James Oldaker - Mad dogs & Okies

Concord

Think of it as a tribute to Oklahoma. Except, better. Better being every large name coming from Oklahoma you could possibly think of. Mastermind James Oldaker brought together and produced the astounding collection of artists on their journey towards this final release. Oldaker, while not a household name, is a legend among country/rock/blues world of musicians. He's been writing and recording for three decades, touring with greats like Eric Clapton and Bob Seger. Basically, the man knows what he's doing. The name is a play off of Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen (ha-ha, get it?).
The 'Okies' on this recording is a force to be reckoned with. Eric Clapton, Ray Benson, Willie Nelson, the list goes on. Each song fits in the niche that Oldaker built for them on this release. Clapton's track, to no surprise, proves why he is such a legend of rock, even when he isn't playing in the genre. Piano genius Ray Benson, brings one of his signature old-school rock 'n' roll tracks that will make any normal human being want to get up and dance. Another hit off the album is Zadig & Marcella. They took on one of the previous mentioned songs and created something completely beautiful. Oklahoma never seemed more alive.

Gerald Veasley - At the Jazz Base!

Heads Up

Legend of jazz bass Gerald Veasley finally puts out a live album that captures all of the energy, charisma, soul of his live show. His speed and accuracy on bass is astounding. His soloÕs are out of this world, with speed that Nascar would have to speed to keep up with. The compositions feel at times like a splice between smooth jazz and Coultrane, but keep up integrity throughout.
Veasley has been around for almost 20 years now, doing it all. Composing, producing, touring, and just jamming with his band, his talent is unquestionable. He can play jazz bass like any of the past. The album was recorded at his own club in Pennsylvania (surprisingly called 'The Jazz Base'). Here, he not only hosts Berks Jazz Festival, but he also leads Bass Boot Camp, a camp dedicated to perfecting studying musicians skill as bassists. Veasley is one of those artists that you will definitely be seeing more of in the future.

The Concretes - Layourbattleaxedown

Astralwerks

An octet of incredibly well crafted musicians from Stockholm, The Concretes are on the road to stardom. They play a genre of cute-ish pop/folk/indie rock that will never cease to get to me. It's really beautiful, and I'm not just saying that. It really is great music. Victoria Bergsman's vocals are really the key to this band. They seem to bring everything together into an opus of love and heartbreak. On tracks like "Lady December", a more folky song, she sounds like she's on the verge of tears at parts. So am I. The instrumentation consists of everything from organs, to a full-sounding string section, and horns. I guess you can do stuff like that with that many people. But they don't over do it. Just the right amount of accents, ups and downs, and perfect harmonies make this quite an album.
And to think this isn't even a full length. It's an American B-sides collection. Taking things from almost all of their EP's, and unreleased tracks. Also, a Rolling Stones cover of 'Miss You', which took me a few second to realize was not an original. While I generally give a big 'NO' to covering things like this, The Concretes have my blessing, for the song and the rest of their careers.

Armik - Mar de Suenos

Bolero

Before I begin reviewing the album, the editor and I felt we needed to interject and say a few words on the term "World Music." The fact that Americans have the audacity to say that they are the genre, and the rest of the world is world music is ridiculous. Some day, the world will realize that everyone - every country - is world music. Not just 160 countries, but every country including the U.S.A. Just because "we" started rock 'n' roll doesn't mean we can claim that we have some form of superiority over the world music scene. ("Fuck The U.S. and the ego it road in on!" - Shelton Ivany)
Onto the lighter note of this record, this is Armik's new flamenco guitar masterpiece. The prodigy that is Armik began to show his talent at the age of 7, becoming a professional musician at the age 12, and continuing his genius until today. He has completely mastered flamenco guitar in all the curves and twists and ups and downs.
His hooks are everywhere. Songs like "Palmes De Oro" keep new things flying at you around every corner. With catchy guitar lines, flying into solos that will blow your mind, not to mention the background rhythms that will force you to get up and dance, the song is one of the best on the album. The instrumentation is mostly guitar and percussion, so be prepared for a lot of that. But, then again, what more do you need than strings and drums?

