Demolition and Record Reviews
Lonesome Dan & The Curmudgeons
Self-Titled
Independentt
Who:
"Lonesome" Dan Welsch is one of the most
respected and sought-after audio professionals in
the region, and is the owner of Suffolk Recording
Studios in Patchogue. This album is the debut of his
self-described "middle-aged" blues, roots,
and Americana band that has just recently started
to make a name for itself in the area. Welsch performs
on guitar and vocals. The other musicians featured
on the disc are Mark Lane on slide guitar and backing
vocals, Mike Straus on drums and percussion, Mike
Herz on bass, Allen Cuffey on backing vocals and drums,
Fred Tims and Bill Cuffey on piano, Billy Carpino
on slide guitar, and Richy Centorino and Mark Brooks
on drums.
What:
This 11-song album features mostly original songs
and a superior production job; the album was engineered,
mixed, and mastered at Suffolk Recording Studios in
Patchogue, and produced by Allen Cuffey and Dan Welsch.
Allen Cuffey, Mike Herz, Nate Brody, Ryan Nagle, Mike
Yonelunas, and Ryan Welsch engineered the disc –
and most of them have served SRS well by working in
various projects there over the years. It's contemporary
roots music with lots of slide guitar and straight-ahead
arrangements.
The Songs:
"Marry The Boss's Daughter," "Next
In Line," "Good In Bed," "The
Ballad Of Lonesome Dan," "I'm Crazy,"
"Clouds Of Joy," "She Caught The Katy
And Left Me A Mule To Ride," "No Where To
Go But Up," "Me & My Old Lady,"
"I've Been In Love," "Blues For Don."
Availability:
The album is available in both album and mp3 formats
at CDBaby.com, the leading independent music store
on the web. It can also be purchased as iTunes and
other music websites.
To learn more about the band: We don't believe the
band has a website as of yet; to learn more about
Welsch, log on to suffolkrecordingstudios.com or call
(631) 289-9818.
Syl Nathan
David Penna
Failure To Obey A Traffic Control Device
Penna Station Recordings
Who:
David Penna is a Suffolk County-based recording artist
who specializes in quirky, original instrumentals.
He's primarily a drummer, but also serves as the producer,
arranger, and "jack of all trades" on this
eight-track disc. He has also authored factory presents
for Korg electronic instruments. In the past, he's
worked with Ronnie Spector, Dave Revels of The Coasters,
Felix Cavailiere of The Rascals, Ron Jarzombek, and
Planet Hate. He's garnered positive press in such
national publications as Drum and Keyboard magazines.
What:
We'll have to go to our thesaurus for this one, because
Failure To Obey A Traffic Control Device defies description
– in a good way. The eight tracks combine jazz,
classical, and electro influences to make, as clichéd
as it would seem, an entirely new sound. Fans of artists
as diverse as Thomas Dolby, Gary Wright, Bjork, Moby,
Beck, and even contemporary jazz artists could easily
become fans of Penna's unique, mature instrumental
style.
The Songs:
"Intro 911," "ChemicalX," "Soar
Beyond," "SQL," "Cruise Uncontrol,"
"Strange Lights," "Birds Of Prey,"
and "Outro1225."
Availability:
The album is still available at CDBaby.com in both
CD and mp3 formats. It is also available at iTunes
and davidpenna.com, and the liner notes state it is
available at most retail stores nationwide.
To learn more about the artist: Log on to myspace.com/davidpenna
or davidpenna.com.
– Syl Nathan
Eagles
Long Road Out Of Eden
Eagles Recording Company/Wal-Mart
The country-tinged "How
Long" is such a perfect single that it would
surely not sound out of place if were to be included
when the band's final "greatest hits" compendium
is eventually released. Great lead vocals by Don Henley
and Glenn Frey, snappy lyrics, and gorgeous Timothy
B. Schmidt-led harmonies combine to make the most
enjoyable song the band has released in two decades.
However, too much of this 20-tune ego trip sounds
like what The Eagles really are – out-of-musical-touch
millionaires slogging through the same old motions
in order to cash in on nostalgia. Wonder if Don Felder
has any notions about making a solo album? It certainly
couldn't be duller. Plus: the new video for "Busy
Being Fabulous" is just plain disturbing –
Henley shouldn't be allowed near any female under
45 given his creepy past.
– Syl Nathan.
Sheryl Crow
Detours
A&M
Crow and her handlers
would love to have you believe these redundant 14
songs are a "return to the form" for the
ersatz folkie only because producer Bill Bottrell
(who worked on Tuesday Night Music Club, her breakthrough)
returns, but in reality this is easily her most embarrassing
effort to date. Actual song titles included here:
"Make It Go Away (Radiation Song)," "God
Bless This Mess," and "Drunk With The Thought
Of You" – perfect bumper sticker deepness
for the HDTV generation. Crow may be the luckiest
artist ever to go national, using her reed-thin vocals
and sly sex appeal to become a brand more than an
artist. But why would anyone strive to listen to this
when there are powerful young local artists such as
Amanda Droste and Kyle Lardner who actually have something
to say and present their original songs in unique
ways?
– Syl Nathan
Lisa Loeb
The Purple Tape
Furious Rose Productions
On the other end of the
spectrum is Loeb, one of the quirkiest artists ever
to score with hit singles. Sometimes overly wordy
but always musical, Loeb – who these days seems
to be resigned to such projects as making children's
music – is an artist who always seems to defy
convention. This album is a two-disc re-release of
her 1992 debut, packaged along with early live recordings
of some of her initial compositions as well as an
interview. This seems more like a project for Loeb's
most loyal fans, but it nonetheless is enjoyable,
particularly the first recordings of "Do You
Sleep," ''Airplanes," and "It's Over."
– Syl Nathan
Across Five Aprils
Life Underwater
Victory
Uh … "Faith
Shaped Pill"? Isn't there even a slight attempt
to be original these days? In any event, this Tennessee-based
quasi-metal five-piece is most of the same: breathless
demon-from-hell vocals, everything sucks, scraggly
band members, etc. There are some fresh ideas, however;
set closer "My Sins Stacked To Heaven" sticks
to the ribs long after the CD player get shut off,
and "Shape Kills Dumbledore" manages to
amaze with its sheer dumbness. The very fact these
guys take themselves so seriously while continuously
hitting themselves in the faces with musical cream
pies makes this disc an enjoyable guilty pleasure.
– Syl Nathan
Jon McKiel
The Nature Of Things
Wednesday
Leave it to Canadian
artists do to things right, and to write things right
– our friends to The Great White North continue
to make music simply to make music. The charismatic
McKiel manages to charm and be relevant at the same
time, using alt influences and rock/rock sensibilities
to make something new and tuneful. Pick hits: "123
My Friends," "Sleep Cities," and the
truly amazing "Get Caught."
– Syl Nathan
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