Core Samples for March, 2006, features reviews of The Arab Strap, The Arctic Monkeys, Belle and Sebastion, Big Star, Cat Power, Film School, The Maybellines, Modern Skirts, Moe's Haven, Talking Heads

The Arab Strap
The Last Romance (US edition)
Transdreamer

"Free Gift! Only in the USA! Two songs--'El Paso' & 'Go Back to the Sea'. Please note that these songs are not intended to be listened to as part of The Last Romance but are offered as a free gift to thank you for your patience." So states the last page of the booklet. Indeed, we in the States have been waiting for months for a domestic release. The former song is a light, Latin-rhythm flirtation song, the latter a melancholy song of love for a mermaid, it seems. But let's get on with the main course.

The booklet for The Last Romance is like a little lined journal or diary, with a sweet, romantic cover in a style reminiscent of some 70's folders I had for school (except for the skull in the center). The lyrics are in a hand-written font, the only delineation between songs being an indented first line, like the start of a new paragraph in the story, and this album is a story, one that's punctuated at the end by a flaming fist with L-O-V-E spelled out across the fingers.

When a wild sexy love affair becomes devoid of the "love" part, the emptiness of sex for the sake of sex hits our protagonist with full-on disgust. So "Stink" opens the album, boldly and bleakly. We follow him through loss, loneliness, self-medication, and one last faltering attempt to find true love in "Don't Ask Me to Dance", ominous music conveying the risk. The emotional honesty throughout this album, the frank yet playfully poetic lyrics, the cynicism, the fear, the loneliness, the naughtiness (lots and lots of delicious naughtiness), the determination to settle down and keep things together, even after a couple is past their prime and have learned each others faults make up the story. The music suits the mood of the songs well, the more defiant songs with fuller, louder instrumentation and faster tempos, like the runaway train tempo of "(If There's) No Hope for Us", or "Speed-Date", a criticism of modern dating techniques that seem to rule out nothing except monogamy, truthfulness, and love. The more fragile, contemplative songs are set to spare, quiet music, like the lonely, regretful "Confessions of a Big Brother" or the tentative "Come Round and Love Me," a sexy love song about being afraid to be the first one to say it. The star of the whole show, both musically and lyrically is the lush, mid-tempo "Dream Sequence", a delightfully naughty and utterly tender song about a couple getting ready for sleep. It takes your breath away with its pretty, piano-driven melody, it's musical phrasing and dynamics, and the splendid emotional truth of the lyrics.

The Last Romance is a concept album with a plot, one that ends on a note that's not just hopeful, but celebratory. Love is what matters and will endure, even in the face of threatened disasters, natural, manmade, and combinations of the two, a detailed list of which close out "There is No Ending".

And, of course, for added enjoyment, there's those delightful Scottish accents.
[www.arabstrap.co.uk] [www.transdreamer.com]
Jen Grover

The Arctic Monkeys
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Domino Records

First they were nowhere.

Then they were everywhere.

Late last year The Arctic Monkeys went from being a band only their mates knew about to being the band everyone wanted to know about. Their first single went from being unheard straight to number one in the UK charts. Now their CD is out and it's the fastest selling debut album in UK history.

Who, what, where????

They're a four piece from Sheffield, very young, were formed in 2002, and started to create a stir when they made some songs available for download in 2004. In May 2005 they released an EP which was soon sold out and in June they signed to Domino Records. BBC Radio One became interested and in the summer of 2005 they performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. As autumn came, they sold out the London Astoria, and followed with "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor" hitting Number 1 and performances on several TV shows. Early 2006 has been just as eventful with "When the Sun Goes Down" also going straight to Number 1.

The debut CD was released a week early in the last week of January. So how does it shape up?

Well, after an initial listen, they come across as the latest incarnation of a British music crown previously worn by the likes of The Jam, The Clash, Pulp, and The Streets. On the whole the CD belts along like an out of control train zigzagging its way through working-class areas of Sheffield and stopping off at every pub and nightclub in the city.

Each song is a self-contained story. There's tales of lust and violence, fights with bouncers and police… and girlfriends. It's an ideal Friday and Saturday early evening record for when you're young and going out on the town. Repeated listens improve the experience and the lyrics belie the fact that lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Alex Turner is only 19.

