Weekend Outburst 4
By Team JamBase Apr 26, 2009 • 6:38 pm PDT
The Coathangers: Scramble (Suicide Squeeze)
This crunchy wad of bubblegum is filled with glass shards, meth residue and bile. Yet, these blenderized spawn of Wire, The Selector, Gang of Four, Pere Ubu and other jagged purveyors of individual groove manage to make abrasive things appealing. (Dennis Cook)
Alejandro Escovedo: Live Animal (self-released)
Recorded in New York for Sirius, Live Animal is a step inside their concert space during one of Escovedo’s commanding performances. Capturing five tracks off of his recent Real Animal, this EP shows the excitement and unrestrained energy nestled in these songs. Rocking string instruments combined with electric guitars, what’s not to love? (David Higdon)
Fareed Haque + The Flat Earth Ensemble: Flat Planet (Owl Studios)
Oh so East-West fusion-y, but Haque digs into this smooth, technically proficient terrain with obvious gusto. Chop-tastic solos and creamy rises and falls dominate his Planet, and anyone whose jazz tastes runs towards the late ’70s/’80s electric boom is gonna think this is heaven. (DC)
A Camp: Colonia (Wigpowder/Nettwerk)
There’s some wit to this ABBA-esque pop. Former Cardigans singer Nina Persson has sweet pipes and naughty intelligence, so even though this seems like a Kate Hudson soundtrack there’s some interesting rust under the high gloss, reflective surfaces that may not be as lightweight as first appears. (DC)
Past Lives: Strange Symmetry (Suicide Squeeze)
Ex-members of The Blood Brothers and Shoplifting make a serious fuckin’ racket, the ruthless charge of a predator tearing up your yard, snuffling the air for your scent. Not polite but kinda catchy in its way, and quite promising for a debut EP. (DC)
