RADICAL FACE / The Family Tree: The Bastards [2015]

Before the release of each installment of his Family Tree trilogy, Radical Face put out a free EP of songs that didn't quite fit with the rest of their respective albums.
The suitably titled The Bastards is a complete collection of all 11 songs in a tidy little package that is just as quality a listen as each of the trilogy albums are.  These aren't throwaway songs by any means and in fact some songs are stronger than the albums they were originally meant for, they just didn't mesh with the pacing or tonal textures of their immediate family.  They are the mismatched black sheep if you will.  Twisted and quirky but still pack in enough heart to break and mend it with warm caring tired hands.

4 lovely little lies out of 5

Songs of Note: Baptisms; Nightclothes

RADICAL FACE / The Family Tree: The Leaves [2016]

2016's The Leaves completes Radical Face's Family Tree trilogy about the fictional supernatural Northcote family of yesteryear.
Still holding onto the same sparse instrumentations of the previous installments, Cooper merely layers on top of them with subtle strings sections, gentle electric guitar and humming synths.  The lyrics might supposed to be about the Northcotes but one can't help but feel the closer Cooper got to his characters the more his own trials & tribulations spilled into the mix.  It's clear The Family Tree was never a linear form of storytelling but more like snapshots of the all the important times in a lost soul's life.  The lyrics have a beautiful way of transporting the listener back to all the their good and bad times they've encountered and miraculously what they have yet to experience.

4 resurrected birds out of 5

Songs of Note:  The Ship in Port; Bad Blood

RADICAL FACE / The Family Tree: The Branches [2013]

Radical Face's second part of The Family Tree trilogy, 2013's The Branches, was a case of instant love for me.
Here we're stepping into the year 1860 through 1910 and the sound has developed a bit more adding in some more instruments and sounds but still reflecting back to the feel and heart of the first album.  Ben Cooper's lyrics are so honest and raw it sincerely compliments his soft falsetto voice that's delicate, sad and intimately personal.  Still recording in his backyard tool shed, Cooper's production isn't perfect but it's creaky enough to make you listen even closer to wrap your mind around it's minor details and off-kilter moments that make it feel all the more dear.
With it's organic textures, ethereal design and lyrical beauty, it's a constant reminder to remain grounded in a world of good, bad and everything in between.  

5 collections of scars out of 5

Songs of Note: The Mute; Reminders

RUN THE JEWELS / Run The Jewels [2013]

After a successful co-headlining tour together, veteran hip-hoppers El-P & Killer Mike decided to collaborate under the name Run The Jewels and release their 2013 eponymous album.
Clocking in at an all too short 33 minutes, the duo make damned sure it's all killer, no filler with El's fast-talking paranoid Philip K. Dick-ian wordplay complimenting Mike's aggressively punchy deliveries.  The electronic-infused backbeats are flavored with some fuzzy 808 synth-lines and bassy retro drum-tracks that tickle the eardrums.  As heavy as some of the subject matter gets, the album never feels too preachy and it's easy to hear the fun the two buddies are having together.  It doesn't have the even flow of a proper album but it certainly has more coherency than a mixtape.  Whatever it might be, it's obvious these guys are in their proper element and demands immediate replay.

4 puddles of cat piss out of 5

Songs of Note: DDFH; Twin Hype Back

ROGER WATERS / Amused to Death (1992)

A concept album with a hugely ambitious scope that enables Waters to comment on the entirety of mankind's accomplishments and follies, as viewed from more than one unique perspective. Musically, it performs a similar function in relation to his illustrious career that fans of his input into Pink Floyd should appreciate on a deeper level. But it's not just Floyd 2.0, it's the poet and musician being intellectually engaging and musically diverse, reaching further afield than ever before into what it is that makes us human. I'm not ashamed to say that a part of it makes me tearful, and that's the highest praise I can conceivably give.

Songs of Note: What God Wants, Part I; Three Wishes

5 technical manuals out of 5

TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS / The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

If ever proof was needed that film/music awards are nothing but public masturbation for the artists and industry, then this is it. It's a 173 min 34 sec soundtrack to a 158 min film and I felt every second of that running time go by.
The film was unnecessary. The score is almost unlistenable. Not because it's ambient or drone, I generally like that kind of thing, but because it's uninspired and monotonous. Upping the volume helps to hide the inherent emptiness, but the tedium is inescapable. Some of the track titles sum up the listening experience perfectly: I Can't Take it Anymore; The Same as the Others; The Sound of Forgetting; and the best one of all, The Seconds Drag.

