Music Reviews for issue 32 (with one DVD review)
by Vikkee Payge

Tarantella
Esqueletos
This album is the band’s first full-length album, and it’s beautiful. The haunting fiddle playing by Kelly O’Dea flows with the mournful melodies of lead singer Kal Calhoone like water. The album, sung in both English and Spanish, mixes Western twang with traditional Spanish and Italian music. I couldn’t stop listening to it. I downloaded it to my iPod as soon as I got home. For anyone who enjoys something out of the ordinary, but with beautiful melodies, pick up this album. It’s on the wonderfully different Alternative Tentacles label.

Home – Music Agency


http://www.tarantellamusic.com/
V.P.

The Vision of a Dying World
Feelin’ Alive (Revived)
The firs song on this album, “The Cold as Well”, was reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel, but that’s not all there is to this band’s style. There influences range from Iron & Wine to Bob Dylan to Black Heart Procession. Vision is a diverse group of guys, four to be exact, who aren’t afraid of exploring deep roots, and roots closer to the surface. Finally, something different is out there, and it’s getting airtime on 94.9, so listen closely to the radio waves……
http://www.zombiesandpirates.com
http://www.thevisionofadyingworld.com
V.P.

El Poeta
Musically Speaking
I’m not normally a fan of wordless music. How am I supposed to Karaoke in the car without words? El Poeta has changed that for me. Angelo Emile Gastelum, the scholar behind El Poeta, has been around music all his life. It shows. He has blended the smoothness of jazz with electronic sound to create aural candy for my ears. This album is inspirational, and not just for musicians. Creativity begins to flow, and “Musically Speaking” is the perfect soundtrack.
P.S. His website is awesome too.
http://www.imputor.com
http://www.elpoeta.org
V.P.

Dance Hall Crashers DVD
The Show Must Go Off, episode #18
Flashback!! I remember these guys now. My friends and I used to listen to them about ten years ago. And ten years ago, they were a great band. The DVD, by Kung Fu Records, was filmed at the House of Blues in Los Angeles I-don’t-know-when. The DVD was released September 2005. The Crashers started back in ‘89 in Berekely, CA with members from Operation Ivy (awesome band!!!) fronting the group. The guys backed out and now Elyse Rogers and Karina Denike front the band. Cool. Chicks in bands are awesome, especially when they’re not behind a bass guitar. Chicks in good bands is even better though.
I agree that DHC are really tight and the vocals are well done, but the ladies do not look good on stage and the style of music, pop/ska, was short-lived and not very appealing. What really bothered me, though, were the ladies. Rogers and Denike are no spring chickens anymore, and they should realize that and not wear their embarrassing outfits and try to jump around like sixteen year olds anymore. I know that I sound shallow because I’m focusing on their looks rather than their music, but stage presence is huge. I could be in the front row watching my favorite group, but if they look ridiculous, my respect goes out the window. On the other hand, if all their songs sound the same, like a certain Dance band, then my passion for them flies as well. Bottom line, thumbs down on the vid. If you want to listen to their music, buy their album.
http://www.kungfurecords.com
http://www.dancehallcrashers.com
V.P.

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