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Have three minutes? Read three record reviews

Posted in MUSIC to Reviews by Cristy Scoggins on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 10:00 am

Eels, End Times

Wunderkind Mark "E" Edwards has released six albums as Eels. E's often-autobiographical songs are heartbreaking — he lost his father, mother, and sister in a relatively short time span — but he usually adorns them with experimental, beautiful sounds (see 1998's Electro-Shock Blues). End Times is still lovely, but the instrumentation is sparse, which makes the songs even moodier. There are a few uptempo tunes: the funky garage of "Gone Man" and "Unhinged." E's voice has grown raspier over the years, so songs like "Line in the Dirt" and "I Need a Mother" are especially melancholy. Beware: Not recommended after breakups, rainy days, or more than three glasses of wine.

 

The Scruffs, Conquest

Supergroups-with few exceptions, they disappoint. It's what I like to call "The Traveling Wilbury Syndrome," where all rights make a wrong. The Scruffs is a Scottish supergroup that I had high hopes for, featuring members of Teenage Fanclub and Belle & Sebastian. I was expecting a gorgeous, distorted jangle-meets-twee masterpiece, but it's just a bunch of dudes playing slick, straight-ahead rock ("Conquer Me," the cheesy "iPod Girl"). The harmonies are decent, though, and the album has a few bright spots, including the pretty "Days of Silver and Gold." For die-hard fans of Scot-rock only.

 

Woodpigeon, Die Stadt Muzikanten

This is a mellow, unassuming gem from Woodpigeon, an eight-member Calgary band led by singer-songwriter Mark Hamilton. It's a sweet album, tailor-made for listening in the dawn of spring, with pleasant strings, bells, horns, and organ. Standouts include "My Denial in Argyle," "Duck Duck Goose," and the layered, 7-minute "Such a Lucky Girl." At 16 tracks, Die Stadt Muzikanten's tinkling preciousness might get a bit repetitive for some, but if you're into boy-girl orchestral harmonies reminiscent of the Decemberists or Sufjan Stevens, you'll probably dig this.

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“Evaporated.“ Never said that but cool…. Yes, I do know. But people have wanted to be Elvis for 60 years. And I think what is hipper these days is the switch around. Ya know, how every one in the band “kind of” plays “everything” and switches around…

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Cheesy Computers with evaporated Beats and Samples may not be your taste and I can appreciate that…but in some cases they are born out of necessity. Do you know how hard it is to find a drummer these days? Do you know how hard it is to find…

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Every band in CU - I realize this is just a cheeky comment, but I wanted to respond anyway. I think this column is more about the scene and the support system than the bands themselves. The last thing I would ever want is for someone to…

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Interesting article, John.  I second your comments Doug.  I’d really like to see the two of you do a Siskel & Ebert-style review of albums.  Can SP make this happen? And if Noiseboy could reappear to DJ one day at Mike & Molly’s…

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Thank you SP editors for removing a not-so-nice word from Pope’s comment. I was just going to comment on it myself, wondering if we need an article titled “Down with the F-word”. John, very interesting read. Huzzah for well-written local music opinion.

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“Evaporated.“ Never said that but cool…. Yes, I do know. But people have wanted to be Elvis for 60 years. And I think what is hipper these days is the switch around. Ya know, how every one in the band “kind of” plays “everything” and switches around…

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i just found this article, and am so happy about it! mark is a wonderful person!!

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*Shrugs*

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Thank you SP editors for removing a not-so-nice word from Pope’s comment. I was just going to comment on it myself, wondering if we need an article titled “Down with the F-word”. John, very interesting read. Huzzah for well-written local music opinion.

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