With a UK tour coming up and then a US excursion planned it will be interesting to see how the rest of the year pans out for the lads.
[www.arcticmonkeys.com]
Richard Sheehan

Belle and Sebastian
The Life Pursuit
Matador

So 2006 brings us a new Belle and Sebastian album, The Life Pursuit. The band have returned to their label in the US, Matador, after one album on Rough Trade. Did they sign with Rough Trade just because Stuart Murdoch's teenage heroes, The Smiths, were on that label? ("Well I wonder...")

My first impressions of the new record weren't good. My first thought was oh my God! It's the fricking Bay City Rollers! (If it's not Scottish it's CRAP!!) I also heard some T Rex, but the influences are all over the map from the 60's and 70's on this album. Some Motown drum beats. There's even some vintage Nashville "whang" in there as well.

Over time, I've come to like The Life Pursuit. It's no shy charmer like If You're Feeling Sinister or some ragged early e.p., but you can't stay twenty-something and staring at the floor forever. You evolve. You hone your skills. I've always appreciated and preferred the charm and honesty of an artist's early material over their latter (the elementary school teacher in me perhaps), but, musically, this record is the best they've done, and blows If You're Feeling Sinister out of the water in terms of chops.

The standout track on the record for this reviewer is the single, "Another Sunny Day". This has to be the tightest, catchiest, most confident single they've ever released. (Hopefully the "f" word in the lyrics won't kill this one. Their last record was the first one the public radio station where I live had in their daytime rotation). You want to sing along, drive faster, bop your head, shake your flare-legged bootie. Once you are ready to slow it down, "Mornington Crescent" is another album track to set your repeat button on. It's classic Belle and Sebastian--heartfelt, poetic, pretty, gentle.

The limited edition of the album is two discs that come in what looks like a hardcover book, with pretty young women photographed in that heavily Smiths-influenced cover style that looks like a classic Belle and Sebastian cover. The album is on the left side and a DVD of the band live in studio at the BBC (which is a very enjoyable 6-song set) doing tracks from the new record is on the right. In between the two discs is a booklet of fan questions and answers from members of the band. Truly a fan treat:

From: Juan Pablo
Q. hi, I am from Mexico, the fist thing I want is congratulate you:congratulations. the second is this i am 16 years old, I really don't like buissnes work and adults but I would like to work or do some thing for the summer, I would like to go to the forest with my friends and buy a beautiful painting on the internet. but I like baking cakes but I am not sure to sell them, and I like to make t-shirts of my favorite bands and stuff but i don't like to make money from the music i really enjoy. so what could i do? I could just Relax in my house all summer but I really love the forest, thanks, Bella y la Bestia bye (i don't chew English)

A. This is one of the greats really. 16, you're beautiful, and you're slightly lost in translation. But we'll forgive you.

It is of vital importance at this age to learn how to have fun and to learn what it takes to truly enjoy yourself. Do this before settling down to any adult type responsibilities. Go to the forest, certainly. But also make band tshirts. If you can make any dough off it, and feel guilty, then send a shirt to the bands involved. Out of egotistical fervour, they will readily forgive you.
Stuart
Mark Staples

Big Star
In Space
Rykodisc

The first album in over 30 years from this band is a good one. Alex Chilton and Jodie Stevens are joined by John Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the Posies.

What's refreshing about this album is that Chilton didn't try to best himself. He knew full well how groundbreaking Big Star had been. While he knew better than to rest on his laurels, he also wanted people to know that he could make something of a reunion.

Every song on here is a winner, and here are the highlights. "Lady Sweet" is a wonderfully bitter and oh so sweet song. Chilton does sound happy here, but a little melancholy as well. Great harmonies from the band. Love the cymbals. Just the right amount of tuneful jangling guitars. Bass in the middle ground. Gorgeous lyrics.

"Love Revolution" is power pop meets disco, and it's like disco never died, the beat is tight, and right, the horns punch it up, so does the bass. Minimal guitar. The message of the lyrics is love, peace, revolution.

"Aria Largo" is a classical music composition by Georg Moffat, an instrumental in which chiming, slightly twangy guitar takes the place of most of the orchestra.

"Mine Exclusively" is good 60's style soul/70's funk. Alex knows exactly how to sing this. Good beat. "A Whole New Thing" is also in this vein, and sounds like Motown, with the classic Motown beat.

