TonyDoug's CD Reviews

by tonydoug wright

Dan Jones, Get Sounds Now (Daily Records)

The Artist: Dan Jones featuring Brian Gardiner, Dustin Lanker, Tom Nunes, Dave Snider, Ed Cole and Lisa Nunes.

The History: Oregon-based artist Dan Jones is also a member of The Squids. Get Sounds Now is Jones’ second solo album.

The Review: Ladies and Gentleman, I am having a tough time writing my review for Dan Jones’ Get Sounds Now. You may be wondering, “Does this album suck?” The answer is no but for some reason I‘m feeling somewhat uninspired. Perhaps some caffeine will help. Forget it, I’m sucking it up and writing a super-awesome review for Get Sounds Now.

What we have here is an album inspired by the likes of Yo La Tengo and Guided By Voices, featuring Jones’ vocals that are one part Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo) mixed with some John Linnell (They Might Be Giants) with a dash of Mac McCaughan (Superchunk). “I wished I learned Italian and Spanish while I was fired up and young”, sings Jones on ‘Soggy Pants’, a track that’s an excellent example of his witty and poetic style. Never pretentious but always sincere in his delivery, Jones’ album Get Sounds Now is a nice indie rock effort.

The Website: www.danjonesmusic.com

Hillstomp, The Woman That Ended the World (self-released)

The Band: Henry Kammerer and John Johnson

The History: This Portland, OR blues duo has been performing together since 2001. The Woman That Ended The World is the band’s second full-length release.

The Review: Don’t compare Hillstomp to The Black Keys just because both bands are guitar and drum duos that play the blues. Think of it as Hostess’ HoHo’s and Ding Dong’s. Both are chocolate cakes with cream filling but HoHo’s are log-shaped while the Ding Dong’s are round. It’s those little differences in life that makes HoHo’s what they are and Ding Dongs what they are.

Influenced by North Mississippi trance blues and punkabilly, Hillstomp features Henry Krammerer on guitar with his Mark E. Smith inspired vocals and John Johnson on the drum kit consisting mainly of old buckets and cans. The Woman That Ended The World is very raw and dangerous in its delivery and it sounds like it was recorded in a Mississippi shack instead of some random Portland location. Remember folks: do you want an electrified Black Keys HoHo or a gritty down home Hillstomp Ding Dong?

The Website: www.hillstomp.com

Particle Zoo, Loneliness and Strangers (Digital Butchers)

The Band: Jeff DeVito, Jay Holler, Scott Greene, and John Christie

The History: Particle Zoo is a New Jersey band that has released five albums since 2000.

The Review: The first time I listened to Particle Zoo’s Loneliness and Strangers it sounded like something transmitted from the Barenaked Ladies section of the musical universe. I’m not “dissin’” the band with that statement, I’m just saying that the immediate musical comparison portion of my brain registered a Barenaked Ladies vibe. Check out the song ‘Girasole’ and then you’ll see where I’m coming from. Seriously, check out the song right now.

Loneliness and Strangers is a fun album featuring thirteen tracks influenced by the music of the ‘60s and the ‘80s. You may be wondering why I labeled this release as a “fun album”. Are there songs about clowns and jellybeans? No. Loneliness and Strangers has some fine head-boppin’ and rump shakin’ tunes like ‘Pi in the Sky’ and ‘Toe in the Grave’. Particle Zoo understands that upbeat and witty songs are their bread and butter so I applaud these cats for a great effort.

The Website: www.pzoo.com