Warner Bros. The mental image I’ve had of eternally dour troubadour Damien Rice’ as a leaky human sieve, barely held together and struggling to stay whole amid a near-constant barrage of debris’ is only reinforced with his sophomore disc “9.” Love is either unrequited, spurned or dreamt in Rice’s songs, acoustic shards of folk-pop that […]
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When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
2006 A purifying masterpiece of pain and anger, Spike Lee’s devastating dissection of the Hurricane Katrina debacle is one of 2006’s best films and a stirring document of sickening governmental indifference. Spread over four hours and originally broadcast in two parts on HBO on the first anniversary of the storm striking the Gulf Coast, […]
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Solomon Burke-Nashville
Shout Factory Solomon Burke was country when country wasn’t cool, recording some R&B hits in the Sixties with one foot in Nashville, Tenn. Now he’s gone whole hog, recording an entire album at guitarist Buddy Miller’s home in Music City. Predictably, there are a lot of unnecessary duets on the disc, but none are obnoxious, […]
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The Downers-Shake the Dead and Let the Downers Die
Sickboy Records Utah’s five-man The Downers play the psychedelic pop of Big Star and do it very well. This five-song sampler will trance you out like a Quaalude from 1974. It’s good’ Paul Burke’s vocals are mesmerizing. The Downers are not a throwback, but rather the group transports its genre into the future. “Shake […]
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John Tucker Must Die
2006 A revenge fantasy for people who have trouble tying their shoes without giggling, “John Tucker Must Die” is one of those rare movies that will have you yearning for the comparatively cerebral high school flicks of Eighties-era John Hughes. In this colossal dud, school jock/stud John Tucker (Jesse Metcalfe from “Desperate Housewives”) gets […]
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Superman: Ultimate Collector’s Edition
1978/1980/1983/1987/2006 You will believe a DVD set can fly. With an astounding 14 discs overflowing with extras, Warner’s “Superman: Ultimate Collector’s Edition” is a worth-every-penny anthology. What’s on it? For starters, the indisputable classic “Superman: The Movie,” the almost-equal “Superman II,” the inferior but fun “Superman III,” the cheese-tastic disaster “Superman IV: The […]
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Paul “Wine” Jones-Stop Arguing Over Me
Fat Possum Records This, the final album from the late Paul “Wine” Jones (1946-2005)’ an original member of the Fat Possum Records family and a specialist in the raw, quirky, electric blues that put the label on the map’ begins unexpectedly: with a hard-driving, hip-struttin’ dance number. It’s basically Jones’ version of disco, and it’s […]
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Imitation Electric Piano-Blow It Up, Burn It Down, Kick It ‘Til It Bleeds
Drag City To borrow one of its own song titles, Imitation Electric Piano’s second album makes for “Relatively Good Times.” That it’s not better lies in the band’s decision to make a marked departure in its signature sound: adding full-time vocals. One of many offshoots of post-rock giant Stereolab, the band debuted in 2001 […]
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The Pernice Brothers-Live a Little
Ashmont Praising a new record from The Pernice Brothers is a bit like marveling at a sunrise: It’s a wonder, but easy to take for granted. Anyone familiar with the preternaturally melodic sensibilities of band front man Joe Pernice knows that he’s incapable of producing anything other than irresistible ear candy. The group’s latest offering, […]
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Nellie McKay-Pretty Little Head
Hungry Mouse Nellie McKay has protest on her mind, but don’t expect an earnest folkie on guitar. In “Pretty Little Head,” this brilliant wordsmith adorns her social activism’ from gay marriage to animal rights’ in ribbons of cabaret, show tunes, cocktail-lounge jazz and even the occasional bow of hip-hop. More akin to early Randy […]