You know what? Once in a while, for whatever reason, I just don't give a
CD a fair hearing. I think that happened in the case of Aledo. Since
writing my initial review a few weeks ago, I've had a chance to reassess this
disc, and while I wouldn't say I've come around to regarding it as anything
mindblowing, it's much better than my first impression. I still stand by
the comparisons to various Billy Childish projects and Hazil Adkins, but I also
hear a bit of Roky Erikson and there's something of an experimental bent to
songs like "Never Before" and the title track that sets this apart from being
just a straight retro garage rock release. The opening instrumental, "A Few
Minor Adjustments", and the song "Hole in the Ground" are especially starting to
grow on me. And yes, Aledo does have personality. It just took a few
more listens to grab me. My original review follows for comparison.
A change of heart like this is still a pretty rare thing for me, but when it
happens I feel it's only right to note it.
In general I like the lo-fi, ultra raw garage rock sound that
Aledo plays. Unfortunately, there’s not much here that stands out.
On a technical level, the production is appropriately gritty, and the vocals and
musicianship are fine. It sounds good and all, but to my ears the songs
are just lacking in any kind of personality. Look, if you worship at the
idols of Billy Childish, Hazil Adkins, and the like, you’ll probably enjoy ‘Just
Keep Walking’. Chances are, though, that you already have at least a few
dozen other records, discs, or tapes that sound just like this. For more info, visit the
band’s website. (Bob Ignizio)
This
is some top-notch European style death metal played by a bunch of guys form
Michigan. Punishing and melodic at the same time, it reminds me of ‘Heartwork’
era Carcass crossed with early In Flames. The vocals alternate between low
growls and high screams, the guitar work is aggressive and catchy, and the
drumming is fast and brutal. About the only area where the band could be better
is in the lyric department. Pretty much your standard fare about zombies,
werewolves, and serial killers. Hey, why try to reinvent the wheel, right? As
long as the band keeps writing killer riffs like the ones on this album, they
can sing about whatever they want. “Unhallowed”, “The Blackest Incarnation”,
and lead-off video “Closed Casket Requiem” are the tracks that grabbed me the
most, but this is a pretty solid collection all the way through. If you want to
give your neck a good workout, pick this one up. (Bob Ignizio)
Jerry
Fels – ‘I've Made My Bed And Now I'm Lying In It’ (Nobody's Favorite
Records)
Jerry Fels’ album begins
with the hilarious "Shake It Around", and with it's "stick your head in the oven
and shake it all around" lyric it sets the mood for the rest of the album. I was
driving when I first heard the record, and I almost drove off the road from
laughing. Fels lyrics are amazingly funny, while still managing to be important
as well. His songs are full of emotions, one's that are mixed with anger and
childlike revelations, that actually make his points more poignant. It's
actually the first time I've seen humor and emotion put together so well. Fels
mixes the suicidal thoughts in "Left Right Left" with a nursery rhyme like
sing-song that sometimes makes you forget that the song is actually pretty sad.
"Bury The Boyfriend" could easily be the coolest song I've ever heard. We've all
felt the way he has, but no one's really singing about it. "I'll push him down a
flight of stairs, I don't care, he shouldn't have been there" Fels sings in the
song, which makes you laugh, while also making you feel sorry for him and
whatever pain his last relationship caused him. Other great songs include “Never
Leaving the House Again" and "The E-mail Song". I highly recommend this record
to anyone who's ever been bitter about past loves or anyone who just wants to
hear sad songs that make you also laugh. I'm not sure how often the latter
happens, but basically, just go get this.
www.nobodysfavoriterecords.com (Eddie Fleisher)
John
Frusciante ‘Shadows Collide With People’ (Warner Bros.)
John
Frusciante is probably one of the most under-appreciated musicians. His amazing
work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers is really a major key to their success.
Proof of that was shown when he left and sunk into heroin and they replaced him,
most notably with Dave Navarro, who did nothing for the band except make them
make out with each other. Though the Chili Pepper's sound was formed by founding
member Hillel Slovak, who died after only a few records, it's Frusciante who has
played on all their most memorable songs. Which brings us to his solo albums.
He's released several now, but his earlier stuff was sometimes hard to stomach.
