Scope Noise Books DVD Shorts Advice Astrology
Various Artists All in the Family Wapikiya Records
On this 19-track comp i l a t i o n , Wa p i k i y a Records offers locally flavored gangsta rap that’s heavy on bragging rights, tales of street life and partying hard. In fact, ardent fans of 50 Cent, Eazy-E and The Game will find something to gnaw on with this release. But if you’ve never been particularly fond of those rappers, All in the Family probably won’t suit your tastes since it’s so closely linked to that style.
Knot Knocked Up Pseudo Psluts Masa Records
Knot Knocked Up’s well-timed screams and trashcan rhythms are surprisingly listenable. On Pseudo Psluts, the local all-girl experimental noise group sound as if the ranting and chanting witches of Macbeth formed a band. Hollow drumming and shrieks evoke tribal ritual. And with song titles like “Zombie Rape” and “Cunt Puddle” you can’t accuse them of thematic prudishness. “Chemical/Physical” sounds like the sort of weird art noise of Men’s Recovery Project, only with simmering punk melodies à la Bratmoblie or Bikini Kill. “Spank Me Slow” could be part of an experimental rock opera. Then there’s the a cappella “Crisco,” which comes across like
Sonic Youth The Eternal Matador
After nearly 30 years in the business Sonic Youth has perfected its cool, super-hip, slightly sardonic sound, but The Eternal is meant to signal a departure: It’s the band’s first release on easy-going Matador after years with industry behemoth Geffen. A revived commitment to experimentation may be evident to a hardcore fan, but it sounds like a Sonic Youth album to me. There are some memorable hits—including “Antenna,” a 6-minute reverie on love and radio
Justin Townes Earle Midnight at the Movies Bloodshot Records
Justin Townes Earle had a lot riding on his sophomore release, Midnight at the Movies. As if being Steve Earle’s son and Townes Van Zandt’s namesake wasn’t pressure enough, the younger Earle set the bar phenomenally high with his 2008 effort, The Good Life. But, less than a year later, he’s cranked out another humdinger of an album, helping cement his name in the annals of American roots music. Drawing on diverse influences, Earle maintains a steady ethos while seamlessly encompassing myriad styles, including pre-war folk, country, indie pop and bluegrass. The results are provocative and eminently listenable. “They Killed John Henry” is
The gangsta rap influence comes across strongest on cuts like “A Hood Day”—aka, a weekday that includes bottles of malt liquor, a game of craps and late-night sex—or on tracks like “She’s on Fiya,” an ode to strippers. This compilation meanders into broader lyrical territory, too, such as the loss of friends (“Pour A Lil Liquor”) and supporting American troops (“American Soldier”), but it’s mostly situated in the traditional gangsta realm. Overall, All in the Family’s various artists— including Overtime, Frodie, Pookie and Young Jay— demonstrate honed lyrical styles, even if they often rely too heavily on cliché themes. But if you like this kind of hip hop and don’t mind predictable content, you’ll probably be entertained. (Ira Sather-Olson) Artists from All in the Family play the Top Hat on Saturday, May 16, at 10 PM. Cover TBA.
Admission: FREE
drunken improv in a latenight kitchen. Frontwoman Mikki Lunda belts out hauntingly shrill catcalls that end almost gracefully in punctuated meows. Rather than ear splitting, the band’s instrumental imprecision exhibits a sort of animalistic insanity that’s more sincerely visceral than most art noise. This is a novelty record that you might not listen to more than once, and perhaps never all the way through. But unlike so many noise bands set on masturbatory cacophony without care for their listener, this debut offers a playfulness that’s at least compelling enough to listen to for the experience. (Erika Fredrickson) waves, the sexy-surfy “Malibu Gas Station,” and the woefully short “Sacred Trickster.” There’s also a miss or two, like the circus-disco art song “Anti-Orgasm,” which feels like somebody is trying too hard. For me, Sonic Youth and making out are synonymous, which is why I’m mad that my boyfriend isn’t home right now. My first awkward smooches in the front seats of compact cars occurred to the soundtrack of Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star, and I can’t hear Kim Gordon’s voice without feeling a little woozy. Like all Sonic Youth material, much of The Eternal blends into a continuous soundscape that can get boring, even with ex-Pavement member Mark Ibold on bass. But it works for road tripping— or for a romantic interlude in a Toyota Corolla. (Ali Gadbow) an unabashed nod to straight-up Americana, while others, like “Black Eyed Suzy ” (about a down-and-out streetwalker), borrow classic nomenclature but offer a 21st-century story. And “Halfway to Jackson,” replete with trains and no-good women, is destined to become a classic. Earle could easily ride his father’s coattails, but his desire for independent success is clear. In “Mama’s Eyes,” he brandishes the line, “I am my father’s son…We don’t see eye to eye/I’ll be the first to admit I never tried.” With that defiant spirit and musical savvy, Earle’s making a name for himself all on his own. (Melissa Mylchreest)
&
UM Sustainable Campus Committee
• Why rent when you can own • Enjoy downtown living -
walk to restaurants, shops, & theater
• Ask about our special financing options
Models open 11:30 - 5pm
Thurs-Mon; By appointment only Tues & Weds.
$8,000 TAX CREDIT AVAILABLE TO FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS theuptownflatsmissoula.com Contact Jeff Ellis sales associate RE/MAX Realty Consultants LLC
Missoula Independent
Office 406-203-4143 Cell 406-529-5087
Page 35 May 14–May 21, 2009