Album Name: Set Sail
Artist: Carley Wolf
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent

[Download at Amazon]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Carley Wolf makes her debut with a confident, eclectic set that’s likely to attract many fans.

Opener Gypsy Soul Blues is raucous and fun, Wolf’s vocals set against a cute backing.

Run into the Sun has a sweet melody and a vocal that rapidly makes itself known.

Funeral Pyre is dark and dramatic in a Marissa Nadler way. It’s hushed rather than shouted, but the tension’s there and the sadness palpable.

Whole Hearted Lover is upbeat and lovely and shows off Wolf’s skills at their best.

Her debut’s a real treat.

Track Listing

1. Gypsy Soul Blues
2. Run Into the Sun
3. Cold Dead Fingers
4. To Bee
5. Funeral Pyre
6. Set Sail
7. Intuition
8. Whole Hearted Lover
9. Mine til I’m
10. Rocking Chair

[Carley Wolf Official Site]

Album Name: Bitch Get Fit
Artist: NLX
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]
[NLX on Emusic]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Wow, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get something on paper about this. But it’s also quite possible I wrote a whole review and then [lost it.]

I have enjoyed NLX’s music since I first heard her two EPs, In Your Face and Behind Your Back (released together for the most part). When I received this CD in the mail I was delighted. When she offered to do a house concert I was ecstatic. We whipped one together in less than two weeks. But that’s another post.

Anyway, NLX, if you don’t know, is Natasha Alexandra. She’s originally from Toronto (or nearby) and currently lives in New York City. She decided to use a “stage name” as it were because people kept getting her last name wrong and she felt it would be kinda cool to have a moniker of sorts. I like it, it suits her.

I loved her previous stuff and some of those songs are even on this album, but this record is stunning. She makes use of a lot of soundscapes, loops, funk rhythms, and that beautiful distinctive voice which can soar or growl but always fit the music perfectly.

The songs are very well written, interesting and comfortable at the same time. She can go from techno-pop that Imogen Heap would be jealous of (Hallelujah), to lovely quiet ballads that remind me of Ellery (Getting Off).

Wow, this is going to be hard (because I truly like them all), but my favorite tracks on this one are: Buckle Up, Spin, Code Red and Smoke and Mirrors. There, I’d better stop before I name them all.

Track Listing

1. Prologue
2. Buckle Up
3. Hallelujah
4. Getting Off
5. 15 Years
6. Also Known As
7. So Far Apart
8. Young Love
9. Spin
10. Afraid
11. Faultline
12. Code Red
13. Lifted
14. Smoke & Mirrors
15. Find Love
16. Epilogue

[NLX Official Site]
[Bitch Get Fit! Site]

Piano Trees is a 24-song collection featuring unedited, improvisational piano pieces from 2005-current. “I wrote it [Piano Trees] specifically to inspire other artists. We all have the capacity to create. We are all creative creatures,” Charlotte Martin explains.

[buy from CDBaby]

Tracklist
1. a beautiful spot out in the skyline
2. in all the right places
3. pulse
4. deleted scenes
5. tender luna
6. god made the bees
7. honey and vinegar
8. before the war
9. internalize this
10. you are and so am i
11. forgotten children
12. all glowy
13. colors of numbers
14. then don’t
15. count from 1-10
16. geronimo
17. full body workout
18. not wanting to get there
19. ascension flight button
20. hold time
21. last day i saw you
22. landing gear
23. not natural
24. blind spot

She also has another record, Rarities .6 , available exclusively in [Charlotte's online store]. This is the sixth and final release from the Rarities Bootleg Series. All CDs are hand numbered. Limited quantities available. 2 copies per customer.

Album Name: Stranded In Suburbia
Artist: Melissa McClelland
Year/Label: 2004 / The Orange Record Label

[Buy at Amazon]
[Melissa McClelland on Emusic]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

This post is serving as both a Spotlight, and an Album review.

I first heard of Melissa McClelland from Ecto (a music mailing list I am on). There was some discussion about her being married to Luke Doucet, who played guitar for Sarah McLachlan for many years. I knew this and that she was signed to the same label as Sarah, Nettwerk Records. But since I am usually so flooded with new music that I never have time to seek any out on my own, I never followed up.

Until, that is, I heard she’d be on the Cayamo Cruise. If you don’t already know what Cayamo is go [here]. Once I booked my spot on this cruise, I found it important to get to “know” as many of the artists as possible seeing as I’d be spending 5 days listening to their music. So I downloaded what I could from Emusic and Melissa’s album, Stranded in Suburbia was one of them (also Luke’s but that’s for a later post).

I love this record. It wasn’t an immediate crush for me. It took a few listens. With the exception of Glimpse into Hell, which I loved from the very first guitar note. It’s still my favorite on the album, but I’ve since also fallen for Rooftop, Jaded (in which she uses the F-bomb), Picture Postcard is a cool story song. Blue Farewell too. Beautiful.

There’s also a Bruce Springsteen cover (Factory) which I don’t love. But I didn’t really like the original either. I like The Boss, that’s just not one of his I ever really liked.

Her voice is nice and clear. There’s nothing very unique about it, but it’s lovely. And I love to sing along with these songs….at the top of my lungs…in my car.

I was expecting more mainstream pop or pretty layer-y McLachlan-esque stuff. It’s neither. It’s pop, but it’s more edgy. I can see it played on the radio, but (with the exception of the VERY mainstream title track, aka White Lies) only on really cool stations.

Her shows are one’s I am definitely going to try and catch on the cruise.

Note:I still am not 100% sure how this cruise works. I know I had to sign up for one concert slot per night but I’m guessing there are shows going on all the time that we can go to. If not, if we only get one show a day…I don’t know.

Track Listing
1. Good As Gold
2. White Lies (Stranded In Suburbia)
3. Pretty Blue
4. Jaded
5. Glimpse Into Hell
6. Rooftop
7. Factory
8. Picture Postcard
9. Encinitas Rainstorm
10. Little Birds
11. Blue Farewell
12. Smoke Signals
13. Jaded (Ogilvie/Fu Remix)

[Melissa McClelland Official Site]

I’m downloading it right this second. So I haven’t heard it yet. But I’ll let you know when I have.

