In the year of the most disastrous global economic collapse in the past 50 years, proletariat has found themselves completely lost and disorganized to turn things around. But if they ever figure themselves out, they have a perfect set of songs to sing along as they carry through their revolution. Texas band Service Industry could provide that soundtrack.
Category Archives: Reviews
12. Fleshtones – Take A Good Look
History of Fleshtones came out recently as a book entitled Sweat. And it was a rough 30+ years ride. What else to expect for the only 80s legends that don’t need a reunion, since their never really broke up!? With the explosive Take A Good Look, Fleshtones reach new heights, composing an album that rivals some of the best records they put out in their entire career.
13. Evangelista – Hello Voyager
This is Carla Bozulich’s new band, named after Carla’s previous solo record. Layers of noisy songs are expertly interleaved with passages of abstractness. There is plenty of suspense here. Very ambitious, but sometimes that’s the way it should be.
14. Lucinda Williams – Little Honey
Lucinda’s new album has been in making for several years now, since I remember some of the songs on Little Honey being played live as early as 2005. On this great new album Lucinda rocks the house from the beginning to the end making her most entertaining album since Car Wheels.
15. Willy DeVille – Pistola
The 2008 saw Willy DeVille with a return album Pistola. Available in USA only as an import, Pistola is an amazing record of a man who’s fighting his own demons and who can tell city street stories with a great authority. This is likely Willy’s most rounded album since the Mink DeVille days.
16. Pierced Arrows – Straight to the Heart
Fred and Toody from Dead Moon returned this year as Pierced Arrows. The rawest album of the year that sounds as if it was recorded live.
17. Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Primary Colours
Fantastic Australian rock’n’roll scene gave us some of the most exciting new bands this year. Eddy Current Suppression Ring achieved a great international success when legendary Memphis label Goner picked them out of nowhere, pulled them up from down-under, and released their 2008 masterpiece Primary Colours.
18. Mojomatics – Don’t Pretend That You Know Me
Italian rockers Mojomatics give us another clear lesson on how to rock. The world should take the course. If 45s were more common these days, You Are Not Me (Unfortunately) would be already worn out in jukeboxes around the globe.
19. Electric Six – Flashy
It seems like it was forever since Electric Six had their five minutes of fame on British charts. Semi-famous status suits them better. Evidence are consistently wonderful gigs and albums that still sound great (if not greater than ever). Don’t be fooled by deliberately uninventive title of the opening track Gay Bar Part Two. Electric Six are not running out of ideas at all!
20. You Am I – Dilettantes
Members of You Am I practically grew up together. Their music matures together with their experiences. With the new album Dilettantes You Am I reach new levels of complexity without compromising quality.