There’s definately a spot for the new Crooked Fingers record on my best of 2008 list. Forfeit/Fortune sheds the freak folky Americana leanings of their past efforts in favor of a Blitzen Trapper type rock infused with Arcade Fire’s sense of drama (without their tiresome aura of self-importance) and tasteful doses of Latin and Eastern European flavor. Guests include Brian Kotzur (Silver Jews), Tom Hagerman (DeVotchKa) and Neko Case. This may be Eric Bachmann and his shifting brood’s best yet. Unfortunately I can’t bring myself to include the cover art (hey, we’re kid friendly ’round here)
Your Control – featuring Neko Case
Forfeit/Fortune is available in a variety of formats at the Croked Fingers Online Store.
The Eagles Of Death Metal’s skuzzy brand of 70’s boogie-disco-glam rock just gets better and their third record, Heart On, kicks serious ass and takes every name. Starting as a one-off side project of Queens Of The Stoneage frontman Josh Homme (who forgoes the guitar/lead vocalist thing to display his drum chops) with longtime pal Jesse Hughes, the Eagles have been going on & off for over ten years now. To call this their most polished effort to date isn’t saying much but tempering the supercharged Rolling Stones/T. Rex send-ups of yore with a bit of maturity is a welcome step forward.
More tunes and tour dates can be found on the Eagle’s myspace page.
Stephane Wrembel is a French guitarist based in Brooklyn who plays killer Django Reinhardt inspired acoustic jazz. For Gypsy Rumble, his first recording on local Amoeba Records, he’s augmented his regular trio with David Grisman, one of the greatest mandolin players around. Absolutely mind boggling musicianship and the most inspired playing I’ve heard from David in some time.
The Stephane Wrembel Trio with special guest David Grisman
Check out Stephane’s website for live dates (if you happen to find yourself in Brooklyn in the next few weeks) and, bizarrly, gypsy jazz rythm guitar tracks you can play along to.
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