Not because it wasn't good, but because it was during his darkest days of heroin
abuse and it showed on every song. This mood was especially notable on the two
albums in one ‘Niandra LaDes & Usually Just A T-Shirt’. Frusciante's work on
this album was a trippy exploration into folk. Years later, after having
rejoined RHCP and cleaning up his habit, John released ‘To Record Only Water For
Ten Days’, which was an amazing record that showed his change in attitude
towards life, and showed what an amazing musician he is. That record relied on
drum loops for percussion, and was basically all done by John. On his latest,
"Shadows Collide With People", he's got some help from fellow Chili Pepper Chad
Smith, who plays drums on most tracks, Flea, who plays bass on one song, and
Josh Klinghoffer, a musican who helps a lot on this record. He, along with
Frusciante, contributes vocals and plays guitar, bass, and keyboards. In
addition to more live instrumentation, there are also a lot of other elements,
like orchestral arrangements and some slide guitar. The record is very good, and
it's long. It takes you through some catchy songs, which are not common of
Frusciante's solo work, some spacey tripped out experiments, and some Fru folk.
Some of his Chili Pepper funk even shines through on this album. "Shadows" is
sort of a culmination of all his
projects. The best
song is "Omission", which is one of the best songs you'll hear this year. It
highlights Frusciante's amazing voice, as well as his collaborator Klinghoffer,
who's voice is a key part to this track. This album is absolutely worth picking
up, and just may be one of 2004's best, though it's still early. (Eddie
Fleisher)
This
is some top-notch European style death metal played by a bunch of guys form
Michigan. Punishing and melodic at the same time, it reminds me of ‘Heartwork’
era Carcass crossed with early In Flames. The vocals alternate between low
growls and high screams, the guitar work is aggressive and catchy, and the
drumming is fast and brutal. About the only area where the band could be better
is in the lyric department. Pretty much your standard fare about zombies,
werewolves, and serial killers. Hey, why try to reinvent the wheel, right? As
long as the band keeps writing killer riffs like the ones on this album, they
can sing about whatever they want. “Unhallowed”, “The Blackest Incarnation”,
and lead-off video “Closed Casket Requiem” are the tracks that grabbed me the
most, but this is a pretty solid collection all the way through. If you want to
give your neck a good workout, pick this one up. (Bob Ignizio)
Jerry Fels’ album begins
with the hilarious "Shake It Around", and with it's "stick your head in the oven
and shake it all around" lyric it sets the mood for the rest of the album. I was
driving when I first heard the record, and I almost drove off the road from
laughing. Fels lyrics are amazingly funny, while still managing to be important
as well. His songs are full of emotions, one's that are mixed with anger and
childlike revelations, that actually make his points more poignant. It's
actually the first time I've seen humor and emotion put together so well. Fels
mixes the suicidal thoughts in "Left Right Left" with a nursery rhyme like
sing-song that sometimes makes you forget that the song is actually pretty sad.
"Bury The Boyfriend" could easily be the coolest song I've ever heard. We've all
felt the way he has, but no one's really singing about it. "I'll push him down a
flight of stairs, I don't care, he shouldn't have been there" Fels sings in the
song, which makes you laugh, while also making you feel sorry for him and
whatever pain his last relationship caused him. Other great songs include “Never
Leaving the House Again" and "The E-mail Song". I highly recommend this record
to anyone who's ever been bitter about past loves or anyone who just wants to
hear sad songs that make you also laugh. I'm not sure how often the latter
happens, but basically, just go get this.
John
Frusciante is probably one of the most under-appreciated musicians. His amazing
work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers is really a major key to their success.
Proof of that was shown when he left and sunk into heroin and they replaced him,
most notably with Dave Navarro, who did nothing for the band except make them
make out with each other. Though the Chili Pepper's sound was formed by founding
member Hillel Slovak, who died after only a few records, it's Frusciante who has
played on all their most memorable songs. Which brings us to his solo albums.
He's released several now, but his earlier stuff was sometimes hard to stomach.
Not because it wasn't good, but because it was during his darkest days of heroin
abuse and it showed on every song. This mood was especially notable on the two
albums in one ‘Niandra LaDes & Usually Just A T-Shirt’. Frusciante's work on
this album was a trippy exploration into folk. Years later, after having
rejoined RHCP and cleaning up his habit, John released ‘To Record Only Water For
Ten Days’, which was an amazing record that showed his change in attitude
towards life, and showed what an amazing musician he is. That record relied on
drum loops for percussion, and was basically all done by John. On his latest,
"Shadows Collide With People", he's got some help from fellow Chili Pepper Chad
Smith, who plays drums on most tracks, Flea, who plays bass on one song, and
Josh Klinghoffer, a musican who helps a lot on this record. He, along with
Frusciante, contributes vocals and plays guitar, bass, and keyboards. In
addition to more live instrumentation, there are also a lot of other elements,
like orchestral arrangements and some slide guitar. The record is very good, and
it's long. It takes you through some catchy songs, which are not common of
Frusciante's solo work, some spacey tripped out experiments, and some Fru folk.
Some of his Chili Pepper funk even shines through on this album. "Shadows" is
sort of a culmination of all his
