NewBeats: June 2007

CD Review: Pretenders

Pretenders
Learning to Crawl
Get Close
Sire/Real/Rhino
By David Chiu

After the major loss of two members, Pretenders front woman Chrissie Hynde solderied on, proving that the group still had a future. Learning To Crawl, recorded in the wake of the death of guitarist James Honeyman Scott and the firing (and subsequent death) of bassist Pete Farndon, featured tracks that have since been Pretenders classics and stapes of rock radio: fantastic rockers such as “Middle of the Road” and “Time the Avenger,” and pop tunes in “Show Me” and “2,000 Miles.” The best track here is naturally “Back on the Chain Gang,” which has endured since its recording 25 years ago (This reissue contains bonus tracks including live versions of “My City Was Gone” and an early version of “Tequila” that would be later recorded for 1994’s Last of the Independents).

Crawl was produced by Chris Thomas, and you can hear the difference in the production on the next record, Get Close, helmed by Jimmy Iovine and Bob Clearmountain. The result was something very polished. By that time, original drummer Martin Chambers left, and the band consisted of Hynde and a cast of session players. Still, Get Close is a decent effort with more strong songs including the chugging “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” “My Baby,” the hard rocking “Room Full of Mirrors” and the lovely “Hymn to Her.” Added to the reissue of Get Close are six bonus tracks including live performances of “Thumbelina” and “Don’t Get Me Wrong.”

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CD Review: Instant Karma

Various Artists
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Warner Bros.
By David Chiu

John Lennon’s music and this Amnesty International project is a perfect, worthy fit. Covers or tribute albums are usually a mixed bag, but the music here by these 23 artists showcases Lennon’s passion and activism, which are quite timely in reference to the dire situation in Darfur. Some of the covers vary from the straightforward (R.E.M.’s “#9 Dream,” U2’s “Instant Karma,” Avril Lavigne’s “Imagine,” Regina Spektor’s Real Love) to the inventive (Lenny Kravitz’s funky performance of “Cold Turkey,” Aerosmith and Refugee All Star’s “Give Peace a Chance,” Matisyahu’s reggae treatment on “Watching the Wheels”; and the trippy “(Just Like) Starting Over” by the Flaming Lips). Even Christina Aguilera’s rendition of “Mother” sound surprisingly soars, echoing the power of the original. Yoko Ono was right in her liner notes from the album—“John would have been proud of this album.” (Funds from the sales of the album will help Amnesty International’s campaign of drawing attention to the situation in Darfur).

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CD Review: Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry
Dylanesque
Virgin
By David Chiu

Given that he has tackled Bob Dylan before (“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna-Fall,” “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” “Don’t Think Twice”), it’s not surprising that Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry would devote an entire album to the music of the rock legend. Like he has done on previous cover songs, Ferry does some drastic reworkings on Dylan’s most beloved songs that are sure to open some eyes and ears to the bard’s rabid fans: the lush piano and orchestral treatment of “Positively Fourth Street,” the direct rock feel of “The Times They Are a Changin’ and “Simple Twist of Fate.” A few of the numbers, such as the magnificent “Make You Feel My Love” and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” does Ferry musically comes close to the originals; he nails it on the hard rocking finale “All Along the Watchtower.” Longtime Ferry fans will be pleased to hear how this record is reminscent of his ‘70s covers albums—it sounds more direct rather than glossy. Although his style now seems to devoid of the camp and irony from previous covers, Ferry continues to be in fine form with his signature velvety croon.

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CD Review: The Traveling Wilburys

The Traveling Wilburys
The Traveling Wilburys Collection
Wilbury Record Co./Rhino
By David Chiu

What made the Traveling Wilburys—George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty— so special was how their music sounded so informal and homespun. It was not so much a “supergroup” (which they really were), but more like best friends gathering for a good-natured jam. After years of going out of print, the two TW albums have just been reissued along with a DVD containing a documentary and several music videos. The brilliant 1988 debut album was a showcase of the members’ love for early rock and roll: rockabilly (“Rattled”), country (the masterful “End of the Line”), and Latin-tinged tunes (the hilarious “Last Night,” “Margarita”). Critics have rightly pointed out that Dylan sounded much better on this album (“Dirty World” and “Tweeter and the Monkey Man”) than his previous output during the ‘80s. For the great Orbison, it was a sign of a comeback as indicated on his brilliant showcase “Not Alone Anymore.” Sadly he passed away shortly after Vol. 1’s release, and his absence affects the group dynamic on the less-heralded sequel. Still, Vol. 3 shouldn’t be overlooked as it comtains many strong songs on there, particulary the barnstorming “She’s My Baby,” the environmental commentary of Inside Out, the lovely ballad “You Took My Breath Away” and the rocker “Wilbury Twist.” You can tell from the albums and the accompanying documentary that there was a lot of fun and love involved in the making of this music.

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CD Review: Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley
So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley
Columbia/Legacy
By David Chiu

Jeff Buckley, who died exactly ten years ago at the age of 30, still remains a tremendous musical force. He had only one full-length studio album, Grace, released when he was alive, and it endures to this day as a classic. Buckley left behind many other studio and live recordings that has since been issued or reissued. So Real, this new posthumous collection, is really an introduction for those new to the troubadour’s work. Drawing cuts from Grace and the posthumous releases/reissues such as Sketches from My Sweetheart the Drunk and Live at Sin-e, So Real conveys the two sides of Buckley: the soulful folkie poet (“Lover Come Back,” “Forget Her,” “Everybody Wants You”) and the intense rocker (a blistering performance of “Eternal Life,” and “Mojo Pin”). And what Jeff Buckley collection would be without three of his even greater songs: “Last Goodbye,” the magnificent “Grace,” and a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallejulah,” which he has since made it his own. Two previously unreleased tracks will make the Buckley completists scouring for this latest compilation: live renditions of “So Real” from Japan, and the Smiths’ “I Know It’s Over.” Passion and intimacy are what comes to mind regarding his performances, echoed by the reckless abandon in his voice and his stirring lyrics. If this collection gets you going, proceed to get Grace, the live collection Mystery White Boy, and, whenever it is commercially released on DVD, the Amazing Grace film documentary.

Watch the video "Forget Her" on You Tube

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Upcoming: Greta Gertler and the Extroverts

Those who live in the New York City area should check out the music of Australian singer/songwriter Greta Gertler and her band the Extroverts. Gertler, who has released two excellent records, The Baby That Brought Bad Weather and Nervous Breakthroughs, is scheduled to release a new album, Edible Restaurant, in the fall (It is currently available on iTunes).

Here is a schedule of upcoming local dates:

The Living Room (w/Noam Weinstein)June 19
Rockwood Music Hall (NYC) Hall at 7 p.m. June 20
Barbes (Brooklyn) at 8 p.m. June 30

For more information, visit gretagertler.net

photo from sonicbids online press kit

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Interview: Beach House

Beach House is an act from Baltimore whose music is of hypnotic, psychedelic pop. The duo of guitarist Alex Scally and singer/keyboardist released their brilliant self-titled debut last year on Carpark Records and is recording a new album this summer. Here is an interview about them published in the recent issue of New York Press. Photo by Elizabeth Flyntz.