Casual Listening - George Jones, Dandy Warhols, Staind

Casual Listening

a review of cool new music

by Jeff Pinzino

August 22, 2008

* George Jones – Burn Your Playhouse Down (country)

Get yourself a big glass of beer to cry in with this one. The renowned honky-tonker gives a set of well-crafted duets with a star-studded array of guests. Jones aims straight for the heartstrings, and hits on nearly every song. This songwriting is strong enough to turn more heads than just the hat-and-boot crowd.

Listen to George Jones “The Window Up Above”

Salme Dahlstrom – The Acid Cowgirl Audio Trade (dance)

Contagious pop grooves with heavy drum beats, samples, and cool-girl vocals. Enjoy this summer party album before the summer gets away from you.

Listen to Salme Dahlstrom “C’mon Y’all”

Dandy Warhols – ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols... (rock)

This band puts catchy songs behind layers of sound -- primarily guitars and electronica with an occasional smattering of other instruments, including banjos, trumpets, and glockenspiels. I may live to regret this comparison -- Sonic Youth meets Duran Duran? Don't take my word for it -- you can actually hear every track from their new album for free at http://www.dandywarhols.com/ts/?account_id=75183 If you really like it, $35 gets you a subscription: a download, CD, concert poster, advance concert sales, 10% of merchandise, and b-sides e-mailed to you throughout the year.

Listen to Dandy Warhols “Love Song”

JW Jones – Bluelisted (blues)

I think I’m late to this party, but it’s a good party, and worth checking out. JW draws on electric blues and early rock & roll with spot-on guitar riffs and Hammond organ. The cavernous reverb on the album sounds like it was recorded at a 1950’s vintage VFW hall. A real treat of a blues set.

Listen to JW Jones “Can’t Play a Playboy”

Staind ­– The Illusion of Progress (rock)

For a bunch of guys known primarily for rocking really hard, there’s a lot of finesse to the songs on this album. Big guitars play second fiddle to shadowy, introspective vocals and a tunefulness that’s a rewarding listen. I wish more alternative rock bands set the bar this high.

Listen to Staind “Pardon Me”

Matthew Stubbs – Soul Bender (soul)

Horn-driven old-school soul music. This all-instrumental album shows off Stubbs’ serious guitar fretwork on a set of songs that is screaming to find its way onto a movie soundtrack.

Listen to Matthew Stubbs “Soul Bender”

Jerry Douglas – Glide (bluegrass)

Douglas is maybe the best-known dobro player on the bluegrass scene, bringing a characteristic slide guitar sound to a varied set of original acoustic compositions. He continues to show off his chops with newgrass pals such as mandolinist Sam Bush and bassist Edgar Meyer.

Listen to Jerry Douglas “Bounce”

In The Blog: David Byrne & Bryan Eno

* highly recommended

! highest recommendation

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