2009-11-25
Originally from New Orleans and now with its stakes firmly planted in New York, Afroskull has released it second album; its first in nine years. I knew I was going to like this from the moment I read the band name and title. Listening to it, I wasn't disappointed. This is jazzy, prog-rock involving complicated time signatures and a big horn section. Indeed, the horn section includes non other than Zappa alumnus Ronnie Cuber (also of Mingus Big Band fame). I can certainly hear both influences in this, though it's not all complicated instrumentals. There are a couple of vocal blue-neo-soul-funk pieces here in the tracks "Waste Management" and "Everything" as well. I like this entire thing, but if I were to pick favorites, I'd go with "Escape from Rome" and "The Curse". Rebecca RuthShawn Lee / Various
- Under the Sun
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
DESOTO RUST
Highway Gothic
WASHED OUT
Within and Without
My Brightest Diamond
Tear It Down
UMPHREYS MCGEE
Safety in Numbers
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