MUSIC REVIEW - N.A.S.A

N.A.S.A. – The Spirit of Apollo

This is such a cool concept for an album: Two DJ’s met in Brazil and connected over their mutual love of Brazilian Funk, then came back to the U.S. and proceeded to get as many people as they could to agree to make an album aimed at breaking down barriers between musical genres, races, and people as a whole. Over 35 artists are featured on this 17 track album, creating some interesting combos in each song: David Byrne and Chuck D., Karen O. (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Ol’Dirty Bastard, Tom Waits and Kool Keith, The Cool Kids and Ghostface Killah, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and DJ Qbert.

And as cool as all this sounded conceptually, the music is orders of magnitude better. It’s hip-hop, to be sure, but by drawing in such a diverse group of back up musicians there is significant variety and subtlety imbued even upon individual tracks. All the music is funky as all hell, and, as an intravenous solution, is a guaranteed cure for chronic white-boy-dancing syndrome. While the extreme contrast of many of the featured musicians had the potential to cripple this project, it is turned 100% into its strength.

There are some low points, to be sure (“Hip-Hop”, for example, falls too far into generic bad rap habits), but the high points more than make up for it. Try Track 13, “Whachadoin?”, featuring Spank Rock & M.I.A, and “Money” with David Byrne and Chuck D.

Will I play it on my show? Yes, no doubt. RIYL – The X-Ecutioners, Beck in his hip-hop stages, any of the contributing artists.


http://www.myspace.com/nasa

MUSIC REVIEW - SPACESHIPS ARE COOL

Spaceships Are Cool – Spaceships Are Cool 5-Track EP

I picked up this EP from the radio station to review thinking it was going to be a joke band playing keytars and singing about PacMan (you think I’m kidding, but there’s a precedent - Mr. Pacman). I was very pleasantly surprised to find a delightful bastard-love-child from Beck and Of Montreal encapsulated in this short but very rich EP. It’s 5 songs long but features examples of both simple poppy songs and deeply layered tracks. The album as a whole leaves an impression of a band(-ish) that doesn’t take themselves overly seriously, but also has a strong understanding of what they feel music should be with the ability to write and record precisely what they want. I use the term ‘band’ as that’s what the promotional material makes them out to be. In reality they’re only a band when performing live. When recording it’s just Rob Maddison of Nottingham, England.

I enjoyed this album a substantial amount, particularly tracks 3 and 4, “This Fond Farewell” and “Gingerbread Houses”. “This Fond Farewell” is an excellent electro-indie ballad which showcases the band’s ability to layer its mayhem. “Gingerbread Houses” takes a much more simplistic route as it meanders across the tune. Add in tracks 1, 2, and 5 to get a complete and worthwhile album: “Let Things Go” is what you wish NES music would have been, featuring very cool guitar and synth lines layered heavily with staccato drums while fading in and out of more melodic interludes; “Strawberry Knickers” is simple but fun (you can listen by following the first BBC link below); and “Sooner or Later “ is a saccharine-sweet melody that deserves to be played with a black turtleneck sweater and cappuccino.

DJ’s – play any of the first four tracks on air. Baristas – play track 5 on the coffee shops loudspeakers.

Will I play it on my show? Yes. RIYL – Beck, Of Montreal.

http://spaceshipsarecool.com/home.htm
http://www.myspace.com/spaceshipsarecool2
BBC - video link
BBC - Interview

Jerks of Grass – Come on Home

The promotional material labels this band ‘bluegrass’, a genre I can enjoy in moderation under the proper circumstances; however, the online CD database has the album listed under ‘country’. I would feel comfortable placing them in either category, as it is slower songs that embrace a much more modern style of songwriting than the traditional bluegrass people usually associated with the genre, which makes it feel a little bit more country-esque (especially the tracks with singing). If you like other bands in this vein (such as Oakhurst), this might be something to look into, but the songs don’t convey as much energy as those related groups. The album is decent for what it is, but I have a feeling this band specializes more in live shows. The songs recorded here lack a chutzpah that probably (hopefully) is more evident in concert.

Will I play it on my show? No. RIYL – Oakhurst (maybe).

http://www.jerksofgrass.com/
Myspace

MUSIC REVIEW - Marykate O'Neil (2)

Marykate O’Neil – Underground

Ms. O’Neil has graced KMNR with another of her productions. My previous review of her material was maybe a little too harsh – she is a quality musician in her own genre, namely that of coffee-shop musicians. The album is incredibly saccharine, and shows numerous signs of musical ability. The songs are well constructed and have all the trappings of a highly competent singer-songwriter, so if you like this acoustic style of music you’d like this album. It doesn’t appeal to me as a whole, but I can understand why she has a dedicated, if small, following (at least, as far as I can infer from her promotional material and the interwebs). If you do play this album, I recommend tracks 1 and 4 “Green Street” and “Saved”. Also, she looks a lot cuter on this album cover than on MKUltra.

Will I play it on my show? Probably not. RIYL – Ben Folds, Starbucks.

http://www.marykateoneil.com/
http://www.myspace.com/marykateoneil

MUSIC REVIEW - The Blizzard of '78

The Blizzard of ‘78 – Book of Lies

This band was raised on rock from the late ‘60’s and ‘70’s, and tries to emulate a lot of the music from that time. The songs sound a lot like Zepplin’s slower tracks mixed with some of the more poppy music from the ‘70’s, with three or four of the tracks channeling more of the bluesy / country songs by The Rolling Stones. While Blizzard of ’78 might have been highly influenced by these bands, they don’t match the quality. The songs have a fair amount of complexity to them, as saxophones, violins, and other non-‘rock’ intruments are added in, but the mixing is mediocre. The result is a noticeable lack of depth to the album, which makes it difficult to enjoy more than in mere passing.

Will I play it on my show? Not too likely. RIYL – I don’t have any thing, sorry.

http://www.tbo78.com/
http://www.myspace.com/theblizzardof78