J finds closure

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 30 December 2006
J
Closure
J is a local artist who has had a lot of radio play with the track Down Again, which is taken from this album. Closure is his debut full-length release after a stint of writing pop songs for boy bands in the UK. Most of the tracks are fundamentally pop songs, which J has a natural penchant for writing, but with the guidance of internationally acclaimed producer Anders Kallmark, he has managed to paint a sonic landscape of sound rendering the release far more noteworthy and unique. It should appeal to more than just pop fans. J is talented. He has not only composed some truly remarkable songs, but also performed almost all the instruments on the release. Lyrically, the album is predominantly about a former love who did not reciprocate, and J is brutally open about this muse. All of these points highlight what makes this a truly exciting release.

The Dears, affectionately a gang of losers

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 30 December 2006
The Dears
Gang of Losers
The Dears pay tribute to many elements that make up the ’90s. The band focus much of their energy on emulating Brit-pop – and succeed to a certain extent. Many Brit bands found commercial success during the ’90s. Many received some critical acclaim but most languished beneath the surface of mediocrity. Gang of Losers sees Canadians The Dears wallow in much the same league as the latter. Perhaps in the ’90s Gang of Losers might have had a place but they would never be in the same league as Oasis or Blur. Rather, they might have rivalled The Auteurs or Animals That Swim for a space in the gutters of self-loathing nihilism. Note though, that it’s almost a decade later, and ask yourself why a Canadian band should be so obsessed with the underbelly of this genre. Their attempt is just too obscure to fit the bill.

Duke Special… quite special

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 23 December 2006
Duke Special
Songs from the Deep Forest
It takes quite some gall to name yourself Duke Special. It takes bravado, arrogance, perhaps some quirkiness. Hailing from Belfast the Duke parades both. His appearance, dreadlocked with eyeliner, lends itself more to ’80s type goth-rock than it would to his honky-tonk, piano based, radio friendly sing-alongs, but perhaps that’s what makes him special. If you had to put him in a box, perhaps you could liken him to Ben Folds or Weezer, but I believe he is more than that. This, his second full length release, is a thoroughly enjoyable listen. It’s a pleasure to hear a piano perform almost show-type melodies within this unique indie-pop type guise. The Duke is witty and original in his craft. His lyrics are highly quotable and often highlight what is so dearly lacking in today’s instant celebrity culture. For these reasons, I believe he has the swagger to carry his adopted moniker.

The Blue Van delivers the goods

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 23 December 2006
The Blue Van
Dear Independence
The sixties was a seminal time for rock music. Artists like The Beatles, The Kinks, the Small Faces, The Who and the Rolling Stones developed a new breed of sound and cultivated an audience that would forever pay homage to the cataclysmic influence of their music. These artists in their very nature were progressive, which is where The Blue Van seem to have missed their off-ramp. The Blue Van too pay homage to sixties rock, yet do it so well, they could almost be considered a tribute band to all of the aforementioned artists. Honestly, it is fun. I appreciate it. I enjoy music from the era and this Danish group have written some pretty good tunes. They have excellently captured the essence of sixties revival, but unfortunately, on this their second album, have in no way shown any sign of developing their own voice.

Rodrigo y Gabriela unleashed

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 16 December 2006
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rodrigo and Gabriela, a Mexican instrumental acoustic guitar duo, explain that a song on this album, Diablo Rojo, is named after a rollercoaster ride in Denmark. Actually, the entire album rollicks like a rollercoaster as the duo pluck furiously on their nylon string guitars unleashing a dexterous assault on your aural senses. They are extremely talented guitarists and have honed their craft in a variety of playing fields ranging from ’90s metal to Django Reinhardt-type acoustic jazz, without, of course, forgetting their Mexican upbringing. The duo reference all these influences, providing a product that is unique and educational. If you enjoy the music of local acoustic guitar icons Tony Cox and Steve Newman you will definitely appreciate this. For students of the acoustic guitar and enthusiasts of acoustic music in general, this is a must. The special limited edition release includes a DVD with interviews, live concert footage and a technique tutorial.

Behind the Cellardoor revealed

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 16 December 2006
Cellardoor
A Collection of Music Played at the Club – CD 1
The Cellardoor is an alternative indie night club hosted once a month at the Horror Café in Newtown. It’s an initiative that was launched in late 2005 to provide “the alternative music-loving public a genuine outlet for all things unique, obscure and boogysome”, as mentioned within the CD sleeve. This, as the title suggests, is a collection of the music played at the club. It is a compilation of mostly indie pop/rock bands, some slightly familiar artists such as Interpol, Kaiser Chiefs and The Bravery, and some quite obscure such as Be Your Own Pet and Pink Mountaintops. It’s basically a fun, zany mix of newer material available within this niche genre. For newcomers to the scene, or those just slightly interested, this album will provide a toe-dipping test of what’s available. For the slightly kooky, this eclectic assortment will go down well. But honestly, it’s not for everyone.

Jose Gonzalez B-sides a nice collection

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 9 December 2006
Jose Gonzalez
B Sides Collected
Jose Gonzalez’s music does not conform to what traditionally produces successful pop sales, nor what would attract mass audiences to concerts, yet it accomplishes both. Gonzalez’s music is simple – he sings in a unique tenor, accompanied only by his classical acoustic guitar. His music is sincere, yet has managed to break through the commercial crust, bridging music credibility with international mass market recognition. This is a collection of B-sides, which includes his distinctive take on Kylie Minogue’s Hand On Your Heart and Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart. These are excellent, but this is not an album as such. It’s short, 7 tracks totalling 24 minutes, and includes two instrumentals. For those who enjoyed Veneer and are looking for more Gonzalez, this will not disappoint, but for those unacquainted with this troubadour’s charm, rather check out Veneer.

Jet shine on second release

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 2 December 2006
Jet
Shine On
Jet is known to South Africans as the group that composed Are You Gonna Be My Girl?, the very catchy Iggy Pop Lust For Life type retro-rock tune that accompanies the Golf GTI ad where the chap drives around playing on his drum set. They hail from Australia and Shine On is their second full-length release. This release sees the band issue a more mature album than their first, although it does not differ too vastly so as to alienate original fans. The band have expanded on their sound diversifying from ballads to all-out retro-rock stompers. This album very strongly references the band’s influences and there are points where you would be forgiven for thinking you were listening to Quen, The Who, The Beatles or Oasis. Jet capture the look and sound of the late-sixties / early-seventies so well that they have to be commended, but honestly they’re not bringing anything new to the party.

The best of the Dave Matthews Band

Originally published in the Saturday Star, 2 December 2006
Dave Matthews Band
The Best of What’s Around – Volume One
The Best of What’s Around is a compilation of the Dave Matthews Band’s greatest hits. Although now American, Matthews was originally born in South Africa and also spent some of his youth here. This influence shines through in his music. And for those not familiar yet with the Dave Matthews Band this is an excellent introduction to this multi-cultural rock/jazz fusion band, considered to be one of the biggest American touring groups. The album contains selections from each of the band’s albums and, although it might not include all the tracks a fan might expect, this is only volume one of what will presumably be a series of releases. The release also includes a bonus disc of some of the best DMB live material ever released, spanning different eras in their career. Vusi Mahlasela joins the band on stage to deliver an outstanding collaboration on one of the band’s more successful singles Everyday.