Sunday, November 3, 2013
JEFFREY MORGAN’S MEDIA BLACKOUT #392 BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF JEFFREY MORGAN’S MEDIA BLACKOUT #392!
Chilliwack – Lights From The Valley (Mushroom) :: The liner
notes say that Chilliwack means “Valley Of Many Streams” in Halq’eméylem.
Doucette – Mama Let Him Play (Mushroom) :: Papa make him
stop!
Chilliwack –Dreams, Dreams, Dreams
(Mushroom) :: And Wikipedia says that Chilliwack means “Going Back Up” in Salish.
Doucette – The Douce Is Loose (Mushroom) :: And if his name
was Douchette this album woulda been called...
Chilliwack
– Breakdown In Paradise (Mushroom) :: But judging from the small print that says: “We acknowledge the
financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) for this project,”
I think Chilliwack means “Taxpayerola” in Freedian.
The Sattalites – The Best Of Canadian Reggae (Solid Gold) :: Not to be confused with the Sunnalights;
Monnalights; Tuessalights; Weddalights; Thurssalights; or Friialiites, these here Sattalights have been rolling their own
funky brand of reggae longer than the Department of Canadian Heritage and Canada Music Fund has been providing financial support
for decades-old deleted discs like this. So, before it gets drilled anew, you would do well to give it a spin and hear
for yourself what the Canuckistan taxpayer is being forced to shell out and support these days against their collective will
under the dubious guise of historical value.
SIZZLING PLATTER
OF THE WEEK: Art Decade – Art Decade (self released) :: If you screw on your thinking cap, you just
might remember what I said about these cat’s début long player back in MB353 but, if not, I’ll reiterate
for ya:
“Art Decade –
Western Sunrise (Eldest Only) :: A lesser league of leeches woulda called themselves “Chant Of The Ever Circling
Skeletal Family” or “Homo From Aldebaran” but, the way I see it, if you’re gonna name your
band after an obscure ’70s David Bowie instrumental, then choosing the atmospherically arch decadent “Art Decade”
is definitely the way to go—and, boy howdy, does this excellent album ever live up to that makeshift moniker and go
go go!
“The first two seconds sound like a James
Brown intro before everything suddenly switches into a string-soaked Beatlesque art rock escapade which owes more than a lush
nod to Queen Mercury in the vocal arrangement and songwriting department. There’s also an admirable element of ’80s
symphonic synthesizer pop in place to spice up the proceedings—but don’t think they’re not capable of breaking
out the big audio dynamite because the longer you listen, the louder things get.
“Bonus points for including a glossy full color twelve page booklet that contains nothing but twelve
full bleed paintings which are completely devoid of text—and that’s an extreme visual treat that even Eno and
Peter Schmidt never attempted to do at their Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) and Before And After Science
art rock peak of perfection.”
That’s how
they began the year last February and, wouldn’t you know it, here they are again with a year-ending roundhouse to polish
things off and lemme tell ya that it’s a good ’un. If anything, it’s even more of a string-soaked
Beatlesque art rock escapade (Greylock Hill”) which owes more than a lush nod to Queen Mercury (“Boredom”)
in the vocal arrangement and songwriting department. And while many a band from Badfinger and ELO to Cheap Trick and the Knack
have successfully mined that particular pop vein at various points during their careers, keep in mind that it’s by no
means as easy to do as it sounds—just ask Brian Wilson.
So if you didn’t take my advice at the beginning of the year, now’s your chance to make amends
unless, of course, you’re waiting for the band to gnaw some blotter acid and “head” into their psychedelic
period—which might not be such a bad idea. I mean, think about it, man. Aren’t you curious about what
a lysergically-soaked Freddie Mercury would sound like? I’m curious. I’m very curious. Are you
curious?
Be seeing you!
Sun, November 3, 2013 | link
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