CD reviews

Motorhead Kiss of Death Sanctuary/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥	Now here’s a band that has not lost its edge after so many years of heavy metal. Thirty-one years is a long time to be deafening audiences worldwide, but Motorhead doesn’t seem ready to cease their assault. Kiss of Death storms along at a startlingly hearty pace. One does not expect metal-seniors to deliver a rampage that out-brutalises a good chunk of young head-bangers, but Motorhead does it. It can be very refreshing to find bands willing to reach back to the sound they created and moulded years before, or just never leave it (AC/DC, anyone?). Motorhead demonstrate their love for punk by book-ending this album with wicked, punkish opener “Sucker” and final track “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.,” which is a truly loving tribute. Along with punk, Lemmy and Co. tread through sludge, acoustics (briefly) and old-fashioned, balls-to-the-wall rock and roll on all 13 tracks. It can be hard to believe that a band that is an original influence for fellow metal-legends Metallica can produce something that feels refreshing amongst new heavy music. Many new bands get stale by their second album, while Motorhead bulldozes on. Motorhead is a testament to the truth of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” theory. William O’Donnell
Archie Bronson Outfit Derdang, Derdang Domino/ 2006 ♥♥♥	Perhaps you’re too young to remember the “Is It Live Or Is It Memorex?” ad campaign. Recently Domino Records has been responsible for posing a similar metaphysical, metamusical question: is it new post-punk, heavily influenced by the old? Or is it previously unreleased, old post-punk? The Arctic Monkeys’ recent album would answer in the affirmative to the former question, while the Fire Engines’ Codex Teenage Premonition fits the latter. Listening to both without the benefit of knowing when each was recorded would make pinpointing their provenance extremely difficult. Which brings us to the Archie Bronson Outfit and their album Derdang, Derdang: is it live or is it Memorex? The sketchy band photo on the cover certainly hints at the trio being compatriots to Gang of Four, but members Sam Windett, Dorian Hobday and Mark Cleveland (there is no “Archie Bronson”) are all too young to have done anything but absorbed the influence of that seminal post-punk band. And absorb that influence they have — things get off to a solid start with the chugging guitar line and angular vocals of “Cherry Lips,” and only get better with the crazy “Kink” and its sing-song chorus. This isn’t music that’s likely to spark a creative boom 20 years down the line like Gang of Four did, but it’s urgent and it virtually demands that you listen to it now. Part of the urgency stems from the anguish that lyricist/ drummer Cleveland conveys in these not-in-love songs — “Modern Lovers” is as bleak a relationship song as I have heard in ages. There are moments of dark humour to be found on Derdang, Derdang though, as with the aptly titled “Dead Funny.” This may be Memorex, but it’s a quality copy. Michael Elves
Paolo Nutini These Streets Atlantic/ 2006 ♥♥♥½	I came across Paolo Nutini in a recent issue of Rolling Stone magazine; cited as being “one to watch” I thought I’d look him up. The 19-year-old from Paisley, Scotland has been compared to Ben E. King, Rod Stewart and James Blunt. Britain’s Uncut Magazine applauded his debut album These Streets saying, “for once comparisons to Al Green are not entirely far-fetched.” That is high praise, but is the album really worth your hard earned $15 or $20, over say, paying your campus parking ticket? Well, I would still suggest paying your (ridiculous!) parking ticket, but maybe also download a couple of Nutini’s songs. The album, produced by Ken Nelson (Coldplay, Ray LaMontagne), has a few catchy ditties. Nutini’s first single, “Last Request,” is a slow and melancholy tune, while his latest single, “Jenny Don’t Be Hasty” is a little livelier. It’s a great tune about Nutini’s brief relationship with an older woman. Another gem in the lot is the sexy, “Loving You,” which has a similar sentiment to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” The whole album, Nutini has said, “is an autobiographical journey, a diary if you like, of [his] last three years.” It certainly shows, as the entire album is intimate, revealing and refreshing. Though Nutini has not officially broken out on this side of the Atlantic, he is gaining attention; his song “New Shoes” was featured on a recent episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. He has also toured with the Rolling Stones and Paul Weller. Nutini’s raspy, soulful voice warrants the Al Green comparison, however, at times he also sounds like Gavin DeGraw or Kyle Riabko. Overall, These Streets is a solid debut album. His songs have old-school charisma and fresh lyrics, and you can’t help but be moved by a sexy husky voice like Nutini’s. He’s been fortunate enough to achieve certain career goals already (playing Carnegie Hall and the Montreux Jazz festival, for example) so I am sure breaking North America will happen in no time. Kaplana Srinarayanadas