Cloud Cult - Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus (2005)

As you may be able to guess from the title, this album is a little bit 'out-there'. However, it is 'out-there' in a really good way. I bought Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus back in April of this year, and have found myself returning to it constantly since then. It has worked its was into my psyche, planted itself under my skin, and has become one of my favourite records of 2006.
Cloud Cult is a collective of musicians, based around the eccentric song-writing talents of one Craig Minnowa. The music they make is playful, poignant, life-affirming, sad, boisterous, and pretty. Across the twenty-three tracks on this album, there is a quite a lot of genre-hopping, although it is quite safe to say that, for the most part, it is rooted in the kind of eccentric pop-rock made by the likes of The Flaming Lips and others. Comparisons are odious, however, as Cloud Cult have a sound that is all their own. Transistor Radio is, for me, one of the stand-out tracks on the album. It is a beautiful track that always reminds me of a Jonathan Safran Foer novel (particulary, Extremely Close And Incredibly Loud, which happens to be my favourite novel of 2006). Other favourites from the album include What Comes At The End and The Man Jumped Out The Window, although each and every song has a way of attaching itself to you.
As they release albums on their own label, Earthology Records (www.earthology.net), and have little or no marketing budget to speak of, it would be very easy for this album to slip between the cracks. However, people have been taking notice, because it is an album full of wonderful songs, created by people who truly care about their art. Plus, it is the sort of album that just makes you feel good. It would be well worth your time and money to seek Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus, you won't be disappointed with what he has to say.

Check Out: http://www.myspace.com/cloudcult

Tom Waits - Orphans [Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards] (2006)

If you are looking for an objective review of Tom Waits' latest 3-disc album, Orphans, I suggest that you stop reading and look elsewhere. In my humble opinion, Tom Waits is a musical genius, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and quite possibly, the coolest person on the planet. As I expected, Orphans serves to reinforce my opinion.

Tom Waits has had a long and varied recording career, dating back to his first release, Closing Time, in 1973. Orphans serves as an almost complete overview of his career, however, it does so using new (30) and rare (24) tracks, as opposed to a 'greatest-hits' collection of his previous album songs. Orphans is comprisedof a total of 54 tracks spread over 3 discs. Each of the 3 disc's titles (Brawler, Bawlers, Bastards), giving an indication of the type of Waits songs we will find on each.

Brawlers displays the more raucous, juke joint, blues stomp, rockin' side of Waits' multi-faceted musical persona. In addition to great new tracks, such as Lie To Me, LowDown and Bottom Of The World, there are also covers of The Ramones and bluesman Leadbelly. One of the most interesting tracks is the poignant Road To Piece, which uses the conflict between Israel and Palestine as its subject matter.

Bawlers reflects Waits' time as a blooze-soaked, love lorn, troubadour. I dare say that fans of 1970's Tom Waits who were unable to make the leap with him into his more experimental days, will be able to find solace in this disk. Long Way Home, which first appeared on the soundtrack of Big Bad Love and has since been covered by Norah Jones, is a touching song of devotion, as only Waits could pen. Bend Down The Branches and You Can Never Hold Back Spring are what Waits' wife (and creative partner) would call Grand Weepers, and set the mood of this disc early in the piece. Comprising twenty tracks, there are a number of gems on the Bawlers disc, of which Never Let Go and Waits' cover of Young At Heart are just two more.

Bastards is a particular treat! This disc will appeal to both long-time Waits fans, and those who are fans of left-off-centre, odd-ballism. The disc is comprised of both songs and a number of spoken word pieces. Some of the spoken word pieces are extremely touching, such as the Bukowski tale of a young, lonely man riding a bus through North Carolina (Nirvana); while some are rather disturbing in true Waitsian fashion (Army Ants, Children's Story). Much the same could be said of the songs. One of the songs I particular like, is Dog Door, which first appeard on Sparklehorse's 2001 album, It's A Wonderful Life. One of the other standout songs, is the bastradization of Disney's Heigh Ho. In Waits' hands, it doesn't sound so much seven dwarves, as diamond slaves in the Sierra Leone. Needless to say, it would frighten small children.

It is difficult to do justice to any Tom Waits release, particularly one of this excellence and breadth. The music is excellent, and the packaging of the limited edition release (with a 90+ page booklet) is outstanding, if for the rare photos alone. If you know and love Tom Waits, you need this album. If you are looking for an introduction, this is probably the best place to start. If you don't like Tom Waits, perhaps it is time to re-evaluate your stance.

Check Out: http://www.anti.com/catalog.php?id=69