Saturday, September 29, 2007
CD Review: Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Capitol
By David Chiu
In comparison to the other records that came out in 1967, Pink Floyd’s The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is the strangest. There are no pretty melodies or lyrics, save for the album’s last song “Bike,” which foreshadowed the dark quality the band has been known for in its music. The album is historically important for Floyd fans because it featured eccentric singer and songwriter Syd Barrett before David Gilmour replaced him. Barrett’s influence certainly pervades in the acid psychedelic music of tracks such as “Lucifer Sam,” “Astronomy Domine,” “The Gnome,” and the instrumental epic “Interstellar Overdrive.” The band continued on without Barrett for greater fame but the debut still leaves a lasting mark for its sense of the avant garde and the genius of Barrett. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, this special 3-CD version contains the mono and stereo versions of the original album and a bonus disc of singles (“Arnold Layne,” “See Emily Play”) and alternate versions of songs including a French edit of “Interstellar Overdrive.”
Watch a video of "Arnold Layne" featuring the original line-up of Pink Floyd:
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# posted by NewBeats @ 2:01 PM
CD Review: Bee Gees
Bee Gees
Greatest
Rhino
By David Chiu
After a period that saw them achieving initial success as balladeers, then followed by a creative and commercial rut, the Bee Gees reemerged in the mid-1970s as disco kings.. Greatest documents the Brothers Gibb’s most popular phase in their career highlighted by the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. It began in 1975 when the brothers worked with producer Arif Mardin on the Main Course album that yielded “Nights on Broadway” and “Jive Talkin’.” Working in Miami was conducive to the brothers as they continued with more disco-inflected tracks like You Should Be Dancing as well their ballads like the gorgeous “Love So Right.” With their contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977, the Bee Gees became a household name and hit the trifecta with the singles “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” and the brilliant “Night Fever.” Songs from Spirits Having Flown (“Tragedy,” “Too Much Heaven”) gave the Bee Gees their last major U.S. hits but the act’s legacy was already assured. The reissue of Greatest contains a previously unreleased track from the era, “Warm Ride,” and several bonus remixes.
Watch videos of the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever":
"Stayin' Alive"
"Night Fever"
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# posted by NewBeats @ 1:52 PM
Friday, September 28, 2007
Book Review: Irvine Welsh
If You Liked School, You’ll Love Work…
By Irvine Welsh
Reviewed by David Chiu
Author Irvine Welsh, best known for his 1993 novel Trainspotting, returns with his latest collection of short stories that feature interesting characters in quite unusual circumstances. In “Rattlesnakes,” for example, three Americans in the desert make an ill-fated encounter with two Mexican brothers who hold them at gunpoint. Equally unsettling is “Miss Arizona,” in which a writer interviews an eccentric old woman who later has a surprise waiting for him. The best of the pieces is “Kingdom of Fife,” a quirky story that involves two social outcasts, a table football match [or what we Americans call foosball], and a human head. Through his gritty, in-your-face style, Welsh is a master in developing offbeat characters, from an English bar owner coping with the women in his life , to an elder Scotsman who constantly listens to the music of 50 Cent. And as you’re finishing along Welsh sometimes throws an unexpected curve ball as he does on the aforementioned “Miss Arizona” and “The DOGS of Lincoln Park,” about an urban professional who loses her dog. In the end, it is the dark humor that makes the stories in this collection all the more fun and entertaining.
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# posted by NewBeats @ 11:31 AM
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Live Review: Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley
Webster Hall
September 22, 2007
by David Chiu
As if things weren’t already festive enough at the sold-out Rilo Kiley show at Webster Hall Saturday night, it was also band guitarist Blake Sennett’s birthday. So towards the end of the show, he was serenaded with — what else? — “Happy Birthday” from his band mates and the merry audience. That was just an indication of the party-like atmosphere inside the capacity-filled Hall.
Yet it didn’t feel like your typical indie rock concert. With the elaborate fancy lighting and the band members—particularly singer Jenny Lewis—being totally on their A-game, the performance had the trappings of a spectacle. That feeling of grandiosity complemented the radio-friendly pop songs Rilo Kiley performed from its latest album “Under the Blacklight.” It might be uncharacteristic to hear the hard funk of “The Moneymaker,” for example, coming from a band known for its straightforward rock, but there wasn’t any complaining from the cheering audience members either.
