University of Utah Student Newspapers | 2008-01-31 | Page 6

Music Thursday, January 31, 2008 Inventive musicians are not Liars immersed themselves in witchcraft and folklore, to create a "story album" (as opposed to REDUX WRITER concept album). The result was a truly strange What happens when you mix art school, Ger- piece of work in which the concepts of texture man New Wave music, experimental sounds, and sound themselves overshadowed the acand early '70s punk-influenced rock? You get tual music and garnered negative reviews from the beautifully controlled chaos that is Liars. numerous magazines and fans alike. Though never a band to care much for what This Los Angeles-based three-piece continues to impress the masses by going against every- people thought of them, like any true artist, Lithing that traditional rock is supposed to en- ars continued to reinvent themselves again for compass, and never fails to live up to, or leave their next album. Moving overseas to Berlin, Germany, to record Drums Not Dead, the band behind, whatever expectations fall before it. After initially forming in early 2001, Austra- went even farther in the realm of experimentalian-born Angus Andrews and Aaron Hemphill tion by creating an album that relied heavily began trading riffs back and forth via four-track on looped drums, often run through various recordings. Once Andrews finished his degree effects and atmospheric guitars. Again, the reat California Institute of the Arts, the duo re- cord impressed some and alienated others, but located to New York City, filled out the lineup that's what the band has always been about. With their new, self-titled album, the band and released its first record—a cleverly titled response to being lumped into the rapidly ex- seems to have gone back to its early roots by panding NYC dance-punk scene, They Threw mixing an esoteric art school attitude with '70s Us All In A Trench and Stuck a Monument On biker-rock. The album is much more down to Top. The record immediately gave Liars the earth, and, though showing signs of the experistatus of band to keep an eye on, and more and mentation the band has played with over the past six years, this record seems to keep things more people began to take notice. The dance-influenced rhythms, for which in check a little better. Never wanting to stay Liars had become known, bothered the band in one place for too long, the album does move enough for it to branch out and try new things in all different directions, but it's still more to show off its capabilties. The year after its "listener-friendly" than the last records have debut. Liars released an EP showing a more ex- been. Liars continue to show the world that they perimental side, using sound collages and cutand-paste spoken word. If nothing else, Liars won't be held back by traditional songwriting seemed intent on letting their fans, as well as and pride themselves on being a band that can the rest of the music industry, know that this experiment with the best of them. And whatever sound it may take, a new Liars record is band was no one-trick pony. After another EP, as well as a split 7" (an ac- always at least worth checking out, just don't be tual vinyl single—yes, they still make them), surprised if it sounds nothing like the last one. Liars will play at The Urban Lounge on the band continued with the experimentation in which it had begun to dabble. Liars relo- Thurs., Jan. 31. [e-mail] Liars cated to a cabin in the New Jersey woods and Trevor Hale nm Dan Fletcher ASST. REDUX EDITOR Nebraskanites grow old, turn to Iightspeed Champion for a quirkier folk crooner form across the pond drop! 1 Falling Dfl HIT LsiTndcr l Bob Mould District Line ANTIFour out of five stars Clockwise (from upper-left): Thomas Hampson, Bryn Terfel, Anna Netrebko and Susan Graham. SHOPPING FOR CD CLASSICS out his screamingly hilarious Largo al factotum ("Figaro! Figaro! Fiiiiiigaaaaarooooo!") on iTunes or YouTube. continued from Page 4 U tenero momento, Susan Graham. This is a compilation. We'll start with singers, tion of arias by Mozart and his because they're the most no- predecessor Gluck. Graham toriously difficult. is another American opera Tutto Mozart, Bryn Terfel. singer who managed to conTerfel is a Welsh opera singer, quer the world. This album widely acknowledged around is