Creative Loafing Tampa: Music

The Jewell of Alt Country

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

Eilen Jewell talks about her evocative roots music, her buskering background, and her latest album, Sea of Tears.... By Leilani Polk The inspiration for the title track off Eilen Jewell's 2009 album, Sea of Tears, came to the alt-country songstress while she was sleeping. "I had this dream about these two people in a marketplace, an open air space, and for some reason, they happened into each other," Jewell explained to me via phone as she was gearing up for a co-headlining tour with friend and fellow Boston-based roots music rocker, Sara Borges. "He pretended like he didn't see her, and

The Genitorturers frontwoman and metal provocateur celebrates her band's new album with a hometown show

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Leilani Polk The siren wails of ascending notes, the speedy electro hammering of programmed drums and a fat and sinister guitar riff open Blackheart Revolution. And then the bestial growl of Genitorturers frontwoman/namesake Gen aggro blasts onto the track and demands your undivided attention: "Well no one cares about the rock star illusion / No one cares because the mystery is gone / Well, I know it's time for evolution / Now I'm a savior and I've got a solution / I've

What's next for Jannus Landing?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST

The life, death and rebirth of a beloved concert venue.... By Eric Snider "This didn't have to happen," says Rob Douglas, his 6-foot-4 frame slouched on a sofa in his south St. Pete condo, his raspy voice weary and tinged with bitterness. He's a linchpin of the St. Petersburg concert scene, his tenure as a promoter, venue operator and production manager dating back to the early '80s, when shows were put on by enterprising locals rather than megacorporations. He spent 25 years working at Jannus Landing, one of the Bay area's most beloved

Upcoming concerts

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Leilani Polk <--Go back to the music site. NOVEMBERSaturday, Nov. 21 The Revival Tour feat. Chuck Ragan (of Hot Water Music) w/Jim Ward/Frank Turner/John Snodgrass/Chad Price/The Zydepunks Apparently, last year’s tour featuring several punk and garage frontmen performing solo and collaborative sets of material in an acoustic roots format was a success. Ragan (Hot Water Music) returns for the second round, and is joined by (among others) Drag the River’s Snodgrass and Price, and Ward (currently of Sparta, formerly of At the

Junior Boys groove

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 MST

Indietronica duo Junior Boys bring their sexy sounds back to Ybor.... By Leilani Polk You catch the mid-tempo beat as the night fades to black and the lights on the dance floor fall in saturated reds and blues, your body slipping into a supple, hip-shaking groove, ass grinding lightly against the anonymous partner moving at your back, then not so lightly as he draws you closer, and suddenly his breath is on your neck and in your ear and you can smell the musk of invitation on his skin. The music has loosened you

Spin these new albums

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

Four hot albums released during the past four months. Check it.... By Leilani Polk The Dead Weather Horehound (July 14, Third Man) White Stripes frontman Jack White takes a behind-the-scenes role in his latest project, The Dead Weather, which brings together lead singer Alison Mosshart (of London-based lo-fi post-punk duo The Kills), Raconteurs' bassist Jack Lawrence and Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Dean Fertita. The foursome involved weren't fucking around when they went into the studio to produce the 11 tracks on Horehound. Written and recorded in a mere three weeks, the hard

CD Review: The Dead Weather, Horehound

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Leilani Polk White Stripes’ frontman Jack White takes a behind-the-scenes role in his latest project, The Dead Weather, which brings together lead singer Alison Mosshart (of London-based lo-fi post-punk duo The Kills), Raconteurs’ bassist Jack Lawrence, and Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Dean Fertita. The foursome involved weren’t fucking around when they went into the studio to produce the 11 tracks on Horehound (released July 14 on Third Man Records). Written and recorded in a mere three weeks, the hard rock

Review: Phish, Joy

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Leilani Polk Phish announced they were calling it quits a month before dropping their 10th official studio album in 2004. Their last release under Elektra, Undermind was a brilliant work, moody and driving psyche rock studded with upbeat pop and the odd goof-off. But its dark and melancholy moments were too much a reflection of Phish’s own unhealthy state at the time and the shadow of their imminent demise hung over the music, making it easy to appreciate but hard to enjoy.

