CD reviews

Jakalope Borne 4 Pony Canyon/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥♥	For Jakalope’s sophomore release, the band continue to spread their horns between industrial and pop music. The distinction blurs at times and they come off as an industrialinfluenced Metric (instead of disco-pop). For the most part, the industrial sound works and the darker songs make for some of the better listens. Opener “Anthem 2” makes promises of grungy rock to come. Sadly such promises are soured by track three, leadoff single “Upside Down.” This track seems tailor-made for pop radio (the tambourine and handclaps are a dead giveaway). I could tell even before knowing that it is indeed the first single and has a video. By the way, the video for this song looks dangerously closer to a Britney Spears release than something from an album that features the likes of Trent Reznor (NIN) and Alex Lifeson (Rush). Speaking of guest stars, this album features plenty. Jakalope is the brainchild of renowned producer/mixer Dave Ogilvie, and features Katie B. as lead vocalist and an “allstar” cast of guests on every track. The diversity of the contributors range from folkie Jeremy Fischer to Hatebreed members Sean Martin and Chris Beattie. As a whole, Jakalope makes for a fine and interesting collaborative work by mostly Canadians. All of the tracks are very approachable in their own right. Perhaps by luring people in with radio-friendly singles, the rest of Jakalope’s tunes can sway some listeners to branch out with their music choices. With that in mind, I assure you my rating is a very hearty three and a half stars. William O’Donnell
Tragically Hip World Container Universal/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥♥	As far as rock stars are concerned, the Hip are the biggest hosers of the bunch. Just look at their loving relationship with Trailer Park Boys soundtracks. Be they hosers or stars, the Hip are still one the most dependable mainstream rock bands in North America, never mind just the Great White North. Dependable in that you can rely on them to put on solid shows and create fine rock records. Their latest, World Container, manages to stand above their most recent efforts as a refreshing example of quality rock that remains familiar to their fans. World Container contains hints of outside influences but is still undeniably a Hip album. A fine example is “Lonely End of the Rink,” which at times can either sound like Franz Ferdinand or U2 with calypso riffing; but topping that with the combo of Gord Downie’s unmistakable voice and hockey references brings it right back home (I refer to the hoser statement above). In this record the Hip can display intensity without pretentiousness, softer melody without camp, and style without leaving their tried and true sound. Bob Rock has found a nice home producing veteran Canadian artists (he is also behind Our Lady Peace’s latest “attempt”). He does a much better job here than with metal-monsters Metallica. Rock and the band seem to have a wonderful kinship: together they have created something that may go down as one of the best Hip albums of their long career. World Container is a trophy for long-time Hip fans and a catchy surprise for new or just casual listeners. The most important thing, I must say, is that I think “The Tragically Hip” is still one of the coolest band names ever. William O’Donnell
Beenie Man Undisputed Virgin Records/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥	Lately, Beenie Man, the self-proclaimed “King of the Dance Hall,” has been receiving bad press for homophobic remarks and gestures made in his previous musical works and concerts. This album, Undisputed, returns the listener to the Beenie Man that simply makes hit reggae music with mainstream potential. In “Undisputed,” also the title track, Beenie Man claims to hold the reggae championship of the world. This track is raw, infectious, and lively. It also builds anticipation for the remainder of the album. The track “Girls,” featuring Akon, will certainly be heard at a club near you. It is catchy, rhythmic, and the hook is memorable. Beenie Man knows his range, skills, and repertoire. His songs openly profess about the power of music, his feeling of love for life, and the insatiable need for sex. Beenie Man worships all facets of the female form and he is not afraid to sing about it, sometimes more graphically than others. Songs such as “My World” and “My Women” allow the listener to sneak a peak into Beenie Man the person, as opposed to the bombastic performer. Beenie Man, in 1981 at age 7, recorded his first single. Now at age 33, perhaps he has indeed earned the title of undisputed. Whether Beenie is being coy or really believes his own hype, songs such as “Come Again” and “Set You” provide balance to this selfaggrandizing claim of undisputed. The song “Hmm Hmm” is typical Beenie Man, filled as it is with an infectious chorus and an unforgettable melody. This is a great album and it leaves the listener thinking that Beenie Man has made his case. Kyle Goomansing
