Reviews February 2008 Page 3 Caz Mechanic - The Secret Life Of The Wife Of The Captain Of The Ship In A Bottle On The Mantlepiece (Big Potato) With an album title this wide (holds arms outstretched), we need a fat-arsed record to match. I don’t know what that means, but what we do have here is one of those albums that invariably find its way to the stereo after dark. Caz Banks’ vocals are all delicate and wispy, and the band provide sturdy support in a 1970s New York, folky rock fashion. Keyboards, courtesy of Mojave3 mainman Neil Halstead and Al Forrester, feature heavily and the whole caboodle sounds like it would have been perfectly at home on Rough Trade, circa 1983. Relentlessly downbeat, and a trifle samey throughout, I’m utterly confounded as to why I keep playing the thing. www.bigpotatorecords.co.uk Alex V. - Nicotine - Liberation (Asian Man) Short songs played mega-fast with buzz-saw riffs, garage-band bass and trashcan drumming - it was a phase we all gratefully went through in the early nineties when punk seemed otherwise dead in the water. And just like Blink 182, NOFX et al, Nicotine sound like they’re having a great time as they chuck out these nineteen songs full of tin thin rhythms and breakneck guitar lines topped off by whiney vocals. Their problem is that at the time the novelty wore off quickly, and the best of the bunch such as Green Day, Bad Religion, Offspring and even Less Than Jake took the opportunity to tighten up their playing and songwriting while retaining their original energy and youthful appeal. Rancid of course went on to establish themselves as one of the best bands in the world. A key indicator of progress was the realisation that farting, burping and wanking had essential limitations as lyric material and there was indeed an audience for loftier themes. Sadly on this showing, especially the likes of “Alice in the Wonderland” and “69”, Nicotine, (bless ‘em for their adolescent spirit and all that), have still got a fair bit of growing up to do. Neil B. - The Watery Graves of Portland and/et Genevieve - S/T (Marriage) Albums of love songs (assuming they are without too many English words) don’t come much more sexier or much more pain filled than this. Regardless of the angle - whether powerful, hard hitting and punchy (“Agace-Pissette”, “Ce Que Je Vais Faire Plus Tard…”), distraught and loping (“Inquiétude”), spellbinding (“Pour Roman”) or just plain serene (“Notre Mythologie”) - the poignant, graceful delivery of French-Canadian, Genevieve Castree’s vocals is second to none - a true chanteuse in the league of Francois Hardy or Nico. The sparse jazz of the Watery Graves (piano, upright bass and drums) backs with a perfect rainy night-time accompaniment. This short album (11 tracks in 25 minutes) is certainly trés cool. www.marriagerecs.com Will F. - Prey For Green - S/T (Independent) Any mention of country rock these days and it’s bands like Wilco who get the nod. Prey For Green are an altogether different proposition. Their retro sounds plot a direct route back to the genre’s ‘70s heyday, when it was acceptable to add a dash of Southern soul to the mix. They lack the delicious rich harmonies that the great bands brought to the genre, but they’re not frightened of rocking out like a gentler, more caring Black Crowes when the occasion rises, “Stories Never Told” being the prime example. It’s a Sunday morning rather than a Saturday night record, and it’ll undoubtedly set you up for the day. www.myspace.com/preyforgreen Rob F. - Fats Domino - Fats and Friends DVD (Time Life) Recorded in 1986 this is a fantastic DVD. Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Ray Charles performing 17 tracks with a back up band led by the Stones’ Ron Wood. Fats Domino leads off the DVD with a clutch of his hits, including “The Fat Man” and “Blueberry Hill” in his own inimitable style, this is followed by Jerry Lee performing tracks including of course “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire”. Then Ray Charles takes over with “I’ve Got a Woman” and “Drown In My Own Tears” before all three of them get together to perform four more tracks. Absolutely riveting performances, and provides nearly two hours of first rate entertainment. Not to be missed. Pete J. - The Lucksmiths - Spring A Leak (Matinee Recordings) The Lucksmiths have been around for a long time, and they’re at the stage in their career where they can justifiably release double CD compilations of rarities. Spring A Leak is just that, a 2 disc, 45 track collection that brings together B-sides of singles, obscure covers, remixes, compilation tracks, and best of all, a smattering of radio show session and live performances of much loved album material. The erstwhile Melbournites’ brand of twee(ish) C86 indie pop wont be for everyone, and this may well not be the place for beginners to get aquatinted with them, but if you’re already one of those people who regularly dip into the band’s back catalogue in search of jangly guitars and book-smart lyrics, then you’ll find plenty here to enjoy. www.thelucksmiths.com.au Rob F. Next Page Past Reviews: March 07, April 07, May 07, June/July 07, Sept/Oct 07, Dec07, Jan08, Feb 08