23
Sep
2003
· It's a family affair this week with my sweet-as-sugar CD pick, Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle Volume I by the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, a trio of husband, wife, and nine-year-old daughter that seems best fitted to tour in some sort of Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang flying coach crusted in jewels and tassels.
Multi-talented patriarch Jason Trachtenburg plays guitar, keyboards, and vocals, daughter Rachel Trachtenburg is on drums and vocals, and wife Tina Pina Trachtenburg designs the family's costumes and "plays" slide projector. The family's magical road shows have the feel of high-school musicals, filled with endearing pop-rockin' songs about "Wendy's, Sambos, & Long John Silver's," "European Boys," and "Eggs." In lovely found-art discovered, these songs were each inspired by quirky photographs found by the family at thrift stores and estate sales. Some of the juxtapositions are culture-jamming cool, like the lyrics to "Together, as a System, We Are Unbeatable," built from slides rescued from a fast-food giant's corporate motivational propaganda. Linked together and projected behind "the band," these photographs are wonderfully whimsical and touching, and thanks to compact-disc technology, the experience is brought home to your family, too. Using Quicktime media software, two tracks from the album are accessible with their nifty slideshows. Look for this amazing adventure on the Bar None Records label this week, and check out the family's Web site at (http://www.slideshowplayers.com), as they are touring the eastern United States through November.
· The influential Rough Trade Records imprint is celebrating its cool stable of eclectic artists with its new Rough Trade 25th Anniversary CD, tipping a nod to Elektra Records and its 40th anniversary Rubaiyat collection from 1990. Like the Elektra collection, Rough Trade has commissioned its current artist roster to cover classic material from the label's past. Highlights include the Mystic Chords of Memory and their take on Aztec Camera's "We Could Send Letters," British Sea Power's float of Galaxie 500's "Tugboat," and Belle & Sebastian's twist on Young Marble Giants' "Final Day." Other artists involved in the project include Eastern Lane, The Detroit Cobras, and the Cocteau Twin's Elizabeth Fraser.
· Swell news for fans of dreamy and cinematic acoustic wanderings: The San Francisco entity known as Swell is re-issuing its two earliest works and other "new" rarities this next week. A hometown label, Badman Records, is putting out these delights, with both the band's 1990 self-titled debut and 1992 follow-up, Well?, featuring bonus tracks and alternative versions. Creating an early, adventurous mix of creepy electronic waves and acoustic back-porch "jangle dirge," the band's daydream headspace sits perfectly next to Pink Floyd, Mary My Hope, R.E.M., and Acetone. Always mysterious, Swell has come full circle from their beginnings as the duo of David Freel and Sean Kirkpatrick to larger madness as a quartet and back to a duo for the recent Whenever You're Ready. Badman is also releasing a special vinyl version of that album this Tuesday, spread out over two LPs in a gatefold sleeve and featuring a bonus track not on the CD. Investigations of this hypnotic buzz must include the label's recent release of Bastards & Rarities: 1989-1994, a collection of B sides from the golden new-wave days of seven-inch singles.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Michelle Branch tonight, Nickleback on Thursday, Tenacious D on Friday, The Mavericks on Monday, and Lyle Lovett on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Jonny Lang on Thursday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features Kings of Leon on Monday overnight; and Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with David Bowie this evening overnight, Biz Markie on Thursday overnight, Lifehouse on Monday overnight, and Nada Surf on Tuesday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, September 30:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
The All-American Rejects - Live From Oklahoma (DreamWorks) DVD release
