Harmonic Convergence
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Page 17 In Tune The Daily News THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2008 Keepers include “Yr Mangled Heart,” “Standing in the Way of Control,” “Listen Up” and “Are You That Somebody?” — songs that charted in the United Kingdom. IT Harmonic Gossip remain under the radar for most American audiences, but this enjoyable set might help raise their profile in their homeland. (JSJS) YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, “Mountain Tracks: Volume 5” EVERCLEAR, “The Vegas Years” (Frog Pad) ✰✰✰✰ — Like their predeces- convergence (Capitol) ✰✰✰ — Alternative rockers sors at the top of the influential Colorado Everclear peaked in popularity more than jamgrass scene — the late and sorely decade ago with their superb breakthrough lamented String Cheese Incident — Yonder album “So Much for the Afterglow” coming Mountain haven’t flourished in the record- on the heels of the equally good “Sparkle ing studio. But no matter. Like most bands of their ilk, the and Fade.” And though they’ve contin- Yonder Mountaineers aren’t in the game because they covet ued to record, churning out four albums heavy rotation on radio playlists. Live is where they thrive. between 2000 and 2006, the Portland, Ore.-based band hasn’t And that’s why there is “Mountain Tracks,” a series that, matched its mid-’90s success. through its first four volumes, took the best of YMSB’s con- Frontman Art Alexakis and his mates are taking a different cert pieces from the previous year or so and wove them into a approach with “The Vegas Years,” an album of cover tunes. seamless compilation approximating a typical live set. “Volume Included are a pair of previously unreleased tracks — a so-so 5” expands that formula to include a disc of show standouts reading of Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl” and a killer rendition of from 2004-07, and a second disc that reprises the much-sought Paul Revere & the Raiders’ “Kicks” — and 13 studio and con- after July 21, 2007, show from the Lifestyle Communities cert performances. Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. Among the more enjoyable efforts are covers of Thin Lizzy Both discs sizzle with YMSB’s distinct take on the tradi- (“The Boys Are Back in Town”), Yaz (“Bad Connection”), tional, using their core instruments — guitar, banjo, mandolin Tom Petty (“American Girl”) and Neil Young (“Pocahontas”). and bass — to plot a fairly straight acoustic course before veer- Less effective are Everclear’s readings of the Go-Go’s (“Our ing off onto side roads that visit funk, folk, jazz, rock and any Lips Are Sealed”), Van Morrison (“Brown Eyed Girl”) and number of permutations involving all of the above. their ode to campy television (revamped theme songs for Which is why you’ll find age-old standards such as “Don’t “Land of the Lost” and “Speed Racer”) weren’t necessary. (JSJS) Let Your Deal Go Down” right beside bassist Ben Kaufmann’s FRANK SINATRA, “Sinatra At the “Things You’re Selling,” and Bill Monroe’s “Kentucky Movies” (Capitol) ✰✰✰✰ — Though Mandolin” following a suite of originals by mandolinist Jeff he’s been dead since 1998, Frank Sinatra Austin, banjo player Dave Johnston, Kaufmann and guitarist remains The Man. He was, is and always will Adam Aijala. be the standard by which all other crooners With some two hours of music to sift through, there is some- are judged. thing for everyone’s tastes here. (DF) There’s nothing on “Sinatra At the LEONA LEWIS, “Spirit” (J Records) Movies” that we haven’t heard before — it’s ✰✰✰ — Anointed the “next big thing” by a collection of 20 tunes he contributed to films over the years none other than “American Idol” resident Bluegrass supergroup — but, as always, it’s a delight to listen to Ol’ Blue Eyes do his grump Simon Cowell, 23-year-old London- thing. born singer Leona Lewis is being groomed The album underscores the knack Sinatra had for mak- for stardom. She won “The X Factor,” Longview get together again ing good songs such as “(Love Is) The Tender Trap” and Britain’s “Idol” equivalent, by a landslide “All of Me” great, and turning great songs such as “The in December 2006 and promptly landed a Lady Is a Tramp” and “Chicago” into classics. Perhaps even record deal. for another lesson in high and more impressive was how Sinatra could make even pedestrian “Spirit” was released to great acclaim in England last year tunes like “From Here to Eternity” and “Three Coins in the — soaring to the top of the charts in record time — and Lewis Fountain” into something you’ll enjoying listening to almost in is trying to match that success on these shores. Her debut sin- lonesome ‘physics’ spite of yourself. gle, “Bleeding Love,” has earned her comparisons to Whitney Additional standouts on “Sinatra At the Movies” include “All