Kate Miller-Heidke - Liberty Bell

Kate Miller-Heidke - Liberty Bell
2011, Sony Music

Australian singer/songwriter KateMiller-Heidke is an enigma. Classically trained, Miller-Heidke can sing folkballads, electric dance tracks or classic opera arias with equal grace. Herrise to world-wide eminence was fueled by a viral video on YouTube for the song"Are You F###ing Kidding Me", but Miller-Heidke is a talentedsongwriter who doesn't let humor get in the way of great songwriting (and viceversa). Her quirky approach has been lauded around the world, and caught theear of Ben Folds, whom Miller-Heidke spent a large portion of 2010 opening for.Miller-Heidke recently returned with Liberty Bell, the follow-upto Curiouser.

Liberty Bell kicks off with "Are You Ready", an infectiouslittle tune that gets stuck in your noggin and bounces around for hours. It's adate night song that's sweet and quirky at the same time, and has been pickedup for a NYS Lot commercial. Don't let that impugn the song however; this is alegitimate pop hit - light, fluffy and a lot of fun. "The Devil's In TheDetails" is a distinct change of pace; a lyrically minimalist dance trackthat's novel ear candy. Miller Heidke's songwriting partner and husband KeirNuttall rips it up here with some intriguing guitar riffs and an energetic dancetrack that might just spawn its own dance. The pair keeps it simple on"Liberty Bell", an infectiously catchy and fun track that's danceablebut retains enough organic pop sound to make it a potential pop hit. The briefchorus is reminiscent of They Might Be Giants in sound, right down to theangular guitar work and simple lyrical scheme.

"The Tiger Inside Will Eat TheChild" is surprisingly bland dance-oriented pop, not the sort of materialyou'd expect from Miller-Heidke based on her previous releases. "HollowayPark" is cut from similar cloth, but Miller-Heidke recovers nicely with"Let Me Fade". While not her most engaging pure vocal performance,"Let Me Fade" is heartbreaking and powerful. The song is an apologyand goodbye from a parent who loved imperfectly and rests at death's doorstep.The simple, piano-based arrangement enhances the power of the song. "YouGot The World" is a catchy pop/rock number set to an incessant dance beat;a solid album track that might fit well on a movie soundtrack.

"Better In Spain" is agentle rumination on a slower pace of life. The vocal harmonies on the choruswill catch your ear first, but this quietly well-written tune is more likely togrow on you over time than grab your attention the first time through."Fatty Gets A Stylist" is an infectious novelty dance track that islikely to well in the clubs and would fare well in a Farrelly Brothers movie.The song is entertaining, and the vocal harmonies are stark and appealing, butfans of Miller-Heidke may feel as if this tune is below the level of hermusical talent. "The Flasher" under-uses Miller-Heidke's impressivevoice in another dance track sourced on loops and riffs. The arrangement iscatchy, and is likely to do well in the club set, but is bit inane aside fromthe dance beat. Liberty Bell closes with "The Plane WentDown", a somewhat obtuse and dramatic narrative on a plane crash in thefirst person. Miller-Heidke is impressive on vocals, and the arrangement iswell constructed, but the tune itself is likely to leave listeners scratchingtheir heads.

Kate Miller-Heidke is a singulartalent, as is her partner in crime Keir Nuttal. However it's not clear what themusical motivation is on Liberty Bell. Miller-Heidke's is a rare gem inthe world of pop music, and her quirky sense of humor and personality allowsMiller-Heidke to tackle traditional subjects in a non-traditional fashion. Herprevious album, Curiouser, was full of heart, wit and several instancesof pure pop magic. Those elements aren't exactly missing on Liberty Bell,but their clarity has been muddled by the striving for chart success. LibertyBell is a solid effort that leans a bit too heavily on sound and effect andnot enough on the natural musical talents of Miller-Heidke. This could havebeen so much more.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Kate Miller-Heidke at www.katemillerheidke.comor www.myspace.com/katemillerheidke.  Liberty Bell is released under Kate Miller-Heidke's name in the US. In Australia, the album is considered a side project for both Miller-Heidke and Nuttall, and is released under the band name Fatty Gets A Stylist.

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Forrest Day - Forrest Day

Forrest Day - Forrest Day
2011, Ninth Street Opus

Tragedy and comedy are the twoextremes borne of the chaos of life. Tragedy is often accompanied by mirth, andcomedy often hides sadness at its core. The juxtaposition of these two extremesoffers insight into the madness that roils all of us, and the beginning ofunderstanding. If one were to write an academic paper on Forrest Day, thismight be the opening paragraph, for Day seems to understand theinteroperability of tragedy, comedy and chaos better than most. His debutalbum, with his like-named five piece band, is a treatise on the hardships andhard-won victories of life, seen through the wisdom of knowing sadness andhumor, and wrapped in an innovative blend of hip-hop, rock, jazz and electronicmusical sounds.