It’s called Strange Communion and you can download it NOW. (I don’t think it’s sold physically)

[Amazon MP3] or

Track List
Sol Invictus
Thea Gilmore’s Midwinter Toast
Cold Coming
That’ll be Christmas
Listen, The Snow is falling
Drunken Angel
The St. Stephens Day Murder
December in New York
Book of Christmas
Old December

Yay! It’s Holiday music time! Yesterday I learned of Thea Gilmore’s new record (I’ll post on that later) and today this!

There are two versions, the Standard CD and the Deluxe Edition with Bonus DVD.
You can [order on Amazon] now.

Here’s what they say about it:

After nearly two decades writing and recording some of her generation’s most emotionally powerful music, Tori Amos will release her first seasonal album, Midwinter Graces, on November 10 via Universal Republic Records. A follow up to Tori’s critically acclaimed studio album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, Midwinter Graces will find Tori reworking and expanding on classic carols as well as developing some of her very own seasonal tracks. Midwinter Graces is an album that has been in the making for the past 40 years. Raised in the Baltimore area under the watchful eye of her Methodist minister father, Tori grew up playing holiday carols at Sunday services and Christmas Day celebrations in her father’s church. These were the songs that gave a young Tori her first taste of music, and now almost 40 years later Tori gets her own chance to reimagine classics like “What Child, Nowell” and “Star of Wonder.” Tori will also add her own bittersweet bliss to the season with original tracks like “Pink and Glitter” and “Our New Year.”

She will be on WNYC’s “Soundcheck” on December 9th to discuss it.
She will also be on David Letterman’s show on December 10th.

Standard CD tracklist:
1. What Child, Nowell
2. Star of Wonder
3. A Silent Night with You
4. Candle: Coventry Carol
5. Holly, Ivy, and Rose
6. Harps of Gold
7. Snow Angel
8. Jeanette, Isabella
9. Pink and Glitter
10. Emmanuel
11. Winter’s Carol
12. Our New Year

Bonus will also have
Comfort and Joy
Sill Nacht! Heilige Nacht! (Silent Night! Holy Night!) <– Not sure what’s up with the exclamation points!
Good King Wenceslas

Album Name: Bloody Hands in Love
Artist: Nathalie Matteau and Les Hommes Perdus
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent
[Buy at BOL]
This album’s not on iTunes yet, but here’s her link in case it shows up

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Nathalie Matteau has released an ep, and now she’s back with a dynamite full length, with her band.

Her cabaret style is intact, and high jinks ensue.

Clues and Lies is familiar from the ep and it’s still a vampy tale of crime and such with a great vocal.

Get in the Car is swinging and sexy as Matteau gets to the heart of the matter with a powerful song.

Time waits For No Man is splendidly cool, Matteau singing of being a bad girl, which sounds like fun. The band gives her the requisite oompah backing.

La complainte de la Seine is a Kurt Weill song, which is hardly a surprise on this album. It’s spirited and fun too.

Matteau’s made a great debut.

Track Listing
Clues and Lies
Get in the Car
Kir Royal
Ich Trinke
Pas les Vendredis soirs
Time Waits For No Man
De Kraaien
You’re mon Paris
La complainte de la Seine
Tes Mains Pures
Visting Hours
Road to Hell

[Nathalie Matteau Official Site]

I’ve been hearing rumors and such but nothing official until now. And I’m very excited that Minneapolis is on the list for the first round of cities!
Here’s the list so far:
Calgary, AB
Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Los Angeles, CA
Minneapolis, MN
Montreal, QC
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Toronto, ON
Vancouver, BC
Washington, DC
London, UK

No word yet on the artists participating…put your hopes in the comments, I’d love to see what we could come up with as our dream show!

Here’s the official site: [Lilith Fair] and if you sign up for the newsletter you get a free MP3 of Sarah singing Angel with Emmylou Harris.

Stay up to date:
I’ll try and update here as much as I can, but you can also:
[be a fan on Facebook]
[Follow Lilith Fair on Twitter]
You can also follow [Nettwerk]
and [Sarah herself]

Seriously….The puppy ate my flash drive.

My life was on there. Including all the CD reviews I’d written in the last month. I actually backed up about 2 weeks ago, most of the stuff on that drive, so I can get a lot back, but I didn’t back up the document that holds all of them. Don’t ask me why. I have no idea.

Does anyone know how to get the data off? Mr CS took it apart and the parts that hold the data are unharmed, but the computer won’t recognize it.

Album Name: (Red) Trees
Artist: Lisa Papineau
Year/Label: 2009 / Yellow Bird/Hamonia Mundi

[Buy at Amazon] but really pricey for US for physical copy.
But you can [Download from Amazon]

[Lisa Papineau on Emusic]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Lisa Papineau once fronted Pet who was signed to Tori Amos’ label Igloo. Since then she’s continued solo and done good work.

She’s done mostly quiet but effective songs for this outing. Annett Tessier has a twisted folk ambience that works well.

White Leather Pants is kinda up tempo and has delightfully odd lyrics.

I Dream of Red Trees mixes French and English and is dreamy and sweet. Matthieu Boogaerts adds a sweet duet vocal.

Later on Mark Eitzel drops by for This is For the Love(J’te kiffe) and fits rights in amidst the sparse instrumentation.

Papineau is more than the sum of her collaborators; she can stand on her own two feet. Her album’s a quiet treasure.

Track Listing

1. Rene Thomas
2. Annette Tessier
3. Gay can’t wait forever
4. White leather pants
5. I dream of red trees
6. The language of a name
7. Marco Chomo
8. Touch time out
9. Sorry I cannot English
10. This is for the love(J’te kiffe)
11. Nancy Baker
12. A reprise

[Lisa Papineau Official Site]

I decided to take my unhealthy, unbalanced obsession to a whole new creepy level by doing a parody of Twilight and covering “Obsessed” by Miley Cyrus. Haha, “Robsessed”… I’m definitely on Team Edward.

If a cd has been on my desk more than three months, I’m giving it one more listen. Straight through, and I can’t find enough to say about it, it’s getting eliminated.

This is going to be hard because I even like some of these. I just have no idea what to say other than, ‘It’s pretty cool.’ and that doesn’t help anyone.

