4Play

Nov. 3, 2004

Shivaree - Breach - Zoe Records
If you remember a standout little song called “Goodnight Moon” from 1999 (which was recently revitalized by its inclusion in the Kill Bill Vol. 2 soundtrack) then you’re already familiar with Shivaree. Fronted by lead singer Ambrosia Parsley, whose voice lives somwhere between Blondie and a slightly bemused Dolores O’Riordan (from The Cranberries), this short but worthy collection approaches things from a political standpoint, covering three political tunes by the Waterboys, John Cale, and Brian Eno and adding two tunes penned by Parsley herself. The two standouts here are definitely “I Close My Eyes” and Parsley’s duet with Ed Harcourt on the Waterboys’ tune “Strange Boat.” Shivaree’s songs are buoyant and charmingly quirky, and this EP is a nice stopgap item to listen to while you wait for the group’s terrific upcoming full-length release, Who’s Got Trouble? to hit stores in January.


Various Artists - Music From The O.C.: Mix 2 - Warner Brothers Music
Many ensemble TV shows, from Friends to Dawson’s Creek, utilize music to assist in storytelling and character themes, and the new 90210 wannabe show The O.C. is no exception, pulling together a hip roster of both established and newbie artists to effectively score their series’ various angst-ridden ups and downs. If you like good music, chances are you’ll like this compilation, whether you like The O.C. or hate it - it’s a great overview of what’s new in indie and modern rock today, from songs by Death Cab for Cutie, Keane, The Eels, The Thrills, Interpol, Jonathan Rice, and more. Three exclusive tunes are even included just to up the cool factor further - Jem’s cover of Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed,” The Walkman’s live take on “Little House of Savages,” and Nada Surf’s cover of OMD’s “If You Leave,” the original of which appeared in the equally angst-ridden ‘80’s flick Pretty In Pink.


Jimmy Eat World - Futures - Interscope Records
More rock than pop, more dark than light, Jimmy Eat World takes a bit of a turn on their latest (although that familiar sing-along Jimmy Eat World sound is still in there) and it’s nice to see the band stretching a bit as opposed to sticking only to the radio pop that first got them attention. That’s not to say that there aren’t radio hits on this disc - the potential for that is definitely high, especially with tracks like the title cut, “Pain,” “23,” “The World You Love,” and “Nothing Wrong,” with its “hey, hey, hey” refrain and sharp lead vocal. The songs relate well to each other, too, with a deft mix of the rockin’ and the more introspective; Jimmy Eat World fans old and new should enjoy the variation in songs. And if you snag the limited edition deluxe package, you’ll also get a bonus disc that includes demos of all 11 main disc tracks - a pretty nifty extra.


Fatboy Slim - Palookaville - Astralwerks
Danceable and groove-worthy, as you might expect, the newest offering from Fatboy Slim also totes along a few things you wouldn’t expect, the most noticable probably being the great breezy-beachy feel that infects this entire fall-release set. It’s still a solid big beat/techno effort, but he also manages to slide in a number of other influences here, from the Latina groove of “Wonderful Night” to the beautifully schmoozy, Sade-reminiscent “North West Three” (a tune dedicated to his wife Zoe), from the old-school sampling of “Don’t Let The Man Get You Down,” to his funky, sassy remake of the Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker,” complete with vocal contributions from Mr. Bootsy Collins. Slim is nothing if not creative. There aren’t really any throwaway tracks on this album, either - it’s a pretty good listen from start to finish, and an especially appropriate travel companion for any trips you might be taking to sunnier shores.