It is time to once again review some of the albums that have been stacking up and spilling over in the office. In the month since my last rapid-fire review, the CDs have multiplied like gremlins in a swimming pool. Fortunately, the music seems less dismal than in the past endeavor.
"My Own Personal Watermelon" by Suzy Callahan
Like a kid in a candy store, I was attracted to the bright colors on this album cover. the back of the sleeve describing miniature seedless watermelons as part of "the small strides in the advance of Western civilization." The music turned out to be as interesting as the cover. The sounds draw the listener into a strangely comfortable world, following the many routes folk music tends to take without being redundant. Callahan's voice reminds me of a compromise between the rough prettiness of P.J. Harvey and the alto of Joni Mitchell. The first track starts with a twangy acoustic guitar followed by drums and light, funky bass. Ambient echoes add a sense of mystery. The album continues this theme as an interesting package of songs, but nothing ever strikes me as brilliant.
"Prima J" by Prima J
With two attractive ladies, I knew perfectly well what I was getting into. Their song "Rockstar" was a single off the "Bratz: The Movie" soundtrack. After listening to a few songs, I ended up watching their music videos online so I had something visually distracting. I found "Corazón (You're Not Alone)" to be the funniest and most entertaining of the videos with a combination of break-down dances, Bambi-eyed close-ups, corny inspirational messages and bad acting. Overall, the duo falls victim to the unnaturally smooth and robotic vocals so popular in music today. One thing they did right was to record with executive producer Ron Fair, who has worked his magic with countless pop stars like Christina Aguilera, The Pussycat Dolls and Black Eyed Peas, but that may not be enough. It is difficult to say whether Prima J are poised for the next Latin-tinged dance hit or if their competitors will overshadow them.
"Immortalizer" by Valient Thorr
How could I pass up an album that has a scythe-wielding wizard taming a flying tiger on the cover? The biography of the band describes the members as aliens from Venus who are visiting Earth in order to warn the planet's inhabitants about global warming through rock 'n' roll. Ignoring the cheesy gimmick behind the Venusian concept, I found the music highly enjoyable, rife with upbeat tempos and intense, charming vocals. Valient Thorr combines the best elements of ZZ Top and thrash music. The music is surprisingly easy to dance to, but like most danceable music, the songs tend to sound similar. Although I would not consider myself a Thorrior (what devoted fans of the band call themselves), I did enjoy the album.
"The Boys R Back In Town" by JEFF the brotherhood and "Glass Elevator" by MEEMAW
I am reviewing these two albums together because the two bands are currently touring the U.S. on a Bad Bus Tour. The first band, JEFF the brotherhood, was all about hard repetitive hooks - the kind that crash into your head and then rattle around once inside. Their music is akin to the White Stripes but is more experimental and punk. Drummer Jamin Orrall is known for his other band, Be Your Own Pet, but it is this band, with brother and guitarist Jake Orrall, that rocks harder. The two create a tight groove usually obtained through bloodline understanding.
MEEMAW is the more consistent of the two bands, and its music is catchier. It has a similar sound but fleshes it out with a bluesy Rolling Stones vibe and an abundance of melody. JEFF the brotherhood may take a couple more listens to fully appreciate, but MEEMAW is much more accessible on the first go.
Through seamless heavy metal riffs and old-school punk drumming, both bands give the listener a sense of instant satisfaction that only increases with number of plays. Too bad not all of the albums had this effect.