I don’t like the fact that these people put their heart and soul into something yet I can’t think of anything to say about it. Good or bad. That’s not entirely true. Sometimes I can think of plenty of bad things to say, but it’s hard for me to post those…though I have…and I will…in fact, brace yourselves for one I have coming up soon. It’s a Christmas album, and it’s NOT Bob Dylan.

Maybe if I can come up with a sentence or two each, I’ll do a sort of a “Round-Up” and put them all in one post. We’ll see.

Review by David Adair

A fun game that will keep all of the family entertained whilst listening to this quaint, quirky and a little out there soundtrack. Can be had by trying to figure out which of the screams, yelps and incoherent murmurs belong to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (YYYs) leading lady, Karen O and which belong to the children?

Short and serene opener ‘Igloo’, immediately draws attention to the fact that this high profile and frivolous break from her day job, could be exactly what Karen O needs? Recently, some critics have been getting a little weary of the provocative disco indie that has been the YYYs’ signature for years. This song alone, illuminates O’s ability to turn her voice and tone to tuneful and contented and shows that she is certainly not stuck in a foxy and raw straight jacket. Soothing lullaby styled humming soothes and relaxes you into this new (ad)venture), with the tenderness of the leading lady’s touch skipping over the restfully weaving guitar stroke of Imaad Wasif.

This is immediately contrasted by the bounding, carefree anthem ‘All Is Love’, with fellow YYYs member Nick Zinner, providing a more strident guitar push. O’s inner child is set free into the playground of musical abandon and her voice is almost lost in the enthusiastic kiddie chorus. This frisky show of abandon makes it easy for you to forgive and even embrace a return to her raw and rugged ways, ‘Capsize’.

Key-led melodies and more vocal eloquence seeps out in ‘Worried Shoes’, helping you to immediately suspend your disbelief. Something that’s absolutely necessary for tunes crafted to accompany a film featuring over-sized, delusional puppets. As the album grows, frivolity and fun mix together like blue Smarties and an excitable school kid. Nearly every film and accompanying soundtrack needs a slow, stirring and thoughtful acoustic ode and, ‘Cliffs’ provides this to a tee. Despite the fact that O is effectively entering new territory with a number of this sort, she pulls it off with tenderness. The vocal element is subtle, complementing the stirring harmony (mainly provided by the skilful touch of Wasif again).

Rodriga Y Gabriela territory is bounded into through the classical guitar led rhythm romping instrumental, ‘Animal’ that’s sure to bring out your primal urges. This rhythm touch gains momentum as O opts to jump on the ride and gives her vocals some coarse rhythm. Making ‘Heads Up’, a bounding pop folk push towards the latter end of a fresh, foraging and young spirited fourteen track parade. O and co have achieved variety and have also managed to make an album that could also stand alone from the film that it’s meant to accompany.

Track Listing
1. Igloo
2. All Is Love
3. Capsize
4. Worried Shoes
5. Rumpus
6. Rumpus Reprise
7. Hideaway
8. Cliffs
9. Animal
10. Lost Fur
11. Heads Up
12. Building All Is Love
13. Food Is Still Hot
14. Sailing Home

[Film Official Site]

****************************************************************************************

Rating; 4/5

It was shot in Los Angeles by producer/director George Rausch of Modified Ideas.

Taking cues from the song lyrics of wanting to “live in the past,” the creative music video for “Filled with Dread” piques the emotions of a distraught man (actor Jacob “Kujo” Lyons) who is walking the streets of L.A. while everything else is moving backwards. Rausch creatively incorporates the use of an iPod Touch to serve as a disembodied voice of the protagonist.

If you like what you hear, you can get the whole album (it’s good, I have it)

Or you can buy it at [CDBaby] (at whom I am currently angry, but you can buy there anyway. Maybe they’ll pay me someday.)

NLX (Natasha Alexandra)

Saturday, October 17, 2008 at 8pm
Collected Sounds Loft (Carriage House)
Minneapolis, MN
[Make your reservations here]

Please join us for our first show in a year and a half! (almost)

Known as “Trent Reznor with tits”
Raised in the icy shadows of Canada’s steel city smoke stacks, NLX hails from the proud tradition of BS-free northern songwriting women. She continues to carries the electronically edged pop torch with BITCH GET FIT … 16 tracks of blow your mind and open your heart lyrical and musical smack.

Amy’s Note: While I’ve not yet seen Natasha live, I know she’s amazing and I am really looking forward to this. Her albums are fantastic. And while I like folk music a lot, this is going to be something quite different!

NLX Links
[NLX Official Site]
[NLX Blog]
[NLX on MySpace]
[NLX on YouTube]
[NLX Twitter]

Discography (click on CD cover to listen to samples and order)
Note: you can also buy these the night of the show.

Bitch Get Fit (2009)

Behind Your Back(2003)

In Your Face (2003)

[Make your reservations here]

Album Name: What is She Doing?
Artist: Marianne Nowottny
Year/Label: 2007 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]

Marianne Nowottny

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

[file this under, 'it's not you, it's me']
Oh Marianne Nowottny. I don’t know where to begin. I was sent her record Illusions of the Sun several years ago and I confess I thought it was a joke. To my ears she had no rhythm, sang off key, and sounded like she was playing piano with her elbows.

I went online and saw that she had some really stellar reviews. I also noticed that one of the discussion lists I am on, seemed to have some nice feedback about her. So I thought it must be me. There must be something I was missing. So it kept it in my rotation for a very long time. We’re talking months.

After awhile some of the songs grew on me, but I never actually liked any of them. They grew on me the way might an acquaintance, maybe a co-worker that you have some sort of affection for because you know they’re tryin’, darn it. That’s how I felt about her. So while I wrote a review back then, I chose not to post it.

So imagine my surprise several years later to see an envelope with her company’s name on it. Yes, it was so burned into my brain that I recognized the name immediately. I had just picked up my mail and my husband was driving and I shrieked, “On My god, guess who this is?!” He went through the list of other notorious submissions and eventually guessed her. So we popped it in right away.

I bet you’re expecting me to say she’s changed and she’s now awesome and I love it! I’m, sorry. I mean, I think she’s matured as an artist and the songs are much more listenable. But she’s still out there. And I still can’t say I get it. But I get it a little more than I did her previous one.

Her voice is, distinctive. I can’t really tell if she’s a great singer or not because she has an affectation that sounds more like she’s speaking the words rather than singing them. I bet she can carry a tune, but it’s hard to tell here.

