The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - S/T

The first great record of 2009 in comes from an unlikely source. New York’s The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have created a record that is soaked in the soul of shoegazing but still sounding fresh and invigorating. The record starts off with a giant roar of “The Cotender.” Kip and Peggy sing a lovely harmony together but the song is really a set up piece for the rest of the record. “Come Saturday” follows next and the song immediately is louder and catchy right from the start. The song blitzes in with that one hanging riff that leads into the furious track. This is a track that really shows off the bands skills the most. It is just so loud, catchy and fun and that is really all you could ask for. “Young Adult Friction” showcases Peggy’s vocals a little more and she has a wonderful croon for these lush sounds. “Everything With You” is such a beautiful and mind numbing escape of a track that I could just leave it on repeat all day.

The Pains are already getting a lot of buzz off their debut single and this record will lead them to be one of the more talked about acts of the year. There are a lot of obvious influences of the band but it does not get in the way of enjoying the album or do you think about them during the listen. The tracks sound fresh and exciting.

By John Siwicki

Steve Cradock - The Kundalini Target

It has always been an unwritten, immutable truth that Steve Cradock cannot sing. This view had been substantiated by the argument that if he could hold a tune half as good as his buddy and the Ocean Colour Scene front man, Simon Fowler. Then surely, given Cradock’s undoubted status as one of the best guitarists of the last two decades and the fact that he is seen by many as being the man responsible for inputting the oomph, drive and rhythm into the Madchester scene and the post-mod era. You’d be forgiven for thinking that if he had any voice that was capable of more than low-key backing status, then surely he would have already forged a solo career to rival the likes of Paul Weller and Richard Ashcroft?

With ‘Something Better’, a swooning ballad of an opener to this debut album, Cradock’s skill and arguably his limitations are laid out to bear. Purists will point out that he doesn’t attempt any high notes, but given the personal and swooning nature of the track he doesn’t necessarily need to. The slightly weary lag is glossed over by a stirring piano and weaving acoustic guitar base. Be grateful for what you have is the laudable lyrical message and the overall impression given off, it has you settling down all prepared for some low-key philosophy and well weaved tune crafting. You’re not disappointed either, as the slightly upbeat, nostalgia spewing ‘Apple’, makes us appreciate our roots and of course Mr Craddock’s as well.

Maudlin reflection pushes its way to the fore in ‘You Paint Your Picture’, bearing out a mournful, poetic edge punctuated with a weaving acoustic pattern. This latter element draws out the romantic searching and reflection concealed within the lyrics;

“I’m silent like a shadow, my lovelight tenders embers.

The blank pages lying fallow are for love songs of tomorrow.”

With ‘On and On’, Cradock has produced the Bacon & Brie Panini of all pop songs; crisp and melting, as the vocals are given an uplifting gloss, helped along by the comforting touch of Paul Weller. This feel-good factor flows inextricably into the searching ballad, ‘The Clothes They Stood Up In’. A striking feature that appears, almost from nowhere, is a lobbing Duke Special spirited piano kick that gives the likes of ‘Still Trying’ and ‘Ask The Sound’, a colourful coating. With a gospel trickle giving the latter number a bit of boldness and heart.

The answer to the question, why it has taken the Cradster so long to step out into the exposing solo limelight still goes unanswered. Then again, don’t we need a bit more mystery in modern music?

By Dave Adair

Kylie Minogue - Boombox

Kylie is one of those pop stars who I always find to have very likable music. “Boombox” is a record that is a bit long overdue. This remix record cover her last few records and includes all of her big singles. Kylie also has enlisted some of dance musics finest acts to remix her over the years. Chemical Brothers and Mylo are just two of the names that did a remix for Kylie.

The album’s most notable track will be “Can’t Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head” which, is a mashup of “Blue Monday” and Kyle’s “Can Get You Out Of My Head.” The match up here just feels right. I love New Order a lot but the mash up just works so well. Another track that got my attention was “Love At First Sight (Kid Creme Vocal Dub)” as it featured Kid crème exchanging lines with Kylie. The remix comes across with a rather funk tinge to the song. “Boombox” also includes a few new remixes. The best of the bunch being the “Boombox (LA Riots Remix).” The remix does a great job of both maintain the essence of the original song but still turning it into a loud and noisy track that is still a lot of fun.

“Boombox” is not for everyone but that is how it goes for most remix albums. I personally enjoyed it more than a traditional hits package because each track gives you something complete different than the previous tracks. Just one listen to “Your Disco Needs You (Casino Mix)” and “2 Hearts (Mark Brown’s Pacha Ibiza Upper Terrace Mix)” shows that there is quite a bit of variety on this record. Its worth a look as Kylie sounds great being remixed.

By John Siwicki

Waking Lights - Song For Jo

It is the end of the year so it is always good to go back and see what you missed. “Songs For Jo” was released back in September. While “Songs For Jo” may only be a mini album and they might be from Northern New Jersey the band still have created a lush and fulfilling record. The stars of this record are cellist/vocalist Jodi Mozeika, and violinist Nicole Scorsone. They have created a beautiful environment for Matthew Maroulakos to create his songs. There is something about Matthew’s voice that I think without the instrumentation behind him the songs would not work nearly as well. The best example is on “Comfortably Swollen” the track is largely acoustic but when that violin comes it lifts the track to another level. The EP on a whole was enjoyable. The diversity in the arrangements were welcomed and it would be interesting to see the band on a full length. Also, I think a little more vocals from Jodi could be very interesting to hear.

