As suggested, the following reviews are all for CDs by bands with female singers. All are fairly new and not necessarily well known. which is why I'm here. So let's get crackin'.
THE CIVIL WARS-LIVE AT AMOEBA
Full disclosure: I knew almost nothing about The Civil Wars when I purchased this special Record Store Day Release. Apart from their brief appearance at the Grammys I'd not heard a thing by them and didn't know what to expect. What I got was a charming little disc that made me want to investigate further.
The Civil Wars are a duo who rely solely on an acoustic guitar and their own voices, at least during the live sets. Their music sounds like a blend of Southern songs from the 1800s, and 60's folk songs. It is a sound that is both trapped in time and timeless. Stark, simple, and in places, hauntingly beautiful. The on stage chemistry of John Paul White and Joy Williams is a treat, especially Williams whose girl next door persona makes you love her instantly. There's a lot of talent in these two.
Be forewarned, this is not a disc to drive to. It is for listening to in the quiet times, contemplating and absorbing. The songs are stark and arrangements are bare. If there is a complaint its that the music doesn't vary enough, and that may hurt them in the long run. And the production value is pretty horrible, it sounds like a bootleg. But it is a live recording from a record store so what can one expect?
I can see why some people aren't impressed with the style, it's not easily accessible, and if you're not in the right space could be considered boring. But it works for me.
Key Songs: Tip Of My Tongue, 20 Years, Dance Me To The End Of Love
3.5 out of 5 Daves
GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS-LIVE FROM THE LEGENDARY SUN STUDIOS
Another Record Store Day release. This one is really great. The songs go from bluesy and soulful to fuzzed out screamers and back again. Potter's vocals have that slightly gravelly quality that's full of sex and full of soul, regretful and joyful. You know, the way fans of Janis Joplin think she sounded. If Joy Williams (from The Civil Wars) is loveable for all the right reasons, Grace Potter is loveable for the other reasons. The ones you don't tell your mother about.
These songs were recorded over two separate sessions at Sun studios in Memphis and I'm happy to report that it sounds great. The band is on and every track is a good one. I can't recommend this enough. If you can find it, buy it.
Key Songs:: Night Rolls On, Sugar, Put Your Head Down, Can't See Through
5 out of 5 Daves
ALABAMA SHAKES-BOYS AND GIRLS
Alabama Shakes have a great, gritty, Southern soul sound. They have a tight band. They have an awesome front woman in Brittany Howard. They have a great vibe and all the potential to be one of the great bands of the decade.
They just don't have the songs to back it all up.
Don't get me wrong, "Hold On" is the best single in recent memory, but it's as good as the record gets. There are moments, sure, when the record almost touches greatness, but it consistently stops just short of what it could do. And that's the frustrating thing about this disc. It's not bad, just disappointing.
About half of the songs on "Boys And Girls" feel like demos that weren't fleshed out. It's seldom that I'd say this but this band needs a name producer to show them how to finish the songs, smooth out the edges and make a cohesive record that hits all the lows and highs a soul based record should. Brittany does sing these songs with total conviction and saves most of the record. But musically the songs all sound of sameness, and there's only so much she can do.
Look, I want to like this record. I want to love this band. I really do, I've listened to this disc multiple times, and it just hasn't grown on me much at all. Maybe in a few months I'll listen again and be blown away and have a "What was I thinking" moment. I certainly hope so. I will say, in fairness, that I would like to see them live as I think they'd be killer. I just wish the material held up to the band playing it.
Key Songs: Hold On, I Found You, You Aint' Alone, Be Mine
3 out of 5 Daves
That's it for now. More soon.
Well, apparently we don't like the same music anymore. Don't care for Civil Wars, and Shakes' record is my present record of the year, and I'd proclaim every song a super-listenable possible hit. Weird.
ReplyDeleteSide note - "Dance Me to the End of Love" is a Leonard Cohen song. Cohen is frequently accused of being boring, much like the Civil Wars. I am somehow not bored by Cohen's version and in fact, it's one of my favorites of his...but even the familiarity of the song didn't catch my interest. Nevertheless, always nice to hear a younger act covering Cohen. (Still, I do stand by their song "Lilly Love" that they did on the new Chieftains record. Maybe I'd like them if they were just made new members of the Chieftains.)