Songs of Note: You're Here; Great Bird of Prey

1 urge to toss it out the window out of 5

REVOLTING COCKS / Big Sexy Land (1986)

The Cocks' début album sounds dated now, but when put it into context, of the scene during the mid 80s, it was definitely treading new ground. I revisit it from time to time but not nearly as often as subsequent albums.
It's dominated by a combination of bass lines, samples and repetition of synthesized beats, a mix that they'd eventually put to better use some years later. I wouldn't recommend Big Sexy Land to anyone who isn't interested in the history of Industrial Dance/EBM, because that's solely where its limited charms lie.
Resident Cocks were Luc Van Acker, Richard 23 and Al Jourgensen.

Songs of Note: We Shall Cleanse the World; No Devotion

2½ refrained refrains out of 5

RADICAL FACE / The Family Tree: The Roots [2011]

2011's The Family Tree: The Roots is the first part of a series of concept albums created by Ben Cooper (aka Radical Face).
It follows a fictional supernatural family known as the Northcotes, beginning in the 1800's with this particular album.  Recorded under a fairly limited budget and a simple ensemble of instruments gives the album a genuine traditional sound that's hazed over with a sense of distant memories, dreamy personality and deep thoughts.  Cooper has an elegant way of writing sad music to make you feel happy that at times feels hauntingly familiar and warm as it conjures up images of a fading childhood, your first love and the people you've lost over the years.

4 alcoholic wooden hearts out of 5

Songs Of Note: The Moon Is Down; Always Gold

ROBERT PLANT | ALISON KRAUSS / Raising Sand (2007)

A collection of covers from two giants in their respective fields. It's mostly English born Plant up front vocally, accompanied by some lush backing from the blue grass gal from Illinois. The harmony between the two works beautifully.
There are some upbeat tracks, but mostly it's a warm and luxurious sound that's comforting; the kind of music best enjoyed alone, late at night, with a drink.
The stand out tracks are superb. Everything else lends support in its own unique way. To my ears, it's much better than a Robert Plant solo album, but not as good as Alison Krauss' own most recent album with Union Station.

Songs of Note: Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us; Please Read the Letter

3½ echoes strung out of 5

THE RESIDENTS / Not Available [1978]

Released in 1978, avant-garde multimedia artists The Residents' Not Available is a surreal 4 part "rock opera" with a history that's surrounded in bizarre mystery.  

It's a swirling, spooky musical trip that only Tom Waits and Frank Zappa would find on the worst of acid trips.  Through all the haunted jazz, piano pounding and delightfully unpleasant synth plodding, there's moments of musical coherency to go with a lyrical narrative that makes sense in the kind of way that doesn't.  Most folks will brush it off as pure nonsensical noise but with each listen you begin to piece things together making the purpose all the more clearer and brilliant.  Whether or not that's a good thing is for you to decide.

4 theories of obscurity out of 5

Songs Of Note: Part 1: Edweena; Part 2: The Making Of A Soul   

THE ROLLING STONES / Stripped (1995)

Like the title suggests, it's the Strolling Bones stripped of their stadium rock star personas in favour of smaller, more intimate venues; there are also a few live studio sessions with no overdubs. It's a clever way to earn some cash without having to write an entire album. But all cynicism aside, it's a welcome release that pairs some new tracks with acoustic versions of older, quieter tracks that don't often get attention on the more bombastic live releases. It's not a perfect album but it filled a hole adequately.

Songs of Note: Angie; Wild Horses

3½ clothed rockers out of 5

RAMONA FALLS / Prophet [2012]

Former member of Menomena, Brent Knopf throws all his focus on his one-time side project Ramona Falls for it's second album, 2012's Prophet. 

Like his work with Menomena, Knopf uses sonic elements to create indie-pop music that sounds more organic than electronic, which is quite cleverly deceiving and effective.  Knopf juggles the intimate and sensitive with the large, grandiose textures, only this time focusing more on the larger scope of things.  Since he slightly resembles Thom Yorke, Knopf's voice should work quite well, unfortunately he doesn't share the same creative voice or lyrical techniques to hold it all together.

3 songs about the wonders of nature out of 5

Songs Of Note: Spore; IF I Equals U

BONNIE RAITT / Slipstream [2012]

Country blues singer Bonnie Raitt has been kicking ass in the music world for over 40 years and she's as solid as she ever was on 2012's Slipstream.

Raitt's emotionally strong vocals are sharp, poignant and straight from the gut and complimented with her wicked slide-guitar playing to boot.  Juggling straight-up rockers and down tempo blues, one can't help but hope for some rougher live performances rather than the uber-polished studio takes.  Nevertheless, it's a great album that shows Raitt's still got it after all these years. 

3½ miles closer than a million out of 5

Songs Of Note:  Used To Rule The World; Split Decision

FRANKIE ROSE / Interstellar [2012]

Frankie Rose (formerly of Dum Dum Girls & Crystal Stilts) comes into her own on her second solo album, 2012's Interstellar.