filled with completely rothe world as one of the finest mantic music, suited to Grabass-baritones of this genera- ham's mezzo-soprano voice. tion. In this album, which was The operas range from comic released during the celebra- to tragic to heroic, and they tions for Mozart's 250th birth- encompass some of the best day, Terfel sings a mixture of of both composers. Graham operatic and concert arias— weaves a spell: her voice is at and yes, there is a difference. once strong and passionate, It's a sublime mix of songs, and melancholy and sobbing. ranging from extremely well- She's fantastic. known pieces to lesser-known Symphonic Music: insertion arias (which could be Ludwig van Beethoven: 9 stuck into an opera if a singer Symphonien, conducted by wanted it to be, in place of one Herbert von Karajan. All nine of the songs he was supposed of Beethoven's symphonies, to sing). Terfel has a voice like recorded in 1963 and digitally sex and dark chocolate—pure remastered, to be as utterly fanseduction. He has been known tastic as they come. This is one to induce temporary paralysis of the incidences of a Karajan/ and flailing of the limbs. Deutsche Grammophon/BerSempre Libera and Opera lin Philharmonic collaboration, Arias, Anna Netrebko. Netreb- and it is a must for any collecko is a Russian Cinderella sto- tion. It goes without saying that ry: she was a cleaning lady be- all of Beethoven's symphonies fore she auditioned for a part are fantastic, and the recording in the Mariinsky company in of the Ninth—the Ode to Joy— St. Petersburg, Russia. These will knock you flat. two CDs display her vocal Mozart: The Great Piano power: as a soprano, Netrebko Concertos, Vol. 1, conducted is well equipped to sing the by Sir Neville Marriner. The gamut of arias, from Mozart to title says it all. This album inVerdi and beyond. Netrebko's cludes the 19th, 20th, 21st, 23rd voice is rich and full, and she and 24th piano concertos by is one of the greats. Mozart, the 20th being one of Operetta Arias, Thomas the most fantastic. This album Hampson. Thomas Hampson is good if you like piano music is gorgeous. Vocally, he is ut- and Mozart. terly sublime, but, perhaps, Martha Argerich Plays not as seductive as Terfel. He Chopin: The Legendary 1965 is also completely addicted Recording, Martha Angerich. to singing lieder—literally Once again, the title says it all. "songs" in German, but more Chopin wrote extensively for commonly defined in English the piano, and his composias "German Romantic music tions are utterly gorgeous. songs." Think Schubert, MahlNaturally, this is a small er and Schumann. Also an ac- sampling of the fantastic alcomplished opera star, Hamp- bums out there. It takes time son imparts a great sense of to make a collection, to learn fun into his music. One of which sorts of music you like America's leading baritones, best. Consider it an advenhe is a gem in any collec- ture. tion. It's also worth checking [e-mail] • Bitter End Climate of Fear Deathwish Inc./Malfunction Records Four our of five stars Screw arguably, Husker Dii IS the most under-appreciated rock band of the alternative movement, and frontman Bob Mould IS a musical prophet. The band's six fulllength releases between '83 and '87 practically drew up the blueprints for what rock music would become in the '90s. And, unlike most of those who cashed in on Husker Dii's style, Mould is still at it. District Line sees Mould jaunting back to the sugary pop of his '90s outfit Sugar ("Who Needs to Dream"), reveling in open-hearted folk ("Again and Again") and flirting with his most recent passion, electronica ("Shelter Me")—a different sonic breed than Husker Dii no doubt, but no less original. Lightspeed Champion Falling off the Lavender Bridge Domino Three out of five stars Imagine Conor Oberst as an eccentrically-fashioned, British, indie rock Rick James with a penchant for slide guitar leads, and you'll have something like Lightspeed Champion mastermind Devonte Hynes. Falling off the Lavender Bridge is an enjoyable alternative folk record—not surprisingly recorded by Saddle Creek's Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Azure Ray, Cursive)—that fails to break new ground but to no disappointment When the TAKE FIVE FOR CULTURE $6 continued from Page 4 believable acrobatics and aesthetically explosive scenery, this is not to be missed. Sat., Feb. 2 The Blue Man Group Energy Solutions Arena (301W. South Temple) 8 p.m. $49.50 to $89 The Manhattan-born, Vegasbred and internationally acclaimed Blue Man Group will grace Energy Solutions Arena this Saturday in its trademark explosion of bizarre musicianship, strange props and blinding laser lights. Just don't show up late or prepare to be heckled by the notorious crowd participation of the men in blue. >~:<m • • • s., Feb. 5 • ^!