Broad Ripple Random Ripplings
search menu
The news from Broad Ripple
Brought to you by The Broad Ripple Gazette
(Delivering the news since 2004, every two weeks)
Subscribe to Broad Ripple Random Ripplings
Brought to you by:
VirtualBroadRipple.com Broad Ripple collector pins EverythingBroadRipple.com

Everything Broad Ripple HomearrowRandom Ripplings Homearrow2006 04 07arrowColumn

back button return to index button next button
Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v03n07)
Rick On The Records - by Rick Zeigler
posted: Apr. 07, 2006

Rick on the Records header

JAMES HUNTER-People Gonna Talk

Across a variety of pop and soul confections, Sam Cooke had one of the mellowest, smoothest and most emotion-filled voices of the late fifties and early sixties. Ray Charles, his contemporary, was certainly his vocal equal, although with a grittier, more bluesy tone. James Hunter, a white boy from England, has somehow channeled both voices to perfection on his debut CD, People Gonna Talk. Recorded entirely live - and with no overdubs - at Toe Rag Studios in England, which is famed for its use of vintage analogue equipment, Hunter's debut is one of the most self-assured introductions of a new artist in recent memory. It's not just that his voice makes him sound like a Cooke/Charles progeny on the fourteen self-penned tracks presented: also in the mix are baritone and tenor saxes taking solo and background turns throughout, as well as delicate, almost subliminal string arrangements, both of which help to echo the era of fifties/sixties soul and blues performers. The added kicker, which propels the disc into its own unique territory, is that Hunter is an excellent electric guitar player - injecting short, stinging solos and embellishments throughout his tunes. Whether he is taking a funky soul tack, as on No Smoke Without Fire, a tougher r&b approach, as on Riot In My Heart, or giving us smooth pop-soul nuggets such as the title track, the production is flawless, his singing superb, and the music perfectly arranged and played. In short, this album will certainly be in my year-end top 10 list-and right now it stands at number one.
YEAH YEAH YEAHS-Show Your Bones

Springing out of the gate in 2003 with their debut album Fever To Tell, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs quickly became a phenomenon among those "in the know" in the rock world. With a supremely charismatic and confident frontwoman in Karen O singing or shrieking out her clever phrases in front of a slightly artier than usual rock/punk musical background, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs stood out from the pack both for their brashness and their talent. Oh, but how do you recapture that "band of the moment" feeling when it comes time for that difficult album number two? Wisely, Karen O and company turn their focus away from trying to recapture their "buzz band" status, and instead place it squarely on trying to outdo their previous work in terms of songwriting and arranging. And they succeed mightily. Opening with a simple drum beat and strummed acoustic guitars, first track Gold Lion signals their intentions immediately, providing us with both a catchy melody and "ooh oohs" as a hook. While the arrangements leave ample space for the guitar riffs, and drum beats to come to the fore, Karen O's lyrics and, as important, her delivery are still the main attraction of the band. She ignores the usual "come hither" or "I'm so vulnerable" approaches of female singers in rock in favor of a more aggressive tack, but on this album she works within the songs rather than placing herself on top or outside them. Tellingly, on Cheated Hearts, she sings, "Sometimes I Think I'm bigger than the sound" over and over, but what is impressive is that, on this album, she isn't, lending the "sometimes I think" phrase an element of self-doubt that, unlike on the band's debut effort, is present throughout this record. It is this lyrical and musical maturity that makes this album such a treat to hear, while also serving notice that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a band worth attending to over the long haul.



Rick Zeigler, along with his wife, Jeanne, owns Indy CD and Vinyl at 806 Broad Ripple Avenue. Back in his musician days, his band opened for the likes of U2, XTC, Gang Of Four, The Pretenders, Los Lobos, and, um, Flock Of Seagulls, among others. You can read all of Rick's reviews at www.indycdandvinyl.com. Email your music questions and comments to rick@BroadRippleGazette.com




rick@broadripplegazette.com
back button return to index button next button
Brought to you by:
BroadRippleHistory.com Broad Ripple collector pins EverythingBroadRipple.com
Brought to you by:
EverythingBroadRipple.com RandomRipplings.com Broad Ripple collector pins