Arab Strap - "The Shy Retirer" (Matador) import-only EP featuring must-hear covers of AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" and Van Halen's "Why Can't This Be Love"
Blondie - The Curse of Blondie (Epic) all new Australian import
Tomas Bodin - Sonic Boulevard (Inside Out) atmospheric songs from the Flower Kings keyboardist
Burnt by the Sun - The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good (Relapse)
Burst - Prey on Life (Relapse) heavy rock from Sweden
Kate Campbell - Twang on a Wire (Large River) a new original and a dozen covers of such standards as "Rose Garden," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," and "Harper Valley PTA"
Darediablo - Feeding Frenzy (Southern) full-tilt jam rock pumping wild Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, and crunch guitar
The Death Campaign - Completion Conceived (Solid State)
Neil Diamond - Stages: Performances 1972-2002 (Columbia Legacy) five-CD box set with a bonus DVD
Dido - Life for Rent (Arista) featuring the single "White Flag"
Her Space Holiday - Young Machines (Mush)
Ill Nino - Confession (Roadrunner)
Davey Johnstone - Smiling Face (Sound City) CD re-issue of this 1973 solo album from the Elton John guitarist, with guest Joan Armatrading
King Creosote - Kenny & Beth's Musakal Boat Rides (Domino)
Love with Arthur Lee - The Forever Changes Concert (Snapper) CD and DVD live package recorded at The Royal Festival Hall in London
The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium (Gold Standard Laboratories) two-LP version on colored vinyl
Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto Presents: Great Wall (Warner Bros) two-CD set with remixes of Bjork, Madonna, Ian Brown, and Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan
Plastikman - "Disconnect" (Novamute) new single
Quintron - Are You Ready For An Organ Solo? (31G/Rhinestone Records) New Orleans soul-stirring geek-squeak sensation, like the B-52's meet a meth-fueled Hasil Adkins
The Dave Rave Group - Everyday Magic (Bullseye of Canada) power pop recently performing at the International Pop Overthrow festival
Martin Rev - To Live (File 13) new album from the Suicide co-founder
Matthew Ryan - Regret Over the Wires (Hybrid)
School of Rock - original motion picture soundtrack (Atlantic) featuring The Black Keys, Cream, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, and new material from Craig Wedren of Shudder to Think
Sonic Youth - Goo (Geffen) expanded two-CD deluxe edition of this classic from 1990
SSX3 - soundtrack to the videogame (Astralwerks) with new music from Fatboy Slim sampling "Signs" by the Five Man Electrical Band
Sting - Sacred Love (A&M) with guest Mary J. Blige
Stroller - Six Inches Off the Ground (Compadre) six-song EP
The Suburbs - Chemistry Set: Songs of the Suburbs 1977-1987 (MRI Records) with a bonus DVD of concert footage
The Tangent - The Music That Died Alone (Inside Out) prog-rock super group featuring members of Van Der Graaf Generator, Parallel or 90 Degrees, and The Flower Kings
Trailer Bride - Hope Is a Thing With Feathers (Bloodshot) dark and sleepy, piney woods blues from Chapel Hill, North Carolina
various artists - Radio Sunnydale: Music From Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Virgin) with music from The Breeders, Michelle Branch, Dandy Warhols, Blur, Aimee Mann, and Joey Ramone
Will & Rainbow - Over Crystal Green (441 Records) new jazz fusion from Will Boulware, Will Lee, Steve Gadd, and Michael and Randy Brecker
Rob Zombie - Past, Present, & Future (Geffen) greatest-hits CD and a DVD featuring never-before-seen videos
· The influential Rough Trade Records imprint is celebrating its cool stable of eclectic artists with its new Rough Trade 25th Anniversary CD, tipping a nod to Elektra Records and its 40th anniversary Rubaiyat collection from 1990. Like the Elektra collection, Rough Trade has commissioned its current artist roster to cover classic material from the label's past. Highlights include the Mystic Chords of Memory and their take on Aztec Camera's "We Could Send Letters," British Sea Power's float of Galaxie 500's "Tugboat," and Belle & Sebastian's twist on Young Marble Giants' "Final Day." Other artists involved in the project include Eastern Lane, The Detroit Cobras, and the Cocteau Twin's Elizabeth Fraser.
