New Music Tuesday: Ben Folds, Amerie, Caesars, and The Mountain Goats
jamie on April 26th, 2005
Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman
This is Folds’ first full-length since 2001’s Rockin’ The Suburbs and second solo album, and shines with the prodigeous songwriter’s hands on piano, drums, and bass. The single Landed is just made for AAA radio with it’s catchy hook and flowing piano arrangement. The album starts strong in Bastard, where Folds offers his advice to the too quick to grow old youth of today: “It’s okay / If you don’t know everything”. Late is a solemn ode to Elliot Smith, while Gracie is the opposite: a bright celebration of his daughter’s young life (she’s nearly 6 now). In all, Songs For Silverman is a well-balanced, finely crafted album that is a pleasure to listen to.
The Caesars - Paper Tigers
Sigh. After months of hearing the remixed release of Jerk It Out, I was looking forward to more of that poppy guitar and organ and hand clap rock that makes those sillouettes dance so crazy all the time. Unfortunately, when I unwrapped Paper Tigers I found not more of the same, but rather Jerk It Out and twelve other tracks. Those other twelve tracks are mostly just more Brit-rock like everything else. Except these guys are Sweedish. Okay, I love Brit music. Since giving up on Dave, Phillip, Oscar and Alex Radio in the States two years ago, I’ve been a UK radio addict, streaming BBC radio over the ‘net all day, every day. So, when I say “more Brit-rock” it really isn’t all that bad- I just someone would push the envelope more. Anyways, back to Paper Tigers…The album is not entirely without it’s redeeming qualities: My Heart Is Breaking Down adds some soul to the album, while Out There is a catchy riff-n-rock tune, most likely to try and follow Jerk It Out as a single. Still, none of the tracks on the album truly capture the energy or feel of the “shuffle song” that has been burned into out heads through constant bombardment on television.
The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
Ahhh. Quirky, simple songs with melodic delight in each sample. That’s the short review this album, and really sums it up nicely. John Darnielle is The Mountain Goats, and his form of folk-rock. Simple arrangements of instruments backing Darnielle’s sometimes quirky lyrics and vocals join together in a way that just makes my ears happy. Dilaudid is truly my favorite track on this album- tense vocals over a beautiful strings arrangement give the track a feeling of frantic urgency, and neccessity. Like driving drunk on a winding bluffside road at dusk, the whole two minutes of this track leave you feeling like you missed that last curve, and are plummetting in to the ocean. Of course, you will be quickly saved by the lighthearted Dance Music, while Darnielle remenisces about childhood. When the rest of the world wants to churn out same-sounding Brit-rock knock-offs, weird music rocks!
Amerie - Touch
Sigh. While her sophomore effort by far surpasses her 2002 debut, I was hoping for more of that 1 Thing sickness. But instead, I am disappointed by Touch. Vocally, Amerie seems to slip into the same melodies/rhythms over and over again. I don’t expect complex lyrical poetry to come from a one-name R&B act, but this album suffers form a lack of those as well. Produciton overall is good, but when you lead us with a single like 1 Thing, you better be holding at least one other incredible track for me. I didn’t find any other such gems on this album.
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