Music From The Motion Picture - The Dukes of Hazzard

Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax

While I cannot actually support people going out and seeing the movie, I can say that the soundtrack is bound to be a bigger hit. The movie, which is a "remake" so to speak of the amazing 70s television show under the same name, stars MTV celebrities like Jessica Simpson and Johnny Knoxville, along with old-school actors like Burt Reynolds. The car that got the show famous has been remade and is the shining star of the movie.
The soundtrack has much more potential. Jessica Simpson, who is a much better singer than she is an actress, pulls a cover out which rivals Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'". Other huge names on this album include Lynard Skynard and the Allman Brothers. The hit, of course, comes at the end, when Willie Nelson plays "Good Ol' Boys". Oh, and did I mention Uncle Jesse gives an intro and outro? The highlight of the album is definitely the latter.

Michael Mangia The Invisible Wall

Lof Box (Release Date: October 4th)

I'm going to be honest here. I hated this at first. The first track made my skin crawl. But, it grew on me. Slowly, at first, but by the end of the first listen, I was hooked. He's described as the "David Lynch of Hollywood pop scene." It's pretty true. Songs range from topics such as porn star junkies and their admirers, sci-fi books, and the effects of television on society. It is incredibly dark, depressing, and weird; but really, really good.
The sound is fairly reminiscent of Ben Folds, consisting of piano driven pop songs with lyrics that will make you want to curl up in a corner and never come out. He is a story teller, and his lyrics can tell you that better than I can. The best track on the album, which is much more experimental than the rest, entitled "Life Support on Xmas", is a bonus track which Mangia shares a love for. He describes it as wrapping up all the themes of the album. "It's about the peace that follows the silence." Spooky.

Cody Widner - Honky Tonk Heart

Dreamkeeper/Vista Media

Cody Widner is a success story if I've ever heard one. The Texan played the classic-American sport of football where, not surprisingly, he suffered a serious back injury, leaving him and his game broken off for good. From there, it was his time to learn guitar. His career took off from there. As the album title suggests, this country boy plays real country music.
The opening track, "Drinkin Doubles", is definitely a stick-out song. It grabs your shirt and pulls you down to the bar in the heart of the Texas he's crying at, complete with elk-head hanging above the door and shotgun displayed behind the counter. The fiddle work on this album sticks out like the silver lining of a thunderstorm. The musician carries the melody, tying the loose ends of Widner's sorry love affairs into one solid album bringing out the Texan in all of us.

Kaci Brown - Instigator

Das/Interscope/Universal

Mark my words: Kaci Brown will be the new Britney Spears. At the young age of 17, her voice is one of an angel, though not quite singing the will of God. Kaci Brown started singing at 7, having changed her life course after seeing Celine Dion perform. "She was so amazing and inspiring!" she said in one interview. Next, she won "Little Miss Texas Grand Talent" at 10 years old, where her career actually began to take off, touring until the age of 13 when she landed her first publishing deal. From there, she continued until now, releasing her first full length album.
The beats and production on this album take her out from the shadows of other pop singers of today, with the sci-fi electronic sounds of songs like "Unbelievable" and tribal-esque rhythms of songs like "Body Language". Kaci's voice reminisces strongly of pop singers from the 90s, similar to people like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. She seems to not be teetering on the innocent child gimmick that Britney Spears shined on, yet seems to have the quality without the school girl dress of the infamous "Hit Me Baby One More Time" video. Every song is a bit different, ranging from a hip hop/r&b feel to much more ballad-esque songs, which makes this an easy listen from track one to eleven.

Secret Machines - The Road Leads Where ItÕs Led

Reprise

Described as "neo-psychedelic", this new EP by Secret Machines has two original tracks and four covers. The band consists of the Curtis brothers and Josh Garza, who all seem to have mastered their instruments well. The vocals hint at times of the Pixies, with the guitar and electronics definitely influenced by everyone from Led Zeppelin to stoner rock. A concoction of originality teeters from the band. Originally from Dallas, they relocated to Brooklyn where they now reside.
Covers and originals alike are definitely ear candy. Originals like "Better Bring Your Friends" glisten with a bit of new-wave punk added to their assortment of already diverse sounds to make one of the hits of their career. Their covers are out of this world. "Money (That's What I Want)" is like nothing you've ever heard before. With heavily effected guitars and droning drum beats that seem to last throughout the entire song, their new version cannot even compare to the original. It is in a completely different dimension of sound. Other covers include songs by Bob Dylan and Lynard Skynard. Check them out on tour with the amazing Kings of Leon!
Sheltons's Single of the Week: Secret Machines' "Better Bring Your Friends"