The production is really strange in that it sounds quite muffled. The part that’s “in focus” is the tinkly triangle sound, while the synth and vocals are more “blurry” and mushy. So I can turn it up, and up, and all that gets louder is the tinkly top part, I still can’t make out the lyrics. Though that may also have something to do with her vocal style and the backing vocals.

Mr So & So is a dancy number that would be cool playing in a loud club.

Where you Are is actually pretty.

Cherry Blossoms is probably the most normal. Which is to say, the most non-Nowottny one here.

Kung Fu Kitty is electronic and has a dance beat. It’s weird. I guess you could have guessed that by now.

I think I’ll just say that there’s something here, and others seem to be able to grasp it, but no matter how hard I try and how much I want to like this, I’m unsuccessful.

Please please give me your thoughts! To answer her own question, what IS she doing? I’m afraid I don’t have an answer. You tell me.

Track Listing
1. What Would I Do?
2. All Over the World
3. Cherry Blossoms
4. Never Been in Love Before
5. Stars Fell On Alabama
6. Mr. So & So
7. Burnin’ Up for You Baby
8. Keep Our Love Alive
9. Big Idea
10. Why I Cry
11. Kung Fu Kitty
12. I Don’t Wanna Fight
13. Where You Are

[Marianne Nowottny Official Site]

Album Name: This and That
Artist: Lizzy Parks
Year/Label: 2009 / Tru Thoughts

[Buy at Amazon]
[Buy at Etch Shop]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Lizzy Parks sings quiet songs on this record, and her vocals are delightful throughout.

The title song is gossamer soft, evoking the lovely Beth Orton in a subdued fashion.

Deluge continues with the bossa influence and Parks’ warm vocal really works for the sound. The instrumental backing sounds good here.

Time is wonderful, and Parks really makes it work her vocal is as cool as ever and the melody is soft.

Eyes of a Child is sweeping and intimate, Parks sweetly singing of hope.

Lizzy Parks is a gifted performer and this is a really nice album.

Track Listing
1 Raise The Roof
2 Take Care
3 Time
4 Soul Bird
5 Spring Changes
6 Seven Day Fool
7 Forever And A Day
8 I’m All That
9 Ode To St Cecilie
10 Leaving Home
11 Prayer

[Lizzy Parks Official Site]

Album Name: Things Worth Keeping
Artist: Aly Tadros
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

This has been in my rotation for a couple of months now and I’ve yet to write more than a couple of sentences about it. I guess it’s one of those ones that just sort of washes over me while I’m listening and I don’t make a lot of notes, mental or otherwise. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. At least I’m not going ‘what the hell?’ and racing to turn it off! Yes, I do that. Often, actually. If you think we post a lot of reviews, you should see the amount that doesn’t make it this far.

But I digress…Aly Tadros has a pleasing folksy voice. It reminds me of someone from the late 60s or maybe it’s just the style that does.

Serendipities has nice finger picking guitar parts, and cool melody. Her voice shines here too. This song has caught my ear more than once, and I think it’s safe to say it’s my stand out track.

Dressing Room has a Latin sound, while Linger channels her inner Ani.

Paper Mache might be my favorite. Great rhythm.

It’s a good album for those who collectors of the folksy pop genre.

Track Listing
1. Swingset
2. Serendipities
3. Quiet Company
4. Paper Cut
5. Paper Mache
6. Keep Up
7. Liner
8. But a Memory
9. Dressing Room
10. One More Day
11. Flames We forget
12. Hidden?

[Aly Tadros Official Site]

Yep, it actually said on the accompanying letter something to the effect of “and if you don’t like it, which is highly likely…”

Um, question…if you are pretty sure I will not like your music why are you sending it?

Thing is, I kinda liked it. But not enough to spend time writing about it. Sorry, dude.

Album Name: Pillar of Salt
Artist: Kissing Cousins
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]

[Kissing Cousins on Emusic]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Well, these ladies get right to it. The first track will wake you up and knock you silly; In the very best way of course. The driving guitar and heavy beats are like a refreshing eraser of some of the mamby-pamby (hey, dad, I used your phrase!) stuff I’ve been listening to. Oh get me a whiskey and a cigarette. Ok not a cigarette.

Where was I?
Yes, well, the record will rock your socks. But it’s also kinda ambient and dreamy at times.

Over Now is pretty haunting with it’s discordant melody and swooping vocals.

In Too Deep is also cool. It’s got a nice rhythm and makes me want to sway. It actually sounds like it could be a great soundtrack song.

I like Red Lamb a lot too. This one and She’s Right remind me of a great 90s band called the [The Heartthrobs].

This is a really cool record and I can see it being one I listen to long after the review is posted.

Track Listing
1 First in The Fire
2 Come Back To Me
3 Diminishing Returns
4 Over Now
5 In Too Deep
6 Snake Handler Part 1
7 Red Lamb
8 She’s Right
9 Don’t Look Back
10 Snake Handler Part 2

[Kissing Cousins MySpace]

[Buy at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

In December of 2008 I reviewed their previous release called [An Evening Out of Town]. This is much the same. Lovely, kind of ambient chill music, though there are some rock guitars too.

It’s repetitive, but that’s sort of the thing with this kind of music. Generally a song will start out with a beat, then a guitar gets added, then another instrument. Kind of like a loop station.

This is kind of hard for me because I don’t know how much else I can say seeing as I’m not a musician and I don’t know all the intricacies of the way the songs are put together or what went into them, but I know it sounds fantastic.

It’s certainly stuff that’s perfect as a film score or soundtrack. Think dream sequences. Really cool.

Track Listing
1 Shiver
2 Mik’s Glacier
3 She’s Here
4 Blue Ink for Fountain Pens Alternate Version
5 Twirling Guitars and Glad Tambourines

[Knitting By Twilight Official Site]

Album Name: One Hundred Words for Water
Artist: Flotilla
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent

[Buy Here]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Gosh, Veronica Charnley was one of the first musicians I covered back in the day (when the site was just a baby). But this is the first time I’ve ever reviewed her music. She’s now with a band called Flotilla which consists of Veronica herself: vocals, guitar, Geof Holbrook (her husband): bass, keyboards, electronics, vocals, Eveline Grégoire-Rousseau: harp and Benoit Monière : drums. They make a great team!

