{"id":10318,"date":"2016-02-23T05:30:51","date_gmt":"2016-02-23T05:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=10318"},"modified":"2016-02-23T12:48:47","modified_gmt":"2016-02-23T12:48:47","slug":"hundred-word-reviews-for-february-2016-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2016\/02\/23\/hundred-word-reviews-for-february-2016-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundred-word Reviews for February 2016, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Today&#8217;s hundred-word reviews focus on a variety of rock-oriented releases; all are (more or less) current.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10323\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sideshow_tragedy.jpg\" alt=\"sideshow_tragedy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sideshow_tragedy.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sideshow_tragedy-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sideshow_tragedy-65x65.jpg 65w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00X682M3G&amp;asins=B00X682M3G&amp;linkId=EF7IOFWUQBGVWTAW&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>The Sideshow Tragedy \u2013 <\/b><i><b>Capital<\/b><\/i><br \/>\nAs a rule \u2013 at least to my mind \u2013 the guitar-and-drums-duo gambit is completely played out. It&#8217;s been done and dusted; when I hear most any of the seeming countless purveyors of the style, I wish for bass guitars and keyboards. Well, <b>The Sideshow Tragedy<\/b> is an exception to that rule. There&#8217;s power and finesse, and even subtlety within the arrangements of the nine songs here. It helps that <b>Nathan Singleton<\/b> is both a fine, expressive vocalist and guitarist. I can&#8217;t tell you that these tunes wouldn&#8217;t be better with additional players, but you won&#8217;t miss the extra instruments.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10322\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/mathus_healer.jpg\" alt=\"mathus_healer\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/mathus_healer.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/mathus_healer-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/mathus_healer-65x65.jpg 65w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00U8WFR6C&amp;asins=B00U8WFR6C&amp;linkId=DHQGZDDOORYKQUI4&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>Jimbo Mathus \u2013 <\/b><i><b>Blue Healer<\/b><\/i><br \/>\nShame on me: I&#8217;ve been sitting on this disc far too long (it came out nearly a year ago). Like the discs before it, <i>Blue Healer<\/i> is a knowing synthesis of many American musical styles. <b><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2014\/04\/25\/album-review-jimbo-mathus-dark-night-of-the-soul\/\">Jimbo Mathus<\/a><\/b> is a master of &#8217;em all, and he writes catchy tunes. In a just universe, he&#8217;d be the biggest thing in rootsy rock, pushing bro-country off the airwaves. You wanna know what a real hybrid of country and rock sounds like? Get out your old <b><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2010\/03\/01\/album-review-jason-and-the-scorchers-halcyon-times\/\">Jason &amp; the Scorchers<\/a><\/b> records. Or listen to this. On second thought, just listen to this. That good.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10321\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/vinnie_moore.jpg\" alt=\"vinnie_moore\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/vinnie_moore.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/vinnie_moore-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/vinnie_moore-65x65.jpg 65w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B016H9523C&amp;asins=B016H9523C&amp;linkId=KCHIXDKE2H5V5GVC&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>Vinnie Moore \u2013 <\/b><i><b>Aerial Visions<\/b><\/i><br \/>\nI&#8217;m no fan of hair-metal; you&#8217;ll find exactly zero albums by those bands in my very large collection. But now and then I do like some quality shredding on the ol&#8217; electric axe. And that&#8217;s exactly what&#8217;s on offer on <i>Aerial Vision<\/i>. Do you dig <b><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2013\/09\/24\/directed-energy-the-joe-satriani-interview-part-one\/\">Joe Satriani<\/a><\/b>, <b>Gary Hoey<\/b>, <b>Steve Vai<\/b>? Then you&#8217;ll dig this instrumental collection from <b>UFO<\/b> guitarist <b>Vinnie Moore<\/b>. And if you&#8217;re one who insists on a high melodic quotient along with your guitar shredding, well, you&#8217;re in luck: no <b>Yngvie<\/b> showoffy nonsense here. These are songs, not merely canvases for guitar wankage. Fun start to finish.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10320\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/cutting_crew.jpg\" alt=\"cutting_crew\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/cutting_crew.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/cutting_crew-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/cutting_crew-65x65.jpg 65w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B012B84QMQ&amp;asins=B012B84QMQ&amp;linkId=BS3ZLBG5XQE2I2Z7&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>Cutting Crew \u2013 <\/b><i><b>Add to Favourites<\/b><\/i><br \/>\nChances are, you&#8217;ve never heard anything at all by <b>Cutting Crew<\/b> besides \u201c(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight.\u201d And guess what: that was <i>waaay<\/i> back in 1985. Here&#8217;s another surprise: they&#8217;re still around and making music. In fact they have been all along, save 1993-2005. A muscular horn section is now part of their sound, and it&#8217;s quite an appealing one. They don&#8217;t really sound like anybody else, though their sound has hints of both 70s pub rock and 90s mainstream rock. <i>Add to Favourites<\/i> is a very nice album, one without a whiff of nostalgia. Check it out.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10319\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/downes_braide2.jpg\" alt=\"downes_braide2\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/downes_braide2.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/downes_braide2-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/downes_braide2-65x65.jpg 65w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B015OPMBCA&amp;asins=B015OPMBCA&amp;linkId=IANSLP6CB7BODUD7&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>Downes Braide Association \u2013 <\/b><i><b>Suburban Ghosts<\/b><\/i><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2011\/07\/05\/yes-a-history-of-perpetual-change\/\"><b>Yes<\/b> <\/a>(so to speak), that&#8217;s <b>Geoff Downes<\/b> of Yes (and <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2012\/07\/23\/cd-review-asia-xxx\/\"><b>Asia<\/b><\/a>, and the <b>Buggles<\/b>) plus another guy. The other guy (<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2014\/07\/24\/hundred-word-reviews-july-2014-part-four\/\">Christopher Braide<\/a><\/strong>) is the vocalist here, and the sound of this outfit is a kind of updated take on 80s synth-based pop. They sound more than a bit like <b>A-ha<\/b> on the twelve tracks on this disc. I was underwhelmed by their earlier EP, <i>Dreaming of England<\/i>, but something&#8217;s changed between then and now, as this is a much stronger collection. The dramatic arrangements sometimes suggest more weight than the lyrics can support, but it&#8217;s thoughtful and catchy stuff nonetheless.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today&#8217;s hundred-word reviews focus on a variety of rock-oriented releases; all are (more or less) current. The Sideshow Tragedy \u2013 Capital As a rule \u2013 at least to my mind [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,49,51,62],"tags":[2626,895,1151,2627,2628],"class_list":["post-10318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-americana","category-new-release","category-pop","category-rawk","tag-cutting-crew","tag-geoff-downes","tag-jimbo-mathus","tag-sideshow-tragedy","tag-vinnie-moore","cat-6-id","cat-49-id","cat-51-id","cat-62-id","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10318"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10381,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10318\/revisions\/10381"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}