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July 19, 2007

Post Punk’s Top Ten Albums

Filed under: Music Review — N @ 4:40 pm

For those of us whose musical tastes were shaped by punk and post punk the following article is a must read. A pick of the 10 most influential post punk albums are reviewed and discussed. Check the link and enjoy!

http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid43530.aspx

Wilco Find Wide Open Spaces With Sky Blue Sky

Filed under: Music Review — N @ 1:54 pm

Wilco has always been a band that has kept on moving their sound around while still staying true to front man Jeff Tweedy’s alt country heritage and Sky Blue Sky is no different. With this new record Wilco has added a touch of 70′s soft rock with hints of Steely Dan and James Taylor and a little Crazy Horse stomp thrown in for good measure.

Unlike Wilco’s last two records there is very little noise or distortion on Sky Blue Sky. Its peaceful on its surface but completely twisted in its lyrics. Tweedy has weather some interesting personal demons over the last few years and clearly has used those demons as inspiration for his songs. The most amazing song on the album is “Impossible Germany.” How Tweedy came up with this one is hard to say but he did and it is one of the best songs I have heard in 10 years. The song seems sweet and mellow in the beginning, but when Tweedy and guitar genius Nels Cline trade guitar solos it smacks you right in the face demanding attention.

Fans of the band’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born may be initially taken aback by the mellowness of Sky Blue Sky’s sound. However, after repeated listens even those fans will appreciate the understated beauty of the songs from the kick off of “Either Way” through “Impossible Germany” then the stomp”You Are My Face” sliding into the lilting “On and On and On.” Tweedy and company have hit their stride while giving a nod to their past, present and possible future. This is a record that any serious music fan should give many listens.

July 10, 2007

Ryan Adams Hits His Stride With Easy Tiger

Filed under: Music Review — N @ 3:38 pm

Having released a ton of material in a variety of genres over the last few years, Ryan Adams has finally hit his stride with his new album, Easy Tiger. Dropping his dabbling in rock, hip hop and straight country, Adams has created the country rock album we all knew he was capable of making. For fans of Adams’ work with Wiskeytown this is the album you have been looking for since the band’s demise.

Easy Tiger is Adams at his most consistent. He balances the album nicely with ballads like “Everybody Knows,” “These Girls” and “Off Broadway” with rockers like “Goodnight Rose” and the jokey “Halloween Head” tying it all together with slower tunes like the Sheryl Crow duet “Two” and “Tears of Gold.” While a song like “I Taught Muyslef How to Grow Old” seems thrown in overall the album is very well done.

Adams is on tour now supporting Easy Tiger and his shows have been clear and hit filled. All this consistency may have something to do his sobriety over the last year. Whatever the reasons, Easy Tiger is an excellent record.

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