4Play

April 11, 2007

The Stooges - The Weirdness -Virgin US

Reuniting the Stooge bandmates with frontman Iggy Pop - who’s been busy crafting his own music on his own for 30 years - is something that fans of garage punk have long awaited. And, with Nirvana producer Steve Albini along to help them re-find their distinctive sound, those same fans will be glad to know that this set was worth the wait. It’s still power chords and aggressive vocals for the most part - the only real difference being the production, which is nicely brought current while still highlighting the band’s spare, churning approach. The time apart hasn’t changed them much, either, which is also a good thing, as songs like the attitude-filled “My Idea of Fun,” the hand-clappin’ rocker “Greedy Awful People,” and the catchy (and, yes, kinda weird) title track will easily prove.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Abattoir Blues Tour Live - Mute

This is an audio treasure trove indeed for Nick Cave fans - a double-CD set that combines live recordings from the Abattoir Blues tour, covering songs from both the 2004 double album (Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus) plus loads of other classic Nick Cave songs. The set itself careens through a large portion of Cave and the Seeds’ back catalog, showcasing their ability to blend influences from country and blues into their own dark take on straightforward rock; and they interestingly choose a trio of older songs to end the set, wrapping things back around to the band’s own beginnings. Highlights include the vividly-performed “Bring it On” and “Wild World” - A mini-box set is also available, and given the great quality of the DVD live footage, it’s definitely worth the extra purchase.

The Ponys - Turn the Lights Out - Matador

Pivoting back and forth from their singer-songwriter talents to their affinity for psychedelic rock jams, The Ponys serve up their first disc on their new label, which was recorded with Son Volt/Dinosaur Jr. producer John Agnello at the esteemed Electric Studios. Thick, noisy, and arena-ready, these songs recollect the influences of Television and Sonic Youth, with the Ponys’ hazy dual-guitar attack setting the foundation for such songs as “Everyday Weapon,” the regretful, spare-yet-busy “Small Talk,” “Exile on My Street,” with its echo-tunnel vocals hanging out on the top deck, and perhaps the most pop track on the album, “Kingdom of Hearts” (not to be confused with the videogame). Slightly more complex than their previous effort, it’s another good leap of growth for this Chicago band.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Living with the Living - Touch and Go

Ted’s sixth album with his pharmaceutical bandmates is another collection of politically challenging, snappy tunes that, this time around, showcases more of the band’s soulful influences right alongside their Kinks-esque pop-rock compositions. Injecting Fugazi’s Brendan Canty into the mix, the tracks charge ahead more assuredly than ever, throwing big hooks into the likes of “La Costa Brava,” “Army Bound,” and “The Unwanted Things” - “Things,” along with “The Toro and the Toreador,” even push Ted’s vocals to a new high, as he tests his range and proves his falsetto mettle. And the undiluted “Bomb.Repeat.Bomb” makes it perfectly clear that this is one band not set to step off of their soapbox - or away from their individualistic approach - any time soon.