-----------------------------------------Spins --------------------------------------- Wooden Nickel Eluveitie CD of the Week Origins BACKTRACKS Fans of both Celtic Chuck Berry Frost and Riverdance, re- San Francisco Dues (1971) joice! Swiss folk metallers Eluveitie have returned, What is there left to say delivering with Origins, about Chuck Berry? another set of tunes that The pioneer of today’s sound something like a rock n’ roll sound was able to mash-up of the Wacken take rhythm and blues, plug it Open Air festival and the in, play it loud and entertain music played at a Renais- kids of all races in the mid to sance fair. late 50s. While it’s obvious And although this album is $11.99 upon first listen that it’s something of a concept album , or at least an not his greatest, it still has a place in my heart as one of the first album organized around a theme, it can be a little difficult to discern eight-track tapes I ever bought with my own money. what’s going on. That’s largely because a good deal of the album is Opening with the sweet bluesy number, “Oh Louisiana,” Ber- in Gaulish, an ancient (and dead) Celtic language once spoken in the ry strums away a nice number about the Bayou State (Berry was born in St. Louis) that is complemented with a nice bass line. TWISTA area now occupied by France. While the word “Celtic” is most com- Dark Horse monly associated with the British Isles (witness the Boston Celtics), “Let’s Do Our Thing Together,” a snappy, guitar-driven track, it once constituted a family of language that extended into Europe’s is one of many Berry numbers with heavy sexual overtones. Rapper Twista is back with his ninth studio mainland. “Festival” sounds like a 1950s dance track, complete with a album, Dark Horse, and die-hard fans will be The choice of language is fitting, given that the concept behind vibrant piano and a nod to some of the greatest artists of our time, glad to know, despite its intriguing title, it’s no the album has something to do with Gaulish mythology. It’s difficult including Hendrix, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. All of these departure from Twista’s tried and true formula to pick up on a specific storyline, which has to do with nobles and bands and artists have Berry to thank for their sound – every one of gangsta-tough-meets-radio-friendly. Speaking deities and monsters, but the use of an indecipherable language also of them. of friendly, Dark Horse features cameos from adds something to the album’s mystique. And mystique is something “Bordeaux in My Pirough” also references the Bayou and has stars Wiz Khalifa and R. Kelly, among others. sorely needed with folk metal, since it often sounds like two distinct a funky pedal-steel guitar arrangement. Highlights include “The Dark Horse,” Devil’s styles of music playing independently of one another rather than as “Viva, Viva Rock and Roll,” with its British Invasion sound, Angel” and “Me and You.” Pick up your copy for $11.99 at any Wooden Nickel Music store. two parts of a larger whole. goes back to the mid 60s. That’s fitting, since Berry’s career was Both elements are delivered competently, although on either kept alive by The Beatles and the Stones who covered many of his count the band can sometimes sound like it’s on autopilot, deliver- early songs. TOP SELLERS @ ing the same refrains over and over. Eluveitie are at their best when “Lonely School Days” closes a fantastic record by the then-46 they provide variations on the theme. While most people interested year-old guitar great. Wooden Nickel in the band will come from the metal side of the spectrum, some of Fun Fact: Berry’s last studio album was released in 1979. He (Week ending 8/17/14) the better moments come when the folk side of the music has a more still plays occasionally in St. Louis and will be 88 in October. TW LW ARTIST/Album commanding presence, as it does on “Celtos.” (Dennis Donahue) Elsewhere, the band alternates the differing sides rather than 1 1 TOM PETTY Hypnotic Eye playing them simultaneously, moving back and forth between folk of the summer, Daniels belts in his rock n’ soul croon, “I was on and metal and creating some interesting song dynamics. The band 45th, I was half out of the bag / Yeah, I knew that you saw me; also employs a variety of vocals in song and speech. 