75 or Less - Album ReviewsAlbum reviews in 75 words or fewer.Sebadoh - Bubble and Scrape: 15th Anniversary Reissue- June 30, 2008 Sebadoh - Bubble and Scrape: 15th Anniversary Reissue (Domino) audio upcoming shows This 15th anniversary reissue adds alternate takes and demos, 32 tracks in total. Liner notes detail Eric Gaffney's final recordings with the band and also reveal that Gaffney and Lou Barlow didn't play on each other's songs. Musically, Barlow sticks to moping and Gaffney sticks with sonic experiments that either nail it or fail spectacularly. Sebadoh represents the long past era of classic indie rock when...http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/sebadoh_bubble_1.php Broke One - We're Crossing the Same Road EP- June 27, 2008 Broke One - We're Crossing the Same Road EP (self released) audio Dance music from France and from Italy used to have distinct differences, but now a less restricitive map permits local styles to radiate across a global scene. Italian artist Broke One pulls a little from the Ed Banger school of square waves and high volume, a pinch of Daft Punk's nu-disco melodicism, a generous portion of Italy's synth-disco past and throws together such a wholly satisfying and relentlessly energized ep's...http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/broke_one_were.php Hydrogyn - Deadly Passions- June 26, 2008 Hydrogyn - Deadly Passions (Demolition) audio upcoming shows What began as a moderately enjoyable listening experience turned into a lot of cursing...by me, not the band. The bulk of this album is fairly typical metal fare, but thrown in the middle is a cover of Alanis Morrisette's "You Oughta Know". Sadly, Hydrogyn tried to emulate the original, so it sounds out of place, and they also changed the lyrics to replace the word "fuck" with "touch". At that point I touched the eject button and..http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/hydrogyn_deadly.php The La's - The La's: Deluxe Edition- June 25, 2008 The La's - The La's: Deluxe Edition (Polydor) audio Deluxe reissues seldom offer enough interesting bonus material to warrant a purchase, but the audio history of how the only La's album came to be back in 1990 is fully exposed here. Included is the full version recorded with producer Mike Hedges, the one that was shelved by the band's label in favor of the Steve Lillywhite version that was commercially released. Along with even more alternate recordings by notable producers and stray radio..http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/the_las_the_las.php My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges- June 24, 2008 My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges (ATO Records) audio upcoming shows It is a bold decision to largely abandon the sound that your fans embraced in the first place, and a testament to Jim James' songwriting talent and this band's versatility that they succeed so thoroughly. Your enjoyment at first will likely be dictated by whether you preferred Z or At Dawn, because this thing is so far out there, it makes Z sound like At Dawn. Ultimately, MMJ has hereby ripped off any label we attempted to...http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/my_morning_jack_3.php Old 97's - Blame it on Gravity- June 23, 2008 Old 97's - Blame it on Gravity (New West) audio upcoming shows Long ago, Janeane Garofalo mentioned that Old 97's were her favorite band. I checked them out because I do everything Janeane tells me to. It's not that I didn't like them, but it's hard to wrap my head around how they could be anyone's favorite. Their newest record, not being any different from any of their six other records, is still good and still far from great. Consider Blame it on Gravity for soundtracking a fun summer...http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/old_97s_blame_i.php Men Without Pants - Naturally- June 20, 2008 Men Without Pants - Naturally (Expansion Team) audio upcoming shows This pantless duo of Russell Simins from Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Dan the Automator from Gorillaz, Loveage and many other projects are helped out by members of The Hives, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Mooney Suzuki, Cibo Matto and Sean Lennon. Primarily a great rock and roll record with live drums and electronic embellishments, it's further advantaged by limitless sounds without someone screaming "Blues Explosion!" every third...http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/men_without_pan.php Fabulous Diamonds - ST- June 19, 2008 Fabulous Diamonds (Siltbreeze) audio upcoming shows Melody isn't chief among the considerations Fabulous Diamonds bring to their songwriting or performance. Instead they focus on meditative sketches, minimally arranged with few instruments (drums, keyboards and saxophone), then broadened through the use of mixing and effects pedals. I'd hesitate to classify this a proper dub record, but it is a record that relies on echoes to escalate sound through looping repetition. A rewarding listen on.http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/fabulous_diamon.php Sigur Rs - Me su eyrum vi spilum endalaust- June 18, 2008 Sigur R&243;s - Me&240; su&240; &237; eyrum vi&240; spilum endalaust (XL Recordings) audio upcoming shows What's to be said about a new Sigur R&243;s album that Tom D. didn't already lay on us three years ago He jumped the gun on Takk... perhaps—an album I rather like—but this one comes considerably closer to realizing the "Bono and his true whale love" tale used to describe it. Where the band once used subtle passages to intensify their more dynamic moments, these songs wander..http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/sigur_ros_me_su_1.php Various Artists - The Green Owl Comp: A Benefit for Energy Action- June 17, 2008 Various Artists - The Green Owl Comp: A Benefit for Energy Action (Green Owl) audio Hate global warming but love indie rock Sure, we all do. Green Owl Records presents a jam-packed compilation that'll have you thinking green and saving the planet in no time. Heavy-hitters Bloc Party and Muse provide the requisite skippable tracks, while ol' favorites Juliana Hatfield, Feist and Deerhoof contribute some of the album's best. The fun of this compilation is the ample number of standout songs from.http://www.75orless.com/?/archive/2008/06/various_artists_21.php |