Record Reviews
Christopher Henderson
originally published April 26, 2006
Christopher Henderson has kicked around the Athens music sphere for a while, but not so much as a solo performer. The country-ish singer/songwriter played in a few local bands like Milligan and Herrold and, on his solo debut, wisely showcases his well-weathered singing voice.
Henderson’s craggy vox is the centerpiece of this intimate and unassuming album. Backed by a cast of local accompaniment including guitarist Daniel Collins, Bain Mattox and Hope For Agoldensummer's Claire Campbell, many of Henderson’s mostly acoustic tunes sound like they were birthed from an after-hours Nashville pickin’ session. The opening track “Years” is a weeper of the George Jones variety; “Cold Drink of Water” is a brisk throw-down inspired by Henderson’s days as a denim mill worker, and both “Roll On” and “Rain” employ Henderson’s wailing gospel chops to great effect.
Henderson has been a familiar face around downtown as of late, playing a regular gig with his brother Matt at Hot Corner Coffee. He should soon be on his way to bigger rooms as, on these 12 songs, Henderson proves himself as a consummate balladeer, troubadour and frontman.
Michael Andrews Christopher Henderson is playing at Borders on Sunday, Apr. 30 at 4 p.m.Record Reviews
Year Of You
originally published April 26, 2006
Athens band Year Of You is slick. The project of songwriter and guitarist-vocalist Jesse Ausec, the band is tight, obviously well rehearsed and seemingly deadly serious about making it big in the music business. But like most acts that have explored this genre of mellow modern rock (Creed, Sister Hazel, etc.), there's really nothing distinguishable about Year Of You. The songs are the type to be heard coming from a turned-down radio in a dentist's office as much as they are via the Muzak being pumped through a grocery store. They are unrecognizable and, ultimately, easily forgotten.
The acoustic-guitar based "One More Day" weaves a Blues Traveler-style melody with lyrics talking about a "little girl making it in the big old world." Sadly, this song won't be the thing to save her as she is likely to stab her own eyes out when hearing it. The song that seems most likely to be agreeable to commercial radio, "Inside of You," is in all honesty kind of sweet. It's just so cliché ridden that it's hard to take it seriously ("I've finally found my falling star…"). The lead guitar notes playing over the acoustic rhythm create an irritating blend of Counting Crows pop flavor tinged with the sensibility of a college-boy, front-porch Miller Lite session. "Where Angels Still Fly" sounds like an outtake from former hit-makers Days of the New. The vocals get all low and moody, but the lyrics pretty much stay the course of inanity. The music is slower, somewhat darker and it's obvious that this song is the "second single," if you will. You know, the one that's released after the bright, pop song that introduces the band to the world. Look at me! I'm practically writing a marketing plan for this group right now! That's how easy it is to deconstruct this stuff.
Year Of You is the musical equivalent of all the high-rise condominiums and student-apartment buildings going up around Athens: sterile, bland, faceless and utterly unnecessary.
Gordon Lamb Year of You is playing at DT's Down Under on Friday, Apr. 28.Record Reviews
Tapes 'N Tapes
originally published April 26, 2006
"The Case of the Stolen Bands"
A boy with an immaculate haircut walked into Internet Brown's garage and plunked a quarter down on an upside-down metal trash can. "I've got a case for you, Internet," said the boy, sweeping his hundred-dollar bangs out of his eyes. Internet (so nicknamed due to the huge database of information that was his brain) took the CD case the boy was holding out and said, "No, cases as in crimes to be solved."
"That is the case. This band, Tapes 'n Tapes, from up in Minneapolis, is stealing the souls of my favorite bands and passing them off as their debut album The Loon."
"Hmm," mused Internet. "I usually don't take theological cases, but I'm intrigued. What are the bands whose souls have been stolen?"
"Mainly the Pixies," replied the boy. "And the Who, the Arcade Fire, Violent Femmes… lots of others. They go way beyond being influenced."