The album opens with a strange rhythmic guitar lines and almost dissonant vocals. Now we know we’re not in for samey, mainstreamy pop crap!

She has a lovely voice that matches the cool, pop-rock music well. The songs are well written with interesting melodies, unexpected rhythms and clever lyrics.

A Thousand Jacobs is quite catchy and fun with a good melody and infectious rhythm.

Charlie I’m Through is fun and catchy. Like super catchy. It comes to me in sleep, even.

This record is different enough to be called alternative (as opposed to mainstream) yet accessible enough for anyone.

Track Listing
1. Song for Yannick
2. Prelude and Epilogue
3. A Thousand Jacobs
4. Ghost in a Landscape
5. Ophelia
6. Charlie, I’m Through
7. Two Boys
8. Court and Spark
9. Clouds
10. Old Mill
11. Meet Me Outside

[Flotilla MySpace]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Rachel Taylor Brown’s record, is described as “free-thinking concept album about comic book superheroes and saints.” Sounds great!

And it is. It’s weird. It’s not mainstream and it’s not for everyone. But it’s great. She has a quirky style that can at times sound dissonant, but that’s the charm. It’s interesting and intriguing and it’s really what I’m in the mood for now.

Bruce Wayne’s Bastard Son reminds me of a particular Eleni Mandell song. It’s got a cool, dissonant, repetitive guitar line that will slink it’s way into your brain and not let go. Be warned, this may be going through your head at 3 am like it does for me.

Her voice is actually kind of secondary on many of these. Which is weird for me to like, but it totally works because the songs are so strong.

Zoe of Rome is a standout jumpy, rhythmic tune that even has tap dancing in the background.

Teresa Benedicta Also Edith Stein is beautiful. It’s a little more sparse with just piano and vocals. But the vocals are nicely layered and her voice is showcased here more proving it is lovely. In fact, when she hits the high notes, she could be mistaken for our Miss Sarah Slean. Likewise on Giovanni Bernardone (St. Francis). Beautiful stuff.

These songs are really varied but without being szichophrenic. It’s a fantastic album, one of my early faves. I think those of you who like quirky and non-mainsteam will dig this too.

Track Listing
1. Susan Storm’s Ugly Sister
2. Ambush Bug/Reduviidae
3. Lonely Galactus, the World Eater
4. Bruce Wayne’s Bastard Son
5. Zoe of Rome
6. Teresa Benedicta Also Edith Stein
7. St. Fina
8. Giovanni Bernardone (St. Francis)

[Rachel Taylor Brown Official Site]

New Sarah McLachlan single!!!

[One Dream]

I don’t have any more info, such as a new album or anything, but I will let you know as soon as I do!

PS how cute does she look? She’s so gorgeous.

UPDATE:
You can get it at [Amazon!!]

Album Name: Build me This
Artist: Joshua James
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent
[Buy at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

When I was first approached about reviewing Joshua James, my thought was, ‘Oh cool, I liked his last record, I think’….then I listened to this one and was surprised at how different he was. I remembered him being beachy, where he sounds more like Joshua Radin (but without the strong need for caffeine). Then I realized that I was mixing him up with another artist with a similar name, Justin James. An artist, by the way, that he sounds nothing like. But their names are similar. Are you with me? Justin James (beachy) Joshua Radin (sleepy) Joshua James (this one!) God, this is like the whole Dylan McDermot Mulrony thing all over again. I can keep the guys apart, but not their names. Oh and upon further research, I find there’s another Joshua James on CDBaby who writes Christian music. At least I think it’s a different person. The voices sure sound different.

What was I talking about? Oh yeah…onto the music: This Joshua James has an incredibly cool voice. It’s voice smoky and sexy yet comfortable. It has an emotional quality I haven’t heard since Jeff Buckley. That’s not to say he sounds like Buckley, no one does. But you can feel the pain/love/pleading/etc, when he sings in a similar way.

The songs match the voice in that their uber emotional with lots of crescendo and decrescendo. Soft whispery verses that swell into crashing choruses or endings. Ahhh, my type of music!

I could go and pick out all the songs I really like, but I’d probably end up picking them all eventually.

Yeah, it’s mainstream. Yeah, it’s kinda emo. But after some of the tuneless doo-doo I’ve been listening to lately, this is refreshing and wonderful.

Track Listing

[Joshua James Official Site]

Check out this video of one of the [Cayamo Sixthman Session]. Collected Sounds friend and fave, Edie Carey was there!

For more info on the cruise itself, please see: http://cayamo.com/ you may still be able to get a spot!

Album Name: Love is a Special Way of Feeling
Artist: Angi West
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]
[Angi West at Emusic]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Angi West’s new album shows she has the voice of an angel and knows how to use it. She sounds like Victoria Williams channelling Jane Siberry and her style is quite eccentric.

Some Speed circles round that breathtaking voice and make it work fine. The melody is just gorgeous.

Lucy and Linnea is spooky avant-garde, impeccably sung and edging into the classical terrain. It’s clear that West is really someone special.

Let Them Sleep is acapella and shows off the singers great voice. She’s certainly a firebrand on this gospelly number.

Brand new Face has some hair rasping harmonies and is a neat folksy track.

Carter’s Song is a gorgeous piano-led ballad and we tend to like those round here.

I’m sure Angi Wets could reach many with this fabulous album.

Track Listing
01. Your hands
02. Same Speed
03. Lucy And Linnea
04. For The Lover
05. No One 4:46
06. Let Them Sleep
07. One Hand 3:10
08. Brand New Face
09. Carter’s Song
10. I’ll Wait
11. Home In Heaven

[Angi West Official Site]

Now that dancing and arts in general are much more popular, I can see why they decided to do a remake. I am not sure what to expect of this one, except that I can tell you they have at LEAST one great song in it!!

Rachael Sage’s “Too Many Women” is in the movie!

You can listen to the song here at [LastFM] or on her [Facebook page]

If you go see the film, come back and let me know what you think! (Comment)

The Paper Raincoat (Alex Wong & Amber Rubarth) is about to release their first full-length record! I couldn’t be more excited.
Here’s your opportunity to get involved.

You can pre-order at various levels earning you different levels of goodies once release time comes.

