Monday, December 11, 2006

Music of the Week - "We Three Kings" by the Roches

"Flat." That's the way my brother McGarren describes this trio of sisters from New Jersey. "It's a style," I say, but he's not convinced. So I leave it up to you to decide. Combining "church choir music, traditional Irish folk, rock, country, and pop," (as described on their own website), these sisters cook up unpredictably beautiful harmonies out of traditional Christmas fare. Like most Christmas collections, "We Three Kings" is an eclectic grouping of both the reverent and the rowdy. "Star of Wonder" certainly is a wonder of yearning and serenity, while "Frosty the Snowman" does nothing to hide the fact that New Jersey is alive, well, and in your face. This CD (or better yet LP if you can find it) may take some getting used to, but once you're hooked, you're hooked. Give it two good listens before making any snap judgments.

Yes, McGarren, these sisters are flat like Keira Knightley, and just as intoxicating.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Music of the Week

Sexy sexy sexy. And a mite mysterious. Emiliana Torrini's second album, Fisherman's Woman, offers a pleasant leap from the pseudo-Bjorkness of her debut sampling Love in the Time of Science. While "Sunny Road" stands the best chance of catching air time with its sweetly strong melody and Emiliana's impish voice, "Today Has Been Ok" captures the soul of the entire album in what I like to call the sugary female answer to The Helio Sequence's "Blood Bleeds." The whole set, laid over acoustic guitars and light percussion, is innocently seductive, if such a thing exists. Fisherman beware: your woman is about to get a lot of play.