ArtFRONT

Arizona
"The Glowing Bird "
(October, 2008)
CD review

By Robin Merritt
For ArtFRONT Presentations

Here's an orchestral montage of electric rock gems and lazy ballads with rebellious musical hooks and whimsical subject matter that has made for quite a few pleasant morning listens since I’ve been trying to find words to describe Arizona’s new CD “The Glowing Bird.” In some ways it harkens back to the days of operatic rock, reminiscent of the early “Yes” albums but with melody being the main element of virtuosity rather than any particular musical instrument. You’ll hear cellos and heavy electric guitars getting along comfortably side by side. Soaring vocal harmonies on gorgeous anthems such as “Balloon” will be a challenge for stick-in-the mud rockers but the more lilting melodic numbers should highly please fans of indie style orchestration.

In the same league as Band of Horses, and Tyler Ramsey, Arizona is helping the new Asheville sound begin to take shape. This in part is due to My Morning Jacket producer Danny Kadar’s involvement with the recordings. Glowing Bird is the band's most ambitious undertaking and is poised to snag the attention of new listeners and fans of the group from their days as a Brooklyn NY entity, who've been anxiously waiting to see what Arizona will do next. They could possibly usurp some of the attention from earlier-out-of-the-gate Asheville bands who are currently more well known. This inventive, yet melodic group effort should also reel in fans of Beck and the like once they manage to catch wind of them. I don't really expect Arizona to stay completely underground very long.

There’s lots of good variety on this disk with songs such as “You Were Right” making heavy use of modern/retro effects and 21st C. style compositional arrangements. Oddities such as “Ghost” will entertain those looking for more off the wall fare. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which song DJ’s will pick from an album this varied. I’ve heard “Ghost” on the radio already, although I don’t include it on my suggested track list.
This is definitely a CD to play in it's entirety, start to finish. The Glowing Bird could turn out to be one of those rare CD’s that DJ’s will play two or three songs in sequence from every time they cue it up. Try playing “The Glowing Bird” & “Otto the Eel” together for starters...then let them flow on into “Don’t have the Body” for a full spectrum of what this CD can do for listeners weary of raucous rock but needing a jolt to get them excited about the possibility of a concept album or rock opera resurgence.

The fact that I picked seven songs from the disk as suggested tracks for radio play on the radio promo that I wrote for them says volumes. The normal number for a really great album would be 3 or four. FYI these tracks are;
#2. Balloon (not rock)
#3. Swimming Hole (rock)
#4. You were Right (rock)
#6. The Glowing Bird
#7. Otto the Eel
#8. Don’t Have the Body
#9. Easily

Arizona also have 3 previous CD’s that delighted music reviewers in NYC and beyond. My first exposure came after reading about the band in NYC’s “The Deli” magazine which touts NYC’s local music scene. Afterward I became a fan of nearly every song they posted on their myspace page from the CD's titled "Welcome Back Dear Children." and "The SUn and the Room." Therefore when The Glowing Bird came out it seemed to happen really fast and serve to bowl over the largest audience for Arizona the band yet, since they have embarked on a substantial tour of prestigious venues throughout the eastern USA this fall. A very impressive introduction to the band is their bio at Echo Mountain records web site
which should be read in it’s entirety if any of the following rings any bells.

~R

“Arizona was introduced to producer and mentor Danny Kadar (My Morning Jacket, Iggy Pop, The Avett Brothers) who became influential in helping the band record and mix their first full-length album “Welcome Back Dear Children” (2006) After deciding to release the album independently Arizona received praise from radio stations like WXPN in Philadelphia, and found themselves touring extensively with Band of Horses, The Slip and Indigo Girls.”

Mermaid Police
"3 and 1/2 Stars ”
CD review

By Robin Merritt
For ArtFRONT Presentations

These 9 new songs are so well made that It's mind boggling to understand that the recordings were done by Jason Dooley, the Mermaid Policeman, mostly in his own basement studio.

I've been Listening to both Mermaid Police CD's pretty much non-stop since I downloaded my free copy, which re-kindled my interest in the first Mermaid Police disk as well.