"Makeover", a goof on plastic surgery, ends the album on a punk note, with scratchy guitars, shouted vocals, and jumpy drums. A good send off to an album that most never thought possible, but it's great that Alex did.
[www.bigstarband.com]
Andrea Weiss

Cat Power
The Greatest
Matador

This album marks new directions for Chan Marshall. She went to Memphis to record at Artdent Studios and had fine musicians like Tennie Hodges, guitar on all songs except "Hate", Leroy Hodges on bass for some songs, and Steve Potts on drums.

It's also a great album. She has a nice voice. Very expressive. She sounds happy, even content, or just looking back on her life with few regrets and a lot of wry humor. With quiet music, understated, hushed electric guitar, drums, piano, sax and trumpet, the album has the same late night listening feel to it as Rickie Lee Jones' first album.

"Hate" may make some people wince; it's a little too honest, but Marshall sounds wide-eyed with wonder that any one could say, "I hate myself and want to die." Her plaintive, halting guitar playing adds to the astonishment.

Chan Marshall recently canceled her US tour. There are rumors that she's battling addiction or depression. Let's hope she wins her battle with whatever ails her, and gets on the road supporting a breakthrough album.
[www.catpowerthegreatest.com]
Andrea Weiss

Film School
Film School
Beggars Banquet

The first full length from San Francisco's Film School continues their lush, moody sound. Compared to their EP Alwaysnever, the song structures are tighter and poppier, the vocals louder and snappier, the overall sound punchier and more angular, the tempo a bit faster. Believe the hype; this is a really good album. That being said, in some ways I prefer the gentler, spacier, more naive sound of Alwaysnever, which also sounds less like someone found a stash of long lost Cure songs. The single, "On & On" is getting a lot of airplay in indier circles and is fairly representative several tracks, but "He's a Deep Deep Lake" is a stand-out track for me, harkening back more to the EP's nature.

Visit the sites to hear songs from the album, and an Alwaysnever song on the MySpace page.
[www.beggars.com] [www.myspace.com/filmschool]
Jen Grover

The Maybellines
A La Carte
Best Friends Records

This six song EP/CD is a nice slice of lo-fi, indie flavored pop-rock, with a slight aroma of garage. Quite tasty, but this meal is served warm, not hot; a bit of spice would make it much more appealing.
[www.themaybellines.com][www.bestfriendsrecords.com]
x

Modern Skirts
Catalogue of Generous Men
Self Released

Modern Skirts play mostly mid-tempo-ish 60's/70's American (not Brit) style pop. The playing is accurate but not mechanical, fluid and expressive, and the vocals, a little husky, sung with conviction, sell the songs most convincingly. And the songs... well, they're downright catchy; you can't help yourself, you'll be hearing them hours after you've put the disc away.

I really want to like this album. It has so much going for it. There's just one problem. The music has been done before. All of it. Note for note, phrase for phrase. If you demand familiarity in your music, and Modern Skirts fit into your comfort zone, then you are going to love this record. Otherwise, like me, you'll be left with a hollow, swindled feeling.
[www.modernskirts.com][athensmusic.net/product_info.php?products_id=1092]
x

Moes Haven
Something Else/Sir Paul Made Ram, We Made This
Motern Music

Tom Scalzo and Matt Farley have done it again. Two more fine albums from this duo. There is a lot to like, fun lyrics, fun music. They're more than a little off center, but that adds to the fun.

They will remind you of They Might Be Giants, but they are a lot better than TMBG, with a better sound, no ODing on wackiness, and they are a lot more understandable and concise. Some songs feature piano solos, others guitar. Something Else is a concept album about a very sad guy. How sad? One song title is "Broken-hearted is a Nice Way to Be". The character wants to be rich and famous, but he knows he'd blow it if he was. But this is also a very funny album. How funny? The guy hides in a fort made of blankets, and sings his tales of woe. The vocals and instruments have some echo surrounding them, maybe to emphasize singing and playing in a fort of blankets. Great, all the way around. Lyrically, it's quite plain, which is also good. They say what they need to and then comes the next song.

On Sir Paul, their goofiness comes through even better. A synth on track 1, "Love and Detroit", chimes along with the music. "She's Coming to Visit" features enjoyable shimmering guitar. The vocals are bluesy. The characters are ordinary people, and nice people too, with normal human problems. "Country Romp" is the best song on the album, with tootling organ and lovely lyrics.

