Erin McKeown, “Sing You Sinners”
STANDARDS|Nettwerk, Jan. 9
Multi-talented as she is, Erin McKeown once seemed in danger of becoming an Ani DiFranco clone. Her sunny, conscious folk-pop sounded a little too much like that dreadlocked singer-songwriter. “Sing You Sinners” dispels notions that McKeown’s gifts are anything less than diverse, formidable and most of all, her own.
Opening with a lively cover of “Get Happy,” that classic Koehler/Arlen song made famous by Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, “Sing You Sinners” revisits tunes from the first half of the 20th century with jubilant vim. It’s no surprise she does such a great job: She studied ethnomusicology at Brown University.
If you thought the music of Nat King Cole, Johnny Mercer or Fats Waller couldn’t rock, you were wrong. Don’t worry – McKeown doesn’t slather them with cheesy distortion or inappropriate electronic noise, she simply punches them up to reflect her grab bag of contemporary influences, especially rock. “Sing You Sinners” is a tour de force for McKeown and a treat for fans of everything from Tin Pan Alley to Elvis Costello – a shorter journey than you might think. |John Wenzel
Monofog, “Runner”
ROCK|self-released, released today
Hayley Helmericks is fearless – and unstoppable as a runaway train. She is ready.
As if “Suckle Fang” weren’t enough of a head trip when played live by her band Monofog, they’ve released a studio version. Buried amid their new 12-song LP, “Runner,” the song comes alive as a headphones rager – the kind of rock song people write essays about.
Recorded with a keen ear for detail and a penchant for grit, “Runner” is a gorgeous rock record that lends insight into this complex Colorado group made up of Helmericks, Doug Spencer, Dave Yob and Lucas Rouge.
Helmericks is the heroine of this story, laying her vocals down with the authority of a slam poetess gone rock ‘n’ roll. From the heartless “Everything Is In Its Place” to the brutally frank “Zombie Love Song,” she might just let you live. |Ricardo Baca
Stars of Track and Field, “Centuries Before Love and War”
ROCK|Wind Up, released today
The three men behind Stars of Track and Field are masters of atmospherics. The quiet electronic climaxes accented by thick guitars and understated vocals create a sonic picture remniscent of Radiohead’s arty sonics and Coldplay’s penchant for a pervasive pop melody.
Songs like “Say Hello” are experiments in dynamics. While they abrasively manipulate the loud-soft approach, it’s a potent sound for mainstream success. (Think of the guitars in Coldplay’s “Yellow.”) “Movies of Antarctica” is an obvious single, stark and melodic and easy-riding.
The group’s lushly crafted alt-rock aims high – for the arena rafters, even – but in a way that is smart and almost indie-minded. It’s a fine line to walk, but when you think of acts such as Starsailor, Aqualung and even Snow Patrol, you realize that Stars of Track and Field could be in for some serious time on the road – and even FM airplay. |Ricardo Baca
Other releases today:
The Smithereens, “Meet the Smithereens: A Tribute to the Beatles” (Koch) It’s no surprise this Jersey guitar-pop band loves the Beatles, only that it is ambitious (or foolhardy?) enough to re-record an entire Beatles album, start to finish.
The Shins, “Phantom Limb” (Sub Pop) Indie rockers salivating over The Shins’ new disc, “Wincing the Night Away,” can get a jump on next week’s release with this single, which includes the title track, the unreleased “Nothing at All,” and an alternate version of “Split Needles.”
