CD Reviews for 08/16/10 – Ty Segall, The Russians
Compact Capsules
by Dan Ferguson
The Russians
Crashing the Party
Moontower Records
Bay State pop craftsmen Sam Janovitz offers up a highly engaging new album. Working under the name The Russians and pulling in an “A” team of Beantown band talent into his collective (Russ Chudnofsky, Mike Gent, Rob Dulaney, Pete Caldes), Janovitz on Crashing the Party offers 10 songs of studio tweaked, radio-ready bliss. Delicate, high reaching harmonies, molasses sweet guitars, and synth touches make for an overall dreamy vibe with rootsy flourishes. Consider it a singles going steady collection for the new millennium, not to mention a gem of an under-the-radar release. visit www.therussianembassy.com.
Ty Segal
Melted
Goner Records 58GONE
For all his sonic fury, it can be easy to lop off Bay Area guitarist Ty Segall as just another young punk with an ax. You’d only be cheating yourself. Segall’s latest for Memphis indie Goner Records called Melted is an album of multi-minute psychedelic pop mindblowers pluck with power and get this, melody! To quote Dave Alvin, “There are two types of folk music — quiet folk music and loud folk music.” Segal opts for the latter and displays serious chops and talent in the process. Visit www.goner-records.com.
(Dan Ferguson is a free-lance music writer and host of The Boudin Barndance, broadcast Thursday nights from 6 – 9 pm on WRIU-FM 90.3. He lives in Peace Dale and can be reached at [email protected].)
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