4Play

Sept. 7, 2005

Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise - Asthmatic Kitty Records
Michigan’s own Stevens is on quite a mission. He’s got 50 albums planned - you read that right, 50 - one for each of the fifty states. He started with his home state - Greetings From Michigan came out two years ago - and now he’s hopped a state over, to make Illinoise his next conquest. The cold weather must have bred plenty of experimentation in the quirky singer-songwriter - the songs on Illinoise, much like all of his songs, are richly threaded with various instruments from piano to banjo, and he weaves his way through styles from straightforward folk-pop to songs worthy of inclusion in a full-blown Broadway musical. His plaintive voice and complex lyrics make the constructions complete, from the opener, “Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois” to the simply-named “Chicago” to standouts “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!” and “The Seer’s Tower.” With a sense of humor, original songwriting, and a foot out in left field, it’s no wonder Stevens is quickly becoming the Next Quirky Thing.

Michael Penn - Mr. Hollywood, Jr. 1947 - Spin Art Records
Our second concept album of this particular column, Michael Penn steps back into post-World War II America as the inspiration for this collection of songs. It’s a change of pace, thematically, for the introspective musician, but the good thing is that his usual talents don’t swerve - this is another set of memorable pop hooks identified by Penn’s distinctive, clear vocals and smart, carefully-crafted wordplay. There are plenty of contrasts here to keep things interesting, as well - there are quiet, pretty moments (“O.K.”), historically-influenced mini-soundscapes (“The Transistor,” “18 September”), retro experiments (“Television Set Waltz”), and peppy eclectic-pop offerings (“A Bad Sign,” “On Automatic”). And it’s all cohesively interconnected to make for yet another terrific Michael Penn album, and one that you’ll want to listen to again and again

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl - Red Int/Red Ink
A drummerless BRMC is not a happy BRMC - earlier this year, it seemed that the band had sunk below what even qualified them as a band, devoid of a crucial member and seemingly burned out. But down doesn’t necessarily mean out. Somehow ready to record a new album in spite of all of the above, the band managed to regroup several months later and went in to record what turned out to be this disc. And it’s a good thing that they did. Changing direction slightly - trading their trademark thick guitar sounds for a more basic approach - the album opens with the intriguingly informal-sounding “Shuffle Your Feet,” a rocker in which audible giggles and laughs can be heard in the background. Blues and punk influences are heard through the disc, on such songs as “Complicated Situation,” and “Devil’s Waitin’.” And two songs already stand out - “Ain’t No Easy Way” and “Faultline,” which, if radio’s smart, you’ll hear on the air soon as heavy-rotation alt-pop singles.

30 Seconds to Mars - A Beautiful Lie - Virgin Records
Actor-to-musician crossovers litter the music biz landscape like empty water bottles at Lollapalooza. The successful transitions (Minnie Driver, Rooney’s Robert Schwartzman, Kylie Minogue) are a definite minority to the eye-rollers (Russell Crowe, Jennifer Lopez, Lindsay Lohan - shall we go on?), but former My So-Called Life actor Jared Leto has found a second, er, so-called life as singer for powerful glam-pop-rockers 30 Seconds to Mars, and it actually works. Produced by Josh Abraham (Velvet Revolver) and recorded in Los Angeles, NYC, and South Africa, each song on this disc has a decent amount of indie-rock appeal. Single “Attack” is already getting some airplay, and tracks “Was It A Dream?” and “Battle of One” are already poised to meet radio with flair. These tunes manage to be friendly on a wide scale while still holding on to their experimental elements. And the album, as a whole, shows that 30 Seconds is continuing their growth as a band, not just as a band with a well-known actor along for the ride.