*&$v' SLC Film Center Pres^ ents: "Reserved to. Fight" % TTie Post Theatre (no S.: Fort Douglas Blvd.) 7 p.m. Free "Reserved to Fight" follows the Marines of Fox Company 2/23 as they return home to a society that cannot understand what they have been through in Iraq. Taking more than two years to film, this documentary gives, perhaps, "the strongest insight into the lives of those willing to give their lives for this country before, and after, wax. d.fietcher@ chronicle.utah.edu ? The young Texans of Bitter End are big New York hardcore fans, and it shows. Climate of Fear spits socio-political bullets on par with those of Cro-Mags1 Age of Quarrel with the same no-bulls*** approach to songwriting: no unnecessary melodies, no cheesy sing-a-longs, no mellowing out. "Terrified Eyes" provides a metallic break a la newer NYHC acts Merauder and Life of Agony with its wah-pedaled leads and intricate riffing executed perfectly. Climate of Fear is a refreshing reminder that genuine, hate-filled hardcore will never die. [e-mail] Makena Walsh REDUX WRITER Talib Kweli Jan. 31 Harry O's (427 Main Street, Park City) 8 p.m. $25 Brooklyn native Talib Kweli left dubious underground hip-hop label Rawkus Records in 2004 after the release of The Beautiful Struggle to found his own record company, Blacksmith—which would usher in the release of 2007's Eardrum. This was a natural move for the veteran Kweli (the Swahilian word for "true"), who has been spitting Afrocentric rhymes since Black Star's (a collaboration with fellow artist Mos Def) '98 debut. Liars Jan. 31 Urban Lounge (241 S. 500 East) 9p.m. I must confess, my partiality for Vinyl Williams stems in part from our shared geographic heritage—group front man Lionel Williams and I hail from the same small, Swiss locale. We've never met, but I've heard of Lionel before—it's common, small-town knowledge that his dad was the drummer for Air Supply (the Australian soft-rock duo of the '70s and '80s). Imagine my delight then, upon learning of Vinyl Williams' scheduled stop in Utah and the forthcoming release of the group's Talks In Her Sleep EP. I'll leave it to the group to describe its musical pathos: "We play music to play it live, and when we play it live we play it loud." Mike Relm Feb. 2 EnergySolutions Arena (301W. South Temple) 8 p.m. $79 to $349 Mike Relm wears a black suit and mixes turntablism with visual images plucked from the collective memory of 21st century American culture (think "Office Space," Charlie Brown, "Fight Club"). According to Wikipedia, there's actually a term for this: VJ-ing. During his distinguished career, Relm has shared tour bus and stage alike with such august hip-hop staples as Gift of Gab, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Lyrics Born. $12 Jason Isbell Chagrined for being lumped into New York's dance-punk scene, Liars have repeatedly duped fans and music critics alike by stylistic overhauls in each of their seven full-length albums. What else could be expected from the group who created, with the help of TV On The Radio's David Andrew Sitek, They Were Wrong, So We Drowned? This from the group so original they have their own instrument, an electric 12-string third bridge overtone zither created on request by Yuri Landman. Feb. 2 Paladium (615 N. 400 West) 9:30 p.m. *5 Alabama boy and former fifth member of alt-country heavyweights Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell left that group on "amicable" terms to strilce out on his own in 2007. The same year saw the release of his debut, Sirens of the Ditch, on New West Records—backed by a nation-wide tour with his own 400-Unit band. Isbell's rock-country hybrid record, in which he creates a new southern mythology, was supervised by Spooner Oldham, of Neil Young and Aretha Franklin notoriety. [e-mail] Vinyl Williams Jan. 31 Solid Ground Cafe (655 E. 9800 South, Sandy) 7 p.m.