As evident from the some of the new poppier songs and the performance, the comparison to another California band, Fleetwood Mac, (as Spin implied on its recent cover) isn’t far off the mark. Even the new song that was played, “Breakin’ Up,” recalls Rumours-era Mac lyrically with the dance vibe of early Madonna. Whether its cult fandom approves of this current direction or not, Rilo Kiley is ready for the big time.
photo by Autumn DeWilde
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# posted by NewBeats @ 10:24 AM
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Book Review: Genesis
Genesis: Chapter and Verse
By Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford
Published by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Griffin
Review by David Chiu
What makes Genesis so interesting through this latest authorized biography is how for the most part the lives of the band members were relatively subdued compared to their more raucous contemporaries. In this book you won’t find any in-depth tales of rampant drug use, sexual escapades, back stabbings or tragedies that have befallen many of rock’s best bands. Instead, what you have is a story about the music and the people behind it. The book traces the history a band that started out as a collective amongst school friends, to this year’s recent reunion tour. In between, Genesis had sold millions of records and played many shows in large venues during its evolution from a progressive art rock outfit to a huge commercially successful pop group. The classic lineup of Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford, along with their close friends and associates, shares their memories with respect and admiration for the music and for each other. In some cases the commentaries members are very candid as fans will get the back stories behind some of Genesis’ most popular albums; the devastating departures of Gabriel, Hackett and Collins; and an aborted attempt at a reunion tour amongst the classic five as recent as a couple of years ago. Fully-illustrated with beautiful photos (i.e. Gabriel in the Supperman stage costume and breathtaking images from the band’s tours in the ‘80s and early ‘90s) and anecdotal captions, Chapter and Verse is the Genesis’ ultimate souvenir tour program but ten-times better. The only minor quibble is that there is not an album and singles discography to make the book more complete. All you ever needed to know about Genesis is finally here with this collection.
Watch the Genesis videos of “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”, featuring Peter Gabriel; and “Invisible Touch,” featuring Phil Collins.
“I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”
“Invisible Touch”
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# posted by NewBeats @ 1:06 PM
DVD Review: Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithful
Dreaming My Dreams
Eagle Vision
By David Chiu
Anyone familiar with singer Marianne Faithfull’s fascinating story would have guessed she’d be another rock and roll casualty. This documentary on DVD traces the twists and turns in Faithfull’s professional and personal life as the pretty faced 17-year-old ingénue who had a big hit with “As Tears Go By”; the paramour of Mick Jagger in the late ‘60s; and a down-and-out drug addict throughout the ‘70s. Yet she still remained in the public eye and continued to make music, most notably on 1979’s Broken English album. From there she transformed herself into a raspy-sounding lounge diva who sang dark songs. Faithfull is engaging as she is blunt-spoken in the documentary, which also features interviews with Keith Richards, ex-husband John Dunbar and biographer David Dalton. Dreaming My Dreams is essentially a survivor’s tale and makes a case for Faithfull’s place in the history of rock and roll.
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# posted by NewBeats @ 1:04 PM
Monday, September 03, 2007
Video: "Once"
A video from one of 2007's best movies, "Once," starring singer/songwriters Glen Hansard (of The Frames) and Marketa Irglova, courtesy of Fox Searchlight:
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# posted by NewBeats @ 3:18 PM
Sunday, September 02, 2007
CD Review: Clare Burson
Clare Burson
Thieves
By David Chiu
Brooklyn-based musician Clare Burson’s latest album is a stark work, but nevertheless quite intimate and moving. It’s a showcase for Burson’s mannered, torch-like singing and her aching folk rock: “Always Be” “Boat of Leaves” are affecting, the former augmented by some haunting viola playing; the driving “Love Is Snow” cuts deep; and “Let Me Lose Me” is an romantic love song. Sounding melancholic at times, Thieves is a gorgeously crafted work.
Web sites: www.clareburson.com
www.myspace.com/clareburson
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# posted by NewBeats @ 3:26 PM
CD Review: Prefab Sprout
Prefab Sprout
Steve McQueen
SonyBMG Music Entertainment/Legacy
By David Chiu
A masterpiece by one of pop’s under appreciated British bands (at least here in America), Prefab Sprout's 1985 Steve McQueen album finally gets the deluxe reissue treatment: one disc of the original work digitally remastered, the other containing eight newly-recorded acoustic versions of the songs performed by singer Paddy McAloon. Steve McQueen (originally titled Two Wheels Good upon its American release) is contemporary jazz-like pop mixed with Tin Pan Alley--its polished sheen, courtesy of producer Thomas Dolby, is complemented by McAloon’s clever and witty lyrics of romantic complications and longing: the wonderful "Appetite," the bittersweet “When Love Breaks Down” and “Bonny,” and the lovely “Hallelujah” and “Desire As.” The recent acoustic versions of the songs featuring McAloon on vocals and guitar prove that the songs translate well in this setting from their meticulously produced original form—McAloon’s whispery singing and the guitars really shimmer. In some instances, tracks like “Desire As” and “When the Angels” sound significantly different. Steve McQueen doesn’t get much recognition on American best albums list—it should.
See a video of "Appetite" on YouTube:
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# posted by NewBeats @ 1:49 PM
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