I'm hearing a heavier version of The Beach Boys influence and the righteous use of electronica in a very musical setting, most notably the distinctive minimalist sound of the Moog synthesizers alongside highly skilled guitar playing and vocal work. This is retro style power pop at it's finest, with plenty of heavy rock guitar chords thrown in to balance and add weight to Jason Dooley's soaring, pitch perfect vocals. There's a lot of joy and inspirational motion in the rock songs and the slower more ethereal numbers such as "Ice Walk" are just the right amount of cushy launch padding to propel the next number into your brain and cause some kind of nerdcore dance ruckus amongst the more energetic listeners. The bright clarity of numbers such as "Eagle Style" and "Shark" have enough presence to snap the attention of any listener of college radio and should be getting loads of airplay if the DJ's and programmers in charge of those stations had any clue as to the skill level of what is really happening in the true underground.

Alongside the excellent first 10 song CD titled "Mermaid Police" I'm counting "3 and 1/2 Stars" among the best music I've found over the last year and would not want to go without it. At this time in history I think that this kind of positive influence is some real necessary medicine for our society in general.

"This is the best deal I've come across in months Some serious listening material & tunesmithing from our Moog wielding guitar and songwriting prodigy out of the sunny land of Cleveland, Tennessee where even getting eaten by a shark looks like a positive experience and there is no longer any need for prozac.
Seriously, metalheads will be scrubbing off their tatoos after listening to this "
~R.

As of Jan. 24, 2008 the newly pressed fully mastered CD of "3 & 1/2 Stars" is available at Mermaid Police live shows and through their website and Myspace page. If You have a chance to get copies of these disks You will have scored something very rare and very uplifting and You will be glad You did.

"3 and 1/2 Stars" has 9 brand new cuts that You can download as unmastered mp3's free from their myspace blog and even though I have had my downloaded copy from the moment it was announced I plan on buying the mastered CD at a live show the night after I type this review. If You've ever thought it noble to support a deserving new artist by purchasing their work this is a prime opportunity to do a good deed. Until then, download these songs for free and use them in place of prozac.

~R.

 

The first 10 song
Mermaid Police Disk
cdbaby.com

Little Country Giants
“Sing Pretty For The People”
CD review

By Robin Merritt
For ArtFRONT Presentations

These new songs by the duo of Russell & Cameron Federal Cook slow down a bit and ring even sweeter than their excellent earlier release titled “Breaking Hearts and Living Free.” The first track, “Yellow Moon” features backing vocals by Jill Andrews of the everybodyfields. One new song, “Telegram” features Julie Evans, who is normally in the background singing harmonies. She has the lead vocals on this outstanding number, which hopefully will signal more of Julie’s vocals coming to the forefront in future performances.

“Sing Pretty for the People” also contains a handful of tunes that fans of The Little Country Giants live performances have already been hearing. Russell just balances out the sweet female dominance of his wife-mate Cameron on this CD with his often remorseful but always soulful vocals on songs like “Fields Are Burning.” And one of my personal favorites that I’ve heard them play live several times, “Can’t Stand The Heartache.” Which anyone who has sat through their concerts lately will recognize from the complex melodies and astute lyrics…
      You left the jukebox playing
      “Everything is Beautiful”
      but honey I don’t think that’s true
       I got an ugly old heartache
      from losing You.

Even with subjects of heartache & occasional straight blade vengeance, the Giants still manage a good humored delivery which often results in regulation southern style whoops of delight during their performances.

One truly great thing about this band is the intelligence and yes even education that it now takes to bring forth this highly stylistic brand of the new, but old… Americana sound. Some dazzling language spills out between the harmonies, which can only come from a genuine rural southern background. Unheard in today’s modern commercial country are phrasings that only a southern lit major will ever hear outside of this traditional style. How often have You heard a jealous drunk in a (Nashville) country song exclaim that his reason for vengeance is because his rival “cast a jaundiced eye” toward the girl of his dreams…? Fans of poet Galway Kinnell can hear an extreme variance of his poem “The Bear” In Russell’s “Loathsome Jody Grinder.” And in “Telegram”
      Every melody You sing to me
       Is like a sweet truncated symphony
      You found my heart small as a sparrow
      You gave me something I could really care for
      Melancholy bee, sting me sweet and slow……
       The only thing that’s real I know
       Is the smell of your pomade on my pillow..

These songs are not tearjerkers because of some schmaltzy sentimentalism but for the heart twisting beauty of the voices that sing them. Anyone out there who is a fan of music of any genera who is looking for the muse and for the artists who have found their own, The Little Country Giants have absolutely nailed the aesthetic quality that makes their music vibrant and effective. Pick up this CD at one of The Little Country Giants live performances whenever You can.
~R.