an activist for gay rights and a proud bisexual Kane goes bilingual on the upbeat disk closing shake of "Marijuana Boogie" ending things on a lighthearted upbeat note.  Lets hope things stay that way for the energetic and talented songstress.

_____________________________________________________________________
Candye Kane has had a crazy career and life, this disk is just one more chapter.

You can support her here, buy the album here (It comes out in 2 weeks) and peep some samples below:
 

Album Review: Buckethead -Pikes 13

Buckethead

Pikes 13

***and1/2 out of *****

The man the myth the guitar legend Buckethead has been called many things. He is known for his eccentric appearance (KFC Bucket, White Mask etc), his shredding guitar style, his nun-chucks, his elusiveness and bizarre horror movie like website/persona, but rarely has the term emotional been brought up when describing the man and that is the first word that comes to mind when listening to Pikes 13. 

The Pikes series is a quick/direct way for Buckethead to release material directly to his devoted fan-base at a low cost. The stream of music may dilute things in the long run, but it allows the artist almost instant access and expression. Overall if this is a good thing can be debated; I wonder what an artist like Frank Zappa would have done with so much freedom? 

Zappa is also a decent comparison for the music on Pikes 13, where both Frank and Bucket were known as virtuosos both are also known as oddballs alienating people with their bizarre wanderings at times. What Pikes 13 proves is like some of the best Zappa tracks ("Watermelon In Easter Hay" being one) that emotions are at the core of music and true feeling can shine through without words.       

The tracks here are mellow, instrumental and not even titled. Acoustic guitar mixes with electric over sometimes light drums or mellow loops and samples, no trademark shredding or in your face freakouts. There seems to be honesty mixing with grief in these tracks. "Track 2" has weeping notes reminiscent of Funkadelic's excellent "Maggot Brain" which Eddie Hazel burned into ears forever while "Track 3" has a sense of forbading lurking around the edges.

"Track 6" is the disk highlight with a building mix of acoustic electric that is simply gorgeous at the end. The album flows as one piece and a distinct hint at where Buckethead's mind is can be glimpsed at from the album art. The Pike series overall has a comic book feel with simple sketches or odd photos gracing the covers of most of the releases. However, Pikes 13 is the first time Buckethead has released anything with a picture of him on it without his mask.  The image on the front shows a young Brian Patrick Carroll in his formative years with what looks like a black bucket on his head an acoustic guitar in his hand while hugging his father.

For this reclusive artist the picture is incredibly telling, in a world where style means so much more then substance, to then have Carroll release this touching collection of tracks and momentarily step from behind his created curtain, it points to this collection music being more personal and hence elevated above the others in this series. 

______________________________________________________________________
Not much more to add, you can collect the Pike Series here, get lost in Bucketheads world here and peep a sample or two below:  
Track 2:

Track 6:

Album Review: The National -Trouble Will Find Me

 Hey All,

Got a new review up on Glide,

Read it Right C'here!!

It is of The National's newest release Trouble Will Find Me.

Here's the brass tacks of it: this has been the hardest review to write this year.

I don't think I will personally listen to Trouble Will Find Me again, (I realized after I reviewed High Violet I didn't listen to it again) it is a gorgeous album but one I don't particularly enjoy.

I can't deny the arraignments and music the band produces.  If they had a different vocalist/lyricist they may be one of my favorites, but as it stands with making "pop" or "indie rock" you need an engaging front person, and Matt just doesn't do it for me on any level. All that admitted I still think it is an album that is worthy of critical praise, just not multiple spins through my personal headphones.

I think it boils down that the group as a whole could use a little more heart and a little less head in their song construction if that makes any sense.  

Also this line was removed from the review overall, I kinda still feel this way, but after talking with Shane who runs Glide we decided to take it out:
The National work so hard at crafting perfect sonic indie-pop and the listener unfortunately can feel all the work as the end result too often winds up incredibly boring. It is as if playing music is really their day job and they would rather spend their nights as accountants.

I have written enough now, but check out this which I wrote regarding the band's last release, I feel the same way pretty much.

Support the band here, grab the album here and peep some samples below:
"Sea Of Love"

"Don't Swallow The Cap" Live on Letterman

Dylan Cover #90 Sweetmelody2011 "Tempest"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is by Sweetmelody2011 doing a live cover of "Tempest"

Thoughts on Original:
We wrote this when reviewed the album by the same name back in Nov 2012:

"Tempest" deals with the Titanic and manages to bore almost from the get go becoming a weight around the neck of the album.  It never develops any real energy in the lyrics or the playing, which itself becomes a major issue with the album.

We still feel that way, I think this track is a stinker but I came across this version on youtube and gave it a spin, probably because I am impressed anyone took the time to learn all the words...
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Got no info on Sweetmelody2011 except his video page on youtube.  
Thoughts on Cover:
Well as we were never fans of this original, I have to say the cover is fine.  This is not an easy song to cover, especially since he is doing it live and in one take. A very very tough task for Sweetmelody2011.  That fact alone bumps up the cover grade. but his voice and playing are great accompaniments to the song. I am not sure but if he is singing all of these verses in his second language (it says he is from Germany) then I would def raise the grade even higher, but I can't be sure about that, either way who cares what I think, give it a listen. 
Grade: B