World Leader Pretend - Punches

Warner Bros

World Leader Pretend bring a blend of pop and indie rock that will blow your mind. Their story, too, is one that leave your mind in shock saying 'why didn't I do that?' It seems, at the low-point and their last stab at making it, the band faked a letter to the local newspaper, saying they were a Chicago promoter, and requesting the band be banished from the New Orleans club circuit. Well, it seemed to work, getting them an interview, and a chance at stardom. And here they are, unsurprisingly.
The album speaks for itself. Playing in the genre of bands like Travis, Matthew Goode Band and early Third Eye Blind, yet sounding like none of these, World Leader Pretend sound like a pop band, but have the songs of an indie rock band. Combining interesting leads, vocal catches, and lyrics that are dark and beautiful at the same time, this band are getting the publicity they deserve.

Paint It Blue - A Bluegrass Tribute To The Rolling Stones

CMH

In this alternative universe, the Stones hitch a wagon, trek up north a bit, and instead of maracas and slide guitar, pick up mandolins and banjos and just flat out 'git it! Mr. Richards and Co. traveled close to the Appalachian range on the song "Country Honk" from the Let It Bleed album. Paint it Blue is that universe, complete with the stones in cowboy boots and washed out jeans. Oh wait...
This CD collects a few of their best songs covered by Honeywagon. They pull the songs off really well, making them sound original, yet still keeping the feel of the old songs. Great hits like "Under My Thumb" will make you question who the original was by. The closing piece, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is undoubtedly the weirdest, yet best tracks on the album.

Jamison Parker - Sleepwalker

Interscope/UMG

Following in the wake of Bright Eyes, Fall Out Boy, and sensations of the like, Jamison Parker jumps on the bandwagon of pop-rock/post-punk that has hit airwaves and the hearts of teenage girls throughout the country. Complete with bad haircuts and high pitched vocals, the duo wrote and recorded their first full length this past year and recorded in Malibu, Ca earlier this year.
The music blends the suicidal, teen-angst vocals of Connor Obrest and the distorted guitar lines like those of pop-core sensation Finch. The music has a lot of that singer/songwriter feel that seems fairly heartfelt and honest. Especially with two members, they seem to hold their own. As for me, this is music I would rather fall asleep to than pay 10 dollars to see live.

Orville Davis - BarnBurner

Fountain Bleu/Burnside

This record stopped the Editor dead in his tracks. Seriously. Mid sentence, discussing the "the good old days," he stopped when "Knockin' At My Door" began. Davis was voted Singer/Songwriter of the Year by New Jersey Country Music from 1996 until 1999, and this album proves why. He sings about his broken heart from second one, covering the steps of every break-up, from the initial hurt, to recovering, to telling your returning lover to 'not come around no more.' He seems to have definite commitment issues, yet that doesn't get in the way of his song writing.
Orville Davis has a very witty sense of humor, which he shines into his lyrics. Songs like "Line Dancin' Queen" call his ex-love a 'two-steppin' line dancin' queen.' It makes you smile, listening to him talk about this, as depressed as he must be. Maybe it sounds like he is a joke at this point, but he really isn't. His top-knotch guitar playing makes him just that more legitimate. He writes songs that will make you scream "take me to the range!" when they are over. There are even songsl like "Callin' Janie" which have a much more blues feel to them. Hopefully one day, Davis will find himself a lovely cow-woman that will mend his broken heart.

