Review Briefs: Sue Brescia, Aether, Treven Kraus

Regular readers of HitSession know that this site isn't known for reviews of adult contemporary music. HitSession is largely fueled by a passion to seek out and identify the best new independent rock and pop artists.

Which brings us to Sue Brescia, an artist who bathes her lovely voice in lush acoustic guitar and keyboard arrangements that leave very little to the imagination. Brescia, from Rhode Island, plays most of the instruments on her nine-track cd, Hope Rising. The lyrics can be poignant, as Brescia gently rants about the current state of affairs in our country in the track, "On the Way to Finding Peace:" "There's a cancer in this country, fueled by fires of greed and hate, you can feel the earth stopped breathing, as human hearts begin to break." She speaks the truth, but the listener wishes the music had more impact. Perhaps Brescia was hoping that by disguising a protest song as a middle-of-the-road track, she'd win over more listeners. It's pretty much the same formula for her other tracks ("You And I," "Passage In Time," "Stepping Stones"): Combine a sweet voice with lush arrangements, and win over fans of adult easy-listening music. Maybe it will work for Brescia, but it doesn't work for this critic.

Things are looking up as a wall of steady-downstroke shoe-gazer guitars introduce the Ohio indie band Aether. Updating the dense style of Joy Division, Aether successfully combines aggressive guitars with whispy keyboards, insistently pulsing percussion, and completely melodic yet unintelligible vocals. The result is music that is meant to be absorbed, not just simply enjoyed. Relying upon nondescript titles such as "Milk," "Alabaster," or "New Sound," Aether force the listener to form their own opinion about what the music represents. Case in point: A pulsing bass line introduces the track "New Sound." Then, zooming in like an out-of-control motorist on a busy highway, the guitars jar the listener into consciousness. There is something in the song that resembles singing, not unlike Thom Yorke's Radiohead moaning. Yet it is all completely enjoyable and bears repeat listening.

Aether are a band that deserves to be heard by a large audience. Don't pass this band up.

Treven Kraus is a guy who knows his way around the neck of an acoustic six-string guitar. His nimble fingers are capable of nearly anything, so he uses his super-powers to record solo guitar and voice recordings that sound like they belong on 20-year-old Allman Brother's albums. Kraus is the kind of guitarist that makes the rest of us drop our jaws in wonder.

"The Old Guitarist" is three and one half minutes of amazing, melodic acoustic guitar picking. This isn't masturbatory neck wanking, it's more along the lines of what you used to get from Dickie Betts and Duane Allman. "I Keep A Rollin'" is an up-tempo Delta-blues rocker that skillfully combines a couple of acoustic guitars, blues harp, and Kraus's convincing voice. The production on these tracks is stark and unpolished, and may ultimately only appeal to other guitarists. Hopefully Kraus will find a band to accompany his talents and bring his music to a larger audience.

Scissors For Lefty: "Underhanded Romance"

Even though the mainstream music industry has pretty much given up on developing and promoting new artists, there are still bands out there who are capable of pulling off an important new recording all on their own. Scissors For Lefty, on Eeeny Meeinie Records (Los Angeles), are a foot-stomping amalgamation of modern dance rock and indie pop. Blessed with instrumental skills and a keen sense of melody, the four lads toss off slick keyboard and guitar riffs with glee. Lead vocalist Bryan Garza sounds like Jarvis Cocker on a speed binge, as he easily frolics his way through the albums eleven tracks.

A fluttery-sounding piano is quickly trounced upon by a massive bass beat and stuttering multi-tracked guitars that would have made INXS cry in the opening track, "Nickels and Dimes." The chorus is a HUGE, Killers-style blast of volume and energy, determined to increase the pulse of even the most jaded listener. The band switches to a light and bouncy mood with "Next to Argyle," which is similar in scope to the Cure's "Lovecats" but possesses a whole lot more "oomph." Synthesized blips and bleeps introduce "Lay Down Your Weapons," a track that eventually manages to use every instrument and production trick that in the modern-rock handbook.

Underhanded Romance continues with pounding dance rock ("Ghetto Ways"), lushly romantic ballads ("X's Are Forever"), Pulp/Cure inspired pop heroics ("Wandering Arms"), big music that's comfortable in any Killer's fan's iPod ("Save it Cory"), and simple yet lovely modern-pop ("Marsha").

Scissors For Lefty will satisfy any fan of the bands mentioned in this review. Underhanded Romance is a fun and memorable. Even though the band obviously embraces the recent dance-pop trend, the record manages to sound fresh and original.

Patrick Cornell: Left Coast Modern Rock

For a few seconds the opening track ("Dies Irae") on Patrick Cornell's mini-CD, This Much is True, sounds like it's going to be another stab at merging laid-back soft rock with country music. But when the electric six-string guitar kicks in, hold on, because you just might suffer from whiplash.

