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TonyDoug's CD Reviews: The Black Watch, Cesar Comanche, Heth and Jed, Silver Sunshine

by tonydoug wright

The Black Watch, The Innercity Garden EP (Pink Hedgehog Records, 2005)

THE BAND: Tim Boland, John Andrew Frederick, Gary Sullivan and Scott Taylor

THE HISTORY: The beginnings of The Black Watch can be traced back to 1987 when John Andrew Frederick formed the band in the Santa Barbara, CA area. Over the past eighteen years The Black Watch has released more than thirteen LPs, EPs and singles.

THE REVIEW: My first impression of The Black Watch was "This is a good British band" but then I read a band bio online and soon discovered that The Black Watch hails from LA. I began to wonder if lead singer John Andrew Frederick was a Brit transplanted in Southern California or a graduate of the Robert Pollard School of Faux British Accents. The Innercity Garden EP features four songs: an upbeat rocker ('Innercity Garden') and three folk numbers ('Dylan, Dylan, Dylan', 'Moonlight Thru Ivy' and 'The Teacup Song Take Two'). All four of the songs are enjoyable and they reflect a strong 60's influence from artists such as Bob Dylan and The Kinks.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A bunch of Yanks in LA doing a good job of sounding like a bunch of blokes performing in a London pub.

WEBSITE: www.theblackwatchmusic.com

Cesar Comache, Squirrel and the Aces (ABB Records, 2005)

THE ARTIST: Cesar Comanche featuring Median, Phonte, Darien Brockington, Supastition, Eternia, Edgar Allen Floe, Chaundon, Tajai, Joe Scudda, Big Pooh, Kenn Starr, Ill Son, L in Japanese and Sean Boog

THE HISTORY: As a founding member of The Justus League, a North Carolina hip-hop crew, Cesar Comanche has made some strides into the world of hip-hop since arriving on the scene in 1996. Prior to releasing Squirrel and the Aces in 2005, Comanche independently released two albums, Wooden Nickels (2000) and Paper God's (2002).

THE REVIEW: Cesar Comanche teamed up with acclaimed producer 9th Wonder to create Squirrel and the Aces, an outstanding hip-hop album that strays away from the oh-so-familiar mainstream topics of materialism and excess. Instead, Comanche is an artist with something to say about the everyday struggles people face and delivers with a smooth style sans cursing, screaming and unnecessary name or product dropping. What makes Squirrel and the Aces a great release is the fact that producer 9th Wonder gives Comanche plenty of catchy blues, funk and jazz beats. Plus he teams up with a plethora of guest emcees whose unique styles blend well, creating a solid album. Highlights include 'Get Ready', the opening track featuring an excellent hip-hop artist named Median, and 'The Grind' featuring Supastition. But these are just two examples of 17 strong tracks.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Cesar Comanche's Squirrel and the Aces is truly a remarkable independent hip-hop release that deserves plenty of praise.

WEBSITE: www.abbrecords.com

Heth and Jed, Between the In and Out (Space Rock, 2005)

THE BAND: Heth Weinstein and Jed Weinstein

THE HISTORY: Brothers Heth and Jed Weinstein are a New York City-based duo. Between the In and Out is their debut collaboration, produced by Jamie Candiloro (R.E.M. and Ryan Adams).

THE REVIEW: Between the In and Out is an impressive CD similar to Heth's 2004 release Clean (reviewed here), which was a solid pop effort from the New York City singer/songwriter. Part acoustic based pop and part ambient instrumental, Between the In and Out successfully balances itself between both styles creating a dreamy pop atmosphere. Just like Clean, Between the In and Out contains a few magnificent pop gems, such as 'Ballad of Kate' and the absolutely fantastic 'Walking Away From Heaven'. And when Heth and Jed are not impressing the listener with their great songwriting abilities they are showing off their excellent instrumental skills on 'Ladder' and 'Sunday Driver'.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This is one of those albums that has some sensitive-guy pop songs, but it's a great album of sensitive-guy pop songs.

WEBSITE: www.hethandjed.com

Silver Sunshine, A Small Pocket of Pure (Empyrean Records, 2005)

THE BAND: Richard Vaughan, Conor Riley, Stuart Sclater and Iain Sclater

THE HISTORY: Silver Sunshine is a San Diego based quartet that has been making music since 2001.

THE REVIEW: The A Small Pocket of Pure Spirit EP is an enjoyable listen thanks to Silver Sunshine's five fine tracks influenced by 60's psychedelic and Brit-rock. Of the tracks included on the EP there are three upbeat rock songs ('144,000', 'Waiting for the Sun' and 'She's the Reason); one Beatles influenced acoustic number featuring beautiful harmonies ('Another Day') and a funky instrumental that closes the EP ('Hiroshima Never Again'). A Small Pocket of Pure Spirit is truly one of those EPs that leaves you wanting more tunes.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Another CD where some American dudes are feeling the British rock vibe. Good stuff.

WEBSITE: www.silversunshine.com


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