Internet spent the rest of the day listening to The Loon. He solved the case in under an hour, in fact, but listened well into the evening, missing dinner and his police chief father's cry for help with the city's cases. The song "Manitoba" in particular fascinated him. A sort of ballad in the vein of Arcade Fire, but with a delicate gorgeous balance all its own, the song played on repeat for a full hour. Sure, "In Houston" did sound like the Pixies, and many tracks were odes to the softer side of the Who. But Internet felt that Tapes 'n Tapes merely encompassed their heroes more purely than most bands. That wasn't a crime - it was a great time.
The next day he returned the quarter to the sullen boy and kept the CD. Then he called up his friend Sally and invited her over to listen to The Loon. He'd been surfing his own brain and had some ideas.
Michael WehuntRecord Reviews
Adam Klein
originally published April 26, 2006
Singer-songwriter Adam Klein is an Athens ex-pat who last year returned to the area and his debut album, Distant Music, follows a melodic acoustic bent similar to that of Kevn Kinney or New Jersey’s Neil Casal. Songs like “St. Paul,” “Mississippi Momma” and the swooning, Alex Chilton-esque “Dusty Rose” are a few examples of the album’s comfy minimal setup working in Klein’s favor. His wavering vocals are always directly in the forefront, the wide-open breathing room filled by pedal steel, fiddle, dobro and hand drums.
Even though Klein’s voice sometimes falters (albeit part of Distant’s amiable charm) he’s nonetheless assembled an engaging debut that’s as reliable and uncomplicated as a stout cup of coffee. It’s a fun, unpretentious batch of originals that suits this decade as well as any of the previous four. Klein's already at work on at least one follow-up album, and that's a lucky thing for Athens.
Michael Andrews Adam Klein is playing at Flicker Theatre & Bar on Saturday, Apr. 29.Record Reviews
Tommy Valentine
originally published April 26, 2006
As a member of the local hip hop scene, Tommy Valentine is essential. He's helped organize the weekly hip hop series "Elementary School" and tirelessly promotes bands with which he works. His ambition is almost matchless, and is his best friend when it comes to promotion, organization and large concepts; when it comes to his own music, however, Valentine's ambition stands in his way as often as it helps him.
Valentine has so far released the first two volumes in his Loveletters series; he's planning the project to run up into the double digits. The Long Ride Home is the first installment, and it hints at potential. There's nothing particularly noteworthy about the beats or production contributed by VereenCorp; in fact, it all seems secondary, just an improvised vehicle for Valentine to present his thoughts and rhymes. Take, for instance, the album's seventh track "Mad World." It's Gary Jules' "Mad World," reworked a little and laced with some beats and Valentine's raps. It goes far beyond sampling - as do "Finish My Song" (which cribs James Taylor's "Fire & Rain") and "Stay Valentine" ("My Funny Valentine") - creating something along the lines of a mashup. Valentine and VereenCorp clearly know how a song should be structured, and they recognize what kind of songs elicit specific responses; The Long Ride Home frustrates, because I want them to apply this knowledge to creating their own songs. There's a sense with Valentine's personal, at-times-uncomfortably emotional lyricism, though, that he's writing to purge personal demons, and his mind and his pen are moving faster than his mouth and his producer can match.
Free Man, however, shows progress. The production by Bottle Rocket Bangers allows the songs to develop their own identity, and tracks like "Turn it Up" and "Haunted House" use guest spots from rapper Big Earl, spoken-word artist Bellah Sparxxx and others to lend the album a variety lacking on Long Ride Home. It's a necessary variety, too, since Valentine tends to try to fit too many syllables into his sentences; most of the time he's able to work with what he's written, but there are times when he sounds like he's getting ahead of himself. It's a problem many rappers who are skilled freestylers - as Valentine has proved himself over the years - confront when tackling composition.
With only two installments in his series, Valentine has shown he's capable of significant growth. And hell, with dozens of tracks once this is all wrapped, there will have to be some that shine through. Though Valentine's ends may not always meet their ambitious means, their potential so far makes them worth attention.
Chris Hassiotis Tommy Valentine is playing at the Georgia Theatre on Thursday, Apr. 27.If you are having problems with the site, or have questions or suggestions, please contact us here. Thanks!
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