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Album Reviews
Veteran Minneapolis Duo Score With Tuneful Soft Rock Gem!
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 01, 2010  |  0 comments

This slab of red vinyl got plopped on the turntable and listened to before the unnoticed press blurb stuffed into the gatefold jacket made returning it from where it came impossible.

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Album Reviews
Mobile Fidelity Reissues Classic Crenshaw
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  1 comments

Only in retrospect does the “high concept” of Marshall Crenshaw’s remarkable 1982 debut assert itself: marry infectious ‘50s and ‘60’s-like rock’n’roll tunes with the then modern chorus guitar effects popularized by The Police’s Andy Summers. Maybe that wasn’t the plan, but that’s sure what it sounds like! That, or what a vintage Seeburg or Wurlitzer juke box would sound like heard from outside of the malt shop teen hang out.

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Album Reviews
Roadmap to Brooklyn's Soul
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

The indie rocker Sufjan Stevens brings a surprising and delightful buoyancy and sense of wonderment to his orchestral suite commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its “Next Wave” Music Festival. The original debut performances were in November of 2007.

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Album Reviews
Bernie Grundman Cuts New In Utero
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

Version #1:

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Album Reviews
No Global Warming Here!
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

Icy cold vistas, shards of broken electronic glass, relentless thumping disco beats and possible mysteriously encrypted bits of dialogue may not sound like something that would be particularly inviting on a full range audio system, but somehow Fuck Buttons makes it so on this album of artificial mayhem and just plain noise.

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Album Reviews
The Original Al Kooper-Led Blood Sweat & Tears
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

The first Blood, Sweat and Tears group led by Al Kooper and including his former Blues Project bandmate Steve Katz, was the sophisticated assemblage that produced but one album. This one.

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Album Reviews
Nellie's Sweet Tribute to Doris Day
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

In the wake of Norah Jones’ smash debut Come Away With Me, Nellie McKay issued the Geoff Emerick produced double CD set Get Away From Me.

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Album Reviews
Mannered Musical Brilliance From Renaissance Man
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

Jim O’Rourke’s latest solo release, his first in nearly a decade, is a bold act in today’s dumbed down, sonically parched musical environment.

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Album Reviews
Legendary Stones Concert Gets Box Set Respect
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

Was this the greatest rock and roll concert recording ever as some suggest? Is it deserving of deluxe box set status? The producers of this ultra-sumptuous box obviously thought so!

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Album Reviews
Veteran Popsters Surf Melodic Wave
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

This album was issued back in 2008 but gets reviewed here because though the name Nada Surf has popped through my consciousness for years, I’d never heard them. I know, I can go online and listen and probably even steal all of their stuff for free but I’m not wired like that, so I actually went out and bought this album on vinyl without hearing a note.

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