CD Reviews
The CD Mafia
Little By Little...
Phonographic Records
Novelty is a bitch. From Harvey Danger's point of view, the summer of 1998 was probably pretty sweet. Their song "Flagpole Sitta" was inescapable, and suddenly all of North America championed them (or could at least recognise the singer's glasses). But then autumn came and, as usual, fucked everything up. A new disposable pop-rock single came along, and Harvey Danger found themselves once again on the brink of obscurity.
It's been five years since their fantastic sophomore album King James Version, and from the first lines of "Wine, Women, and Song" we find the band has almost completely abandoned their pop-rock social skewerings in favour of good, old-fashioned sincerity. Surprisingly, it suits them almost as snugly.
Whereas singer Sean Nelson used to snarkily croon, "This is the thrilling conversation you've been waiting for" over tidal waves of angular guitar, he now prefers prettier piano melodies and resigned lines like, "Hell is other people." The clever wordplay is still there, it's just now applied to substantial things, like love and war.
Of course, on one level this sucks. I liked the snotty Harvey Danger that had a huge vocabulary for calling bullshit. But I recognise that a band's got to mature. So go memorise King James Version first, and then give Little By Little... your full attention. It's excellent, in a mature sort of way. Maturity: not always a bitch.
- Mike Hingston
de nova
Capitol Records / EMI
The Redwalls consist of brothers Logan and Justin Baren, Andrew Langer, and Ben Greeno. Hailing from Chicago, de nova is their second full-length album and the first to be released on Capitol Records.
Featured on their album cover with shaggy black hair and vintage-looking suits, the Redwalls harken not only to '60s fashion, but also its rock and roll musical stylings. The album is comprised of 13 tunes that range from mellow to upbeat. The Redwalls clearly have a high level of ability and talent, with a sound reminiscent of the Beatles.
The Redwalls lyrical style varies, with some songs featuring well-developed narratives and others with shorter, more simplistic lines. "Glory of War" indicates a serious side to their music as they sing, "Let them all go down for nothing / And watch that blood keep coming / This is the glory of war." "Love Her" is one of the most entertaining songs on the album, and is sure to start a dance craze.
-- Julie Rankin