But right now you can download a free MP3 of their song, Right Angles.
Check it out on [The Paper Raincoat's Site]

Friday, September 25th, 2009
Blue Loon
Fairbanks, AK
PRICE: $25.00

Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Discovery Theater
Anchorage, AK

Sunday, September 27th, 2009
Vagabond Blues
Palmer, AK

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
The Triple Door
216 Union St.
Seattle, WA
phone: 206-838-4333
w/Chris Pureka

Thursday, October 1st, 2009
Aladdin Theatre
3017 SE Milwaukie Ave.
Portland, OR
phone: 503-234-9694
w/Chris Pureka

Friday, October 2nd, 2009 7:30pm
Shedd Institute for the Arts
868 High St.
Eugene, OR
phone: 541-434-7000

TOUR DATES
09/24/2009 – Lebanon, NH – Lebanon Opera House
09/25/2009 – Brattleboro, VT – New England Youth Theatre
09/26/2009 – Londonderry, NH – Tupelo Music Hall
10/01/2009 – Wilmington, DE – Grand Opera House (with her band!!)
10/02/2009 – Amagansett, NY – Stephen Talkhouse
10/03/2009 – Portland, ME – One Longfellow Square
10/04/2009 – Ellsworth, ME – The Grand

* All shows solo unless otherwise indicated.

For a full list of dates and information on how to buy tickets, go to:
[Jonatha's Site]

1. Death Cab For Cutie – “Meet Me on the Equinox”
2. Band of Skulls – “Friends”
3. Thom Yorke – “Hearing Damage
4. Lykke Li – “Possibility”
5. The Killers – “A White Demon Love Song”
6. Anya Marina – “Satellite Heart”
7. Muse – “I Belong to You”
8. Bon Iver & St. Vincent – “Roslyn”
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “Done All Wrong”
10. Hurricane Bells – “Monsters”
11. Sea Wolf – “The Violet Hour”
12. OK Go – “Shooting the Moon”
13. Grizzly Bear – “Slow Life”
14. Editors – “No Sound but the Wind”
15. Alexandre Desplat – “New Moon (The Meadow)”

Metric is going on tour in support of their fabulous record, Fantasties.

If you don’t have it (and what are you waiting for?) you can stream the album and download the “hit”, Help I’m Alive (which is great, but not even my favorite song on the record) at their website, [I Love Metric].

If you [order it from me] you’ll be helping out CS,
But, if you order if from their website, you’ll also get a digital download of it too as well as 2 other songs not on the main album. I understand if you choose them. :)

Read the whole story on [Plug In Music]

here are the Tour Dates
Tour dates for Metric:

November 16, 2009 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
November 17, 2009 Portland, ME Portland City Music Hall
November 18, 2009 Hartford, CT Webster
November 19, 2009 Providence, RI Lupo’s
November 20, 2009 Boston, MA House of Blues
November 21, 2009 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
November 23, 2009 Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head Live!
November 24, 2009 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Small’s
November 25, 2009 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
November 27, 2009 Charlotte, NC Neighborhood Theatre
November 28, 2009 Atlanta, GA Center Stage
November 30, 2009 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
December 1, 2009 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
December 2, 2009 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom

On Friday night Lucinda Williams played a show in Minneapolis at the famous First Avenue Nightclub. The bonus is, she got married! Congrats to the happy couple!

I wasn’t there. (I am one of the few people I know who doesn’t ‘get’ her music.) but I have a couple of friends who went.
Says Sue: “Her new husband is HOT and I cried when they got married and I think she’s the coolest lady in the universe. :)”

Read the story on [People online]

ppssst: I wonder if she was drunk? Does she get drunk on stage or just sound like it. Whoops, was that out loud? See, I don’t get her. Let the flaming begin. (and note: I have nothing against drunk people.)

Brooke Waggoner will be releasing her new record, “Go Easy Little Doves” soon (digitally October 6 and physically on November 3).
She’s touring with Dennison Witmer (also great).

See [Brooke's site] for info on getting tickets. Her website’s also spanky new.

Sep 22, 2009 Iowa City, IA (US) @ Picador w/ Denison Witmer
Sep 23, 2009 Kansas City, MO (US) @ Record Bar w/ Denison Witmer
Sep 24, 2009 St. Louis, MO (US) @ Off Broadway Nightclub w/ Denison Witmer
Oct 8, 2009 Des Moines, IA (US) @ House Of Bricks w/ Owl City
Oct 9, 2009 Omaha, NE (US) @ The Waiting Room w/ Owl City
Oct 10, 2009 Denver, CO (US) @ Bluebird Theater w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 11, 2009 Murry, UT (US) @ Murray Theatre w/ Owl City
Oct 12, 2009 Boise, ID (US) @ The Venue w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 13, 2009 Spokane, WA (US) @ Big Dipper w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 15, 2009 Vancouver, BC (CA) @ The Biltmore Cabaret w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 16, 2009 Seattle, WA (US) @ Neumos w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 17, 2009 Portland, OR (US) @ Hawthorne Theatre w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 19, 2009 San Francisco, CA (US) @ Slim’s w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 20, 2009 Los Angeles, CA (US) @ Troubadour w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 22, 2009 Anaheim, CA (US) @ House of Blues w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 23, 2009 San Diego, CA (US) @ Epicentre w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 24, 2009 Scottsdale, AZ (US) @ Martini Ranch w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 25, 2009 Albuquerque, NM (US) @ Launchpad w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 27, 2009 Tulsa, OK (US) @ Marquee w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 28, 2009 Dallas, TX (US) @ House of Blues – Pontiac Garage w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 29, 2009 Dallas, TX (US) @ House of Blues – Pontiac Garage w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 30, 2009 Austin, TX (US) @ Emo’s w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Oct 31, 2009 Houston, TX (US) @ Meridian w/ Owl City & The Scene Aesthetic
Nov 12, 2009 Greenville, SC (US) @ Furman University w/ Tyler James
Dec 2, 2009 Vienna, VA (US) @ Jammin’ Java
Dec 3, 2009 Philadelphia, PA (US) @ World Cafe Live
Dec 4, 2009 New York City, NY (US) @ The Living Room

Well he’s putting out an 18 track album of B-sides.

