DBR Daniel Bernard Roumain - "Woodbox Beats And Balladry" CD

Wholly unique in music, Roumain's experimental violin work traverses across genre boundaries effortlessly. From the opener, "Spaceships Over Haiti", he merges jazz, classical, and electronic sounds together into a sometimes-dizzying, always evocative mix. The second track ("Sonata For Violin and Turntables Part 4") brings in drum & bass rhythms for a modern classical-meets-techno hybrid. "Simone" is more reflective, which gives way to the hype of "Armstrong" -- a busy jam with Roumain's effected violins joined by a full band and some mad scratching. If this sounds like overload, it can be. "Sonata For Violin and Turntables, Part 2" is a trippy psychedelic journey, which contrasts nicely with the stately, lovely tones of the proto-classical "JMDL", which brings little more than piano and violin into the fray. It's a bewildering mix, and proves DBR to be a world-class composer and musical chameleon. Superlative and inventive work. (Thirsty Ear)

DBR website

DBR blog

Sectioned - "Purulent Reality" CD

Hailing from England, this is the debut full-lengther from Sectioned, and their classic death metal roots are all showing here. With an unabashed affinity for old-school Florida-style death/thrash, Sectioned's dual guitar attack brings smoking leads, solos, mighty thumping kick-drums, and growly-vomit vocals. It's a hearty and potent mix, with tracks like "My Love Of Decay" standing out, does the raging "Village Of The Sun". It all ends with the melodic and reflective acoustic intro of "Purulent Reality (Outro)". This interesting bookend is evidence that Sectioned may yet have another side waiting to come out. That said, if death metal by the numbers appeals to you, there's a lot worse out there, and Sectioned know how to make a serious racket. I like this one. (Paragon Records)

Sectionedspace

"Ceremony - A New Order Tribute" 2xCD compilation

Featuring a host of artists who, for the most part, I'm unfamiliar with, this extended-length double-album is a tribute to one of the most influential electronic/pop acts ever, and is dedicated to famous Factory Records founder/New Order manager Tony Wilson. A portion of the proceeds from sales go to the Salford Foundation Trust's Tony Wilson Awards, which benefit the education and nurturing of school-age artists. So you get a good cause, and a good set of tunes! That aside, the moody dance-pop of New Order's classics emerge fresh and re-imagined here, with a selection that balances comfortably between indie rock and club techno (both of which New Order pioneered back in the early 80's). Standouts include Yes But No (consisting of 10-and-13-year old sisters Brianna and Skylar Ward) and their splendid and faithful version of  the resonant "Ceremony", The Dark Romantics' U2-like "Crystal", Christian Webb & Adam Knowles' lovely "Run" (what an amazing song), The Sheaks' dusky Western-shoegaze take on "Ceremony" (Can you tell this is one of my favorite New Order songs?). Other notables include Light Yourself On Fire, who shockingly convert  "Chosen Time" into a growly metal monster, Xoxo's solemn "Every Little Counts", and Win Win Winter's plaintive piano-driven "Regret". And that's not to mention a spoken intro from Peter Hook (of New Order) himself. So, you have some radical reinterpretations, plenty of (true?) faithful covers, and plenty of reverential and respectful tributes. A superb set for any New Order fan, and plenty of solid material for novices just as well. (24 Hour Service Station)


24HourServicespace

New Order tribute page

Mark Growden - "Saint Judas" CD

From San Francisco comes this veteran songwriter whose gritty take on dark, bluesy Americana makes him a shoe-in for fans of artists like Tom Waits, Nina Simone, or the Low Anthem. His opener here, "Undertaker", is a raw and soulful lament that recalls the great old bluesmen, though with stronger production, of course. And his group, The Mark Growden Sextet, accents his world-weary voice with old-time arrangements and stylish textures. "Been In The Storm So Long" is another tortured dirty blues number, with a cool swamp-jazz vibe. He re-interprets the classic Leonard Cohen gem, "I'm Your Man", and convincingly makes it his own. Other standouts include the haunting "Coyote", and the melancholy "Inside Every Bird". Certainly, "Saint Judas" is a strong, deep, and mature album for fans of blues that bleed realism, loss, sorrow, and redemption. Superb. (Porto Franco Records)

Growden's label, Porto Franco Records, has given kind permission for the following two Mp3s to be given away from the new album:
"Saint Judas"
"Inside Every Bird"

Mark Growden site

Growdenspace

And check out this new video for "Coyote", as directed by Christiane Cegavske:

Muse - "Under Review" DVD

Muse are a band I've enjoyed, but their predilection for sounding like other bands has been their ultimate downfall, in my eyes. Their earliest records (never released here in the states) echoed Radiohead far too closely, and in more recent times, Muse have done the unthinkable, and referred painfully to Freddie Mercury and Queen - blustery, pompous, and even operatic at times. This unauthorized documentary DVD, billed as "An independent critical analysis", does refer to these gripes, but generally goes off the deep end, citing Muse as great innovators, and one of the world's greatest groups. Hooey, I say. Former managers, UK music writers, and past producers are interviewed, and they all speak adoringly (perhaps too much so) about Muse's successes and glories. Taken with a grain of salt (or three), "Under Review" can be an entertaining look at the history of this epic stadium rock outfit, especially if you can get past the sycophantic spirit. (Sexy Intellectual via MVD Visual)

Musespace

Shane MacGowan, Johnny Depp, Nick Cave, and friends...

Here's something cool deserving of some attention. To help benefit the victims of Haiti's massive earthquake, Pogues leader Shane MacGowan rounded up some of his high-profile friends, including Johnny Depp, Nick Cave, Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders), and Mick Jones (The Clash), to cover the great 1956 Screamin' Jay Hawkins track, "I Put A Spell On You". It's a lovely and faithful rendition, I'm sure you'll agree. The song will be released as a downloadable mp3 soon, as well. Check the video for details.

"I Am Virgin" DVD (director: Sean Skelding)

B-movies can be fun, titillating, and guilty pleasure-romps, where the right mix of camp and over-the-top situations are so borderline comedic that suspension of disbelief doesn't matter any more.
That said, "I Am Virgin", a softcore parody of "I Am Legend" with vampires, contains this campy element, but loses me in several ways. It's the tale of the last "regular" man on Earth, and he's still a (grudging) virgin. The trouble is, the plague that destroyed the world turns everyone (and it seems everyone is a Suicide Girl) into sex-crazed, nymphomaniac vampires. So he is pursued by numerous tattooed and pierced nudies with silicon implants, yet he refuses to succumb to their toothy wiles, for fear of being killed. The acting is absolutely bad, with the stripper/actresses poorly gumming their way through their plastic vampire teeth. It's hammy, trashy, overacted, and gaudy, and though this obviously isn't meant to be much more, I found it nearly unwatchable. The numerous sex scenes seemed sterile and plastic, so that doesn't save it, either. The best performance here has to be from Billy the basset hound, whose dubbed yelps and responses are spot-on. "I Am Virgin" isn't scary enough to be horror, and it's not sexy enough to be porno. No, thanks to this one. ( Cheezy Flicks Productionsvia MVD Visual)

I Am Virgin site with clips, interviews, etc.