CD Reviews

The Dø | Both Ways Open Jaws

Six Degrees Records (2011)

By MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | December 14, 2011

3.5 Stars

For people put off by the epic grandeur of Björk's recent Biophilia multimedia spectacle and longing for the song structures of Post and Homogenic, Both Ways Open Jaws will more than suffice. It's a sophomore effort that has the boy/girl French-Finnish duo kicking up the sonic peculiarities several notches since their acclaimed 2008 debut, A Mouthful, but retaining the kind of clarity that makes indie-pop so damn appealing in the first place. Much of it has to do with Olivia Merilahti (the Finn) and her celestial yet capricious vocals. She can sound wounded and full of pleading at times ("Too Insistent") and downright edgy and confident at others ("Slippery Slope"). Multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy (the Frenchman) is the out-there half of the Dø. He breaks out horns, fancy string arrangements, glockenspiel, a recorder, and elements of free jazz — sometimes all in one song. Unavoidable comparisons to the Icelandic princess and her early years aside, Both Ways Open Jaws sounds familiar while breaking new ground.

Trans Am | What Day Is It Tonight? Trans Am Live, 1993 - 2008
Trans Am are distillers of guilty pleasures, mixing fat AOR riffs with sleazy electronic accents and a propulsive attitude typically reserved for arcade soundtracks. What Day Is It Tonight? covers the DC-area band’s 20-year history with high-quality, high-energy live cuts taken from their many tours.
Various Artists | Where the Action Is: Los Angeles Nuggets 1965 - 1968
More than three years in the making, the most recent installment of Rhino's legendary archival garage-rock series offers an amazingly comprehensive excavation of an absurdly fertile scene.
Various Artists | Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966–1970
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The notion that regional musical flavors exist independently in American cities is quickly becoming an archaic truism, seeing as how the world really is a stage these days, at least in the digital sense.
Bearstronaut | Broken Handclaps
There's a distinct absence of wildlife or astronauts on Lowell electronica quartet Bearstronaut's latest release.
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Look, I get it: the last thing we need right now is yet another band who can be described as “sun-baked,” “reverb-soaked,” or even just “psychedelic.” But Avi Buffalo (I know! An animal name to boot!) are worth your attention for a few reasons.
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Review: Teengirl Fantasy | 7AM
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Review: Screaming Females | Castle Talk
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Review: Needy Visions | Needy Visions
The Needy Visions are all about fun, and goddamn do I wish I had their latest homonymous release at the beginning of summer.
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