this note's for you
a tribute to
Neil Young
(Inbetweens
Records IRCD 004)
This
collection is the brainchild of the Dutch Neil Young
fan club, and hardcore enthusiasts will not be
disappointed by it's sheer volume - 37 covers of Neil
from all stages of his career! It kicks off with some
of it's most glorious moments within the first half:
stunning versions of Aurora (Treble
Spankers), Burned (Ron and the Splinters),
Down to the Wire (Matt Piucci), The Emporer
of Wyoming (Mushroom) and the album's highlight,
Sonya Hunter's heart-felt take on Expecting to
Fly, are all executed with style.
Apart from
Hunter's star turn, the eclectic will be impressed
with the inclusion of Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo and
his lo-fi rendition of Winterlong, although
some of the more obscure bands featured, such as
Germany's Hitchin' Post, will no doubt separate the
men from the boys. Occasionally Young's exceptionally
rare genius feels a little misunderstood, hear and
Richard McGrath playing Old Man, for
example, but that is surely inevitable in any project
of such dimensions and is balanced out nicely with
the inclusions of gems like Bobby Sutliff's charming,
stoned rendition of Don't Let it Bring You Down.
In it's magnitude alone this collection definitely
offers something for every Young lover.
A.G.
Flat Duo
Jets
Lucky Eye
(Outpost
Records)
Flat Duo
Jets' Lucky Eye is an 18-track slice of full-on
rock'n'roll. Always well received, having long since
achieved cult status over the past 14 years, the
critical gaze will no doubt be even more keenly
focused on this North Carolina duo with the arrival
of legendary producer Scott Litt giving this album
the benefit of his ears. Whilst the record has more
than it's share of tear-em-up rockabilly stomps, such
as it's title track, or the off-the-wall account of
rock 'n' roll aliens, Sharks Flyin' In,
Litt's influence is more evident on the slower, more
atmospheric numbers like Go This Way, Lonely Guy
or Hustle 'n ' Bustle, where his
imported brass and strings provide an extra
echo-drenched dimension that counters frontman Dexter
Romweber's Fat Elvis leanings perfectly.
The album's
highlights, though, must be it's half dozen or so
instrumental surf cuts: Romweber reveals himself to
be the bastard son of Dick Dale and Link Wray, whilst
he and drummer Crow manage to take in a little
country blues, not to mention Beethoven (see Ludwiggin'),
along the way for good measure. Just check out the
surf jazz of NY Studio 1959 or the demented Virginia
Surf to hear them stretch the boundaries of
instrumental workouts.Fancy a little rock 'n' roll
with your reverb? This is the album for you.
A.G.
