BIG BAER Urban Alternative
New Music Reviews
Slow Train Soul - Illegal Cargo
In The Black Of Night "BANG BANG BANG Feel the killah lead, whiz on pass miss my head. Left turn watch the crimson flow brotherman on the floor. CHING CHING CHING! Let the dollars go cause life ain't messin' round no more. Stone cold when they knock me out, in the black of night I heard 'em shoutin' murder…"
Slow Train Soul is Lady Z and Morten Varano, Illegal Cargo is the name of their album, and intensely cool is the sound. What else could you expect when you combine brutally raw soul and neo-electric jazz? Illegal Cargo bleeds coolness - full review coming soon!
Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance
Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance Last October, a young
Chicago-based singer and pianist named Rachael Yaamagata quietly snuck onto the scene with a short but sweet
collection of five songs that caught most of us off guard. The songs on this
EP, darkly initimate and full of emotion, brought comparisons to artists
like Carole King, Cassandra Wilson, Roberta Flack and Norah Jones. But mostly it was Rachael's smoky vocals and
sultry compositions that captured our hearts.
Rachael's full-length debut, Happenstance has rightfully become one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. [Rachael Yamagata Happenstance]
Blue Man Group - The Complex
Blue Man Group: The Complex delivers performance art on a cd disc. Deep throbbing bass, Blue Man Group
signature sounds, combined with surprisingly real alternative rock rhythms combine to rank this release on the
"must have" list. Oh, yeah, the Complex features Dave Matthews Sing Along. Blue Man Group & Dave Matthews?
Deep.
"Rock concert movement number one, the basic head-bob, rock concert movement number two, the one armed fist pump. In a moment it will be time to execute rock concert number three the up and down jumping motion here are your instructions, step one, bend your knees step and then jump into the air, step two let gravity bring you down and upon landing rock your head forward, step three, repeat. Ready go..." Time To Start [Blue Man Group - The Complex]
The Complex adds to its already strong credibility with included collaborations from Dave Matthews, Dan the Automator [1] [2], Venus Hum, Rob Swift and Esthero. Make no mistake however, thrashing guitars and verse/chorus/bridge song structure place The Complex firmly into the Rock genre, shaken, not stirred, served with a Blue Man Group twist. [Blue Man Group - The Complex]
Venus Hum - Big Beautiful Sky
Big Beautiful Sky is Grammy winner material. Seriously. The debut full-length
release from Venus Hum is truly an incredible album; sensual, erotic, and richly textured, vocalist Annette Strean
seduces listeners with her angelic voice and captivates with her eccentric stylings. There is magic here. Big
Beautiful Sky is full of enchanting sounds and blends, meshing the synth-pop of the early 80's with the stimulating
vibrations of modern electronica.
"Indulging inaccuracy I'm picking apart my friend Lizzie Throw another word on me and watch me hurl it back I know you! (I swear I do) You're just like me- You're sipping a cup of pity Aw! Did I forget to mention I'm the center of attention In my universe my pain's my pension I know you! (I swear I do) You're just like me-You're sipping a cup of dreams Yeah! Soul sloshing-don't shush me Just listen to me -pretty little kitty in the sky The bass of my laughter-my gut is the speaker Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Sweet is my surprise! " Soul Sloshing [Venus Hum - Big Beautiful Sky]
"…I can see me dancing on my radio I can hear you singing in the blades of grass Yellow dandelions on my way to school Big Beautiful Sky! " Montana [Venus Hum - Big Beautiful Sky]
Together with the electronic sound scapes fashioned by guitarist Tony Miracle and keyboardist Kip Kubin, who paint the musical landscape of Big Beautiful Sky with computers, synthesizers, bass and vocals, Annette Strean and Venus Hum are guaranteed to generate tremendous buzz. [Venus Hum - Big Beautiful Sky]
Indie Artist Music Reviews
Muleskinner Jones Deathrow Hoedown
You are not ready for this! Muleskinner Jones' Deathrow Hoedown is mad genius unbridled. Full review coming soon!
Cuatro Caminos - El Bong de Titaneo
El Bong de Titaneo by Cuatro Caminos, on the Stump Records Label redefines creative artistic expression in a musical sense. Occasionally, while listening to a new release, in preparation for a featured review, the title for the review pops into my head. Sometimes it hurts, other triremes it feels so right. First, I want to make it perfectly clear: I really like Cuartro Caminos' El Bong de Titaneao. With that said, here is the "title" that popped. I call it "They Might Be Giants if they weren't already Latin Kings!" Nuff said. The full review soon.
Mad Bliss - Karen's Molested Apple
From
Israel comes Mad Bliss and their independent EP release, a five track
offering with the memorable title of Karen's Molested Apple. Immediately recognizable is the same raw emotion,
muted intensity and sense of something more, that flavored early Pink Floyd. There is that same sense of innocence
expressed through plaintive melodies and muted vocals that never completely veils the madness beneath. At any
moment you might expect lead singer Tomer Raivit to explode in the manner of Roger Waters from Pink Floyd's
masterpiece, Careful With That Axe Eugene. Isaac Barel's guitar work is even reminiscent of David Gilmore's style
of controlled power.
Israeli music critics described Mad Bliss as "Hot and distilled", "From the outskirts of Pink Floyd to Downtown Seattle", "Its feeling of yearning and ethereal sound, backed up by intoxicating guitar riffs and powerful drumming provides long moments of celestial pleasure…"
The music is soft, sweet, and dangerous; you can feel the intense undertones throughout. A casual listen here would be injustice. The sound is definitely Mad Bliss! [Mad Bliss - Karen's Molested Apple]