Carly Simon - This Kind of Love
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Carly Simon This Kind of Love 3 out of 5 stars Reviewed for Coffeerooms by Mike Jefferson |
It’s hard to believe Carly Simon is 62 and is releasing her 24th album. In the dark recesses of what’s left of my mind, she’s still that provocative, carefree hippy chick who released a series of clever, semi-autobiographical hits in the early 70s, including “That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be,” “Anticipation,” “The Right Thing To Do,” and “You’re So Vain.” Simon’s album covers remained great eye candy for years afterward, but she lost me in the 80s when her career was revitalized by “Coming Around Again.” “This Kind of Love” is her first album of new material in eight years. (Her last album, 2007’s “Into White” mixed standards with covers by Simon and Garfunkle, former husband James Taylor, and Cat Stevens, who penned the title track.) For her latest, Simon collaborated with composer Jimmy Webb, one of most celebrated composers in pop music, whose luxurious string arrangements for Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” and Richard Harris’ “MacArthur Park” made them orchestrated eargasms.
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Posted April 30, 2008 Permalink
It's a Shame About Ray
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The Lemonheads - It's a Shame About Ray Collector's Edition Original Release 1 out of 5 stars Demos and DVD Extras 3 out of 5 stars Reviewed for Coffeerooms by Mike Jefferson |
It’s a shame the Lemonheads chose to release their fifth album, 1992’s “It’s A Shame About Ray” in its pugnacious and persistently migraine-inducing electric form. The half-speed acoustic demos outdo the final throat-burning versions visited on the public with such ease you can only hope the person making the group’s career decisions also doesn’t control their money -- ‘cause they’re gonna go broke. The acoustic versions are sung with more passion, have distinctive influences, and, minus drummer David Ryan’s primordial pounding, won’t make your ears bleed. Of course an acoustic album from a group known for its fuzzed-out clamor would have tanked. The alternative crowd wasn’t ready for beautiful music from the Lemons. But now you can have it all on the Deluxe Edition of “It’s A Shame About Ray”… the sweet acoustic sounds in their infancy and the sour power punk it morphed into, plus a DVD of the band bouncing around the outback performing many of the album’s song’s for a third time. Very few albums can stand up to the scrutiny of three different versions of the same song, even if it shows the progression from demos to completed work to live renditions. In the Lemon’s case they didn’t even get that right – the deluxe edition goes from the final versions back in time to the demos, then to the live torture tunes. No matter. Less is more. It’s a shame… but too much Ray causes scurvy.
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Posted April 23, 2008 Permalink
Van Morrison - Keep It Simple
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Van Morrison Keep It Simple 3.5 out of 5 stars Reviewed for Coffeerooms by Mike Jefferson |
Van Morrison’s craggy image on the cover of “Keep It Simple” makes him look like he should be the fifth face on Mount Rushmore. The eleven songs on the album are far less coarse. Now 62, Morrison has eased into his Medicare years as a fatherly R & B/rock guru. His new album doesn’t have instant classic burned into its grooves like 1971’s “Tupelo Honey,” or the bump a minute funk of 1977’s “Period Of Transition,” but each subdued track locks in place with the next as if it were a patch in a quilt, and together the songs form a beautiful musical tapestry. Van the man keeps it simple, and the result is his best effort since 1978’s “Wavelength.”
Morrison has a habit of recruiting name musicians, many of whom are mid-range legends in their own right. (For example, he tabbed New Orleans voodoo man Dr John to helm “A Period of Transition,” and during his 90’s comeback worked with keyboardist Georgie Fame, who had solo hits in the 60s with “Yeh, Yeh” and “The Ballad Of Bonnie and Clyde.” In a surprise move, he recruited the Jeff Beck Group’s powerhouse vocalist Bobby Tench as his lead guitarist for “Wavelength.”) For “Keep It Simple” Morrison has drafted guitarist Mick Green, the former strummer for Johnny Kidd and The Pirates, who were best known for “Shakin’ All Over,” (which Mick missed out playing on). Mick is also the less famous brother of 60s blues legend/acid casualty Peter Green, founder of Fleetwood Mac. It was Mick who engineered Peter’s credible 80s comeback, writing four albums worth of material for his medicated brother. Unfortunately, few noticed it was Mick, not Peter writing the songs. It was also rumored that Mick played the captivating chords on well received albums such as “White Sky” and “The Dreamer.” That might be giving Mick a bit too much credit. You only have to hear a few notes to be able to name that Green. Peter’s a head-turning lead guitarist, a virtual sweet spot machine, while Mick’s a master of subtle fills. Playing alongside veteran Morrison band member and fellow guitarist Johnny Platania, Green keeps it simple.
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Posted April 13, 2008 Permalink
In Flight Radio
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In Flight Radio The Sound Inside 1.5 out of 5 stars Reviewed for Coffeerooms by Mike Jefferson |
In Flight Radio’s 2006 self-title debut built a name for the Indie rockers. (What kind of name is better left unsaid.) Their second effort, “The Sound Inside,” is a baby step in the right direction, but this chile is a bit colicky. Inspired ideas are undone by uninspired playing and attempts to mix incongruous styles with wrongheaded influences. I got a fervent whiff of the Cranberries in a few too many songs that was stronger than the stench of wet dog and urine coming out of The Bowery at four a.m. Throw in hints of The Pixies, galling imitations of U2, and 1,000 of the 10,000 Maniacs, and you’ve got a mix as potentially deadly as sarin gas.
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Posted April 13, 2008 Permalink
