Casual Listening 10-5-07

Casual Listening

a review of cool new music

by Jeff Pinzino

October 5, 2007

* Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights (soul)

Classic-styled soul so authentic you’d swear you were listening to outtakes from Martha and the Vandellas. Jones is a charismatic frontwoman, and the Dap-Kings are a pitch-perfect R&B machine. If you’ve got a pre-set on your car stereo for the oldies station, you’re gonna love this.

* Chicago Afrobeat Project – A Move to Silent Unrest (world)

Afrobeat is a Nigerian style of jazz-heavy dance music, and Chicago Afrobeat Project brings these deep groves to life stateside. Low saxes and Hammond organ drive a cool, jammy, cosmopolitan sound.

P. J. Harvey – White Chalk (rock)

Spare, haunting, and dark. Harvey’s gauzy soprano steps across simple piano flourishes and brushed drums. Gothic beauty chills like a flower after the first frost.

For The Kids – Three! (kids)

A collection of uber-hip bands doing songs for the younger set. Moby, Of Montreal, and Rogue Wave are among the contributors of original material, as well as familiar tunes. Be prepared for your little one to endlessly repeat Over the Rhine’s chorus of “Poop goes in the potty.”

Aaron Stout – Queens Live in Caskets (rock)

Rootsy, opaque songwriting on a warm blanket of electronoise. Sometimes jarring, but with strong songs and a sound that grows on you. Folk music deconstructed.

Mason Casey – Sofa King Badass (blues)

Turbocharged blues-rock. Casey has a Tom Waits voice that bellows along with electric harmonica and guitar. There’s a wide range of rock, roots, and R&B styles, but the mood is unmistakably blues.

Other good stuff this week: Bruce Springsteen, Annie Lennox. Check the blog for these reviews.

* highly recommended

! highest recommendation

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