2 – ACCEPT you laughed when I looked back,” later asking the question “Do you Blind Rage The metal voice is fairly consistent, delivered in a raspy, nearly wanna get understood?” death metal style growl, but otherwise male and female vocalists Listening to these songs, you can tell that Daniels, Eno, Rob 3 2 SPOON contribute to the songs, both in solos and in choruses. There are also Pope, Eric Harvey, and new keyboardist Alex Fischel (of Daniels’ They Want My Soul a number of spoken word passages, in English, which give the lis- side project, Divine Fits) are here to do one thing and one thing only: tener a few more hints as to the nature of the storyline, as well as write great hooks and get us moving. Before, it seemed Spoon were 4 3 WEIRD AL YANKOVIC adding to the overall aesthetic. (Ryan Smith) at the forefront of minimal experimentation with a healthy dose of Mandatory Fun Kinks royal pop to lessen the sting of Daniels’ Wire and Pixies lean- Spoon 5 – GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ings. There’s still those backwards whooshes and reverbed blasts that Awesome Mix Vol. 1 They Want My Soul come up from under the mix, but they don’t take precedence here. What takes precedence are songwriting and Daniels’ soulful growl. 6 6 TWISTA As soon as the open- “Outlier” is this tense, dance-y number with the soon-to-be clas- Dark Horse ing riff of “Rent I Pay” sic line, “And I remember when you walked out of Garden State / opens the new album from because you had taste, you had taste, you had no time to waste.” 7 7 ERIC CLAPTON & FRIENDS Spoon, you know you’re Whether that’s a knock on New Jersey or the Zach Braff flick, it The Breeze in for a hell of a ride. With doesn’t matter. It’s still snarky and beautiful. it’s Stones-y swagger and “They Want My Soul” has the pop giddiness of primo-era Hall 8 8 SHOOTER JENNINGS Britt Daniels’ vocals rip- and Oates, if The Jam had written “Kiss on My List.” There hasn’t Don’t Wait Up for George ping through the speakers been this much pop glee on a Spoon album since “You Got Yr Cherry like razor blades, it’s a pro- Bomb.” Then, their excellent cover of the Ann-Margret song “I Just 9 – ACE FREHLEY Space Invader nouncement that Daniels Don’t Understand” gets the Mike McCarthy treatment as he comes and Jim Eno have found in to mix this excellent, jaunty piano-driven track with some of Dan- 10 – IMOGEN HEAP that magic once again. Not iels’ best-sounding vocals. If you’re not aware, McCarthy produced Sparks that I think they ever lost the magic they nurtured and honed in Aus- all of Spoon’s albums up to Transference which was self-produced. tin, Texas all those years ago. They just needed to walk away and do The guy doesn’t get enough credit, in my opinion. I always thought something else for a bit (Eno producing other artists while Daniels he was to Spoon as Nigel Godrich was to Radiohead. Just my two played in Divine Fits) and come back with fresh ears. What their cents, folks. break has done is given us the best Spoon album since 2007’s Ga Ga “Let Me Be Mine” is longing, beautiful jangle rock at its finest, CheCk out our $5 Ga Ga Ga. while album closer “New York Kiss” sounds like modern dance floor They Want My Soul, Spoon’s newest long player since 2010’s pop. Big disco beat and great synths carry the track as Daniels sings misunderstood Transference, sounds like a band having a great time “There ain’t a thing I miss / Not like your New York kiss.” playing with each other. I don’t think the Spoon of 2010 could have Do I wanna get understood? Sure. But I’m happy with They Want ClAssiC Cd biNs written something so earnest and beautiful as “Inside Out,” a lilt- My Soul. Welcome back, Spoon. You’ve been missed. (John Hub- 3627 N. Clinton • 484-2451 ing pop track that is as good as anything you’ll hear on any album ner) 3422 N. Anthony • 484-3635 this year. “Time’s gone inside out / Time gets distorted when there’s Send two copies of new CD releases to 2305 E. Esterline Rd., 6427 W. Jefferson • 432-7651 intense gravity” Daniels sings, later declaring, “There’s intense grav- Columbia City, IN 46725. It is also helpful to send bio information, We Buy, Sell & Trade Used CDs, LPs & DVDs ity in you / I’m just your satellite” as synth strings carry us gently publicity photos and previous releases, if available. Only full-length, www.woodennickelmusicfortwayne.com through. On “Do You,” a good vibes song that should be be the song professionally produced CDs or EPs are accepted. 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