4Play: I was a king, Jack Penate, The Maccabees, Portand Cello Project

July 19, 2009

4Play
Kristi Kates 7/2-/09
I Was a King - I Was a King - TCG
Led by Norwegian Frode Stromstads and his band of co-conspirators, I Was a King’s self-titled set also includes cameos from collaborators like Ladybug Transistor, among others, who all add their own twists to the band’s super-short but carefully crafted dollops of catchy pop. “Still” is reminiscent of The Bangles, albeit with overly-blurry harmonies; “Hard Luck Bad News” overpowers with its flanged ‘60s guitars and wavering melody, and “California” - way too short at under a minute - blends clanging guitars and an immediate hook, and ends way too soon.



Jack Penate - Everything is New - XL
Penate’s soulful vocals are an appealing contrast to the different elements that make up the instrumental components of his songs. His early work focused more on a rockabilly/Stray Cats sound, but his latest set, while still including those elements on occasion, adds in African percussion and some Latin rhythms to those surf guitars. “Pull My Heart Away” features the high end of Penate’s vocal range, while “Be The One” blends a thumping disco beat with current pop sensibilities and romantic lyrics; “Tonight’s Today” is the most indie-rockabilly of the set.



The Maccabees - Wall of Arms - Polydor
Opening with the David-Byrne-meets-Arcade Fire “Love You Better,” with its insistent refrain and militaristic drumbeat, The Maccabees’ latest, as produced by Markus Dravs, is perhaps more thoughtful than their previous release, but no less catchy. “Can You Give It” pairs an awkward but endearing galloping beat with a Saturday-TV guitar riff, “Dinosaurs” grumbles and murmurs as its pop rhythm seethes around the lyrics, and “Bag of Bones” veers between nostalgia and sounding like a Shins record. The whole album is fun, but also has feeling underneath.



Portland Cello Project - The Thao and Justin Power Sessions - Kill Rock Stars
PCP teams up with singers Justin Power and Thao Nguyen for this album, which features more of their eclectic, often fascinating interpretations of a wide range of pop and folk songs via - you guessed it - a collective of classically-trained cellists. Especially known for their live shows, in which they rock the house with everything from Salt-N-Pepa to Justin Timberlake, all on cello, they also bring these experiments to CD, this one including their takes on Pantera’s “Mouth of War,” Norfolk and Western’s “Turkish Wine,” and traditional track “Por Una Cabeza.”