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Van
Morrison - Down The Road (Universal Records)
All you have to do is take a look at the CD cover to know where
Van the Man is coming from on this one. An old record shop with
vintage album jackets featuring Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, Mose
Allison and John Lee Hooker? Forget about that baseball diamond in
a cornfield. This is heaven! Great soulful music and intelligent
lyrics with some bite. This yearís answer to last yearís "Love &
Theft" by Bob Dylan and just another one of those things that make
getting up in the morning worth the trouble.
Rating:
a half shoes. |
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Elvis
Costello - When I Was Cruel (Island)
Taking time out from his misguided efforts of trying to show
StarKist he has good taste, the living Elvis delivers an album
more in tune with his early funny records and the loyal multitudes
are giddy with delight. No, this is not the return of "This Yearís
Model," but it sure beats a roll in the hay with Sophie Van Otter.
Besides, any singer who can quote ABBA and still sound pissed off
is more than okay in my book.
Rating:
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Paul Westerberg - Stereo/Mono (Vagrant Records)
Itís rough, itís ragged and itís catchy to
boot. Plus, the songs are really, really good. When he had a major
label behind him, the former Replacement never quite reached the
high expectations set for him. But now that heís recording for a
dinky independent, heís not only given us one but two
superb CDs to listen to. "Stereo" is the excellent solo record
which you pay for and "Mono" by Grandpaboy is the band record you
get for free. Yes, two whole wonderful CDs for less than youíd pay
for the new Jay-Z. What a bargain.
Rating:
a
half shoes
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Wilco
- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch)
Wasnít it nice of Wilco to make Radioheadís new album for them?
And now that Wilco and Radiohead fans alike are denying this
comparison, let me say that, A) my listening ear is no longer keen
enough to detect the subtle (or not so subtle) differences in
todayís modern hip music and, B) I make the above observation
without a hint of sarcasm in my typing voice. I like this album. A
lot. And I think the title has something to do with Joe DiMaggio
doing a happy dance in the lobby after every game during his
hitting streak. (BTW - Only some of the songs sound like Radiohead.
A couple remind me of The Kinks.)
Rating:
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Neil Young - Are You Passionate? (Reprise)
When Booker T. and two thirds of the MGs open
up the first track on this new album with a high powered Stax
riff, you almost get the feeling John Belushi is going to burst
into the room and start doing cartwheels. Unfortunately, Neil the
singer doesnít quite have the vocal chops to keep up with the soul
review heís staging and the songs themselves donít add much to the
mix. At least the old hippieís guitar playing is up to the task
and that along with the efforts of the legendary backing band make
this a worthy (but not essential) addition to the CD collection.
Rating:
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Badly
Drawn Boy - About A Boy Original Soundtrack (ARTISTS direct
Records)
Donít be scared off by the fact that this album is a soundtrack to
a movie or that Iím not wearing pants as I write this review. This
CD isnít disjointed like some soundtrack assignments handed over
to pop artists and your image of me in my underpants canít be
anywhere near as frightening as the real thing. If you like smart
catchy well produced pop songs that capture the spirit of Brian
Wilson, Harry Nilsson, Van Dyke Parks and Paul McCartney (just to
name a few), buy this sucker. If not, then maybe Iíll write my
next batch of reviews totally naked.
Rating:
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Ratings
System
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5 shoes |
Essential.
Worth running into a burning house and saving. |
| 4
shoes |
Excellent.
Wouldnít run back into a burning house for it, but would
grab it on the way out. |
| 3
shoes |
Good.
Might grab it while fleeing a burning house, but would chuck
it if the weight was slowing me down. |
| 2
shoes |
Sorta Okay.
Wouldnít risk saving it, but would feel a slight pang of
sorrow over its loss. |
| 1
shoe |
Yuck.
Should have traded it in before the house caught on fire. |
| 0
shoes |
Putrid Crap.
Would toss it into a burning house for kindling. |
| No
Rating |
Usually given to albums by
artists I donít relate to.
Or maybe Iím just being lazy. |
| Fractions |
º , ‡ ,etc.
A cowardly way of showing indecision. |
What Came
Before
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