El Perro Del Mar El Perro Del Mar Control Group/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥	Sarah Assbring, performing under the Spanish nautico-canine pseudonym El Perro Del Mar (the only Spanish nautico- canine pseudonym I know of incidentally, apart from El Perrito Del Océano) is feeling rather glum, and she’s here to sing about it. Which is good news for us: her mournful voice is enticing, charming and emotionally engaging, though it’s occasionally so miserable that it becomes parodic. Though many of the elleven songs on this self-titled album essentially sound alike, Assbring gets a lot of mileage out of the tension between the lush ’60s pop orchestrations and her own despairing warble. The lyrics, too, play into this tension: “Candy” features the line “I’m going for to buy me some candy,” as the mainstay of its chorus, but it’s delivered with such gloom that “candy” could well mean “cyanide capsule.” It’s a great song, beautiful and moody. So is “Dog,” another lush and layered gem of despair that might well be the highlight of the album; certainly its chief lyric “all the feelings you’ve got for me / just like for a dog” is the album’s most heartrending evocation of relationship anguish. Other standouts include penultimate track “Here Comes That Feeling,” a cover of the song by ’60s pop-singer Brenda Lee, which is cheery enough in its delivery, all happy handclaps and bright, punchy saxophone, but still manages to skillfully integrate Assbring’s potent misery, and “God Knows (You Gotta Give to Get)” which is the album’s most melodically convincing number. Good stuff, Sarah! Cheer up. Or don’t, and make another great album. Evan Johnson, Staff
The Dunes Socializing With Life Curve Music / Universal/ 2006 ♥♥	“I’m writing a review, yeah / I’m doing it for you, yeah / I’m writing a review / How about you? Yeah. / This CD isn’t very good, / it is very predictable. / I suggest you take the time, / to find something more listenable. Yeah.” There. In twenty seconds I wrote better lyrics than The Dunes’ 2006 release, Socializing With Life. Maybe it’s because I’m not a huge fan of this kind of music, but it’s just boring me. I’m currently listening to the CD. It’s on track four now. Everything written above this sentence was written during the first three tracks. Thus, this is my first impression. I already feel like never listening to it again. So far the music kind of sounds like music I listened to on Big Shiny Tunes when I was in grade six, mixed with Coldplay and some other radio-friendly bands that I don’t know the names of. Yeah. It’s not that the music is poorly performed or written, it’s just that it sounds like I’ve heard each song before, and I know I haven’t. Also, I’m sure these guys are real nice and decent people. So, Kevin, Matt and Chris, I apologize for making fun of your lyrics and your music. Don’t be upset, you’re probably just doing what you love, which is rad, keep it up. But, it is my job to review your CD and I can’t say I like it. Sorry. My verdict is two stars. Socializing With Life gets one star by default and the musicians get one for being in a band, totalling two. Kudos. Ted Barker, Staff
The Album Leaf Into the Blue Again Sub-Pop/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥	What can I say? I’m a sucker for good packaging when it comes to music. Knowing nothing of the Album Leaf, the great photography and engraved digipak caught my attention right away, so I took in the music with a very open mind. With Into the Blue Again, the Album Leaf provide one of the best instrumental discs I have ever heard. One’s enjoyment of it is definitely dependent on one’s mood, but for sitting back, relaxing or going to sleep, this CD is a perfect choice. Similar to other Sub Pop acts, the Album Leaf blend indie rock with electronic synthesizers, but also add a slew of other instruments, including the violin, grand piano, organs, and my personal favourite, the glockenspiel. Several songs lean towards the melodic and piano-based. Both “Wishful Thinking” and opener “The Light,” positively scream Sigur Rós. The album isn’t completely instrumental, as three tracks contain vocals, though these numbers don’t really strengthen or weaken the overall sound of the record. All in all, the packaging was what interested me at first, and the music only solidified the great first impression. Kyle Phillips, Volunteer Staff