While Philadelphia's uncooperative weather patterns may not make it feel like summer, new music can always lighten your heart and put that summery bounce back in your step as you trudge through the wind tunnel. Damn the wind tunnel!
NEIL YOUNG LIVING WITH WAR 2.5 Stars
Apparently Neil Young is a critic of political machinations. Living With War, written in under two weeks, and streamed from his website before the release date, is Young's answer to a crumbling Bush administration. A far shout from his other political commentaries such as Ohio and Alabama, the record plays like the whiny kid who always complained on field trips outside, always too far from his lunchbox. Young over-utilizes distorted guitars and horns to get the listeners attention, largely forgoing his trademark harmonica, and a great deal of his subtext. Most of the tracks offer explicit criticism, though the song "Let's Impeach the President" does offer some Swift-esque ideas on political processes. On the whole, the record is disappointing; though it has some high points, the songs often lack imagination and Crazy Horse. However, it's still Neil-freakin-Young.
-Andrew Weitstock YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND 3 Stars
I have always been a sucker for a bunch of picker's, of which Yonder Mountain has plenty. From a surprisingly northern upbringing, the band brings a lot of foot stomp to a slumbering genre. Even for those not whole heartedly into bluegrass, which I can't believe describes anyone, there are tracks for you on this self titled release. Blistering banjo and string bass blend well with the psychedelic touches added by Beck, who produced the record. There is just the right amount of melancholy blended in to each track, making the plucked notes resonate long after they're gone. That said, the vocals on some songs are a delivered weakly, as each member trades lead vocals responsibilities. "Troubled Mind" and "Wind's on Fire" provided a broad range, going from feverish grass to subdued and forlorn front porch picking. Each track has its own personality, though the whinier songs tend to detract from the mood of the record as a whole.
-Andrew Weitstock THE STILLS WITHOUT FEATHERS 2 Stars
The Stills captured a wide audience with the 2003 release of Logic Will Break Your Heart, but may not be able to hold on to it. Its sophomore album Without Feathers is so lackluster that the band might have done well to heed its own advice, courtesy of track 3 on Logic: "Changes are No Good." Granted, the formula behind Logic's appeal was nothing new: the energetic drum beat and angst-ridden guitar work complemented Tim Fletcher's soulful voice so well that you could overlook any cliche lyrics. But the changes the band has made on Without Feathers, rather than showcasing their development, seems to lose most of what made them fun while preserving what didn't. The Stills have sworn off clashing cymbals, relying instead on lighter piano notes that are far too flat. The simple percussion patterns highlight rather than hide the repetitiveness of the lyrics, draining the songs of energy, and leaving you with no reason to really listen to the end of any given track. Songs like "Helicopters," and "Halo the Harpoon" are catchy, but struggle to overcome the general blandness of the whole album, exemplified by "In the End." Logic has faults, but it has energy. Withthout Feathers loses the energy, keeps the faults, and adds in a couple more.
-Hillary Smith