Read the [Paste Article]

It’s called Swords and it will be out in November (October in the UK, lucky ducks):

01 Good Looking Man About Town
02 Don’t Make Fun of Daddy’s Voice
03 If You Don’t Like Me, Don’t Look at Me
04 Ganglord
05 My Dearest Love
06 The Never-Played Symphonies
07 Sweetie-Pie
08 Christian Dior
09 Shame Is the Name
10 Munich Air Disaster 1958
11 I Knew I Was Next
12 It’s Hard to Walk Tall When You’re Small
13 Teenage Dad on His Estate
14 Children in Pieces
15 Friday Mourning
16 My Life Is a Succession of People Saying Goodbye
17 Drive-In Saturday
18 Because of My Poor Education

Bonus live disc:

01 Black Cloud
02 I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
03 I Just Want to See the Boy Happy
04 Why Don’t You Find Out for Yourself
05 One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
06 You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby
07 Life Is a Pigsty
08 I’m OK By Myself

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Lucy Child’s debut is a strong record from the onset. She has a strong voice and her songs are up to the task. Cellist Julia Kent joins her for this effort alongside other talented people.

Back to the Mojave is a delicate piano-led ballad with a distinct Kate Bush influence raising its head. So much the better I think.

Whispering is just beautiful and has an inherent drama despite being relatively quiet. Child’s vocals are just gorgeous here.

Dusk is so lovely and dark it makes for a strong song as Child sings of trying to hold on to the light. The piano is just stunning here.

Steppin’ Out is vaguely poppy and holds significant power. Child’s vocals do a nice job here.

Her album’s really special and deserves to be heard by many.

Track Listing
1. Naked Eye
2. Back to the Mojave
3. Whispering
4. The Pendulum
5. Dusk
6. White Light
7. Once
8. Steppin’ Out
9. Handles Surrender

[Lucy Child Official Site]

Here are a couple songs!
[Rooted]
[Love Another]

Like that? [Download MP3 from Amazon]

[Amy Serrata on Emusic]

Some Live videos too:
[Rooted]
[Yes to Life]
[LetsCREOLELive]

[Buy at Amazon]
[Jean Laughlin on Emusic]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Jean Laughlin is a jazz singer who pens her own songs, which is a good way of standing out in a crowded genre. She has a good voice and an easy way with these songs that’s quite beguiling.

Party Down sees the singer use her smooth vocals in an up tempo mood that recalls the swinging sixties.

Moment to Moment is the singer at her best, nicely managing a sensitive ballad of daring to live life to the fullest. The band manages a competent and inspired backing.

Simplify is bold and brassy, and all the better for it. Laughlin swings it cool and easy here.

The closing title song is a good way to end, a poignant ode to resilience. The vocal is sweet and convincingly hopeful.

Jean Laughlin has made a fine album.

Track Listing
1. Open
2. Party Down
3. Home ( a lullaby)
4. Moment to Moment
5. Sad Eyes
6. Cast Away
7. Simplify
8. Friendships Broken
9. Lookin’ at the Downside
10. No Easy Way

[Jean Laughlin Official Site]

She says, “I wrote it from the point-of-view of her alter-ego “T-Swizzle” (which you might know from the “Thug Story” video she did with T-Pain). I’m a big fan of Taylor’s and just hope she knows that we’re all on her side :)”

Check it out, it’s pretty awesome!

TMBG – Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)

Jemsite was looking for some new music and I told them how nutters I am over Lex Land (in fact, just listened to the CD again this morning on my way to work).

I’m honored that they added my review to their blog repotoire. Now they can’t wait to hear the album!

Read my reposted review of Lex Land on the [Jemsite blog]

It’s funny, after reading that review again, I realize there’s so much more I could have said about it. But I’ll save that for my end of the year round up. You know this will be very near the top of my list!

[Anti-Sampler, Fall 2009]

Then I also saw that you can get a single from the bank Mock Orange whom I reviewed here a few months ago
[get 'Captain Love' here]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I’ve really had my fill of “jokey” or novelty type CDs so I kept putting this one on the back burner until I was in a better head space. I reviewed Eva Moon in the past and enjoyed her style. But apparently I have to be in the right mood.

Firstly, I love the cover art: a re-imagining of the children’s book Goodnight Moon. In the one sheet that arrived with the record, there’s a quote:

When my son was little he asked, “Why doesn’t the moon fall down and hit the earth?” I said, “It’s falling all the time. It just keeps missing… as long as you’re good.”

Don’t let the children’s book-looking cover fool you, this music is not for kids. With titles like Brazilian Wax and Snap on Girl you can probably figure that out for yourself.

Moon is an artful writer in both melody and lyrics. Smart and witty, sometimes downright funny. The songs styles include Latin, swing, pop, showtune, even a bit of funky stuff too. Sometimes it seems like the melodies are written simply so that these are songs not poems. But that just makes the listener pay more attention to the lyrics, which are quite clever.

If you’re looking for some adult music to go with your adult beverages give this one a shot. (heh, get it? A shot? Oh I crack myself up.)

Track Listing
1 Mr. ESP
2 Hard For Me
3 Fat Chance
4 Don’t Answer Yet
5 Mista Barista
6 Snap On Girl
7 Boomerang Boy
8 Brazilian Wax
9 Personal Ads
10 Circle of Stuff
11 Moon Falling Down

[Eva Moon Official Site]

Album Name: Lost and Found and Lost
Artist: The Seldon Plan
Year/Label: 2009 / The Beechfields Record Label

[Buy at Amazon]
[The Seldon Plan on Emusic]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Here’s how being married to a Sci-Fi geek comes in handy: I hear the name “Seldon Plan” and the only Seldon I can think of is Cathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds’ character) from Singin in the Rain.

The other night at dinner Mr CollectedSounds is telling me about the Asimov book, The Fountain. And he says, “there’s this guy, Hari Seldon…” and I said, “Oooh, does he have a plan?!” and he said, “Um, yes, he does!”

While I don’t know much about the literary Seldon Plan (he tried to explain, but I was halfway to a food coma so I couldn’t focus) what I know of the band is that they produce some sweet jangly pop music.

Lullabies for Old Hearts is one of the standouts for me. It just seems really comfortable.

I also like French Cinema and See a Word.

This is a fun summertime CD. Too bad summer’s almost over. It’s OK it’s a good listen no matter the season, and it’s totally my fault for not getting the review out sooner. This has been in my rotation for months.

