New music alert: Reviews and notices

craig finn | ‘clear heart full eyes’

| By Steven Wine, The Associated Press

Just before the final chord on the song “Terrified Eyes,” Hold Steady lead singer Craig Finn counts out the beat — “one, two, three, four” — to ensure the band finishes together.

His new CD, “Clear Heart Full Eyes” wasn’t heavily rehearsed, and it benefits from the casual approach. With the Hold Steady on hold, lead singer Finn enlisted producer Mike McCarthy to hook him up with four musicians in an Austin, Texas, studio for his first solo album. He sang his vocals live, kept takes to a minimum and completed recording in a few days.

The result is more relaxed and reflective than the Hold Steady’s arena-worthy rock. At one point, Finn sounds as though he’s leading a poetry reading rather than a recording session.

The intimate atmosphere suits the material. Finn sings about heartache, solitude, faith and doubt, with references to Jesus on six songs, including the first four. Finn hasn’t become a Bible Belter, but he’s clearly influenced by his Texas surroundings. The album title was inspired by the TV series “Friday Night Lights,” and several songs take a twangy turn thanks to Ricky Ray Jackson’s edgy pedal steel.

Elsewhere, Jackson’s guitar interplay with Billy White provides plenty of bite, and while Finn is laid-back here, he remains a rocker at heart. This music won’t fill arenas, but it should be welcome in any club.

Notable track: Over chugging guitars on “No Future,” Finn sings about the Crucifixion, Freddie Mercury, the devil and Johnny Rotten.

nada surf | ‘the stars are indifferent to astronomy’

From the website Direct Current Music: “A mere 15 years after Matthew Caws, Daniel Lorca and Ira Elliot broke through with the hit ‘Popular,’ the trio of power/popsters returns with another brash and relentlessly upbeat — in every sense of the word — collection of sunny rock anthems and razor sharp hooks … Much like Fountains of Wayne, Nada Surf remain remarkably inventive in their retro pop melodies; new upstart bands can only pray they’re this fresh on their first album, let alone their sixth.”

various artists | ‘chimes of freedom: the songs of bob dylan’

Over the course of four CDs, a vastly diverse array of singers and bands honors the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International by performing 72 of Dylan’s better-known compositions. The list of contributors includes Patti Smith, Johnny Cash with the Avett Brothers, Rise Against, Pete Townshend, Diana Krall, My Morning Jacket, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Jackson Browne, Sugarland, Joan Baez, Flogging Molly, Bad Religion and Mark Knopfler. Back-to-back on Disc 3, Ke$ha and Kronos Quartet cover “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”

tim mcgraw | ‘emotional traffic ’

Before its release, McGraw called “Traffic” his best album ever. It has already delivered two singles, “Felt Good on My Lips,” a No. 1 country hit, and “Better Than I Used to Be.” In 2004, McGraw had a crossover hit with rapper/pop star Nelly. On “Traffic,” he tries for another on “Only Human, which features R&B/pop star Ne-Yo. Other tracks include the inspirational “Touchdown Jesus” and “I Will Not Fall Down,” co-written by McGraw, Martina McBride and the Warren Brothers.

philco fiction | ‘radar'

Philco Fiction is an electro-pop trio from Oslo, Norway, that renders airy, arctic pop soundscapes airbrushed by the breathy vocals of lead singer/songwriter Turid Solberg. From the Guardian UK: “Throw the Knife, the XX and Regina Spektor into a glorious musical blender and you get this Norwegian trio.” From Direct Current Music: “If Bjork had set up shop with Prince … we might get sounds like this: simmering beats, rich keyboard funk/pop and decidedly arty, usually twisty, melodies that dart and flit in and out of moods and atmospheres with graceful ease.”

also released this week

• Alexz Johnson, “Skipping Stone” (EP)
• Big Deal, “Lights Out”
• Cardinal, “Hymns”
• Joe Cocker, “Hard Knocks”
• Dion, “Tank Full of Blues”
• The Doors, “L.A. Woman” (40th anniversary edition)
• First Aid Kit, “The Lion’s Roar”
• Rodrigo y Gabriela, “Area 52”
• Lacuna Coil, “Dark Adrenaline”
• Lamb of God, “Resolution”
• Ingrid Michaelson, “Human Again”
• Moe., “Whatever Happened to the La La’s”
• Kellie Pickler, “100 Proof”
• Matt Pryor, “May Day”: Twelve well-crafted pop songs from the lead singer and songwriter of the Get Up Kids and New Amsterdams.
• Scorpions, “Comeblack”
• Seal, “Soul 2”
• Skrillex, “Bangarang” (EP)
• Martin Sexton, “Fall Like Rain” (EP)
• U2, “From the Sky Down” (DVD)
• Various artists, “2012 Grammy Nominees”

due tuesday

• Beausoleil, “Cajun Conja”
• Blue Cheer, “Vincebus”
• Bt: “Laptop Symphony”
• Leonard Cohen, “Old Ideas”
• Lana Del Rey, “Born to Die”
• Mike Doughty, “The Question Jar Show”
• Gotye, “Making Mirrors”
• Imperial Teen, “Feel the Sound”
• Metallica, “Beyond Magnetic” (EP)
• Gretchen Peters, “Hello, Cruel World”
• Radiohead, “The King of Limbs: Live From the Basement” (DVD)
• Ruthie Foster, “Let It Burn”
• Ringo Starr, “Ringo 2012”
• Darrell Scott, “Long Ride Home”
• Jeff Lorber, “Galaxy”
• Del McCoury, “Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe”
• The Pines, “Dark So Gold”
• Underworld, “Anthology 1992-2012”
• Various artists, “Golden Gate Groove: The Sound of Philadelphia in San Francisco, 1963”
• Various artists, “Putamayo Presents: Brazilian Beats”

Comments

[pellboy]

Their live stuff is always better, but the moe. album is pretty good. Deluxe set also includes an acoustic version of the same album, which is kind of a welcome treat from one of the more rocking jambands on the scene.

