TonyDoug's CD Reviews

by tonydoug wright

Magnet, The Tourniquet (Filter)

The Band:Even Johansen

The History: A native of Bergen, Norway, Even Johansen is a singer-songwriter who has released eight albums, singles and EPs.

The Review: If you are a fan of MTV’s extremely addictive program The Real World, then you are familiar with the winning formula of seven annoying strangers living together in a ridiculously expensive house. The Real World has its fair share of self-important people who spew on about nothing and at the end of every episode there is a brief moment of clarity when the current drunk girl has a revelation that goes something along the lines of “Like, if I drink then I’m going to be drunk. Like, I don’t want to drink because I’ll be drunk”. And while we hear drunk girl’s pseudo-intellectual thoughts there is some kind of “I’ve learned a lesson today” background music that makes the moment a little more extra special.

Magnet’s album The Tourniquet is a goldmine of songs that should be used for future Real World revelations by the newly anointed drunk girl. This easy-going and melodic album of melancholy tunes has some highpoints such as ‘Where Happiness Lives’, ‘Private Jinx’, ‘Beautiful Day’ and a decent cover of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’. Even Johansen is a very talented singer-songwriter, and there is a lot of potential on The Tourniquet, but the album does suffer slightly from a repetitive sound that makes the whole listening experience a little dull.

The Website: www.homeofmagnet.com

Once For Kicks, In The Dollhouse (Book Records)

The Band: Bill Coury, Tom Cummings, Kurt Bloch and David Gleza

The History: Once For Kicks was formed in 1996 by Bill Coury and Tim Cummings. In the Dollhouse is their third full-length album and features Kurt Bloch of Fastbacks, Pure Joy and Young Fresh Fellows.

The Review: I was checking out the press release for In The Dollhouse and it states that one of the tracks is a “classic slab of GBV-laced rock” and that caught the attention of this GBV fanatic. Sometimes it is those simple comparisons that grab me; when I check out a press release I want to see something along the lines of “This album has a Let It Be ‘Mats vibe” instead of “This latest release is a reply to the corporate machine that continues to pour out soulless material that taints the beautiful landscape of our music kingdom”. Don’t waste my time with your “I hate the corporate world” rant; just tell me that your album is “The second coming of Motorhead”.

If I were the one writing the press release for Once For Kicks’ In the Dollhouse I would state that this album comes across as a GBV and Sloan collaboration. Then I would use the tracks ‘Pieces’ and ‘Chemical Gem’ as my examples because both songs are fuzzy rockers that require maximum listening volume. While I’m at it, let me add that ‘Solvent Tears’ is another great number from In The Dollhouse. It’s good to hear some indie rock that puts the emphasis on rock and not being a whiny little sissy.

The Website: www.onceforkicks.com

The Primeridian, Da Allnighta (All Natural)

The Artists: Jaime Roundtree (a.k.a. tree tha scarecrow) and Simeon Viltz (See-Me-On)

The History: The Primemeridian is a Chicago hip-hop duo that has been making music since the mid-nineties.

The Review: Did you read the artist name and ask someone about the prime meridian? Did you impress a friend or co-worker with your super-awesome geography knowledge about how the prime meridian separates the eastern and western hemispheres? The truth is that nobody cares what you know so move on and read this review.

Da Allnighta is a great hip-hop album but I’ve noticed that there is little love for The Primemeridian’s latest release on the information superhighway. It would be a shame if this album got lost in the crowd because Da Allnighta has a nice blend of jazz and funk featuring some cool movie samples (especially on ‘Tatuduhendi’ where you can hear some stuff from Boyz n the Hood). Jamie Roundtree and Simeon Vlitz’s works are social and political commentaries but they do not come off as preachy or holier-than-thou. Da Allnighta is a slick and sophisticated hip-hop effort featuring some great tracks like ‘Broken Wings’ and ‘Midwest Grit’.

The Website: www.allnaturalhiphop.com