Track Listing
1. Caldecott
2. Fire in the Day’s Field
3. Lost and Found and Lost
4. Lullabies for Old Hearts
5. Run, Ge!
6. Philadelphia and a Moment
7. French Cinema
8. Lonely Bridgewater
9. See a Word
10. There are Definite Undertones Here
11. Majestic Mountain
12. Ezra Jack Keats

[The Seldon Plan Official Site]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I wasn’t sure what to make of this. The photo of her on the cover looks like Ani DiFranco to me. So I was expecting folk. But then I put it on and it’s jazzy, and swingy.

Opener, Cuz I Feel is a toe-tapper that showcases her voice; which is skilled. I can’t say its all that distinctive from other vocals in the genre. But that’s OK because it matches the songs well.

I always feel like an imposter when I try to review jazz. This is the kind of music that I always think is for someone older than me. But now that I’m almost middle-aged, I guess all this time I just meant more sophisticated than me. Which, let’s be honest, is not hard to be.

She creates really interesting melodies. Sometimes they’re comfortable and sometimes they go where you don’t expect, which it always good.

Just Stay strays into funk with that wocka guitar.

Miss Ohri Regrets is kinda fun. I like the melody here.

I like this, it’s just not something I would listen to all that much on my own unless I was in the right mood. But she’s very talented.

Track Listing
1 Cuz I Feel
2 We Are Survivin
3 Could It Be
4 Just Stay
5 Your Smile
6 Blue in Green
7 I Love You Sometimes
8 Miss Ohri Regrets
9 Its Ok to Love

[Alisa Ohri Official Site]

Ellery (aka Tasha and Justin Golden, aka two of the nicest and coolest folks on the planet) are in Minneapolis and performing this morning on Kare11’s Minnesota Showcase! [you might be able to watch here]

Also tonight at the 318 Cafe in Excelsior at 8pm. [318 Cafe]

I heard Molly’s sound check and thought it was too bad that I wouldn’t be able to stay and hear her set because I really liked her. But I thoguht Ellery was opening for her, and I was already tired (at 7pm). But as it turns out, she played first, so we heard her whole set. She was really very good. Beautiful crystal voice and lovely melodies. She also had a loop station so she was able to record, on the spot, vocal parts, harmonies, rhythm lines and replay them so it sounded like a band with her. Very cool.

Ellery was great of course. Telling funny stories and singing their beautiful (sometimes sad) songs. The photos don’t show it, but there was a good crowd. It’s just that we Minnesotans don’t like to be too extroverted, or eager or whatnot, and no one sits in the front rows. I find this at house concerts too. The front of the room is empty and the guests all stand at the back of the room in the kitchen doorway. We’re weird, what can I say?!

I took some photos of this event. I also tried to keep a tracklist, but I am horrible and remembering song titles and I didn’t know Molly Dean’s songs, so if she didn’t say the name, I’d have no idea. So let’s forget about that part, and look at some photos. Remember, I am not a professional photographer…and it shows. Plus I was trying to be unobtrusive (see Minnesotan, above). Plus I took them on my phone.

[Buy at Amazon]
[Buy at Amazon UK]

[Peter Lacey on Emusic]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Peter Lacey is a songwriter who’s joined by Stephen J Kalinich who’s worked with many of the greats including Randy Crawford and Brian Wilson.
The results are quiet but very appealing.

I Know Roads is a sweet and evocative opener, with a soft lead vocal.

27 Young Men is a narrative about war that manages to be quite stirring. The backing is soft and suggestive.

South Downs Way Suite is a few songs linked together and it works just fine. It’s a spoken narrative of great lyrical sensitivity that proves the duos approach is fresh and innovative.

The Rose and the Weed is carefully put together and shows the duo at their best.

It’s a wonderful album, all told.

Track Listing
1. I Know Roads
2. Play On Maestro
3. 27 Young Men
4. Humanity (The Best You Can Be)
5. South Downs Way Suite
a) Picture Window
b) South Downs Way
c) Chattri
6. Widows Whisper
7. This Is The Time For Laughing
8. He Loves Her (More Than She Will Know)
9. The Rose & The Weed
10. At The Village Hop

[Peter Lacey and Stephen J Kalinich MySpace]

Album Name: High Class Trash
Artist: The Tyrants in Therapy
Year/Label: 2009 / Emotional Coathanger Records

[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Well, I don’t quite know what to make of this album and this group. Of course, you can see for yourself by the cover that they’re probably far from serious. That is, the songs are silly. I don’t mean to imply they’re not serious musicians.

Some of the songs are genuinely clever, some try just a little too hard, but in all there is an 80s soundtrack vibe to this. It is filled with weird clever lyrics that make this really more novelty music than anything else, in my mind anyway.

Twice now, My Masculinity has reminded me of Dire Straits, which is not a bad thing at all.

As I said, I find some of the songs better than others. For example, I kinda like Theme From Tammy’s Revenge, and Saturday Night Live but I couldn’t wait for Three People Nude Below the Waist to be over. Harsh? Sorry. Truth.

Maybe I just am tired of musical theater-type music. That’s pretty much what this is. It is calling for someone to act out the songs on stage, but doesn’t play as well as an album to listen to. They’re talented, and I love theater, but I’m just not feeling this. I thought maybe I just wasn’t in the mood, but this has been in my player on shuffle for months now. I don’t know that I’ll ever ‘get’ it. But give it a shot! Maybe you will see what I don’t and dig it. I guess I’m just ‘over’ novelty music right now, and infortunately, my review pile is chock full of ‘em.

Track Listing
1 The Truth Hurts
2 Ain’t Over Yet
3 The System
4 Apocalypso
5 Psychoactive
6 Zodiac
7 Saturday Nite Live (feat. Marc Mann)
8 My Masculinity
9 Bs Hollywood
10 Once Upon a Time
11 Don’t Be Scared
12 At the Cowboy Lounge
13 My Dying Girlfriend
14 Angels Remember
15 Three People Nude Below the Waist
16 Theme From Tammy’s Revenge
17 High Class Trash
18 Doubt & Pain Disco
19 Words Like That
20 Almost Winter
21 Ballad of the Tyrants in Therapy

[The Tyrants in Therapy Official Site]