Chicago Blues Reunion - Buried Alive In The Blues

Out The Box/Bayside/Koch (CD/DVD)

This blues concoction is a resurrection of the genre that has dwindled from its original birth, like so many other great things. It is seemingly a "who's who" of blues today, including names such as Harvey Mandel and Tracy Nelson. The DVD of this collection has 30 minutes of band performances along with insightful interviews with the players themselves. And, the treat of it all, brand new interviews with the real heroes, B.B. King and Buddy Guy.
I cannot go any further without mentioning Tracy Nelson's vocals. After spending hours on reviews, the sound of her voice can wake up any dying soul. The notes she hits sound like they could be coming straight from heaven. It's astounding. She is, undeniably, the best part of the album. I've left out everyone else thus far, and that really is a shame, because the collection of music on this release is so astounding that I would not be surprised if it brought swing back from the dead. Barry Goldberg, the keyboard- player, rivals that of Ray himself. Harvey Mandel brings to the table his normal guitar playing that is anything but 'normal.' It's genius. The title track, which is one of the best, was written by Gravenites for Janis Joplin who died before she had a chance to record her vocals.
***So Nice, Gotta Do It Up Twice (Created by the Original NYC DJ, Jocko, 1955)***

Blood Of Abraham - Eyedollartree

Basement (Release Date: September 6th)

Being the young Jewish man that I am, I have to have respect for this. As a fan of hip hop, I have to give it even more respect. Blood Of Abraham blend their roots of gangsta' rap with much more interesting Hip-Hop ala Hieroglyphics and Anticon Records. Their history is a jaw dropping one. They blew up when, at an open mic session, Eazy E, the king of all gangsta' rap, stepped on the mic next to them and eventually released their first record. They became so close, it seemed, that one of them lived at one of Eazy's mansions. Luckily, their fate did not follow his, and they seemed to get out of the rut of ignorant and chauvinist words that is most of that genre.
Eyedollartree, which is the latest from these L.A. Jews, is their most polished sound to date. Their beats are much more original, straying from the same drum beat and same keyboard sample that are used too much throughout hip hop, and replacing it with something much more of what a musician would write. Covering topics all over the board such as America's obsession with money to the death of their mentor, they bring intelligent, interesting, and respectable hip hop. Kool Keith and Will I.Am of Black Eyed Peas guest spot on Eyedollartree, which is always a plus.
(Itay's note: The Black Eyed Peas were also one of the groups originally signed to Eazy-E's Reckless Records before his untimely death...I think Fergie might still have been on KIDS Incorporated...)
***Seth's Single of the Week: Blood Of Abraham "Calling All Citizens"***

Eliza Gilkyson - Paradise Hotel

Red House

The Bush administration got a lot of people around the globe to question the U.S.A. government. My parents just called me today to talk about things I would never expect to hear them learning about. It's beautiful and depressing. Eliza Gilkyson is one of the casualties of this birth of social enlightenment, looking at Bush's policies and questioning his choices, which doesn't seem to be the best for all. Gilkyson is a folk hero, with her third album The Land of Milk and Honey (which was nominated for a 2004 grammy).
She is the resurrection of Johnny Cash. She has a strong, full sounding acoustic guitar sound and witty, well thought out lyrics. And, as our editor seems to drool over, her political attack that is "Man of God" stands out from the rest of the album like corn growing in a carrot patch. With her brother's electric guitar playing (formally of L.A. punk band X) and lyrics such as "man of god, that ain't the teachings of a man of god" and "jesus said help the poor and the weak/If he lived today he'd be a liberal freak", it makes every bit of joy pour out of my heart. If for no other reason than this song alone, this is a great fucking album.

Sons of the Pioneers (featuring Roy Rogers) - Under Western Skies

Soundies/Varese Sarabande

There was once a boy. A boy who loved country. The boy was named Leonard Slye. Leonard metamorphasized into Roy Rogers, the king of Western music. Roy started off in a band called Sons of the Pioneers. This is it. You can hear the Roy Rogers in Leo, but Leo is still a shy boy, one not so confident in his skills, one not yet the king he would later become.
Under Western Skies are Sons of the Pioneers' first recordings from 1935 radio broadcasts, when the band were all so young and their fathers' cowboy boots barely fit on their own feet. But that doesn't mean their sound isn't polished and finished. Roy's signature yodel, which, in part, made him the household name he is, is on just about every single song on this recording. The lyrics are straight out of the west, with words like "Happiness fades like the rose" and "I wish I'd bought me a half a barrel and stayed in the wagon yard" which are those of true cowboys. With traditional instrumentation (guitar, string bass, fiddle, and steel guitar), this is an item for all of those even slightly interested in traditional western music. Thank God for represses.

