Music Reviews, and one podcast
by Tera Laufer
Relentless-Jason Aldean
Release 5/29/2007
http://www.myspace.com/jasonaldean
June 7, 2007 this indie label country singer hit the number 1 spot on the country Billboard. What’s appealing, what sets this guy from the rest? Simple. His story. A young man with a dream, on the brink of losing a mortgage with a baby and wife to care for. Jason pressed on when he should have gave up, and his story comes through his storytelling songs. Resembling classic country, incomplex , evoking emotion in the styles of early Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams and others, Jason Aldean describes that hard on luck story tale in his “Johnny Cash” titled song. Adlean’s voice is typical honky-tonk, however it is in his lyrics you hear something special. Throwing caution to the wind, taking a big risk, Aldean sings determinedly, “Blasting out to Johnny Cash, heading out to the highway, baby we ain’t ever coming back” there is a sense of the brink of something big, the great rise or the great fall. Sounds to me Jason Aldean found his way up.
Phantom Punch-Sondre Lerche (& The Faces Down)
Release 2007 (available now in stores and online)
http://www.sondrellerche.com
http://www.myspace.com/sondrelerche
Produced by Tony Hoffer (Supergrass, The kooks, Phoenix, Beck, The Thrills) this Norwegian singer/songwriter and guitarist takes sounds from the last two decades and wraps it up, with the ability to keep up with today’s trends. With catchy guitar licks, pop energy and stops, surprising changes, there is plenty to keep the songs interesting. Apparently Sounder Lerche toured with Elvis Costless and was influenced greatly because of it. The experience pushed him to “write songs with his band in mind”. “Say it All”, “Phantom Punch”,” Airport Taxi Reception”, and “The Tape”, can be heard on his misplace page. This is an artist that has potential to cross genre’s, taste, and age alike, with his talent to integrate music of the past with his own twist to influence the future.
Melankton-Kate Havnevik
Release 3/27/2007
http://www.katehavnevik.com
http://www.myspace.com/katehavnevik
“Unlike Me” sets off with a delicate Alines Modiste voice, yet a haunting effect that reminds me of Tore Amos. Exquisitely beautiful, bringing about sensations of floating among the clouds, her mesmerizing voice sings, “Do you think I’m strange?”. A relatable question most woman can identify with, Kate gently guides you into her world. Just when you think the song couldn’t get better she hits you with a climatic ending, and sets her stage. A heart quaking yet elegant warning sets “New Day” off, bringing the question, “What is happening?” to mind. Sudden panic booms, bass, fat beats trample me, and then I realize it is morning, it is morning a new day to begin. This song takes after the styles of very talented Bjork, think DRAMATIC, chaos, beautiful travesty promising a fresh start. Kate’s excitement pulsates! I found “Timeless” to have had too much tech influence, that happened to drown her infectious vocals. As for female artists today, I like Kate’s attempt and style, I look forward to her work developing over the years.
The Traneumentary
Pod cast 6/18/2007
http://www.traneumentary.blogspot.com
The traneumentary is a pod cast that showcases John Cortland. On this paticular episode Steve Kuhn a former band member tells his story of how he came to work with the legendary jazz saxophonist. Steve Kuhn points out John’s “primitive” talent, mentioning he was not a showoff and did not sacrifice the integrity of his music for his ego. Interesting fact about Cortland, he had a sweet tooth, and loved his butter rum candies. Steve Kuhn remembers fondly of smelling the butter rum treats on John rather than the typical scent of cologne. John offered Steve $135.00 a week after meeting with him twice, this was a good gig for him at that time, the most he was ever paid was $100 a week. Steve admits he would have done it for free. They worked the club “The Gallery” in 1960 for 2 weeks, then that two weeks kept getting extended and Cortland ended up playing a total of 24 to 26 weeks. At that time John had put out Giant Steps and he would play off the stuff he did for that album as well as some impressions. He seemed “on the fence” at the time with his styles. This pod cast has several episodes to choose from filled with lovely tales and facts of this jazz giant. Music that can be heard on this episode in the background include; “The Theme” Miles Davis Quintet, “Like Sonny”, “I’ll Wait and Pray”, “Countdown”, and “I want to talk about you”. This pod cast is not only worth your time, but I highly suggest subscribing to it, what a gem!