Casual Listening
a review of cool new music
by Jeff Pinzino
Check out James Mumm’s piece on the band DEATH in the blog
! Mike Farris – Shout! Live (gospel)
Farris’ last album Salvation in Lights was the first album ever reviewed in Casual Listening, and the live version is equally a knockout. Old-school gospel-soul with arresting vocals and a full horn section blows the doors off the small club where Farris’ entourage was recorded. If there’s a jam session in the hereafter, I can only imagine it sounds something like this.
Listen to Mike Farris “Sit Down Servant”
! Dengue Fever – Sleepwalking Through the Mekon (world)
Dengue Fever’s predilection for 60’s Cambodian psychedelia takes them to the motherland. With wa-wa guitars and ethereal vocal sung in Khmer, this is the companion soundtrack to a documentary of the American group’s first tour of
Listen to Dengue Fever “Tip My Canoe”
and Sinn Sisamouth “New Year’s Eve”
* Choco Orta – Ahora Mismo (Latin)
Orto’s salsa is slick enough for the salseros on the dance floor, but it’s when she leaves the script and starts shouting across from the backups that she really lights up. She’s got a deep penetrating voice that encourages comparisons to the late, great Celia Cruz. Her band is greased lightning.
Listen to Choco Orta “Por Accidente”
John Doe & the Sadies – Country Club (country)
Heavy honky-tonk that feels like an unreleased treasure from thirty years back. Rollicking guitar, crying pedal steel, and sweet male-female duets from a next-generation artists who knows his roots.
Listen to John Doe & the Sadies “Stop the World and Let Me Off”
A collection of pieces commissioned from notable composers for a top tier university band. Mass of
Listen to
“Mass of St. Thomas Aquinas: IV Benedictus”
“Armenian Rhapsody for Guitar and Symphonic Wind Ensemble: II Bar”
* 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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