4Play: The Rakes, Cage the Elephant, Jarvis Cocker, Spiritualized

Aug. 9, 2009

4Play: The Rakes, Cage the Elephant, Jarvis Cocker, Spiritualized
Kristi Kates 8/10/09


The Rakes - Klang - V2 Internat’l
London band The Rakes got so disgruntled with their hometown’s music scene that they decamped to Berlin, Germany to record this set, in an attempt to escape a place they considered “uninspiring.” But what exactly they accomplished isn’t immediately apparant, as they’ve stuck with their usual subject matter of regular jobs and an avoidance of life on the dole. That said, there are a few decently edgy tunes here, from the aforementioned 9-to-5 feel of “Smoker” to the piano-sprinkled “Mullers Racket” and the grungy guitar and defiant chorus of “Shackleton.”




Cage the Elephant - Cage the Elephant - Relentless
Kentucky’s Cage the Elephant utilize energetic, loopy blues as the focus for their indie-rock album, which at times recollects the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and at others the Rolling Stones. This is a big-sounding album, often loud and belligerent, whether that insistence is arriving courtesy of the slide guitar (“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”), the heavier (and even louder) “Drones in the Valley,” the gas-fueled “Soil to the Sun,” or the more focused blues of “One Ear.” It’s so very stridenly raucous that it might not be for everyone, but for the heavy-rockers, you’ll dig it.


Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications - Rough Trade
Although Cocker’s work with Pulp was often coolly aggressive in a punk fashion without going too far over the edge, his solo work is less appealing, as in his apparant zest for being provocative, he often spends less time on the songs themselves, wasting time on lyrics that impress no one except for fifth-graders who are learning to swear. That said, a few of the songs here indicate Cocker’s actual musical talent, namely the German-dance-inflected instrumental “Pilchard,” the upbeat punker “Caucasian Blues,” and the funky pop-dance closer, “You’re In My Eyes.”


Spiritualized - Songs in A and E - Universal
The sixth album from Spiritualized mixes instrumental and vocal songs in the arena-pop/rock vein. First single “Soul on Fire” is definitely epic, with its choir-like refrain and lighter-ready sound, while “Baby, I’m Just a Fool” takes things back a notch with a basic two-chord structure, chiming counterpoint, and a lengthy chorus, and “Yeah Yeah” moves things temporarily into the rawk world. It’s can get a little downtrodden at times - perhaps influenced by some of the personal trials the bandmates have recently gone through - but it’s still a good effort by this underrated band.