CD Review: Eric Taylor — Live at Red Shack; Plays Eddie’s Attic, January 28

Eric Taylor
Live at the Red Shack
Blue Ruby Music

By Al Kaufman

Eric Taylor is like that cool uncle you had. You know, the one who lived out in the woods in a cabin he built by himself. He talked a little saltier than your mom approved of, he didn’t care if you flipped through the nudie magazines he didn’t bother to try to hide, he’d tell you stories about improper things your mom did as a child, and, most importantly, he taught you a few chords on the guitar.

Although Taylor didn’t put out his first album until 1981, he’s been writing songs since long before. In 1970, he left Atlanta to try to make it in California. He got as far as Houston, where he ran into some songwriters with names like Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. He worshipped them and they, in turn, thought he was a dumb kid. But Taylor kept working at it and became a gifted songwriter and storyteller in the same vein as his mentors. Ex-wife Nanci Griffith covered his “Dollar Matinee” on her debut . Lyle Lovett, a student of Taylor’s, covered his “Memphis Midnight, Memphis Morning” on his covers CD, Step Inside this House. Both Lovett and Griffith show up on Live at Red Shack to sing their respective songs (and some others) with Taylor on this, his live retrospective. Their harmonies are full of love, warmth and gratitude. … Continue Reading

CD Review: Dare Dukes — Thugs and China Dolls; Playing Highland Inn January 21 and Grocery on Home February 4

Dare Dukes and the Blackstock Collection
Thugs and China Dolls
Starland Records

By Al Kaufman

When Savannah’s Dare Dukes released his debut, Prettiest Transmitter of All, in 2008, he established himself as a gifted songwriter who could write a catchy (but not obvious) hook. But, most importantly, he demonstrated that he has a penchant for the little guy, the guy a little left of center, the kid at school whose clothes never fit and who picked his nose, but you knew would grow up and be either a nuclear physicist or a psychopath. These are Dukes’ people. … Continue Reading

CD Review: The Romans – Tomorrow Coming Soon EP

The Romans
Tomorrow Coming Soon EP

By Stephanie Roman

I discovered The Romans (no relation) while they were playing live in Castleberry Hill for a friend’s art fundraiser. While I enjoyed viewing the art inside the gallery, the music outside was even more compelling. The moody vocals and warm melodies mixed perfectly with the setting sun and casual stroll of passing art enthusiasts.

The Romans’ latest EP — Tomorrow Coming Soon — begins in a similar way with the first track, “I Was Born.” A lovely light touch on percussion and an uplifting guitar melody envelops the vocals. “Tomorrow Coming Soon” is a slower ballad, serene and delicate with lyrics that reveal melancholy and release: “Can’t breathe now, slowly drown. Capsize my thoughts screaming loud, wring me out.”

The final track, “Better Off Dead,” bursts forth with a catchy, post-punk vibe. Some unique composition is found when the music drops out at the end of the chorus, providing punctuation. The Romans showcase their range in both tempo and emotion with these three songs, and should have much more to offer for a full-length album. The EP will be officially released on February 1, 2012, but tracks may be previewed on the band’s Facebook page.

Friends, hipsters, lend The Romans your ear.

CD Review: Gary Clark Jr. — The Bright Lights EP

Gary Clark Jr.
The Bright Lights EP
Warner Brothers

By Al Kaufman

In Austin, Texas, blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan is God. His likeness overlooks the heraled Barton Creek, defending it against the evils of cheap pop music. Gary Clark Jr, who grew up in Austin, often hears his name bandied about in the same sentence as the late great Stevie Ray, and two of the people doing the talking are Stevies’ big brother, Jimmie Vaughan, and a little guy who goes by the name Eric Clapton. That’s how good Gary Clark Jr. is. … Continue Reading

CD Review: Black Keys — El Camino

Black Keys
El Camino
Nonesuch

By Al Kaufman

It surprises nobody anymore that a couple of white boys from Akron, Ohio (Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, to be precise) can pack their music with so much blues and  soul, but the fact that with El Camino, their seventh album, they continue to get better and better at it is a feat that deserves great praise. … Continue Reading

CD Review: Smashing Pumpkins — Gish and Siamese Dream Deluxe Boxed Sets

Smashing Pumpkins
Gish and Siamese Dream Deluxe Boxed Sets
Virgin Records

By Ellen Eldridge

Amazing as it may sound, I had never actually heard Gish even though Siamese Dream punctuated my teen years. I never considered myself a huge fan of Smashing Pumpkins, but when I saw them live I was utterly blown away by both their technical skill and entertaining quality. Yet, I still never went back and bought or heard Gish. The fact that albums don’t fare as well in these Internet streaming and torrent ripping times means that many of the bands that have been around for decades reissue and remaster early career-defining albums. And so it is with the deluxe edition boxed sets for both Gish and Siamese Dream. … Continue Reading

CD Review: The Cure — Bestival

The Cure
Bestival
Sunday Best Recordings

By Ellen Eldridge

The immediate warmth of the bittersweet opening paragraph to “Plainsong” opens the two-CD set with, “‘I think it’s dark and it looks like rain,’ you said/’And the wind is blowing like it’s the end of the world,’ you said/’And it’s so cold it’s like the cold if you were dead,’ and then you smiled for a second,” and returns Cure fans to Disintergration. Fans need to scroll ¾ of the way down the discography page to get to this 1989 release, but many agree this defining album stands as one of the best. Bestival collects the live experience of the Cure show at the Bestival held at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight, England. This annual event has steadily grown since 2004, and The Cure brings it to the United States. … Continue Reading