Houston and Mariah Carey, though it remains to be seen if LONGVIEW, “Deep The instrumental the Way,” “Young At Heart,” “High Hopes,” “I Love Paris” U.S. audiences will embrace her. and “I Couldn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night.” There’s not a bad in the Mountains” muscle represented here performance in the bunch — did the Chairman of the Board J Records wisely revamped the track list on “Spirit,” add- ✰✰✰✰ ing some up-tempo R&B tunes in place of some ballads that (Rounder) is obviously formidable ever recordrecord a cclunker?lunker? — tthoughhough II’d’d hhaveave ppreferredreferred ffewerewer bbal-al- appear on the original incarnation. Though Lewis has the — Almost 14 years — as evidenced by the lads. This is a worthy addition to your collection — especially if chops to sing the slow stuff, the vocal histrionics on songs after a one-shot all-star lightning lick-trad- you’re a fan. (JS) like “Footprints in the Sand” make her sound like a Mariah/ gathering to celebrate ing and break-taking THE TOASTERS, “CBGB OMFUG Whitney/Celine Dion wannabe. Rounder Record’s 25th of “Cotton Eyed Joe” Masters: The Bowery Collection” (MVD Among the better entries on “Spirit” are “Forgive Me,” Audio) ✰✰1⁄2 — The Toasters helped pave an inspired cover of Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I anniversary first brought — but it is their mastery the way for future American ska bands after Saw Your Face” and “Misses Glass.” This is a solid first effort, them together, the mem- of the genre’s trademark emerging from the New York City under- but the jury remains out on whether Leona Lewis has what it bers of Longview have three-part harmony that ground scene in the mid-1980s. Fronted by takes to be the next international diva. Or even the next Kelly reconvened for their sets Longview apart from British expat Rob Hingley, the only original Clarkson. (JeffreyJeffrey SiskSisk) fourth experiment in the pack. “Deep in the member to stick with the band throughout JAMES McMURTRY, “Just Us Kids” the years, the group has continued to tour and make albums. what mandolinist Don Mountains” has Rigsby, “CBGB OMFUG Masters: The Bowery Collection” was (Lightning Rod Records) ✰✰✰✰ Rigsby calls “bluegrass — Texas singer-songwriter James McMurtry King and Reid taking recorded during the Toasters’ June 28, 2002, performance at is mad as hell and he’s not gonna take physics.” Which, he turns singing lead, and the late Hilly Kristal’s iconic New York music club. It was the it any more. At least that’s the impres- explains, is based on one group’s first performance at CBGB’s since 1988 and surely everybody else gets at won’t be remembered as one of their best. sion McMurtry gives on “Just Us Kids,” basic tenet: “If I can’t least one shot at a har- his ninth — and arguably most political While the group’s signature brass and saxophone sections are make them sound good, mony part. in fine form here, Hingley’s vocals are muddy and his singing — record. they’re not going to be His disdain for President Bush and the Iraq War are evident King, whose day job is is too often off-key. There are a few enjoyable moments — in “God Bless America (Pat MacDonald Must Die)” and the able to make me sound fronting his own James “Shocker,” “Mona,” “Can I Get Another?” — but not enough catchy “Cheney’s Toy,” while “Hurricane Party” recounts the good. That’s just one of King Band, gets the to make this worth adding to your iPod. (JSJS) devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Yet McMurtry is at the laws — the whole is most time with the lead THE MOONEY SUZUKI, “CBGB his best weaving distinctly American tales such as “Ruby and no greater than the sum OMFUG Masters: The Bowery mic, and makes the best 1 Carlos,” the outstanding title track and “Fire Line Road.” of its parts.” Collection” (MVD Audio) ✰✰✰ ⁄2 — Known more for his songwriting than his singing, McMurtry of it on mid-tempo bal- New York garage punk quartet the Mooney has honed his gruff drawl over the years. It’s not the best voice Despite the depar- Suzuki never got as big as I thought they ture of Dudley Connell, lads “Don’t Leave Me you’ll ever hear, but it melds perfectly with the material. And Alone,” “Baptism of would. The quartet exploded onto the really, that’s the important thing. (JSJS) Joe Mullins and Glen Jesse Taylor,” “I Love scene in 2001 with sophomore full-length LISSA SCHNECKENBURGER, Duncan, Longview’s “Electric Sweat,” and upped their profile a “Song” (Footprint Records) ✰✰✰ — sum still represents You Yet,” and the up- year later by contributing the title track to the Jack Black film Fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger taps into her tempo chugger “Georgia “School of Rock.” some pretty power- Though their frenzied live shows never translated into big New England roots on “Song,” a collection ful parts.