Matt Darey - Upfront Trance

Water Music (Double CD)

Either under Li Kwan or Matt Darey, the man launched what has now become a national sensation. While still an incredibly new genre of music (trance began around the early to mid 90s), Darey is to trance what Hendrix is to rock. He started around '94 with his debut Point Zero, which ended up throwing him into a ball of success. He's sold over two million records total in his career, which is incredibly impressive if you consider the fact that the genre is still under the radar of the general public.
Upfront Trance is a twister of dance beats and pop vocals. It's Darey's first release in the Americas, which is incredibly surprising considering how toned and precise his sound is. This does not sound like it could be something early in one's career. This is something that should come out of a successful millionaire who has been doing this for decades, not just a decade. While critics may call his music 'simple,' the songs are so layered and complex that any musician actually listening to it can respect his skill as a composer. So grab your glow sticks, ecstasy (not recommended), and a boombox, and rock out as if there's no tomorrow.

The String Quartet - Tribute to Bright Eyes: Beautiful in the Morning

Vitamin

Three years ago I launched away on a long love/hate relationship with Conor Obrest when I saw him for the first time at a small venue in San Diego. Obrest had the voice of a Bob Dylan, and the music genius of Danny Elfman, and the mentality of a 16 year old stereotypical high school girl with borderline personality disorder. I hated him and loved him at the same time. With every new release I wished for it to be horrible so that I would hate him more, but I continue to be impressed with everything he has released, each one a skyscraper higher than the next.
With that said, the String Quartet tribute to Conor Obrest was definitely something that rivals the man himself. They pick a great collection of songs, including my favorite "Bowl of Oranges", and transpose it perfectly. I was skeptical at first on how they would convert a 14-piece orchestra to a four person tribute, but it turned out perfect. The viola takes part mostly as his vocal lines, which works perfectly, because his voice sounds like a screaming four year old sometimes. I may be biased towards this because of the battling demons inside of me towards the originals, I thoroughly enjoy this recording.

Kaskade - Self-Titled

Om/ADA

Maybe I'm just ill-informed on the formats of club/dance music, but I'm not sure if this is a compilation, a sampler, or a remix album, because every track has a different name and different remixes. But in the history of music, does the artist matter as much as the sound? Yes, this is an incredibly fallible statement, but in the gist of things, I take it as truth. What I'm trying to say is, I really do like this, despite my critiques of the confusing layout. Kaskade, as the alter-ego of Ryan Raddon, has been releasing records for almost 5 years now, and this may or may not be his newest one to date. He is a bay area local, living with his wife and working with his own Om records. He was an instant sense: being nominated for awards left and right, not to mention charted on Billboard's dance charts.
His sound is definitely club/dance, but it has its own unique flair to it. It's obviously danceable, but there is something more. He dj's, but he is more than that. He is a musician. The tracks are textured, keeping the, at times, minimalist feel that much of this music has, but keeping it always changing and interesting. The vocals fit perfectly. I only wish I could understand who it is.

Billy Joe Shaver - The Real Deal

Compadre (Release Date: 9/20/05)

Some of you might think you are real cowboys, thinking that you are living the hard outlaw life that so many try to make themselves out to be. You have nothing on Shaver. He is the cowboy outlaw of all cowboy outlaws. His life consists of an eighth grade education, attempting to make his way on his uncle's farm to feed himself before 20, losing a finger in a saw mill, and, oh, his parental abandonment before he could talk. Yet, through all of this, he is here today, doing what he loves, what he breathes, what he is, and doing it as beautiful as it possibly could be.
This new release for Shaver is a classic, rivaling his Tramp On the Street release. The majority of the recording is minimal orchestration: a guitar, some percussion, and maybe a fiddle. A few songs, like "Live Forever", holds a complete orchestra within. It may sound a bit weird blending such a full sound with such a smaller one, but the tracks blend incredibly well. His vocals carry his southern accent, and a vague yodeling crescendo, which leads the songs in all of the directions they need to go. Shaver, while not a star, definitely deserves to be in the spotlight. He's lived the life, knows how to play, and plays what he knows. Someday, maybe he will get what he deserves.