· Swell news for fans of dreamy and cinematic acoustic wanderings: The San Francisco entity known as Swell is re-issuing its two earliest works and other "new" rarities this next week. A hometown label, Badman Records, is putting out these delights, with both the band's 1990 self-titled debut and 1992 follow-up, Well?, featuring bonus tracks and alternative versions. Creating an early, adventurous mix of creepy electronic waves and acoustic back-porch "jangle dirge," the band's daydream headspace sits perfectly next to Pink Floyd, Mary My Hope, R.E.M., and Acetone. Always mysterious, Swell has come full circle from their beginnings as the duo of David Freel and Sean Kirkpatrick to larger madness as a quartet and back to a duo for the recent Whenever You're Ready. Badman is also releasing a special vinyl version of that album this Tuesday, spread out over two LPs in a gatefold sleeve and featuring a bonus track not on the CD. Investigations of this hypnotic buzz must include the label's recent release of Bastards & Rarities: 1989-1994, a collection of B sides from the golden new-wave days of seven-inch singles.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Michelle Branch tonight, Nickleback on Thursday, Tenacious D on Friday, The Mavericks on Monday, and Lyle Lovett on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Jonny Lang on Thursday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features Kings of Leon on Monday overnight; and Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with David Bowie this evening overnight, Biz Markie on Thursday overnight, Lifehouse on Monday overnight, and Nada Surf on Tuesday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, September 30:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
The All-American Rejects - Live From Oklahoma (DreamWorks) DVD release
Arab Strap - "The Shy Retirer" (Matador) import-only EP featuring must-hear covers of AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" and Van Halen's "Why Can't This Be Love"
Blondie - The Curse of Blondie (Epic) all new Australian import
Tomas Bodin - Sonic Boulevard (Inside Out) atmospheric songs from the Flower Kings keyboardist
Burnt by the Sun - The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good (Relapse)
Burst - Prey on Life (Relapse) heavy rock from Sweden
Kate Campbell - Twang on a Wire (Large River) a new original and a dozen covers of such standards as "Rose Garden," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," and "Harper Valley PTA"
Darediablo - Feeding Frenzy (Southern) full-tilt jam rock pumping wild Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, and crunch guitar
The Death Campaign - Completion Conceived (Solid State)
Neil Diamond - Stages: Performances 1972-2002 (Columbia Legacy) five-CD box set with a bonus DVD
Dido - Life for Rent (Arista) featuring the single "White Flag"
Her Space Holiday - Young Machines (Mush)
Ill Nino - Confession (Roadrunner)
Davey Johnstone - Smiling Face (Sound City) CD re-issue of this 1973 solo album from the Elton John guitarist, with guest Joan Armatrading
King Creosote - Kenny & Beth's Musakal Boat Rides (Domino)
Love with Arthur Lee - The Forever Changes Concert (Snapper) CD and DVD live package recorded at The Royal Festival Hall in London
The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium (Gold Standard Laboratories) two-LP version on colored vinyl
Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto Presents: Great Wall (Warner Bros) two-CD set with remixes of Bjork, Madonna, Ian Brown, and Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan
Plastikman - "Disconnect" (Novamute) new single
Quintron - Are You Ready For An Organ Solo? (31G/Rhinestone Records) New Orleans soul-stirring geek-squeak sensation, like the B-52's meet a meth-fueled Hasil Adkins
The Dave Rave Group - Everyday Magic (Bullseye of Canada) power pop recently performing at the International Pop Overthrow festival
Martin Rev - To Live (File 13) new album from the Suicide co-founder
Matthew Ryan - Regret Over the Wires (Hybrid)
School of Rock - original motion picture soundtrack (Atlantic) featuring The Black Keys, Cream, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, and new material from Craig Wedren of Shudder to Think
Sonic Youth - Goo (Geffen) expanded two-CD deluxe edition of this classic from 1990
SSX3 - soundtrack to the videogame (Astralwerks) with new music from Fatboy Slim sampling "Signs" by the Five Man Electrical Band
Sting - Sacred Love (A&M) with guest Mary J. Blige
Stroller - Six Inches Off the Ground (Compadre) six-song EP
The Suburbs - Chemistry Set: Songs of the Suburbs 1977-1987 (MRI Records) with a bonus DVD of concert footage
The Tangent - The Music That Died Alone (Inside Out) prog-rock super group featuring members of Van Der Graaf Generator, Parallel or 90 Degrees, and The Flower Kings
Trailer Bride - Hope Is a Thing With Feathers (Bloodshot) dark and sleepy, piney woods blues from Chapel Hill, North Carolina
various artists - Radio Sunnydale: Music From Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Virgin) with music from The Breeders, Michelle Branch, Dandy Warhols, Blur, Aimee Mann, and Joey Ramone
Will & Rainbow - Over Crystal Green (441 Records) new jazz fusion from Will Boulware, Will Lee, Steve Gadd, and Michael and Randy Brecker
Rob Zombie - Past, Present, & Future (Geffen) greatest-hits CD and a DVD featuring never-before-seen videos