So if you want fun, off beat, and minimalist folk, these are the albums for you.
[www.moeshaven.com]
Andrea Weiss

Talking Heads
77 (reissue)
Rhino

It's hard to believe that it has been 29 years since 77, the landmark debut of Talking Heads, was originally released (I was about 10 and clueless of them until about age 15), but, at the same time, songs like "Psycho Killer" or "Don't Worry About The Government" seem like they've always been around, and always part of the fringe-rock canon, like the Velvets' "I'll Be Your Mirror", or Big Star's "Holocaust", or even the B-52s' "Rock Lobster". 77 was different from the other albums at the time from the NYC art rock scene. The kids on the cover look like they got their clothes from LL Bean, not the Sex Shop or the thrift store, and their hair looks extremely normal for the era. They looked like they just stepped off an ivy league campus. These were the thinkers of the scene. Cerebral New Wave is born.

Rhino's reissues of the Talking Heads catalog are impressive. Rhino always does it right. Issued on DualDisc, the original album remastered by Jerry Harrison, along with 5 bonus tracks, including the excellent "Sugar On My Tongue", constitutes the CD side. On the DVD side appears the original album in 5.1 Surround Sound, Advanced Resolution 96khz/24bit Surround (whatever that is), as well as Dolby Surround, plus a photo gallery and two period concert videos of "Pulled Up" and "I Feel It In My Heart", a previously unreleased track that makes its debut as a bonus track on the flip side. This is the format of all the Heads reissues.

Honestly, I don't hear much of a difference, if any, from my original issue Talking Heads 77 CD from the '80s (perhaps if I had gourmet stereo equipment), but the album does sound noticeably richer played on the DVD side, bringing out subtleties in the percussion I never noticed before. My car stereo (also not gourmet) didn't like the DualDisc, as it had a difficult time finding its place and re-tracking it after a big bump in the road. However, the DualDisc is a good idea, keeping the two media in one place together, as well as certain savings for the record company to produce. The downside is that DualDiscs only hold about 60 minutes of music, instead of the normal 80 minutes a CD holds.

The liner notes are great. Contemporary writer Dave Eggers, in his late thirties, writes:

"A friend of mine had a cassette--manufactured by the record company--with 77 on one side, and More Songs About Buildings And Food on the other. I remember it coming in a paper box that looked like a cigarette box-pack-thing, with that sort of angled hood. It was an amazing object.

"That's how I was introduced to the band, when I was about 12. But I thought the people singing on those records were crazy. I had been brought up in fairly sheltered environment, musically, where we listened to Crystal Gayle and John Denver and Billy Joel, and then I heard "Don't Worry About The Government," and it took me months to figure out what the hell Byrne was talking about. There was no real precedent for what he was doing with those lyrics, I don't think. He was singing about working in a building, but even at 12 I was pretty sure David Byrne didn't work in a building like that. So I had to reconcile so many confusing elements: Why was he singing about a building like that? He had such a strange voice--had anyone told him that? Still, why did he seem so cheerful? And how could he be singing about a building at all? No one else I'd ever heard sang songs about their coworkers and the conveniences contained within offices. That was, I'm pretty sure, my introduction to what a friend of mine later called haute banal. I still think that's a good term for what Byrne was doing lyrically back then. To this day, those remain some of the oddest words ever sung by man."

77's lyrics stand out as extremely Byrne-centered. Forget the me decade or even the Al Franken decade. It appears the 70's were the Byrne decade after all (I should count the times the word "I" is spoken/sung on 77). The self-centeredness of youth. But, the lyrics to 77 remain my favorite of all the Head's catalog, for their honesty and tenderheartedness: "I'm embarrassed to admit it but there's a soft spot in my heart when I found out you wrote the book I read."

This is what Jerry Harrison says in the liner notes about the 5.1 Surround Remix:

"77 presented quite a challenge. It was recorded on a 16-track recorder with only four tracks devoted to drums. Some of the songs only consisted of eight tracks; yet the songs still adapted well to 5.1 surround remix. This album did not lend itself to events taking place in the rear, or to much movement; rather, the songs just occupied a larger sound stage."

77's sound has always been crisp and angular and even a little stiff (before they loosened up on Fear of Music and progressively got more rubbery-funky). The DVD just makes it sound crispier and the angles sharper and lets you smell the starch that keeps the early material stiff.
Mark Staples