Local CDs

Oct. 5, 2008

Sleeves - U
Sleeves is many things. First of all, it’s an Aaron Wolinski all-in-one project; a Traverse City realtor, Wolinski wrote the lyrics and music and produced the set himself, albeit with a little assistance from Shannon Boone (plus mixing/mastering from Glenn Brown); he also plays bass and keys. That’s not an easy feat.
Secondly, Sleeves is also a collaborative showcase for many of Northern Michigan’s well-known musicians-in-residence, from Matt Hayes and Corey Wentworth to Kid Rock sidekick Kenny Olson, the ubiquitous Dawn Campbell, and reliable local drum-master Roger Tarczon. Suffice it to say that in listening to this disc, you’re revisiting those you’ve seen playing live in the ongoing “club rotation” that is Traverse City and towns north.
The songs on the new album, titled U, stick to pretty much one genre, that being retro ‘70s album tracks with world-weary vocals, straight out of a crowded, smoky, late night dive bar. (This theme continues right down to the Foghat-esque font used on the CD itself.) Wolinski’s lyrics could use a little work - while he has a decent grasp of arrangements, his wordplay tends to rely on rote phrases and cliches - but the strong musicianship often makes up for this.
“One on One” features Kurt Bowman’s wah guitar and the vocal stylings of Steffanie Christi’an, who at times channels Prince or a more indolent Janis Joplin, while “Wait and See” is a perfect throwback track to reconjure up those AM album radio memories, with Wentworth’s acoustic guitars and more bar band vocals.
“Strange Ways,” is the highlight track here instrumentally; opening with a slight dissonance and moving into nifty electric violins and cellos, it crafts a psychedelic rock/Middle Eastern feel, with the female vocal by Christy Murra either placed or processed an octave apart for added interest.
Overall, Wolinski has done a good job of bringing together a large group of musicians to form a cohesively-themed album that showcases not only his own songwriting, but the efforts of many of Northern Michigan’s best players.

Rose Fraser - Life is Beautiful
Opening with the chorused guitars of “Isaac” and Fraser’s witty twist on an otherwise overused phrase (“the dawn is breaking/my heart”), the first impression one gets is of Norah Jones if she’d suddenly learned how to rock a little bit.
The Jones comparison regarding Fraser’s elegant, precisely-placed vocals stands strong throughout this set, while echoes of such other vocal contemporaries as Hope Sandoval or Cowboy Junkies’ Margo Timmins also make appearances here and there.
Following “Isaac,” a nicely unexpected military drum rudiment introduces “If Ever,” which is quickly joined by acoustic guitar and Fraser’s drawn-out, unhurried vocal lines. “Sorry Sorry” adds in high-pitched organs; Fraser’s vocal phrasings are especially interesting and complex on this one.
The spare, delicately-picked guitars of “Waiting” make a solid but not overpowering backdrop for Fraser’s singing, while the strummy storytelling of “Bijou” and the splashy drum work on “Helter Skelter” (no, not the classic song, but Fraser’s own) are other tracks of note that allow the singer to careen around the notes with skill.
The songwriting here is also consistent, if almost too much so, as it can be difficult to differentiate between tracks. Fraser has definitely crafted a unique sound for herself, but it would be great to hear her experiment a little more in the studio or with other producers, as at times one song sounds too much like the one before.
Paring down the arrangements to focus more on her standout vocals and the songs themselves would be another option; for instance, the recurring invasions of an out-of-place Journey-esque guitar (most notably, the Neal Schon-channeling guitar solo on “If Ever”), takes away from the pretty, pensive mood she seems to be trying to create, and makes some of the tracks sound dated. But given her impressive vocal talent, these are small things that could easily be remedied on her next collection of songs.

Paul Tegel w/ The Rotors - Helicopters
Aforementioned drummer Roger Tarczon surfaces again on this album, as one third of The Rotors, the accompaniment for Elk Rapids singer-songwriter Paul Tegel (the other two-thirds being Mike Marois on second guitar and leads, and Jack Conners on bass.)
Like a jazzy Jimmy Buffett with a penchant for a more laid-back, sometimes spoken-word style of vocalizing, Tegel has included 15 tracks on this set. Several very short tracks serve more as transitions from one song to the next, which is an interesting approach to this primarily instrumental collection, which opens with an attention-grabbing device - the sound effect of helicopter blades, a la the album’s title.
After opening with the brief but catchy “Same But Different,” “The Lines Etched in Your Face” gets things moving, borrowing its opening couplet from Brandi Carlisle’s “The Story,” and featuring scattered rhythm guitar and a bluesy sound; it’s followed by the instrumental “Roger That” (perhaps named after Tarczon’s solid contributions?)
“Speedway,” one of the peppier tracks on the album, gallops along with a precise and well-executed rhythm befitting its title, and “Non-Stop Begonia” settles nicely in before seguing into “Is This the Land of Fire?/Two Mountains and a Pass,” a wordy title for a 2:34 minute song that could have easily extended longer; it would’ve been nice to hear more from this particular composition.
Piano - a nice change up - makes a surprise appearance on “Summer is Gone Now,” which also includes Tegel’s vocal musings again, and is followed up by one of the album’s longer tracks, “Quetzal,” which is infused with some much-needed vim and vigor... and the reappearance of the helicopter that delivered us here in the first place.
There’s an abundant amount of guitar noodling here, to be sure; but most of it is structured improv that lends to the character of each song. Tegel is even a little like Carlos Santana lite in his guitar stylings at times, albeit without the Latin feel, and this set makes a nice Sunday afternoon listen or the perfect backdrop for a congenial dinner with friends.