Millenium CD Review Roundup

Millenium CD Review Roundup

by Ed Yashinsky

Kelly Bell Band
Phat Blues Music
Phat Blues Music may sport the word “blues” in the middle of the CD title, but the Kelly Bell Band is about a galaxy away from your garden-variety blues band. That being said, the Baltimore-based Kelly Bell Band can play circles around the blues, but the true beauty of Phat Blues Music lies in the amalgam of funk, r&b, soul, and blues that drives this cool record. Bell is only part of the story here. From top to bottom — guitarist Jimmi Sexton (recently departed, but featured here), bassist Dave Evans and drummer Bob Hill — the Kelly Bell Band smokes. From the Barry White-like monologue in “Sweet Wind & Soul” to the acoustic simplicity of “Mean to Me,” Phat Blues Music is a CD that needs to be played over and over and over again. (Philadelphonic Records, P.O. Box 716, Mayo, MD 21106-0716)

In Between Blue
In Between Blue
Well, the bass player sports angel wings and a skirt on-stage, and the lead singer yawls like some post-apocalyptic vaudevillian carnival barker, and despite the look-at-me posturing of this only-in-New-York band, there’s something about In Between Blue’s debut CD that makes it nearly impossible to forget. Drawing heavily from early Roxy Music, David Bowie, Bauhaus, and every other glam and goth band on earth, In Between Blue wheezes and burbles like some kind of Kurt Weill-esque acid-induced daydream. There’s not a toe-tapper or memorable melody across this entire collection. Instead, In Between Blue unleashes the unsettling feel of a late night horror film scary enough to make the hair on your neck stand up, but campy enough to fill you with nervous laughter. (Sol 3 Records, 45 Orchard St., New York, NY 10012)

Michelle Nagy
Art Museum
Michelle Nagy has such a stunning voice that words cannot begin to describe its many facets. This is not a trained voice; this is a born voice. During her Millennium performance, an acoustic guitarist and percussionist accompanied Nagy. In such a raw setting, her voice took center stage and swelled over the music. On Art Museum, Nagy’s soaring voice still stands out, but the slightly new-age/schlock-diva backing music doesn’t serve her voice nearly as well. Instead of standing out in the crowd, the backing music seems to pigeonhole Nagy with so many other contemporary adult singers. While Art Museum still contains the wonderful confessional lyrics from her Millennium performance, the studio production doesn’t do justice to Nagy’s tremendous talent. (Acronym Music, 208A Elmwood Ave., Narberth, PA 19072)

Mike Shupp
October Sun
There’s nothing better than a songwriter with a sense of melody and the intuition for a killer hook. (It should be required for all songwriters, but sadly, that’s not the case.) On October Sun, Mike Shupp delivers both of these skills in spades along with some great guitar playing. Recently named one of the best unsigned bands in America by Spin Magazine, Shupp’s sound combines shreds of Marshall Crenshaw and John Hiatt wrapped around a rough-hewn electric core that recalls The Replacements’ mature (and sober) years. It’s just rock music, and Mike Shupp does it very well. (Private Mind Records, 4814 2nd Road North, Arlington, VA 22203)

This Year’s Girl
Mondo
This Year's Girl As bell bottoms and tiny tee’s continue to exponentially increase everyday in high school hallways and meat market watering holes, it’s only a matter of time until peg-leg jeans and skinny ties signal the beginning of an early ’80s renaissance around the country. If that’s the case, Newark, Delaware’s This Year’s Girl is way ahead of the fashion (and music) curve. The band’s debut CD, Mondo, really catches an ’80s wave and updates the sound with just enough ’90s swagger to keep things interesting. Mondo combines great elements of the ’80s — straight ahead new wave bouncing headlong against Police-like instrumental breaks and ripping guitar leads — with really hooky songs that are tough to get out of your head. This Year’s Girl is the real deal. The only issue is when major label A&R sharks are ready to start rehashing the ’80s the way they have every other musical style. (This Year’s Girl, 801 Valley Road, Newark, DE 19711)

Velcro Mary
Goodbye Cowboy
Velcro Mary states their music falls somewhere in the spectrum of Sonic Youth and Pavement, which are some pretty big shoes to fill. But the Hazelton-based band (mainly Jason Erb and several backing musicians) has released almost a half-dozen lo-fi basement tapes that seem to catch Pavement’s quirky pop-writing with a healthy dose of Sonic Youth’s studio feedback histrionics. This time out, Velcro Mary goes a little more hi-fi with a CD release, but that’s about as hi-fi as it gets. Besides the “slickly produced” opening track, “Home,” the rest of Goodbye Cowboy thrives on a certain DIY genius that is bound to annoy music purists and make the punk scene scream sell-out. That being said, Goodbye Cowboy recalls the madcap elegance of early Dinosaur Jr. with a certain naiveté that works amazingly well. As the inside of the jackets proclaims, all the songs here were “recorded on cheap four-tracks in bedrooms and basements in PA and NJ;” and in the case of Velcro Mary, that’s a really good thing. (Saft Records, 12302 Second St., Fort Myers, FL 33905)

Voxology
Voxology
While the initial strains of Voxology’s self-titled acoustic debut may scare off anyone but hardcore folk music fans, this CD deserves a serious listen for three reasons. First off, Kevin Neidig’s guitar and banjo playing is outstanding, yet never overpowering; secondly, Les Vonderlin’s fine vocals serve as a perfect foil to the music; and finally Neidig and Les Vonderlin’s love of bluegrass and other traditional music comes through in an incredibly honest way. Whether interpreting classic songs like “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Shut De Door,” and or “Rider,” or delivering soul-searching pieces like “Why the Hell did I Pick You?” or “Ghosts,” Voxology simply delivers music with tender loving care. In an ever-increasing musical world of style over substance, Voxology stays true to their art and delivers an outstanding debut CD. (Voxology, 3A Silver Spring Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 or Voxology@ezonline.com)

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