Cornell, from Los Angeles, is a singer-songwriter who favors a loud jangle-rock style. Not unlike fellow jangle rocker Tommy Keene, Cornell's voice is clearly placed in the upper register without sounding wimpy. He makes no excuse of loving the sound of a well-played electric guitar, which is always placed in the front of the mix.

Cornell demonstrates the ability to bleed the life out of one steady chord in "Silently Insane," then offers a welcome melodic shift just before the massive chorus. Acoustic guitars are a wonderful tool for any serious guitarist, so he turns down the volume on "Black Beauty," which has adult-contemporary crossover potential. "Vanessa" begins as mildly romantic radio-friendly fare but is resurrected by a blast of jarring electric guitar. The tempo and temperature are kicked up a notch in the hard rocking "Laurel Canyon Strut," which surrounds a melodic chorus with angry and jagged guitar riffing. "Blessings" closes the CD, and its slow-tempo would be the perfect set-closer after a long night at the club.

This Much is True is a solid introduction to this new talent. Cornell isn't an innovator when compared to indie contemporaries, but when he's playing modern rock, he's more than capable.

The Chameleons UK: "This Never Ending Now"

During the later half of the 80's and deep into the 90's, a virtually unknown band from Manchester, England released a nearly perfect series of atmospheric modern rock recordings. Possessing a uniquely English vocal style and an extremely processed electric guitar style, the Chameleons UK always maintained a death-grip upon the most important musical element: melody.

Their songs aren't of the typical verse-chorus-bridge-chorus variety. Instead, the tracks often start with an eerie electric guitar riff, then the singing by Mark Burgess (also on bass) adds to the texture. The Chameleons UK released one brilliant CD in 2001, Why Call it Anything? This album is a must-have for those who are intimate with their music. Others may wish to start with the harder rocking Strange Times.

In 2003, the band decided to enter the studio and re-imagine their favorite tracks in an acoustic setting. Even though their previous studio records were heavy on production tricks, the songs chosen for This Never Ending Now are every bit as powerful as the original recordings. The standout track on this record is the epic "Second Skin." Beginning with a lovely acoustic guitar pattern, Burgess' quiet vocals ride above the instrumental melody. The aching beauty of his singing the lines "I realize the miracle is due...I dedicate this melody to you...but is the stuff dreams are made of..." actually transports the listener to a melancholy state of consciousness. Suddenly, the percussion and guitars collide into a wondrous cacophony of the best that modern rock is able to offer, leaving you drained of energy and ambition.

Other amazing tracks populate this recording: There's a brilliant cover of Bowie's "Moonage Daydream," the insistent melodic riffing on "Swamp Thing," and a stunning version of "Miracles and Wonders," which features a strange bit of toasting from Kwasi Asante.

This Never Ending Now is available now from Emusic.com. The album is free of all digital rights management software (DRM). I hope you are able to hear this beautiful recording.

Anticipating the new Modest Mouse Release

It's still early in the 2007, but already I'm bored with this year's new releases. With the exception of the new Arcade Fire album, there has been a shortage of important music. Hopefully, things will get more exciting when the new Modest Mouse record, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank hits the retail outlets on March 20.

The last Modest Mouse record, was a good release when compared against the competition, but as a MM record, it wasn't really wasn't up to the standard set by earlier releases The Moon and Antarctica or The Lonesome Crowded West. Once you become enamoured with MM, you begin to expect certain things of the music: warped, highly textured guitar patterns, oddly off-kilter vocals that sometimes tell strange stories ("Cowboy Dan"), and a show-stopping crescendo that knocks your socks off while spinning provocative lyrical concepts ("The Stars are Projectors").

Fortunately, lead vocalist and guitarist Isaac Brock realized that the band needed help if they were to grow. With the radio hit "Float On" from the last album behind them, it was time for the band to embrace their roots and go back to the edgy style that won them their fan base in the first place.

Enter guitarist extraordinaire Johnny Marr. At first, it seemed very odd that this elder statesman from The Smiths would be a bad fit for the band. If you can find a leaked copy of the new song "Spitting Venom," your doubts will be dashed.

The song begins with a simple acoustic guitar pattern and the repeated lyric "Let it drop... let it all drop." Suddenly, the guitars enter the scene like a semi-truck running on fuel made from chemically refined Fender Jazzmasters. These guitars are completely removed from anything that Marr ever attempted in the Smiths or his other recordings - they are brittle, molten shards of sonic glass. But this is an epic MM tune, and a stunning trumpet melody enters the theme as the guitars spin a magnificent melodic pattern while the vocals layer smartly within the mix.

Yes, Modest Mouse are back with a vengeance. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank won't be a record that your mom will like. It's entirely too edgy and dissonant.

Which is exactly what we need right now.

