SOUND CHECK SPOTLIGHT ON ...The Dandy Warhols/``Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia'' (Capitol) On two previous albums, Oregon's Dandy Warhols recycled the old glassy-eyed sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. myth, attracting some attention on this side of the Atlantic with a marginal hit, ``Not If You Were the Last Junkie junkie Popular health A popular term for a person, usually an IV narcotic abusing addict, whose life is disorganized vis-á-vis family and societal structure, whose existence revolves around obtaining–often through theft, prostitution or other illicit on Earth,'' while predictably selling out venues in the UK. Surprisingly, the self-produced ``Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia'' (in stores Tuesday) shows growth, care and insight. Diverse, well-crafted material here ranges from classic pop-rockers, country stomps and dreamy love songs, delivered with conviction by flamboyant singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor Courtney Taylor may refer to:
Tunes like the witty, revved-up single ``Bohemian Like You'' and the rave-up ``Get Off'' seem destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. for radio. Beyond that, longer items such as the melodic ``Godless'' and the droning ``Nietzsche'' (catch the drift?) give listeners reason to return again and again to the sort of classic- rock-tinged record that's become increasingly rare in this era of one-hit wonders List of one-hit wonders can refer to
- Fred Shuster Duke Robillard Michael John "Duke" Robillard (born October 4, 1948 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island) is an American blues musician. After paying his dues in various bands and even working for Guild guitars, he co-founded Roomful of Blues with pianist Al Copley in 1967. Band/``Explorer'' (Shanachie shan·a·chie also sen·na·chie n. Chiefly Scots A skilled teller of tales or legends, especially Gaelic ones. [Scots Gaelic seanachaidh, from Old Irish senchaid, variant of ) Guitarist Robillard, heart of the swing conglomerate Roomful of Blues Roomful of Blues is a horn-driven musical band that plays Jump blues. The group was formed in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1967 by guitarist Duke Robillard and pianist Al Copley. Since then, the band has been touring and recording tirelessly. for years, knows exactly how a jump-blues record should sound. Above all, it has to be snappy - like the impeccably horn-arranged ``Male Magnet'' and ``Just Between Me and You'' and the sexy, growling ``You Dropped the Thing on Me.'' But while ``Explorer'' is frequently fun to hear, Robillard's sub-Dr. John baritone just isn't strong enough to make a great album. And his tales are straight out of the lovin'-you/women-done-me-wrong textbook. ``If you ain't soulful, baby, sure enough I got to go,'' he sings, on ``Soulful.'' Must have been an awkward date. Two and one half stars - Steve Knopper Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Jimmy Scott/``Mood Indigo'' (Milestone) Since returning to recording a decade ago, Scott - the 4-foot-11 vocalist known in the 1950s as Little Jimmy Scott Jimmy Scott (July 17, 1925 in Cleveland) is an American jazz vocalist. Scott has Kallmann's syndrome, a genetic condition which stunted his growth at five feet and prevented him reaching puberty, leaving him with a high, undeveloped soprano voice, hence his nickname "Little" - has made a series of fine albums. But none are as exquisite as this, a set that eschews the contemporary material (which, to be fair, he rendered wonderfully) of his previous four records for an all-standards program. At the age of 75, Scott retains the cracked satin tone that earned him comparisons to Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959), born Eleanora Fagan and later nicknamed Lady Day (see "Jazz royalty" regarding similar nicknames), was an American jazz singer, a seminal influence on jazz and pop singers, and generally regarded as one of the . When people talk about the voice as an instrument, it's a singer like Scott they have in mind. Producer Todd Barkan has put together a sensitive band for the date, with pianist Cyrus Chestnut making an enormous contribution to Scott's interpretation of the Duke Ellington title tune, and saxophonist Hank Crawford adding his rich luster to ``Smile'' and ``Imagination.'' Scott's phrasing is at its most creatively emotional on ``Time After Time,'' in which he is accompanied only by Michael Kanan's piano, and a definitive ``There Will Never Be Another You,'' a selection that couldn't be more appropriate: He's one of a kind. Four stars - Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep". Some still refer to it locally as "The Friendly" -- a slogan from an ad campaign in the '70s. Dianne Reeves/``In the Moment: Live in Concert'' (Blue Note) Traditionally, jazz has always been about the creation of music in the moment. In the studio, an artist can uncover and explore - and then polish and enhance the finished recording. Conversely, recording in a live setting offers less room for error, for sure, but at the same time it allows an artist to try something different, to throw caution to the wind, to perhaps be a tad more adventurous. On the George Duke-produced ``In the Moment,'' singer-songwriter Reeves is not just in her element, she is at home - and what a sublime place it is. Recorded earlier this year over two nights in Los Angeles, the 11-song collection, which is heavily influenced by postcard-perfect Brazilian shadings, opens with Cat Stevens' ``Morning Has Broken.'' Ever since Reeves covered the song on her 1997 album, ``That Day,'' it has become a mainstay in her live sets. The same can also be said for such Reeves nuggets Nuggets can refer to several branches of interest:
