Local CD Reviews
Issue 205 / January 2006 More from this Issue
Download PDF
BY CINDI ROBINSON
CD Release dates:
The Hotness Jan. 7 at Burt's
The Dirty Birds Jan. 9 at the Urban Lounge
Left for Dead Jan. 13 at the Urban Lounge
Urban Gray
Look For Me
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Bruce Kirby at Boho Digitalia
Urban Gray = Buffalo Tom + elevator + Wilco dirtiness + Tracy Chapman lesbians
I'm impressed that Urban Gray sought out SLUG for a review, seeing as how they don't necessarily fit into SLUG's music marketplace. Their new age, folk and country flare lean towards an adult contemporary version of Buffalo Tom mixed with Wilco's humble vibe and Carol King's day-by-day passion. It leaves me feeling like they're probably compadres with the Tracy Chapman-lovin' lesbian scene. Urban Gray would kill in Alaska, where most of their locals dig on the light-hearted, blue-grassy, simple-things-in-life genre. As for me, I dig more on the aggressive things in life, but I can appreciate this safe, solidly produced, innocent record. Bruce Kirby definitely captured all that is Urban Gray, and he did it better than most could. The recording is technically spot-on, accompanied by the band's soulful delivery and ability to translate their needs to fit with Bruce's master touch. The only thing that I'd suggest for improvement is that they need more balls. You know, really feel the "gray" and paint the city with stronger vocals and manly construction confidence. They seem a little reserved and would progress if they lost some inhibitions. If you needed an ice-breaking record to play on a road trip with your parents, Look For Me would do the trick without causing you to lose your objective music mind. www.urbangray.com
Krucial Keys
All of My Life
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Camden Chamberlain at Kitefishing Studios
Rose Petal Records
Krucial Keys = Kriss Kross the need to jump-jump + Puff Daddy's tribute to Biggie Smalls + an R. Kelly duet with Michael Jackson - molestation
A few weeks ago, when it was about eight degrees outside, these boys came knocking on our door selling this release door-to-door in Sugarhood. Brave dudes out there, trucking in the frozen air just for a couple of bucks and some Avon-inspired advertising. For seven bucks, Andy bought us an earful of overpopulated west-coast rap that surfaced on the radio a decade ago, and is now resurfacing in homes across the valley. Slapped with Puff Daddy's (not P. Diddy's) elementary attitude in using lame lyrics rot with "this is for the cause" rants, generic 90s shout-outs and some over-the-line, journal-confessing rhymes like on track six, "He's Living My Life," rappin' about how his child is being raised by his ex and her new man. The lyrics read like an embarrassing testimonial. It should have been titled something like, "My Child Left Behind." Also, on track eight, "Cindy," the Keys go on and on about the tragic loss of a little sister. Going on about how the sister passed on, family reactions, brothers' shame ... sorry, but Biggie died (Puff reference). This is the only time I think I'll ever ask for more fluff. I just can't dig on so much personal information in my grooves. On a better note, the two MCs in Krucial Keys are each solid in their own styles, as one dips into R. Kelly's neighborhood, and the other into some (before weird) Michael Jackson land. Not only are the men good, but superb female backups save the union between black and white. One lady in particular sounds as Irish as Sinead O'Connor (check out track five, "Change"). And another backup diva is harmonizing like Evanescence's leading lady on track nine, "Just Another Year." It flows like an incarnation of Death In Vegas, especially when featuring Iggy Pop. The recording is bright and complimentary, and the percussion goes from super-low rumbles to mid and high-range loops. This makes them come off as stiff and flat. Not rollin', flowin', bump-and-grind like it seems like it wants to be. If they jocked up the percussion and bass thud, I'd be more interested. I wouldn't mind if the MJ MC released a solo record on behalf of the 18-and-up dance crowd either. All Of My Life isn't near the worst thing I have heard, but it doesn't command a memorable purchase. www.kitefishingstudio.com
CD Release dates:
The Hotness Jan. 7 at Burt's
The Dirty Birds Jan. 9 at the Urban Lounge
