“What we do / Is what we do / It’s all the same / There’s nothing new.” Those are some of the lyrics from the track, “What We Do.” There is some truth to those lyrics and it is also an understatement.
Articles by Mike Elias
The Bad Plus joined by Wendy Lewis, For All I Care
Posted on June 18, 2010 Mike Elias
I remember working once at a music store with drummer Dave King and he said, “I have the worst taste in rock music.” Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far, Mr. King.
Dave King Trucking Company, June 12, 2010, Live at the Artists’ Quarter
Posted on June 13, 2010 Mike Elias
The band consists of bassist Adam Linz of Fat Kid Wednesdays, Eric Fratzke of Happy Apple on guitar, Brandon Wozniak of the Atlantis Quartet on saxophone, and of course, King, of Golden Valley is Now, Happy Apple, Bad Plus, Love Cars, Halloween Alaska, Gang Font and many, many more projects, as the drummer and a little strumming of the piano strings.
Toots & The Maytals, Flip & Twist
Posted on June 12, 2010 Mike Elias
Artist: Toots & The Maytals Title: Flip & Twist Label D&F Music 52722 Genre: Reggae I love Toots and I’ll buy everything he puts out, with or without the Maytals. But this one, I have some regrets. The saddening aspect of this is that this CD could’ve been great by employing a horn section. Instead, […]
Johnny Moeller, BlooGaLoo!
Posted on June 12, 2010 Mike Elias
Artist: Johnny Moeller Title: BlooGaLoo! Label: Severn Records 0049 Released: April 2010 Genre: Blues Johnny Moeller was billed as the next guitar phenom by club owner, Clifford Antone. Fifteen years later, with a history of live dates with Gary Primich, Darrel Nulisch, Doyle Bramhall II, LouAnn Barton, Guy Forsyth and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Moeller has […]
Morningwood, Diamonds & Studs
Posted on June 9, 2010 Mike Elias
There’s an identity crisis happening with this band. There is an obvious amount of production minutia to make the piece sound idiosyncratic. The most obvious is the arena rock power chords contrasting with simple single finger synth riffs and pop hooks. There is a youthful buoyancy in the female singer’s delivery with some sweet nonsense syllables, reminiscent of the sixties girl group sound
Broken Bells, Broken Bells
Posted on June 7, 2010 Mike Elias
Mercer went beyond his usual stylings in melody and voice, to distance himself from the Shins, to make Broken Bells as distinct project, a separate entity of its own.
Kings Go Forth, The Outsiders Are Back
Posted on June 6, 2010 Mike Elias
Artist: Kings Go Forth Title: The Outsiders Are Back Label: Luaka Bop 90075 Release Date: April 20, 2010 Genre: Neo-Soul Miss Sara from the KFAI’s Rockhouse pitched this disc to me with the preface, “These guys are out of Milwaukee. They’re supposed to be the next big thing to challenge Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings.” […]
Charlotte Gainsbourg, IRM
Posted on April 13, 2010 Mike Elias
The album title, IRM is the French equivalent to the medical MRI, giving point of reference to the head trauma Ms. Gainsbourg suffered during a recent skiing accident. The opening cut, “Master’s Hands” lands you in squarely in the hospital.
Marshall Crenshaw, Jaggedland
Posted on April 6, 2010 Mike Elias
Artist: Marshall Crenshaw Title: Jaggedland Label: 420 Records 17771, 2009 Genre: Pop / Power Pop Unofficially, rock and roll has been around for about 55 years. in different evolutions, from rockabilly to psychedelia, from soul to funk, punk to grunge, rap to hip-hop, it has been a music of youth and rebellion. Songs about cars, […]