Other highlights include Cole Porter's ``Love for Sale,'' Antonio Carlos Jobim's ``Triste triste adj. Sad; wistful. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin tristis.] triste Adjective Old-fashioned sad [French] ,'' and ``The Best Times (Grandma's Song),'' a new song penned by Reeves. Simply mesmerizing mes·mer·ize tr.v. mes·mer·ized, mes·mer·iz·ing, mes·mer·iz·es 1. To spellbind; enthrall: "He could mesmerize an audience by the sheer force of his presence" . Four stars - Billboard Paul van Dyk/``Out There and Back'' (Mute) Van Dyk is in the top echelon of international DJs, writers and producers of the dance music that broadly falls into the category of trance. His music is energetically upbeat, but it has a strong melodic focus and emotional content evident throughout this 12-track, predominantly instrumental disc. Equally suitable for home or club listening, ``Out There and Back,'' which includes a bonus, second disc of fresh cuts and remixes, is packed with anthemic tunes. But it begins in a lower key with a rather reflective, atmospheric cut, ``Vega.'' That tranquillity soon passes, however, as van Dyk raises the temperature with the house beats of ``Pikes,'' as the tracks fuse one into the next in a continuous mix. The chart-successful ``Another Way'' follows, the rhythmic pace quickening, the bass and drums propelling the track forward while electronic keyboards sway and stutter stut·ter n. A phonatory or articulatory disorder characterized by difficult enunciation of words with frequent halting and repetition of the initial consonant or syllable. v. To utter with spasmodic repetition or prolongation of sounds. over that foundation. Van Dyk also is comfortable injecting a harder edge into some tracks, such as ``Travelling,'' which makes little pretense at any serious melodic structure. His new single, which broke into the Top 10 in the UK, is one of the rare vocal cuts. ``Tell Me Why (The Riddle)'' features the voice of Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne on a track that contrasts a fierce dance rhythm with Cracknell's rather waifish vocals set low in the mix. As the disc progresses, the groove deepens even as the melodic focus remains sufficient to keep home listeners on board. The lovely ``Face to Face'' is a good example, blending rhythmic intensity with lush keyboards and simple, yet affecting chords. ``Out There and Back'' is essential listening for longtime listeners to dance music and for clubbers, as well as for those unfamiliar with the style who want to know what the buzz is all about. Three and one half stars - Richard Paton Toledo Blade Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers/``Reflections of Buhaina'' (Savoy Jazz Originals) ``Reflections of Buhaina,'' the CD and the cut on the disc, are a fine tribute to the late Blakey, the drummer and teacher extraordinaire ex·tra·or·di·naire adj. Extraordinary: a jazz singer extraordinaire. [French, from Old French, from Latin extra who kept the Jazz Messengers as a power in the jazz world for decades. This Savoy reissue of the 1957 Messengers featuring trumpeter Bill Hardman and keeper of the keys Keeper of the Keys (1932) is the sixth and last mystery in the Charlie Chan series of Earl Derr Biggers; Biggers was planning on continuing the series, but died in 1933 before he could. of be-bop sax Jackie McLean, also includes a later Hardman session from 1961. This disc is a ``one of a kind'' recording. Stylewise, the jazz is be-bop played with complexity and at a fevered pace that inspires awe at the skill of Jackie ``Jackie Mac'' Mclean, whose fingers race from one end of the sax to the other, playing distinct notes where other musicians are only able to blend. On the early tracks, Hardman appears to be spraying notes out of his trumpet, but with total control of his volume. Blakey, leading off the set with what sounds like double-jointed drumming, later provides an exhibition of four-limbed virtuosity. He plays four-beat bass drum, and two and four on the hi-hat while soloing with his snare snare (snar) a wire loop for removing polyps and tumors by encircling them at the base and closing the loop. snare n. and two tom-toms on Ray Draper's ``Ugh!'' Skill is the currency on this recording as the players show Blakey was right to recruit them. Four stars - Larry Roberts Toldeo Blade CAPTION(S): photo Photo: no caption (Dandy Warhols) |
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