Ditching the '60's girl pop-rock of her previous album, Rose dabbles into some dreampop, while displaying her 80's influences in New Order & The Cure.  Rose is notably quite a strong songwriter but unfortunately, like most dreampop, it gets pretty samesy after 3 or 4 songs.  She could have taken some pointers from Julee Cruise or even her former bandmates and throw in some '50's style pop hooks to keep things interesting.  Nevertheless, it's a pleasant enough listen to make note to keep an eye on her future albums.  

3 synth swirls out of 5

Songs Of Note: Pair Of Wings; Night Swim

ROCKET JUICE & THE MOON / Rocket Juice & The Moon [2012]

Rocket Juice & The Moon consists of Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Nigerian funk drummer Tony Allen and a host of guest vocalists including Erykah Badu, Thundercat & M.anifest. 

Their self-titled 2012 album is a blend of dub, afro-funk and hip-hop in which neither member really takes center stage and instead organically plays off each other sounding like a relaxed jam album.  It does get a little too noodly after awhile and had they cut it down to an EP it would been easily been a 5 star.  Nevertheless it still make an awesome patio party album.

3 Another Honest Jon's Chop Up! out of 5

Songs Of Note: Lolo [feat. Fatoumata Diawara, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble & M.anifest]; Benko [featuring. Fatoumata Diawara & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble]

CHRIS REA / God's Great Banana Skin (1992)

Rea delivers his usual brand of slick, moody guitar, soft piano, blues rock on GGBS. Coupled with his distinctive dusky vocals, it'll either sate you with old-man tranquillity or quickly induce a comatose state. If you're in the former camp, there are some quality tracks - the kind that would fit comfortably on a supermarket Best of... compilation. It's half great and half boring (hooray for the >| button), but the title track alone will make it worth a purchase for many folks.

Note: Album is not available for purchase in the USA. Some tracks made it on the US version of Espresso Logic (1993) though.

Songs of Note: God's Great Banana Skin; Soft Top, Hard Shoulder

2½ fruit allegories out of 5

RADICAL FACE / Ghost [2007]

Ben Cooper's first solo album 2007's Ghost is one of those albums I wonder why I don't listen to more often than I do.
Recording under the name Radical Face, Cooper crafts a quiet little folk-rock concept album about the life & death of a well-aged house. Deceivingly simple sounding, Cooper layers on gentle walls of sound that create such a wonderfully haunting mood that's simultaneously warm and chilling. His vocals are a little nasally and limited, but if you can get past that you have a real winner here.

4 distant thoughts on the mantle out of 5

Songs Of Note: Welcome Home, Son; Wrapped In Piano Strings

THE RESIDENTS / Duck Stab - Buster & Glen [1978]

The Residents aren't for everybody. Or many people at all really. You might find Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa tapping their feet to them though.
The multimedia fuckered art collective known as The Residents have been baffling listeners for years, so it's difficult to convince folks that their 1978 album Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen is their most easily accessible record.
It plays like a children's album for funerals gone terribly wrong in the most perverse and cringe worthy ways possible. The distorted synthesizers and nasally vocals sound hilarious at first but with repeated listens it only becomes more disturbing and creepy.

3½ KD ditties out of 5

Songs Of Note: Birthday Boy; Hello Skinny

THE ROOTS / Undun [2011]

Soulful hip-hop act, The Roots take a bleak turn on their concept album Undun , which tells the story of Redford Stevens, a man living and dying in urban poverty.
The music is a compelling blend of a warm, yet dreary Curtis Mayfield and John Coltrane that works perfectly, however it's the lyrics that fall flat on their face. Black Thought's words should bring a heartbeat to the character of Redford but never does and the concept of the album becomes boring really quick.
The band themselves are at some of their best composing and playing here, it's just Thought's lyrics that pull it down a bit too much. Normally lyrics wouldn't be such a problem, however if you're going to do something conceptual you should at least make it lyrically interesting.

3 Sufjan Stevens nods out of 5

Songs Of Note: One Time; undun "short"

R.E.M. / Collapse Into Now [2011]

R.E.M.'s 15th and final album, Collapse Into Now seems to act as sort of a final revisit to the many musical areas they've visited over their plus 30 year old career.
Even though the band doesn't visit any territories on Collapse it's all good as their skill is so finely crafted with such casual passion and grace. Good time post-punk rockers, mandolin-fueled ballads and feedback fuzzy country songs are all present and they serve as a reminder as to just how good a library of songs R.E.M. have left behind them.
It's R.E.M. in fine form and a nice album to end a bumpy career. They will be missed but it's nice to go out with a great album and not linger till they didn't have it in them anymore.

4 The Return Of Patti Smith's out of 5

Songs Of Note: It Happened Today; Blue