03/27/08
M6
JOSH BOYD & the V.I.P. Band: At 23, he’s made it his business to have his musical heroes be journeyman guitarists that always worked but never become household words as they lit up the middle American nights when kids who should have been doing their homework for school the next day were out sneaking into clubs and acting like college kids. Good solid rust belt blues rock that inspires wet t-shirt contests and more, this kid has got what it takes to go the distance in this genre.
(www.superboyd.com)
METIER
PETER SHEPPARD SKAERVED-AARON SHORR/Beethoven Explored v. 3 (2005); v. 4 (2006): In which we find the dead solid perfect violin/piano duo doing some skillful and interesting juxtapositions on the meat of the Beethoven canon. Placing his works as products of their times by placing them next to works by his students and contemporaries, you get to enjoy an intimate duo that knows his works like the back of their hands before getting to explore lesser known period works. The playing is such that you know how the kings and nobles that backed these works felt as they enjoyed them in real time. A pair of tasty sets that give the classical fan a mighty jolt and something to share with pride.
SIR PETER MAXWELL DAVIES/Ave Marie Stella: One of contemporary classical music’s leading lights revisits a seminal work that brought him to the fore in the first place. With the added grace and wisdom that time brings, Maxwell and his pals in Gemini know how to deliver this as a new work that first time listeners as well as old hands can bring a sense of vivid discovery to. A well rounded work that’s probably too complex for easy listeners that like things cut up and predigested for them, this is the kind of work that gives challenging music a good name. High octane, high tone, high caliber listening throughout.
28503
CANTY/Apostle of Ireland: We’re a little late for St. Paddy’s Day but this recording wasn’t. Pulled from 15th century musics dedicated to Patrick himself, the female vocal ensemble doesn’t give you a variation on “Riverdance” here, this is real Celtic religious music for those that want to really get down and kiss the old sod. In the pocket for any self respecting yuppies that ever dug any chant or liturgical music, this is an out of the way set that rewards the listener looking for a real and deep listening experience with music that is genuinely from another time and place.
25065 (Divine Art)
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS
CHICHA LIBRE/Sonido Amazonico: Peru gets to get it’s own retro soul thing going as it brings back a sound of the streets from years ago that the middle class didn’t like but the gangs looking for empowerment dug. It’s almost like a spiritual version of rap for Peru. With psychedelic sounds leading the way, this nutty international sound that was born out of rock killing Latin genre sounds when it became a juggernaut in the 70s is kind of like heavy metal to the suburbs. High octane in it’s assault and unrelenting in it’s power, this South American version of wild west music is just what the halls of college dorms need to reverberate to as final exams loom in the shadow of spring break. Hot stuff.
17 (Barbes)
Volume 31/Number 148
March 27, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
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Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record