Left for Dead Jan. 13 at the Urban Lounge
Urban GrayLook For Me
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Bruce Kirby at Boho Digitalia
Urban Gray = Buffalo Tom + elevator + Wilco dirtiness + Tracy Chapman lesbians
I'm impressed that Urban Gray sought out SLUG for a review, seeing as how they don't necessarily fit into SLUG's music marketplace. Their new age, folk and country flare lean towards an adult contemporary version of Buffalo Tom mixed with Wilco's humble vibe and Carol King's day-by-day passion. It leaves me feeling like they're probably compadres with the Tracy Chapman-lovin' lesbian scene. Urban Gray would kill in Alaska, where most of their locals dig on the light-hearted, blue-grassy, simple-things-in-life genre. As for me, I dig more on the aggressive things in life, but I can appreciate this safe, solidly produced, innocent record. Bruce Kirby definitely captured all that is Urban Gray, and he did it better than most could. The recording is technically spot-on, accompanied by the band's soulful delivery and ability to translate their needs to fit with Bruce's master touch. The only thing that I'd suggest for improvement is that they need more balls. You know, really feel the "gray" and paint the city with stronger vocals and manly construction confidence. They seem a little reserved and would progress if they lost some inhibitions. If you needed an ice-breaking record to play on a road trip with your parents, Look For Me would do the trick without causing you to lose your objective music mind. www.urbangray.com
Krucial Keys
All of My Life
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Camden Chamberlain at Kitefishing Studios
Rose Petal Records
Krucial Keys = Kriss Kross the need to jump-jump + Puff Daddy's tribute to Biggie Smalls + an R. Kelly duet with Michael Jackson - molestation
A few weeks ago, when it was about eight degrees outside, these boys came knocking on our door selling this release door-to-door in Sugarhood. Brave dudes out there, trucking in the frozen air just for a couple of bucks and some Avon-inspired advertising. For seven bucks, Andy bought us an earful of overpopulated west-coast rap that surfaced on the radio a decade ago, and is now resurfacing in homes across the valley. Slapped with Puff Daddy's (not P. Diddy's) elementary attitude in using lame lyrics rot with "this is for the cause" rants, generic 90s shout-outs and some over-the-line, journal-confessing rhymes like on track six, "He's Living My Life," rappin' about how his child is being raised by his ex and her new man. The lyrics read like an embarrassing testimonial. It should have been titled something like, "My Child Left Behind." Also, on track eight, "Cindy," the Keys go on and on about the tragic loss of a little sister. Going on about how the sister passed on, family reactions, brothers' shame ... sorry, but Biggie died (Puff reference). This is the only time I think I'll ever ask for more fluff. I just can't dig on so much personal information in my grooves. On a better note, the two MCs in Krucial Keys are each solid in their own styles, as one dips into R. Kelly's neighborhood, and the other into some (before weird) Michael Jackson land. Not only are the men good, but superb female backups save the union between black and white. One lady in particular sounds as Irish as Sinead O'Connor (check out track five, "Change"). And another backup diva is harmonizing like Evanescence's leading lady on track nine, "Just Another Year." It flows like an incarnation of Death In Vegas, especially when featuring Iggy Pop. The recording is bright and complimentary, and the percussion goes from super-low rumbles to mid and high-range loops. This makes them come off as stiff and flat. Not rollin', flowin', bump-and-grind like it seems like it wants to be. If they jocked up the percussion and bass thud, I'd be more interested. I wouldn't mind if the MJ MC released a solo record on behalf of the 18-and-up dance crowd either. All Of My Life isn't near the worst thing I have heard, but it doesn't command a memorable purchase. www.kitefishingstudio.com
Page: [1] 2 3 Next >>
Facebook
Myspace
Twitter
YouTube
Vimeo
RSS
Be the first to comment!
Add a comment
Please keep your comments on the subject of the article.
We will delete your comment if it is racist, misogynistic, sexist, bigoted or just plain lame.
No HTML allowed!