A Three-fer Music Review

So I haven’t bought a lot of new music lately, probably because I’m behind the times and have been busy, but that changed this past weekend. I picked up 3 discs for 9.99 each at FYE, which, incidentally, is the least I’ve paid at FYE for cds ever. Here we go with some short and sweet:

The Black Keys, Brothers

Reviewed in a little more depth by a guy I directed years ago, The Black Keys‘ album Brothers continues to expand the duo’s songwriting chops, while still remaining firmly rooted in electric blues from the likes of Junior Kimbrough. This album features far more old R&B influence than previous albums have, and to great effect. Think Lloyd Price’s “Stagger Lee” meets Kimbrough’s “Get Your Hands Off Her” played by two white guys. Recommended if you like: blues duos, white guys playing the blues, singing through Green Bullet microphones.

Best “Ad” for an album I’ve ever watched.

OK Go, Of The Color of the Blue Sky

I’ve mostly resisted bands like OK Go, with their huge, nearly orchestral pop sound, but on the strength of XPN‘s rotation of “This Too Shall Pass”, I’ve become a fan. That song is anthemic, huge, and I can’t stop singing along with the simple chorus of “when the morning comes”. I’m still spinning it, and kicking the tires. I’m finding elements of Beck and Flaming Lips and something that feels like the Talking Heads. I guess it makes sense; I also recently picked up Vampire Weekend’s debut disc, and OKGo played after VW works for me. Maybe it’ll work for you… when the morning comes? Recommended if you like: Beck, Flaming Lips, Talking Heads, hipsters with iPhones, going to Kung Fu Necktie on Front St in Philadelphia

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Wages

I dig the Reverend and his wife Breezy. They manage to make Charley Patton style acoustic blues sound like punk rock, without changing the instrumentation or the amplification. Though the Rev’s brother Jayme left the band, their new drummer Aaron “Cuz” Persinger plays almost exactly like him. So shouldn’t I like this album more? I should, especially since it contains a version of a Big Damn Band/Jason Webley song I love, entitled “Two Bottles of Wine“. But honestly? This record is mostly rehashing familiar territory, and the aforementioned inclusion of “Two Bottles of Wine” is live, but too fast/chaotic to do the song justice. Still, I’d rather listen to this stuff rehashed than almost anything appearing on commercial rock radio. Recommended if you like: Charley Patton, Bukka White, William Elliott Whitmore.

Do like the man says, “Clap Your Hands”.