Gang Of Four- Product (Yep Roc Records, released 1/25/11)
Well, Gang Of Four’s first record of new material in far too long is… Pretty good. Not phenomenal, but good. It contains all the squeal and rumble and resigned lashing-out one would expect, but the loss of founding members Dave Allen (bass) and Hugo Burnham (drums) is felt in the lack of serious propulsion; the guitar and vocals are way out in front and the engine section seems something of an afterthought. Still, there’s a lot to like; the lyrics rail against the insurmountable evils of the world in the best GO4 tradition, and the more mannered second half of the record contains a few songs that stand among the highlights of the band’s work.
R.E.M.- Collapse Into Now (Warner Brothers Records, released 3/1/11)
R.E.M. got some of their groove back with Accelerate a couple years ago, and they solidify their re-ascendance here with an album shorn of excesses; short on self-important balladry; full of songs that get in, make an impression and leave you wanting more. The sequencing is a little questionable (the opening and closing tracks are probably the weakest of the bunch), but that’s a minor detail given the amount of good music here — haunting ballads, noisy fuzzed-out rockers, a delicate balance of introspective and confrontational lyricism. It’s 2011, and I’m listening to a really good new R.E.M. album. That’s not something I was counting on, and it’s not just a relief… It’s a return to form.
Clinic- Bubblegum (Domino Records, released 10/5/10)
Over the last decade or so, Clinic have become one of my favorite bands while staying fundamentally unchanging. Over six records (and two compilations) they’ve built an instantly recognizable sound, adding and recombining elements salvaged from 60s garage rock, dub reggae and 80s post-punk. Eerie vocals, deep organ drones, guitars that scratch and burble, rock-solid bass, and flutters of melodica: a potent and unmistakable formula.
And on this record, we have most of the same components assembled in a new way. There are a touch more acoustic and folky tones, and a different sensibility at play: more ease, more restraint, a new willingness to understate instead of driving songs at top speed. Noisy and aggressive bits are still present, but they’re countered (and their impact strengthened) by the melodies, the gentle tempos, the calm and unguarded moments. If you’re acquainted with Clinic, this is an opportunity to consider them afresh; if you’ve never heard their music before, it’s a great place to start.
Various Artists- West Indies Funk (Trans Air Records, released 2/15/11)
A new compilation of strange and rare covers of funk classics by various Caribbean ensembles. Tunes made famous by James Brown, The Meters, The Supremes, and many others get reworked in fine tropical style (and the Esso Trinidad Steel Band’s take on the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” is the most insanely joyous thing I’ve heard in years). Essential for anyone with a weakness for Island flavor and/or groovy sounds.
Wire- Red Barked Tree (Pink Flag Records, released 1/10/11)
There’s plenty about this band I’m tempted to say here, spouting timelines, details, giving a history lesson on the three decades of Wire’s off-and-on existence, but that would only distract and cloud the issue. Because the thing that matters here is: this is a fantastic record, and would be no matter who made it. The tunes are catchy, the rhythms dynamic, the vocals drip with tension, wry humor. and carefully maintained composure. The production is slick, but not overly glossy. The first track packs enough fluttering guitar and dismissive vocal to be a great lost tune from the heyday of UK indie; from there on it’s an embarrassment of riches, thirty-nine minutes of punk and drone and swirling layers of sound. Eleven songs from a band that released their first album over 33 years ago, and they’re still creating better music than just about anybody.
Album titles and covers above link to Amazon for your purchasing convenience.
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