ShareThisTHE SWELL SEASON
"Strict Joy" (Anti-)
3 1/2 stars
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the couple we fell for swiftly in the movie "Once," became real-life partners and then, sadly, split up since we last heard from them.
Thankfully, the musical partnership ensues with a follow-up to the Oscar-winning soundtrack that will satisfy the fans who were smitten by his weary Cat Stevens-like moan, her sweet soprano and their breathtaking balladry.
The Swell Season is really The Frames, Hansard's woefully overlooked Irish band, plus Irglova, so he has the upper hand, leading 10 of the 12 tracks. Needless to say, "Strict Joy" is not an upbeat affair, starting with a song, "Low Rising," that echoes Van Morrison's sparkling "Into the Mystic" as Hansard injects the album's overall hopeless theme of "there's no further for us to fall."
Much of the breakup is delivered in powerful, hushed tones, with the most beautiful moments being "In These Arms," where the anger of betrayal is disguised by a lilting melody, and Irglova's "I Have Loved You Wrong," a haunting lament a la Sinead O'Connor that fades into their gorgeous harmony.
The Frames love to build a song in layers and do in a number of places. "OK, I'm not what I promised you I would become," Hansard declares on "Rain," a song that swells into an intense orchestral production. "High Horses" has a similar majesty, like a folk-rock Radiohead. "Paper Cup," one of the few misses, lies there rather lifelessly.
Hansard has already proved himself a musical force and the young Irglova has stunning potential. Hopefully they'll realize they're stronger together. Here, they've created a truly classic breakup record.
MICHAEL BUBLE
'Crazy Love' (Reprise)
3 stars
It's 2009 and the top album on the charts for two weeks is a dapper young man doing his best Ol' Blue Eyes.
Are you kidding?
Of course, Buble couldn't carry Sinatra's bourbon bottle, but he has guts for trying and it's a step above a worn-out Rod Stewart or one of the American Idols. At his best, Buble has undeniable swagger, like on the surprisingly slammin' title track, the surprisingly swinging "Heartache Tonight" and his funky duet with Sharon Jones on "Baby (You've Got What it Takes)." There are touches of doo-wop, as well, on "Stardust" and "All I Do is Dream of You."
Although Buble keeps it pretty smooth, he sells the emotion on "At This Moment" and "You're Nobody Till Somebody." On the downside, his easy-listening version of "Crazy Love" pales to Van Morrison's and the set includes a few unoriginal originals: "Haven't Met You Yet," which sounds like Randy Newman's "Short People" crossed with Maroon 5, and "Hold On," a bid for a wedding dance standard.
BUILT TO SPILL
'There Is No Enemy'
(WEA/Reprise)
3 1/2 stars
So, the record is playing in a car full of young teenagers when one says, "I like this. Kinda sounds like Pink Floyd." "You listen to Pink Floyd?" I ask. "Yeah," he says, "my grandfather likes them."
Classic!
Anyway, he's not off base about "Oh Yeah," a pure Floydian moment on "There Is No Enemy," yet another expansive, aggressive guitar record from one of indie-rock's stalwarts. Front man Doug Martsch, of the high lonesome voice, seems to be wrestling some emotional demons here ("the first place my mind goes is where I never want to," he sings) and the result is passion-fueled lyrics to go with guitar jams that alternate between ferocious and beautifully atmospheric.
Simply stated: It's one of the best albums of the year.
KISS
'Sonic Boom' (Roadrunner)
2 1/2 stars
In its first record in 11 years, Kiss steps up to demonstrate that it's every bit as musically stunted as AC/DC. That's a good thing for Kiss fans, who aren't looking for their costume crusaders to come out sounding like a second stage band at the Mayhem Festival. Gene, Paul and the two other guys deliver big, dumb, cliche-ridden and overly familiar arena-rock spiced with lines like "I got the power in the hour/baby, feel my tower of power!"
It rarely slows down, there are some killer solos from Ace replacement Tommy Thayer and the only surprising moment is one portion of "Stand" where Kiss suddenly sounds like Simon & Garfunkel. What's up with that? Even if you don't like 11 new songs, for a mere 12 bucks at Wal-Mart you get a second disc of the classics with the volume cranked past "Alive" levels and a live DVD.
THE FLAMING LIPS
'Embryonic' (Warner Bros.)
3 stars
In another demonstration that the album refuses to die, The Flaming Lips battle with technology once again to create an alternative universe over 18 tracks that clatter noisily into each other. Rather than a go-to record for commercial singles like "Do You Realize?" this double LP is a delightfully weird and experimental space adventure, somewhat like the "Christmas on Mars" trip, that will have people who bought the vinyl rolling stuff in the gatefold. Amidst the swirl of trippy electronics, searing guitars and clanking beats, Wayne Coyne inserts splashes of pretty, soulful melody on songs like "Silver Trembling Hands" that pop up like flowers on the moon.
Reach Scott Mervis at smervis(at)post-gazette.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com
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