I'm becoming a Stanley Clarke fan again. After a quarter of a century of sitting on the sidelines as he delved into lightweight urban contemporary, soundtracks scoring for the big and little screens alike and playing in other people's bands, Clarke is back to doing what made him a household name among fusion enthusiasts in the first place: honest-to-goodness balls-to-the-wall uncompromising rock-jazz.Yes, this is just the kind of music that is often cited when someone speaks of excessive wankery making the music lack soul or just plain unlistenable. Much of that criticism was directed at Clarke's joint venture with Chick Corea, Return To Forever, and I could pick out a several embarrassing moments that make that point in their post-Light As A Feather output, as well as Clarke's own solo records of that time.
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Big pile o' CDs. Can't see over it. Good part: nobody can tell I'm here. Anyway this week a bunch of quickie reviews. Using sentence fragments. Dive in!
The Milwaukees, American Anthems Vol. 1
Solid, well-written new Jersey rock with a late 70s/early 80s sensibility and a vocalist, Dylan St. Clark, whose upper register sounds like Huey Lewis. Hard-rocking guitar licks and sprawl. Rocker tunes characterized by a certain melodic monotony, St. Clark using only one mode: shout-it-out passion at the top of his lungs. Fortunately also a variety of gentler songs where he shows range, plus "Save Me." Suspect these guys are very good live.
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Kings Of Leon have revealed that they’re ready to start recording their new album. The band hope to enter the studio to record the follow-up to this years, ‘Because Of The Times,’ by next February. “We’re ready to start the next record, to be honest with you," revealed drummer Nathan Followill. "We’re touring all the way ’til the middle of January, then hopefully we’ll by in the studio by Valentine’s Day." Followill confirmed that the band already have at least eight songs for the new album, much of which has been written on the road. The drummer told Billboard, that fans should expect another change in direction sound wise from the new material.
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