Sound and Fury 3-01-2007

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Peter Bjorn and John Writer’s Block Almost Gold; February 2007

Ironically titled Writer’s Block, the third album of Swedish group Peter Bjorn and John is nothing less than one of the finest pop albums circulating the music scene right now. Their catchy melodic tunes are attributed to the trio’s integration of ’60s pop, new wave, Swedish pop/rock influences, and exceptional songwriting. The album’s standout track is “Young Folks,” which features a captivating boy/girl love duet set to infectious rhythms of bongos, maracas, and creepy whistling – a hauntingly nice contrast. Also included are the lyrically poetic and enchantingly rhythmical “Let’s Call It Off” and “Paris 2004” that keep you asking for more.  — Alyssa Perry

MV & EE with the Bummer Road Green Blues Ecstatic Peace; October 2006

Matt Valentine (the MV in “MV & EE”) invented the term “Free Folk,” and although the description has been adopted and rechristened “Freak Folk” to describe the current crop of folk revivalists, Green Blues is a collection of excellent tracks. Opener “East Mountain Joint” may be the most accessible song on the album, with its shimmering, electrified sound and earnest lyrics. The rest of the album is looser. “Canned Happiness” and “Mine All Troubled Blues” are standout rockers and the album concludes with two 10-minute-plus tracks, “Grassthighs” and “Solar Hil.” The songs offer an intimate peek inside the world of MV & EE, a group of American originals whose unique musical vision is as essential as it is misunderstood.  — Max Burke

Tyrese Alter Ego J-Records; December 2006

Famous for his commercial versatility, actor/model/writer/singer Tyrese’s third album to date is a duel-disc release. The first disc is an ode to Tyrese’s R&B roots, and his style of contemplative love jams continues to be strong. On the second disc of the album, Tyrese becomes his alter-ego, Black Ty, and introduces the world to his emcee skills. Black Ty’s smooth voice coupled with a few industry heavyweights– including Method Man – throws a new spin on the latest dance-club hip-hop music. Sadly, all the tracks off Black Ty sound quite similar, minus the love song “Turn Ya Out,” which opens with surprisingly likable shouts by none other than Lil’ Jon.  — Nicole de Ayora

Bright Eyes Four Winds Saddle Creek; March 2007

Four Winds continues Bright Eyes’s EP tradition, released just a month before the expected drop date of singer Conor Oberst’s full-length album, Cassadaga. With its solid hooks and poetic but restrained (finally!) lyrics, Oberst seems to have made a successful transition from emo boy wonder to the thoughtful folksinger the indie world has long suspected he would become. Only “Four Winds” – a down-home country ode to the stratification of the American West – will make it onto Cassadaga. And though guest artist M. Ward shows up Oberst on “Smoke without Fire,” the catchy “Reinvent the Wheel” and rambling, tortured “Cartoon Blues” deserve a listen of their own.  — Sarah Hammill

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