The 10 Best Albums at Emusic.com (Part 2)

Yesterday, we covered 5 of the best recordings that you can download from Emusic.com. Today we finish the list with 5 more albums that every fan of classic or modern music should own:

The Delgados: Hate

Representing a slightly edgier side of indie-pop, The Delgados are a band that mixes male and female vocals with cleverly orchestrated song structures. The band could be a modern version of ELO (they cover "Mr. Blue Sky" on the EP All You Need is Hate), as a full string section provides a counterpoint for driving guitars and percussion. The lyrical component is quite visionary, yet the songs are still melodic enough to sing along with. Sadly, Hate was the bands equinox, as their next record, Universal Audio, tossed the strings in favor of a stripped-down sound that failed to capture the band's full capabilities.

The Great Lakes Myth Society: S/T

Being a born and bred Michigander, I had no problem connecting with this album of songs about my home state. This recording falls somewhere between folk and rock, as banjos collide with guitars while the lyrics tell of journeys across the Mackinac Bridge, mining, Marquette County, and lake effect snow.

Neko Case: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

Neko Case represents all that is good with female Americana. As a singer in The New Pornographers, Case gets to show her pop/rock chops. But as a solo artist, her reverb-drenched voice echoes the great female country singers of the 50's. One song, "Hold On, Hold On" is worth the price of admission, but the entire album is a stunner. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this record.

The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema

This band is a Canadian indie-rock supergroup made up of people that no one has ever heard of. Neko Case is the most recognizable name, but every member of this amazing band does their part. The songs are crisp and bright sounding, full of crashing guitars and odd tempo changes. Fans of the early Kinks, the Db's, or even The Shins will enjoy this hooky, energetic romp.

Wake Ooloo: What About It

After the seminal 80's band The Feelies crashed and burned, the lead guitarist and singer Glen Mercer formed Wake Ooloo. Still plying a similar territory to The Feelies, What About It may be one the best unknown albums of its era. While the electric guitar is the main instrument, the band fully understands the importance of texture and dynamics. Songs like "Anything" are emotionally powerful, while other tracks are examples of near-perfect six-string American rock and roll.

The Kaiser Chiefs: "Yours Truly Angry Mob"

The second album from this energetic young band finds the guitars cranked to the max and the melodies fully intact. You don't listen to a band like The Kaiser Chiefs because you're searching for a message, you listen because you want to forget your problems and have some fun.

Yours Truly Angry Mob begins with "Ruby," a light-hearted romp that echoes Morrissey in the vocal department while offering plenty of energy from the guitars and percussion. "Heat Dies Down" is a high-speed mosh pit favorite, but it's "Love's Not A Competition (But I'm Winning)" that demonstrates the band's ability to concoct a radio-friendly indie-pop tune. The song is a nice acoustic ballad that is certain to be a favorite for female listeners. Another powerful track on the album is "Thank You Very Much," a track that packs enough heat to raise the global temperature all on it's own. Surging guitars are abruptly forced to a sudden change of tempo in what has become a staple in The Kaiser Chiefs' bag of tricks before the band kicks back in with a full-bore chorus.

Yours Truly Angry Mob will be appreciated most by fans of Franz Ferdinand or Killers. Packed with vocal melodies and impressive musical energy, this is an easy album to like.

The Arcade Fire, Explosions In the Sky, Celibate Rifles

The new album from the Arcade Fire, "Neon Bible," has been getting plenty of airtime on my MP3 player. Like its predecessor, "Funeral," the new album is full of reverb-drenched indie pop that finds a way to embed itself upon the listener's soul. The songs are BIG sounding, almost achieving a Phil Spector "wall of sound" effect.

If you dig the music from the film "Friday Night Lights," you can download the songs from the Texas indie band that creates the beautiful instrumental guitar soundscapes, Explosions in the Sky, from Emusic.com. The songs follow no pre-ordained structure, but they are always very interesting.

I always thought that Midnight Oil were the best band to come out of Australia, but since I've discovered The Celibate Rifles, I'm beginning to change my mind. Similar in style to early Skids or Radio Birdman, The Celibate Rifles have a very diverse and interesting catalog. Check them out if you are in the need of some melodic high-energy guitar punk.

Looking for some cinematic weirdness? Check out the new DVD, "The Science of Sleep." It's made by the same guy (Michel Gondry) who made "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," so it's quite a mind-bender. Packed with strange yet cool animated dream sequences, the story is about a very odd young man's attempt to win over the girl next door. This is a difficult movie to fall in love with, but it is clever and fun to talk about among your friends who've also seen it.

I finally got around to seeing "Garden State." Wow, what a cool film. If you haven't seen this yet, move it to the top of your list. Zach Braff of "Scrubs" wrote it and stars in this quiet indie film about a guy who goes home for his mother's funeral. The plot is quite complex, and the soundtrack features The Shins. This one is worth owning.