By John Siwicki

The Kinks – Picture Book

The Kinks under various lineups had been releasing records starting in 1964 and going all the way to the 1980s. They are a band that are often talked about but also often forgot about in discussions of the golden area of pop. They were Oasis before Oasis. They ever had some sibling fights on stage. They wrote concepts albums, rock operas. They were a band who did it all and tackled everything. The band true area of brilliance really was between 64 to about 72.

“Picture Booth” has it all. The bands high moments (discs 1-4 mostly) and even some of their low moments that they would surely forget. It is hard to pinpoint the target audience for the box set. You do get a few live cuts and demos but that surely won’t make the purists all that happy for a handful of tracks. It is an ambitious collection so the people new to the Kinks would start elsewhere. But, there is one thing that can be said. Most, of the first three discs on this set should be in every audiophiles collections. Track ranging from “All Day All Of The Night” “Well Respected Man” and “Waterloo Sunset.” It is hard to recommend the box set but it was fun to go down the history of the Kinks. I think most people would be better suited with a greatest hit compilation and a copy of “Are the Village Green Preservation Society.”

By John Siwicki

Anni Rossi - Afton

This 22 year old American/Italian singer and viola player has released a debut six track album named Afton earlier this year. Its as pretentious as they come, I’m sorry to say.

There is a folk influence here,that’s for sure,but I found the songs cringey to listen to, as if the singer was trying too hard and had something to prove in her life.

She is from the same musical stable as Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom(the latter I actually like),  however both artistes are acquired tastes musically.

No doubt Anni Rossi will cement a place in alternative folk music though.

by Juliet Robertson

The Inevitable Backlash - My Two Brookes

Following the success of its 2007 debut LP, “Sex for Safety,” LA-based rock band, The Inevitable Backlash, mixes old-school punk flavor with distortion-soaked guitar licks on its 2009 EP release, “My Two Brookes,” from Hegemony Records.

The first 18 seconds feature a simple guitar solo that makes you feel like you’re sitting front-row at the start of a great concert and this ten song, 30-minute compilation doesn’t disappoint. The album stays mostly true to its alternative rock format while chronicling life, love and especially, women.

The Inevitable Backlash has performed under frequent lineup changes and this time, Jason Echeverria of the indie rock band, Moonrats, graces the album with his drumming dexterity.

At times, lead vocalist John Renton sounds a bit whiney and over-emotional, but any good Nirvana lover or Rock Band enthusiast should definitely check this one out. “My Two Brookes” made me bust out my air guitar and drums.

You can find it online or at your favorite indie record store in the US on March 3, 2009.

By Kaleb Leija

Cult With No Name - Careful What You Wish For

Cult With No Name are a duo hailing from London, England, producing wonderfully unique piano pop music that is undoubtedly reminiscent of 1980’s synth and piano ballads. Self-described “post-punk electronic balladeers”, band members Erik Stein and Jon Boux have released their second album, “Careful What You Wish For” following their 2007 debut album “Paper Wraps Rock” and it is sure to please fans with its haunting and memorable vocals and lyrics.

“Careful What You Wish For” includes a beautiful cover of “Golden Brown” by 80’s rock band The Stranglers, which undoubtedly adds to the nostalgic feel of the album. Perhaps that is the greatest thing about this album – the idea of escaping the music and sounds of the present and travelling into the past, while still remaining unique and exciting. This is no easy feat, but Cult With No Name have done it. “Careful What You Wish For” is haunting, lovely, and simply unforgettable.

By Souzan Michael

The Whispertown 2000 - Swim

I really wanted to like this album. The Whispertown 2000 are associates of Rilo Kiley and Rilo Kiley is inherently hip so, by extension, if I liked this group and this album I would be happening too.

The uncoordinated harmonies and simplistic lyrics in “103″ and “Pushing Oars” were reminiscent of Daniel Johnston’s “Ain’t No Woman Gonna Make a George Jones Outta Me,” although the piano was nice on the latter.

By the time the band reached “Erase the Lines” it had agreed on what notes to sing; this song and “Atlantis” would not be out of place beside Shivaree’s “Good Night, Moon.”

“Lock and Key” has a “Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room” feel and it is my favorite song in this album.

“From the Start/Jamboree” begins with harmonica which transitions to dirty guitar before really picking up the pace with a blend of as clapping, banjo, guitar and cowbells(?) in addition to some fine hillbilly singing.

If you have ever wondered what it would sound like if Cindy Wilson was backed by Deep Purple’s guitars, “Ebb and Flow” is your chance to find out. Surprisingly, it sounds really good; I wish there had been more songs like it.

The album comes full circle with “Mountain” and ends with more basic lyrics and–there is no kind way to say it–whininess.

I really wanted to be “cool” and like this album. Parts of it were intriguing and left me wanting more but overall I did not like it. I guess that makes me the female equivalent of the guy who yells “Hey, you kids! Get off my lawn!”

By Ramona_W

Longwave - Secrets Are Sinister

From the outset this grabs your attention, the first track, Sirens in the Deep Sea, is great a rock sound, lashings of electric guitar, the vocals are surprisingly gentle but excellent, you’d expect a much raunchier vocal but the softness of them adds a twist which really works. The second track, No Direction has a great sound; it’s fast and catchy but never ‘poppy.’ Track three, Satelites is simply stunning, a great song with just enough twists and turns in the sound to stop it being too mainstream, but never weird, this will appeal to all. Track five, Life is Wrong is an amazing track, again the vocals are softer and the perfect foil for the heavier backdrop of lush sound, I loved it.

On the strength of this superb album I will be looking out for their other works, their current fans will know how amazing they are, if you haven’t heard them buy this album it’s stunning.

By J.Greenwood

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