Day writes, raps and sings withoutfilters, discussing his own struggles with mental illness and coping withday-to-day life in song. The best of his material sounds like an ingeniousblend of Was (Not Was), Beck, They Might Be Giants and Fatboy Slim, alternatingbetween talk-sing and full-singing styles in a voice that's pleasantlyimperfect. Day exposes the humor in awkward moments, like on the opening track"Sleepwalk". This catchy, talk/sing number is born of rhythmicmadness and a varied arrangement with a Middle Eastern flavor. It's very rareto find anything in pop music that even approaches unique, yet Forrest Day justmight have a claim here. "Hyperactive" is catchy and incessant, witha stream-of-conscious lyrical makeup that keeps pounding away at your brainwith ideas. The allegory of both message and sound intrigues. "RiverRat" is incredibly infectious. If there's a bonafide pop and dance hit onthe album, this is it. Day turns wryly observational on "Baby Shoe",before launching into the declarative anthem "Everybody’s F###ing With MyMind". This high energy romp simply adds to the fire, and is itselfanother potential hit.

Day turns more mellow as the albumprogresses, capturing a distinctive groove with "Without A Trace"that's part mystery show theme song and part Spanish Jazz/Hip-Hop hybrid.Perhaps not as vibrant or mind-bending as some of his other material, Daymanages to such in listeners here with a quietly compelling number that slowlyand stealthily grabs more and more of your attention. "The Grease"sounds like The B-52's playing a James Bond theme with a rap/spoken-word vocalbased in madness. The disjointed and disturbed lyrics are compelling, beckoningyou on if simply to see where Day will end up. "A$$holes" has a reggaeflavor and an entertaining take on unemployment. Day goes all-vocal on"Headfirst", a self-dissection on motivation and creation. The mellowvibe here offsets a nervous energy that runs through the arrangement, creatingan interesting bit of cognitive conflict in the process. Forrest Dayconcludes with "It's Just Me", sounding like a hybrid of classic1950's pop and hip-hop, dressed up with mariachi horns. The laid back vibe hereis appealing, and the lyrical resolution of the tragic comedy is perfectly crafted.

Forrest Day is a revelatory introduction to both the man and the band.The intellect, energy, inspiration and pure musical genius of the album is hardto define, and impossible to ignore. Forrest Day is one of the mostinnovative albums to be released thus far in 2011, a year to be remembered asthe the one in which the pop music world finally saw the Forrest for the trees.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Forrest Day at www.forrestday.com or www.myspace.com/forrestday.  Forrest Day drops on October 11, 2011. 

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CAKE - Showroom Of Compassion

CAKE – Showroom Of Compassion
2011, Upbeat Records

CAKE has always marched to the beat of their own drummer (both figuratively and literally).  Formed in 1991 in a sort of musical counter-revolution to the grunge movement, CAKE’s distinctive sound garnered them significant radio airplay during the 1990’s, and a loyal following that continues to this day.  On the cusp of their 20^th anniversary as a band, CAKE returns today with their sixth album, Showroom Of Compassion. 

CAKE kicks things off with a political edge on “Federal Funding”, decrying a culture where the politically connected take care of their own with wasteful spending.  “Long Time” is a relationship dissection that looks back on the decline of emotional contact with an almost academic air.  “Got To Move” and “What’s Now Is Now” both feel a bit bland, but Cake recovers nicely with the catchy, alt-pop feel of “Mustache Man (Wasted)”.  “Teenage Pregnancy” opens with a Beethoven-esque piano intro before morphing into a dark and conflicted slow rocker that’s highly intriguing.  “Sick Of You” has all the pizzazz and pop of CAKE’s early work.  “Easy To Crash” finds CAKE getting stuck in a bit of a rut, but “Bound Away” is a solid album track, and “The Winter” is among the band’s most subtle works to date.  “The Winter” is all about taking the next step after heartbreak; a ballad for moving on.  “Italian Guy” sounds a bit like something They Might Be Giants might come out with, and the opening lines of the melody sound a bit like a coffee commercial. 

CAKE continues to turn expectations upside down with Showroom Of Compassion.  The high energy of their early works has given way to a slightly more measured approach to songwriting, but the acerbic wit and musical elements that made CAKE alt-rock radio staples in the mid-1990’s are still there.  Overall, Showroom Of Compassion won’t be remembered as their most exciting work, but CAKE delivers a sort of quiet, consistent brand of alt-pop that should appeal to long-time fans and not too few new ones.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about CAKE at http://www.cakemusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/cake.  Showroom Of Compassion is available from Amazon.com as a CD, 180 Gram Red Vinyl LP or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.