Hangar 18Sweep the Leg*1/2
If you slowed down the Beastie Boys, added a bit of Little Brother (sans humor), and set it all to a simple, robotic beat, you’d get Sweep the Leg by Hangar 18. Having performed with some of the more solid hip-hop artists out there, like Mos Def and Aesop Rock, you might expect something of the same caliber. Don’t hold your breath.
It’s not that Hangar 18 sounds horrible. On the contrary, their sound is actually mildly interesting. They just don’t have anything to say. Even the mainstream hip-hoppers are starting to catch on to the fact that their audience is getting tired of the usual: “My music is the greatest, because I say so” shtick. The worst part: these rappers seem sincere, which is too bad. Unless they’re joking, this is just a lower budget version of all the other hip-hop out there, and I’m not holding my breath for the punch line.
Pattern is MovementAll Together***1/2
One could call Andrew Thiboldeaux and Chris Ward, a.k.a Pattern is Movement, a dynamic duo. Don’t expect any capes or masks, though. Do expect to be shaken up. Their latest album, All Together, is a great listen to and impossible to pin down.
They’re what you would expect if Pinback, Electric President, Beirut, Cornelius, Yacht and Frank Sinatra got together and started a traveling circus. Every now and then a bit of traitorous elevator sound tries to weave its way through a song, but it’s quickly stomped out-no match for the hypnotizing vocals and intriguing instrumentals. The strongest influence that comes through is definitely Beirut, especially in tracks like “Tragedy” and “Right Away”. With the almost operatic, choir-like vocals, and insistently mathematical music, All Together is definitely worth checking out.
Jason ColletHere’s to Being Here*
Here’s to Being Here, the latest release from Jason Collet, sounds like what would happen if Sheryl Crow’s back up band kidnapped Tom Petty, hijacked the recording studio and forced him to sing along to their mellow adult contemporary.
In other words, Collet’s vocals have the twang and lack of enunciation of Petty in his prime, without the classic rock or energy. And he has all of the mild folk-country guitar plucking of Sheryl Crow, without the feminine perspective. Basically, Here’s to Being Here is boring.
It is the kind of music that could happily play for hours, inspiring nothing but the question: “Is this the new Tom Petty?” No, this isn’t the new Tom Petty. It’s the crappy new Jason Collet album.
-All reviews by Marcella Barnes