Friday, January 23, 2009

Casual Listening -- Bon Iver, Andrew Bird, Beausoleil

Casual Listening

a review of cool new music

by Jeff Pinzino

January 23, 2009

!@&#% The Real Jane Martin – Simple Math (rock)

I reserve this absurdly high rating for those releases sharing a singular quality: recordings of me. TRJM is a folk-rock duo who released their debut album this week to wide critical acclaim. The songs are pages from a journal of urban life, with ringing vocals by Allen Rein and agile acoustic fretwork by Mark Burns. The group has assembled a stellar supporting cast, including yours truly contributing virtuoso harmonica stylings and Brian Zieske making magic behind the soundboard.

Hear samples of The Real Jane Martin here

Find them on itunes here

Or at CD Baby here

! Bon Iver – Blood Bank (folk)

Four very different songs constitute this anticipated E.P. The title track plugs in the guitar for a more conventional rock sound, while “Beach Baby” could easily have been included on For Emma, Forever Ago. “Babys” has a piano part that sounds inspired by Phillip Glass in its repetitive simplicity. The real gem is “Woods,” which repurposes an autotuner for a multi-layered a capella benediction. The resulting sound resembles a harpsichord, with punctuated trills and interwoven phrases of clear tone. Gorgeous.

Listen to Bon Iver “Woods

* Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light

Quiet songs sung with a beautifully fragile voice with spare accompaniments of piano guitar, and strings. Aching, tender, and not easily forgotten.

Listen to Antony and the Johnsons “Her Eyes are Underneath the Ground

* Andrew Bird – Noble Beast (rock)

Artfully composed orchestral pop with some well-placed whistling. Bird has made a seamless album with the attention to detail that rewards repeated listening.

Listen to Andrew Bird “Oh No

Beausoleil – Alligator Purse (Cajun)

Good Cajun music is hard to find, so a new release by America’s best-known Cajun band is cause for celebration. This one has a heavy helping of traditional-style numbers driven by accordion, fiddle, and triangle, with a couple of blues-influenced tunes to boot.

Listen to Beausoleil “Rouler et Tourner

(That’s Rollin’ and Tumblin’ for all you blues fans)

Anya Marina – Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II (rock)

Rebellious rock-edged cabaret energized by Marina’s sultry vocals. Warning: super-infectious.

Listen to Anya Marina “All the Same to Me

Ben Nichols – The Last Pale Light in the West (country)

Rugged country-folk. Jagged-edged vocals and acoustic guitar with pedal steel and accordion flourishes conjure images of solitude and wide-open spaces.

Listen to Ben Nichols “The Last Pale Light in the West

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion (rock)

Bright, busy electronics and copious reverb lend a psychedelic flair to a set of approachable melodies. Animal Collective comes across as Phish’s artsy cousin.

Listen to Animal Collective “Summertime Clothes

* highly recommended

! highest recommendation

Check out the blog at http://casuallistening.blogspot.com . To subscribe or unsubscribe, or just to say hi, send an e-mail to jeffpinzino@gmail.com.

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