ALBUM REVIEWS )NTRONAUT
The Direction of Last Things
9
Century Media Producer: Intronaut (mixed by Devin Townsend)
4ORTOISE
The Catastrophist
8
Thrill Jockey Records Producer: John Mcentire
Intronaut is one of the least pretentious bands in progressive metal—but their fifth album is far from innocuous. Rather, it’s undeniably one of the genre’s standout releases of the year, catapulting with the poppy opening track “Fast Worms,” delving into math-rock introspection on “The Unlikely Event of a Water Landing” and sealing the deal with the peripatetic closer “City Hymnal.” In a genre crowded by masters twice their age, Intronaut are refreshingly unesoteric on Direction, deliberate but not constrained, seemingly uneventful yet thoroughly devastating. There’s more than meets the “I.” – Kurt Orzeck
Legendary instro combo Tortoise helped carve out the genre sometimes referred to as “post-rock” in the ‘90s, music that embraced and recalled minimalism and the influence of many avant-garde composers. Their first release in over six years finds the band still using those references along with their own jazz and krautrock leanings. The beats are frequently funky, and the Philip Glass-like ‘”Gesceap” will wake you up. Although some of the production is a bit same-y, the real surprises here are Tortoise’s first vocals ever, featuring Yo La Tengo’s Georgia Hubley on “Yonder Blue” and a ghostly rendition of ‘70s glam cover “Rock On.” – David Arnson
#AGE THE %LEPHANT
4HE 'AME
Tell Me I’m Pretty
6
RCA Records Producer: Dan Auerbach
The Documentary 2
9
Blood Money Entertainment/eOne Music Producer: Various
Formerly incorporating genres like funk, blues and punk into their garage-centric mélange, the fourth studio effort from Bowling Green, KY’s alternative radio standouts features a surf-punk flavor as their newly adopted musical calling. Cleverly hiring on The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach for production duties assures every tune is graced with splendiferous fuzz, yet opener “Cry Baby” is the only track that transcends the trappings of homage. And even at just 10 tracks the ironic nostalgia of their hipster chic wears tragically thin. – Andy Kaufmann
Game, the most consistent West Coast rap artist, releases a called-for magnum opus. Paradoxically, this controversial emcee has personal relationships and features from heavyweights such as Kanye West, Drake, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Lil’ Wayne and a number of other notables. “Don’t Trip” features Dr. Dre and Ice Cube as Game documents the gangsta life. “Standing on Ferrari’s” exudes a spiritual presence from the Notorious B.I.G. All in all, Documentary 2 does a fine job of merging ‘90s hip-hop influences with current mass appeal. A sequel part guided by Dr. Dre displays a musical leadership by tastemakers for Cali swag. – Adam Seyum
*OHN #ALE
3UNN
9
M:FANS
Domino Records Producer: John Cale
Kannon
9
Southern Lord Producer: Sunn 0))) and Randall Dunn
John Cale has always been compelling, beginning with The Velvet Underground almost 50 years ago (!) His latest work, M:FANS has him reworking a very singular piece originally titled “Music For A New Society,” released in 1982. This is intense songwriting, and listening is like walking through a haunted house of echoing footsteps, ghostly keyboards and paranoid voices. Call it Goth before Goth. Dramatic and compelling. The cuts range from beautiful and delicate, to abstract tone poems and even some actual rock & roll. This is a masterpiece, and fans of Nick Cave and Scott Walker should definitely take notice here. – David Arnson
Three songs. Thirty-three minutes. A $333 bet that Kannon will be regarded as the best drone album of 2015. Greg Anderson has said in interviews that he’s trying to make the slowest music possible, and he takes that effort to new extremes with the seventh record by Sunn 0))). Anderson and Stephen O’Malley channel Buddhist deity Guanyin Bodhisattva, interpreted as “perceiving the sounds (or cries) of the world,” and present (or confront) us with an unblinking stream of percussion-free music. It is music, and it is metal, but more than that, it is a throwing down of the gauntlet in a time when patience is so sorely lacking. – Kurt Orzeck
+IM .AZARIAN
9OUR &RIEND
8
Some Morning
Kimj Music Producer: Jay Ashby
Gumption
8
Domino Records Producer: Nicolas Vernhes
An inspiring, eclectically jazzy mix of standards and originals, this long-awaited debut from one of the founding members of the Grammy-winning vocal ensemble New York Voices surpasses all expectations. Produced by her husband, trombonist Jay Ashby, and featuring a spirited array of jazz greats (Gary Burton, John Pizzarelli, Paquito D’Rivera), the collection is a thoughtful and engaging mix of lighthearted swing tunes, ballads and world music that showcases not only Nazarian’s exquisite solo vocals and spot-on scatting abilities, but also her illuminating talents as a lyricist and arranger. – Jonathan Widran
What starts out as a rustic, introspective journey steered by unique instrumental fusions (“Heathering”), soon evolves into a blazing pursuit of poetic hope and spiritual awareness (“Who Will I Be in the Morning”). As if gliding across crisp ocean waves before a dark storm, simple tones and textures burst to life by virtue of fierce tempos and broodingly seductive vocal performances. With “Desired Things,” Taryn Miller’s drone melts into a whirlwind of oscillating percussion so that space and time appear to be infinite—similar to the ongoing exploration for her own personal growth and self-reflection. – Danica Bellini
To be considered for review in the Album Reviews section, you must have a record deal with a major label or an independent label with an established distributor. If you do not, please see our New Music Critiques section.
48 January 2016
musicconnection.com