4Play

May 4, 2008

Billy Bragg - Mr. Love and Justice - Anti
Soulful and catchy by turns, Bragg’s latest - with his band The Blokes - makes it hard to believe it’s been a quarter-century since he made his solo debut disc. He addresses in large part the changing state of the world - a giant and often disheartening change since Bragg first stepped onto the scene - but for every song that’s pensive, communicative, or political, there’s another that’s more light-hearted and musically vivacious, adding a nice balance to the set. The excellent musical chemistry between Bragg and his band also helps cement this entire effort, especially on songs like the war-focused “Farm Boy,” the harmony-filled “Sing Their Souls Back Home,” and the peppy “The Beach is Free.”


Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours - Modular/Interscope
Australian electro-pop band Cut Copy (or Cut/Copy, depending on where you hail from) worked with LCD Soundsystem’s Tim Goldsworthy to produce their latest collection of songs, and it seems to have been a good choice, as the arrangements are more concise and accessible than previous efforts. Opening with “Feel the Love,” their songs are once again highly influenced by ‘80s new wave, from the super-retro “Far Away” to the more modern-sounding “We Fight for Diamonds” and the more thoughtful “Strangers in the Wind.” Well-produced, danceable, and interestingly sprinkled with various mechanical and synth sounds, this sophomore effort is sure to make Cut Copy’s latest calling card even more in demand.



Jesse Malin - On Your Sleeve - One Little Indian
Singer-songwriter Jesse Malin now has three solo albums to his credit, so it was time for something different - for his fourth set, he chose to take a mere one week in the studio to record an album of his interpretations of classic cover songs, and it’s unfortunately quite an uneven listen. There are the obvious choices; tunes by Lou Reed and Neil Young, both of whose vocals are decently adaptable to Malin’s sound - but things really get, er, interesting when he veers from his influences a little. Then it becomes hit and miss - the misses being his attempts at Paul Simon, Harry Nilsson, and The Clash, and the passables being the aforementioned Neil Young and a - well, we’ll just say unique attempt at a song by The Hold Steady.


Jet Black Crayon - In the Interim - Function 8
Indie instrumentalists Tommy Guerrero, Monte Vallier, and Gadget have completed their latest collaboration as Jet Black Crayon, each musician bringing their own sound to this beautifully experimental mix. All three artists have been pursuing their own individual projects while working on this set, so there’s a wide range of influences and ideas on each track, with something different around every corner. Guitars, electronica loops, and keyboards share audio space with the sounds of rattling wheels and (real) sandpaper on tracks like the minor-toned “Memory Lost,” the emotional “Monday,” and the one track with vocals (spoken word, not sung), “My Fair Romans,” all of which are modern in tone and contrasting in moods.