[Rick]

Nothing on the new one from the Life and Times?

[joe]

Is Craig Finn Neil Finn's (of Crowded House and Split Enz) son? Is he the same guy that opened for Wilco at Crossroads in 09?

[Hamster]

Has anyone listened to the new Mike Doughty CD? Thoughts/impressions? Worth buying?

[Michael]

Neil Finn's son is Liam, not Craig. I don't remember who opened for Wilco, but Craig is just now embarking on his first solo tour.

[wadkc]

You left out the best of this week. Foxy Shazam. It's killer.

[Green]

Foxy Shazam is awesome!

[pellboy]

Yeah, Liam is Neil's son and yes, he opened for Wilco accompanied by Eliza-Jane Barnes who played a variety of instruments. Pretty decnt, I thought.

[Geordan]

Looking forward to that new Nada Surf disc. They have been making good music for almost 20 years and I think their 2002 album, "Let Go" is an under-appreciated classic. Their last album was all covers and they did a Power Pop version of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence" that I like better than the original, as well as a cover by The Go-Betweens, who were one of my favorite bands that should have been bigger and weren't. I hope Nada Surf hits the KC area sometime this year.

[joe]

Thanks. I thought Liam was interesting opening for Wilco. My wife hated him...

[wadkc]

Thanks for the Nada Surf info Geordan. Never really on my radar but just went back and listened to it and sounds good. You might like The 88 or Mike Viola if you like Nada. 2 of my favorites.

[Geordan]

I'll have to check out those out, wadkc. I saw The 88 on one of the Late Night talk shows years ago and liked the song I heard a lot ("Nobody Knows").

[J.G.]

New Chuck Prophet out on Feb 7th...playing at Davey's on March 20th

[pellboy]

Thanks for that info, JG! Been waiting for his return AND a new record? Even better.

[Geordan]

Speaking of upcoming shows, I got an email from a co-worker who said that Wishbone Ash was returning to Knuckleheads on 5/13. I didn't see anything on Knuckleheads website, and then noticed that 5/13 was the date they played there last year. I went to Wishbone Ash's website (Andy Powell's version, as Martin Turner also has a version of Wishbone Ash that he tours with) and see a Knuckleheads date for May the 8th, which is a Tuesday. That show last year was awesome. Knuckleheads should announce this show soon.....

[pellboy]

I believe there was a similar issue last year with conflicting dates according to the two sources. I'm there though no matter. Last year's Argus show was stellar.

[onthemark]

Count me in for Chuck Prophet, he always puts on a great show!

[pellboy]

Geordan, just in case you missed them on Jimmy Fallon last night...

http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/nada-surf-hi-speed-soul-13012/1382147/

[Geordan]

Thanks, Pellboy! I did record it the other night and finally got around to watching it last night. Not bad. I finally got the new CD and upon first listen, it's as good as the bulk of their stuff. I suffered a sold-out Beaumont Club full of Guster fans to see Nada Surf open their show a few years back. Guster was OK, but they were outshined that night. Anyway, I've always been a fan of the Late Night shows and record several during the week to skim through, especially for music performances.....and whatever actress I'm infatuated with this week. But again, thanks, Pellboy. Very nice of you.....

[pellboy]

Yeah, I generally do the same in regards to the late night stuff whenever I see a musical act and/or guests that strike my fancy. LOL at your Guster fans comment. That band's okay but only in small doses for me.

[Geordan]

Oh, and I just noticed that the clip you posted was a bonus performance of "Hi-Speed Soul" from the aforementioned "Let Go," which is my favorite album by the band. Too cool! They played "Waiting For Something" from the new album on the show Monday night. My favorite song on the new Nada Surf album is called "Jules And Jim" (Not many bands reference French Arthouse films from the 60's these days) because of it's wonderful, jangly 12-string guitar, a sound that I will never grow tired of.

[onthemark]

PB and Geordan, this is a late notice. Imelda May was on Leno last night. I recorded it to watch tonight. I like me some Imelda!

[Geordan]

Imelda's cool. I saw her on Leno a few years back and I believe Jeff Beck was playing guitar. I'll hunt down last night's performance later, which will probably be on the Tonight Show website.

[wadkc]

I loved the Nada Surf clip. Great groove.

[pellboy]

Yeah, didn't realize it wasn't the show clip as I didn't tape it that night. Pretty cool that they'll often post bonus songs on those late night talk show (Letterman, etc. as well) websites.

btw, RIP and Love, Peace and Soul to Don Cornelius as his passing today at 75. Loved me some Soul Train, every Saturday morning in the 70s.