CD Review: Korn — The Path of Totality

Korn
The Path of Totality
Roadrunner

By Ellen Eldridge

Korn came through Atlanta headlining for the Mayhem Festival in 2010, and again this fall to play Wild Bill’s. As soon as the opening track, “Chaos Lives in Everything,” started with its hi-hat beat and techno feel. Deeper into The Path of Totality the sound recalls Marilyn Manson and reminds me of David Bowie’s experimentation on Outside. When Bowie co-headlined with Nine Inch Nails fans actually walked out before Bowie and after Nine Inch Nails, pissing off those fans of both bands who genuinely appreciated the risks Bowie took in the name of reinvention. … Continue Reading

CD Review: Bob Seger — Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets

Bob Seger
Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets
Capitol Records

By Ellen Eldridge

An amusing thought always occurs at the mention of the words “Greatest Hits” or, in the case of the collected works of Bob Seger, “Ultimate Hits.” I wonder what makes a song a “hit,” especially in light of the fact that not every track on a “greatest” compilation could possibly have been a single. How do those who market the product know which songs we listeners played on repeat? With the release of Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets, there is no denying the double CD set contains the range of musical seasons spanning Seger’s career. Songs anyone with a radio must have heard like “Turn the Page,” which Metallica saw fit to cover and include in their Guitar Hero game. “Old Time Rock and Roll” instantly drags me back to watching Alvin and the Chipmunks dance around on television. … Continue Reading

CD Review: R.E.M. — Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011

R.E.M.
Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011
Warner Brothers

By Al Kaufman

For many people outside of Georgia, R.E.M. broke up about 15 years too late. They should have called it quits after Bill Berry retired and before Michael Stipe started bitching in his songs. R.E.M. had a few lean years in there, when Reveal, Up and the like were released, but showed a great creative resurgence with their last two studio albums, Accelerate and Collapse Into Now. But, alas, people had already moved on. R.E.M. realized this and wisely called it quits. … Continue Reading

CD Review: The Twilight Saga — Breaking Dawn Part I Soundtrack

Various Artists
The Twilight Saga — Breaking Dawn Part I Soundtrack
Chop Shop/Atlantic

By Al Kaufman

While the Twilight movie series caters to teenage girls who find nothing more romantic than sleeping with 500-year-old vampires who wear glitter, the soundtracks aim for a wider audience. Past releases have helped aid the careers of the likes of Lykke Li and Bon Iver, among others.

The current soundtrack follows the same ideals. The dour dirges are relegated to the end of the CD. In their stead are love songs with pretty harmonies (Imperial Mammoth’s “Requiem on Water”), love songs that are so cute they seem more appropriately suited to the Juno soundtrack from a few years back (Angus and Julia Stone’s “Love Will Take You”), or straight ahead rocking love songs with an ’80s flair (The Features’ “From Now On”). … Continue Reading

CD Review: She & Him — A Very She & Him Christmas

She & Him
A Very She & Him Christmas
Merge Records

By Al Kaufman

Kind of like in Rilo Kiley, when Blake Sennett barely got a word in edgewise against the more engaging Jenny Lewis, so it is that M. Ward scarcely shows up on this Zooey Deschanel showcase. The pair have made a couple of fine pop CDs, mixing Ward’s gruff aloofness with Deschanel’s endearing cuteness. They were some nice ear candy that people started treating like substantive meals. Unlike Scarlett Johansson, who people said could sing well “for an actress,” people were gushing at just how well Deschanel could sing, period. … Continue Reading

CD Review: Nickelback — Here and Now

Nickelback
Here and Now
Roadrunner

By Ellen Eldridge

Nickelback surprises me with how controversial they’ve become lately. The protest against their scheduled Thanksgiving Day performance in Detroit seems far too overdramatic for what I always considered a pretty decent pop rock band. Front man Chad Kroeger and the rest of the band have not responded to the protests, but gracefully accepted the offer to play. … Continue Reading

CD Review: Sarah Siskind — Novel; Playing Eddie’s Attic, November 16

Sarah Siskind
Novel
Red Request Records

By Al Kaufman

It would be easy to write Sarah Siskind off as just another hippie chick. Just read some of the liner notes on Novel: “All drums and percussion were handmade or household objects.” Or how about, “Sarah makes unique jewelry made from beads, charms and the like that she finds on tour.”? And it doesn’t hurt that her singing and songwriting recall that ultimate hippie chick, Joni Mitchell. … Continue Reading

CD Review: Bombadil — All That the Rain Promises

Bombadil
All That the Rain Promises
Ramseur Records

By Leila Regan-Porter

North Carolina’s Bombadil started out with a lot going for them. Signed to Ramseur Records as The Avett Brothers took off, they could pass as the Avett’s scrappy, just-as-breathtaking little brothers, and were quickly gaining well-earned attention with their own brand of genre-crossing powerful songwriting. The soul-stirring poetry, literary references, backwoods vibe and almost naive introspection won over everyone, especially with their first full-length, 2009′s Tarpits and Canyonlands.

But, as with the most compelling novels, health issues (namely singer/bassist/pianist Daniel Michalak’s nerve damage in his hands) put the band’s climb on hold back in 2009. Not much was heard from the band for a few years, and the possibility that Bombadil would go the way of many an indie band who never got to fulfill their potential grew and grew. Happily, with All That the Rain Promises, audiences can rest assured that this is not the case.

… Continue Reading