"The Friends EP," Ween (Chocodog Records,
***
)
T
his May 13 release includes four brand new songs plus a remix of "Friends."
None of these appeared on the last full-length Ween release in 2007; so, Dean Ween sees it as "the ultimate party record, filled with good beats and good times."
The lyrics are wittier, but "Friends" sounds like Human League for the new millennium. "I Got to Put the Hammer Down" is better, with distorted vocals and a crunchy guitar solo. The reggae-fied "King Billy" ups the ante by including a solo that sounds like a baritone kazoo.
The Latinesque "Light Me Up" brims with frustrated sexual energy, but "Slow Down Boy" ends the set with a whimper rather than a bang.
Get a copy of this one locally or shop online at one of these Web sites: mvdaudio.com or chocodogrecords.com.
"The Girl Done Good: A Documentary Review," Amy Winehouse (Sexy Intellectual/MVDvisual,
***
)
This May 13 DVD release applies the "Under Review" treatment to an artist currently more famous for bad behavior than musical accomplishments. Amy Winehouse's career started promisingly, and rocketed into the stratosphere with her second album. But, her personal life seemed to be spiraling into substance abuse at the same time.
This presentation takes us back to her early days on the British scene, which began with her potently combining hip-hop production and jazz vocal abilities on album one ("Frank") before the switch to retro-R&B with potty-mouth lyrics on "Back to Black."
She's a rebel, and together with different producers has already reinvented herself in less time than it usually takes to get a musical career going. Who knows what will come next? Fans or curious onlookers can snag this one locally or at mvdvisual.com.
"El Rey," The Wedding Present ((Manifesto Records,
***½
)
UK act The Wedding Present released "El Rey," its first new full-length album in over three years, on May 20. The album was recorded in Chicago in early 2008 by Steve Albini, marking the band's first record with the noted producer since 1991. The chiming guitars, bass and drums sound appropriately powerful.
"El Rey" was written while Northern English front man David Gedge was living in Los Angeles. His accent makes the semi-grunge material sound sort of like Donovan sitting in with Bush (the band, not the President).
Graeme Ramsey's drums are the most outstanding instrumental feature. His use of tom-toms and rim shots drives the rockier songs along. My favorite songs include "Spider Man on Hollywood" and the witty "Don't Take Me Home Until I'm Drunk." Snag this one locally, or visit manifesto.com or other major online retailers.
"Belief/Beneath the Shining Water," Dare (Rock Ridge Music,
***½
)
Welch band Dare, headed by former Thin Lizzy member Darren Wharton, released these two albums in one package May 20. Wharton got his start in the music business at age 17 when he joined a later edition of the legendary Irish rock band. Some songs here have the cinematic quality of Lizzy's best, with the engaging characters replaced by personal pronouns.
It was when he decided to move from Manchester to the mountains of North Wales that Dare's current line-up and musical vibe took shape. The beauty of the surroundings helped a new, atmospheric, Celtic feel emerge. "Belief" featured the UK hit single "White Horses."
That song, "Silent Thunder" and others have a Celtic-country-rockin' feel which isn't as evident on album two, but "Shining Water" songs like "I'll Be the Wind" are melancholy-cool. Wharton (lead vocals/keyboards) and his two band mates have created some memorable music. Get your copy locally or visit rockridgemusic.com.
Ricky Flake is a former punk rocker and a music fan who lives in Biloxi. Reach him at lobotomy3857@bellsouth.net
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