What's Shaking: Musings from Shake-It Records - 9/29
We're very happy to have Cincinnati independant record store extraordinaire, Shake-It Records, drop some music knowledge around the BuyCincy grounds. Check back for regular columns from Billy Carter of Shake-It.
What's Shaking - 09/29/07
4 BRAND NEW RELEASES THAT MERIT EXTRA ATTENTION
QUI - "LOVE'S MIRACLE" / Ipecac
How does one approach this album and NOT invoke the name of the Jesus Lizard? Well, I just did, so to hell with that challenge. Anyway, the record delivers.
Song # 8 "Belt" cops so much Lizard, with the spiky guitar plinks and plucks, that it cut's just a wee bit close to the decomposing bone. Forgiveness, I say.
They do 2 covers of a 9 song record. One is a Pink Floyd's "Echoes" -but way shortened. The other the boggie-burner Zappa/Beefheart number "Willie The Pimp" They are both good. The drummer, while no Mac (& who could be?) is very dynamic and puts down a pretty mean thump.
And Yow? Well, he's Yow, ya know? The album's strongest weapon is its brevity. It's in and out and over. Like you just got mugged.
The REAL demarcation line would be to see them live??? But as for the album, I highly recommend it, then I recommend you play "Goat" (Jesus Lizard - 1990) the day after, just to feel all cool & old and stuff.
post script: for the uninitiated google: "Jesus Lizard" check Youtube for a live clip, you'll get the idea.
THE WEAKERTHANS - "REUNION TOUR" / Epitaph
More bands should only put out an album every 3-5 years.
If you didn't know the WEAKERTAHNS play supremely crafted, pure, completely sugary pop music that is purposely overly literate and thoughtful. In other words, they take their sweet ass time.
This is not the self-conscience, costumed, "look how eccentric we are" drivel by the likes of the Decemberist et al.
Average schmoes, in crummy t-shirts and jeans, not bowler hats and tweed vest. The pop song pop, the rock songs rock, and the ballads put your aggro-tough-guy BS in check. BRILLIANT. (And they're from Canada, so there!)
STEVE EARLE - "WASHINGTON SQUARE SERENADE" / NEW WEST
For his first album in 3 years Steve Earle has written a lament to his new home of NYC while looking back at the times and tales of his "interesting" roots spent in the south. You get love songs, drug songs, and yes, political songs. But this album has a "front porch jam session shuffle" to it - no big squall rockers, but a much looser 'the gang's all here" kinda flavor.
Highlights included "City Of Immigrants" (open my door and the world walks in) "Steve's Hammer" which answers, firmly, the nagging he gets for writing about the state of our country. (When the air don’t choke ya and the ocean’s clean And kids don’t die for gasoline One of these days I’m gonna lay this hammer down) And "Oxycotin Blues" which maybe the darkest tune he's ever written - that's saying something.
HIGH ON FIRE - DEATH IS THE COMMUNION / RELAPSE
A monster, pure and simple, an absolute monster of gigantic proportions. This is metal that has had the soul put back INTO it. After suffering through a decades worth of the laughable tripe such as Korn and Linkin Park the kiddie table has been smashed to bits and tossed in the dumpster.
High On Fire are a trio that sound like an army. If Lemmy were 25 years younger he just might find himself at the helm of an outfit like this one. In the old days, Motorhead were the metal band that was okay for the punk rockers to like. High On Fire is the "metal" band the metal fans must breathe a sigh of relief for. They may have just saved your ass from burying all hope about the genre.
- Billy Carter
Categories
Columns
Stumble Upon
1 Comments
Leave a comment
Local Shops - Rotating
Local Links - Rotating
Shake It Records is by far the best music store in the area! I stop in there every chance I get! Everything from the selection of music, magazines, merchandise, and even the atmosphere makes for a new experience everytime! I highly recommend everyone to check this place out, you won't regret it. and if you do...then you stink!