CD Review: Islands, Vapours

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Leilani Polk Montreal rock ensemble Islands made an indie splash in ’06 with their breezy, mellifluous popadelic debut, Return to the Sea. The adventurous and progressive second effort, Arm’s Way, followed on a wave of dramatic symphonics in ’08. The third, Vapours (out Sept. 22, today, on Anti-), finds the band moving in a New Wave-wheeling and dance music-dealing direction. Vapours also marks the return of drummer and founding member Jamie Thompson, who split shortly after the release of Sea. “I wanted

Peter Bjorn and John have taken their music in unexpected directions

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Leilani Polk The stickiest whistling of the 21st century was conceived in Sweden, nurtured in the collective musical subconscious of three Stockholm musicians, shaped by their distinct creative personalities and love of New Wave, alt rock and '60s pop, and born several years later in a catchy, charming pop ditty, "Young Folks." By that time, Swedish trio Peter Bjorn and John -- singer/guitarist Peter Morén, singer/bassist/keyboardist Bjorn Yttling and singer/drummer/percussionist John Eriksson -- had enjoyed some minor fame, but still worked day

Album Review: The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Edition)

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Eric Snider In 2006, writers for the English music magazine NME voted 1989’s The Stone Roses the “greatest British album of all time.” I would not go that far.But I will assert this: Anyone who aspires to a rock music collection considered definitive should make unequivocally sure that the Manchester, England band’s debut album is part of it. In 1989 I was well ensconced as a full-time pop music critic, so it’s with a twinge of embarrassment that I rave about an

CD Review: Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Cooper Levey-baker Yo La Tengo has been around for so long, and been so good for so long, I thought they’d pretty much exhausted all the indie rock tricks out there. And then I heard “If It’s True,” track number six from the band’s newest LP, Popular Songs (Matador, out Sept. 8). It opens with a dusty bass groove that wouldn’t have been out of place as a B-side to The Temptations’ “My Girl.” Then the syrupy strings slide in, singers/spouses Georgia

CD Review: Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn, Break Up

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Ivan Pena Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn Break Up (Rhino)Inspired by Serge Gainsbourg’s duets with Brigitte Bardot, singer-songwriter Pete Yorn teams up with actress Scarlett Johansson for Break Up, a sweetly-produced and easy-to-enjoy album. The nine-song collection goes by quickly and has ScarJo and Yorn seductively singing saccharine melodies over Beach-Boys-style production. It’s a mellifluous session, but the songs are a little too sappy for my taste. Recorded back in 2006, the album is set to be released next Tuesday, September 8.

CD Review: The Apples in Stero, #1 Hits Explosion

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Ivan Pena The Apples in Stereo #1 Hits Explosion (Yep Roc)With 17 years of pop rockin’ under their belt, The Apples in Stereo collect their best tunes on one album, #1 Hits Explosion. For seasoned fans, this may not be a choice album as it’s really just a recap of what they’ve been enjoying for years. For noobs like, me the album is a great primer. With bright 60’s pop rock — think Beatles, Beach Boys and Velvet Underground — Apples in

CD Review: Juliette Lewis, Terra Incognita

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 MST

By Ivan Pena Juliette Lewis Terra Incognita (The End Records) Imagine a bluesy version of Mars Volta’s De-Loused in the Comatorium with controlled drumming, Juliette Lewis’ explosive vocals and pop song structure. This is what a great Omar Lopez-Rodriguez-produced release sounds like. Evoking Janis Joplin, the 12-track album is darker than anything Lewis has done before. OLR’s expert influence is blatant all throughout the album (guitar work, song keys, effects), but man, does it work. Highlights: “Hard Lovin’ Woman” (for Janis fans) and