ART OF SONG
“Dart for My Sweetheart”
Archie Bronson Outfit
Derdang Derdang
2006 | Domino

Picture the dick-bag that enters a record store, searches for a bit then goes up to information asking the salesperson, “Yeah, uh..I was wondering if you guys have an album by the Artie Benson Trio?” Now picture me as that dick-bag. Kudos to the salesperson who found it! I hang my head in shame. Derdang Derdang is one of those rare instances where instinct pays off (I saw an ad for the album in MOJO and thought, “Yes, I will like this). The album meets, even exceeds expectation. One iTunes reviewer states, “this album rips off your face,” and I’d have to agree.

Sexual frustration meets sexual aggression on “Dart for My Sweetheart” which is one half mascara and furs, one half smeared lipstick and strangulation. The music holds no pretense – it is bare-boned, bloody-knuckled power. Thanks to the production of Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Kings of Leon) every instrument punches. “Dart for My Sweetheart” kicks off with Mark Cleveland’s mid-tempo percussion – a thick bass drum, hi-hat, and low tom – followed by Sam Windett’s dirty guitar riff – the driving force of the song – and then, along with his off-pitch vocals, rolls into a chorus worthy of anthem status. Lyrically, you find a man who may have gone too far in the end with his desire. But is it romance or violence?  It remains unclear.  Lyrics like, “Three, let me see what you got, what you’re made of, what you’re not,” and “Eleven, I know I’m not your favorite man,” retain their ambiguity. For fans of The Stooges and The Black Keys, this song is perfection.

by Justin Weingartner

www.archiebronsonoutfit.net

ART OF SONG
“Dart for My Sweetheart”
Archie Bronson Outfit
Derdang Derdang
2006 | Domino

Picture the dick-bag that enters a record store, searches for a bit then goes up to information asking the salesperson, “Yeah, uh..I was wondering if you guys have an album by the Artie Benson Trio?” Now picture me as that dick-bag. Kudos to the salesperson who found it! I hang my head in shame. Derdang Derdang is one of those rare instances where instinct pays off (I saw an ad for the album in MOJO and thought, “Yes, I will like this). The album meets, even exceeds expectation. One iTunes reviewer states, “this album rips off your face,” and I’d have to agree.

Sexual frustration meets sexual aggression on “Dart for My Sweetheart” which is one half mascara and furs, one half smeared lipstick and strangulation. The music holds no pretense – it is bare-boned, bloody-knuckled power. Thanks to the production of Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Kings of Leon) every instrument punches. “Dart for My Sweetheart” kicks off with Mark Cleveland’s mid-tempo percussion – a thick bass drum, hi-hat, and low tom – followed by Sam Windett’s dirty guitar riff – the driving force of the song – and then, along with his off-pitch vocals, rolls into a chorus worthy of anthem status. Lyrically, you find a man who may have gone too far in the end with his desire. But is it romance or violence?  It remains unclear.  Lyrics like, “Three, let me see what you got, what you’re made of, what you’re not,” and “Eleven, I know I’m not your favorite man,” retain their ambiguity. For fans of The Stooges and The Black Keys, this song is perfection.

by Justin Weingartner

www.archiebronsonoutfit.net

FRESH BAKED
Beyonce
I Am… Sasha Fierce
2008 | Sony BMG
C (I Am…) / B (Sasha Fierce)

“We thought outside of the box and did something different,” is what Beyonce’s father, Matthew Knowles said of her latest release I Am… Sasha Fierce. It’s a bit amazing to me that a two-disc collection is considered “different” according to pop music standards. But we live in a country where a majority of the population agreed Daniel Powter was doing something “different” when “Had a Bad Day” was released. Well, it was still shit. It just had a different smell to it. But there’s no use ranting, pop music has its place. *Sigh*
More on Beyonce | I Am… Sasha Fierce

FRESH BAKED
Beyonce
I Am… Sasha Fierce
2008 | Sony BMG
C (I Am…) / B (Sasha Fierce)

“We thought outside of the box and did something different,” is what Beyonce’s father, Matthew Knowles said of her latest release I Am… Sasha Fierce. It’s a bit amazing to me that a two-disc collection is considered “different” according to pop music standards. But we live in a country where a majority of the population agreed Daniel Powter was doing something “different” when “Had a Bad Day” was released. Well, it was still shit. It just had a different smell to it. But there’s no use ranting, pop music has its place. *Sigh*
More on Beyonce | I Am… Sasha Fierce

ART OF SONG
“Tomorrow on the Runway”
The Innocence Mission
Befriended
2003 | Badman Recording Co.

Couple Don and Karen Peris have recorded as the Innocence Mission sporadically since 1989 releasing only nine albums within two decades. Following the departure of decade-long drummer Matt Brown, the three piece took an even quieter, more intimate approach, giving the trio its own sound – sounding less like an opener for 10,000 Maniacs – with rich acoustic rhythms, minimal percussion and clean electric guitar smothered in reverb.
More on The Innocence Mission | “Tomorrow on the Runway”

ART OF SONG
“Tomorrow on the Runway”
The Innocence Mission
Befriended
2003 | Badman Recording Co.

Couple Don and Karen Peris have recorded as the Innocence Mission sporadically since 1989 releasing only nine albums within two decades. Following the departure of decade-long drummer Matt Brown, the three piece took an even quieter, more intimate approach, giving the trio its own sound – sounding less like an opener for 10,000 Maniacs – with rich acoustic rhythms, minimal percussion and clean electric guitar smothered in reverb.
More on The Innocence Mission | “Tomorrow on the Runway”

FRESH BAKED
Bon Iver
Blood Bank EP
2009 | Jagjagwar
C-

Bon Iver’s Blood Bank-EP is comprised of only four songs and feels like an extension from his previous release, 2008’s For Emma, Forever Ago. Granted it’s nice to hear other songs by Vernon but is it worth the going price of $10.98 for 16 minutes of music? An EP would have served well as an introduction to people unfamiliar with Vernon’s previous work (see DeYarmond Edison) prior to the release of For Emma, not after. It comes across like a conscious decision from the label to make money, especially since For Emma, Forever Ago gathered so much attention. Phew – got that off my chest.
More on Bon Iver | Blood Bank EP

FRESH BAKED
Bon Iver
Blood Bank EP
2009 | Jagjagwar
C-

Bon Iver’s Blood Bank-EP is comprised of only four songs and feels like an extension from his previous release, 2008’s For Emma, Forever Ago. Granted it’s nice to hear other songs by Vernon but is it worth the going price of $10.98 for 16 minutes of music? An EP would have served well as an introduction to people unfamiliar with Vernon’s previous work (see DeYarmond Edison) prior to the release of For Emma, not after. It comes across like a conscious decision from the label to make money, especially since For Emma, Forever Ago gathered so much attention. Phew – got that off my chest.
More on Bon Iver | Blood Bank EP