Casual Listening 9-14-07

Casual Listening

a review of cool new music

by Jeff Pinzino

September 14, 2007

* Kanye West – Graduation (rap)

Believe the hype. This is a fascinating album. Kanye draws from a ridiculously broad palette of sound, from sci-fi dance grooves to Stevie Wonder-style soul, electronics to strings to choral arrangements. Whoever says rap is dead needs to give this one a listen.

* The Go! Team – Proof of Youth (rock)

If the cheerleading squad got together with the marching band to enter your high school Battle of the Bands, it would sound something like the Go! Team. Relentlessly peppy rock-chant with retro guitars, horns, and bushels of percussion. Infectious.

The Turtleduhks – True Lover (folk)

Sweet back-porch music with fiddle, guitar, and banjo. A mix of old-time standards and neo-traditional tunes that’s as good an excuse as any to get the clogging shoes out.

The Red Stick Ramblers – Made in the Shade (Cajun)

A panoply of pan-Louisana stylings: Cajun fiddle tunes, Zydeco, funk-boogie, and anything else that strikes their fancy. Playfully eclectic. Only 5 months till Mardi Gras!

Jonathan Rice – Further North (rock)

Rock-driven Americana that lands near the country side of Wilco. A sometimes loud, sometimes twangy sound supports interesting, albeit dark songwriting.

* highly recommended

! highest recommendation

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