Third time’s the charm, in more ways than one. (Speaking from a personal reviewer and sequel standpoint.) Sure, this review was delayed for a week, but perhaps it’s for the best. Things are often better when they simmer, right? (BBQ sauce, yes… boiling squirrels… perhaps not…)
I’m not really sure how I originally came across Hammock. I think it was through CDBaby.com (as usual), but it could just as easily been from a late night browsing session at Amazon or PasteMusic or one of the other music sites I frequent.
At any rate, being a huge fan of languid, shoegazer music such as Trespassers William, I was intrigued by what Hammock had to offer. I wasn’t disappointed. Ambient, post-rock, instrumental songs that are relaxing and mellow (possibly to a fault). This album is not for everyone. If long, drawn-out and rambling songs tend to annoy you rather than help you kick back, you might want to steer clear. But if you’re fed up with the conventional radio-friendly format and want to try something different, you might find you actually ENJOY this kind of stuff.
I usually decide an album is worth adding to my permanent collection if there are at least five songs to rip into MP3s. Out of the sixteen on the 70-minute album, Kenotic, I found nine that pass my aural, anal scrutiny. And that, my friends, ain’t bad at all.
Plus, I’m pleased to report that this album has been an educational experience as well, because I had to look up the word “Kenotic” so I wouldn’t feel like an idiot listening to an album with that title. And the definition? Read it here, and prepare to feel smarter…
Need more convincing? Read some reviews that plead their case even more effectively:
I don’t know how or when I first ran across this song, but I’m really, really glad I did. It encapsulates so much of what I long for in a classic downtempo song: pronounced orchestration, phat beats to bob to, and no profane hip-hop lyrics to screw it all up.
I listened to the other samples at iTunes Music Store, but they just didn’t come close to the beauty that is “Big Lost.”
Conclusion? Diplo’s crafted a great song to stick in my “white boy funky stuff” playlist, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with in the future.
Kevin
Browsing the exhaustive musical archives of CDbaby.com is a wide and varied experience. For the most part, I come away from it feeling somewhat hopeful for the future of music. Independent artists are quickly catching up with (and oftentimes overcoming) their radio-friendly counterparts, and it’s a wonderful thing.
Last week as I was trolling the pages I came across a group called “Chance for Rain.” I wasn’t incredibly gah-gah about their music, but the lead singer – Allie Moss – had one of the most incredible voices I’ve ever heard. Within seconds I was searching Google to see what other musical efforts she’s made. I wasn’t disappointed.
Her site, AllieMoss.com , has a few choice samples for listeners to indulge themselves in. Until she’s finished her full-length album (due out in the Fall?), these morsels are more than enough to tickle your ears. Allie’s voice is what music critics would refer to as “velvety.” You know, the kind that is so crystalline you would buy anything she sings, phone book, cereal box, church bulletin – whatever the case may be.
As the case may be, she did a killer rendition of Ernie’s “Rubber Duckie.” That song, and that song alone, was the clincher for me. (Of course, I might be a bit biased, considering I performed in an Air Jam contest in high school to this song…)
But I babble… her name is Allie Moss, and she’s made her mark. The only other singer who’s been able to hypnotize me with her pipes alone is Hem’s Sally Ellyson. (But that’s another review altogether…)
Kevin
A lot of people have asked me over the past few days what books I bought at the book fair in St. Louis, so I thought I’d go ahead and divulge the results of the hunt.
And the trophies (in no certain order) are:
Oxygen: Nature’s Most Important Dietary Supplement – Stephen R. Krauss
The Book of Affirmations – Lance Porter
Complete Guide to Acupuncture and Acupressure – Masaru Toguchi & Frank Z. Warren, M.D.
Descriptionary - A Thematic Dictionary – Marc McCutcheon
Your Miracle Brain – Jean Carper
The Power of Positive Thinking – Norman Vincent Peale
Power Thoughts – Achieve Your True Potential Through Power Thinking – Robert Schuller
Your Body’s Many Cries for Water – F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. (Excellent book)
Aha! 10 Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas – Jordan Ayan
Bottom Line’s Mind Boosting Secrets – Natural Supplements that Enhance Your Mind, Memory and Mood – Ray Sahelian, MD
And the fiction winners are:
Border Land – S. K. Epperson
Crota
Darker Than Night – Owl Goingback (Considering how good Crota was, I figured I’d if his other stuff is decent…)
Frankenstein – The Monster Wakes – Edited by Martin H. Greenberg
Impossible Places – Alan Dean Foster
Issac Asimov’s Werewolves (Sci-Fi and werewolves? Intriguing…)
Neanderthal – John Darnton (Decent read, bought to send to a friend of mine…)
Pharaoh Fantastic – Edited by Martin H. Greenberg
Sleeper – Steven Harriman (An okay read, but had a pivotal point in the middle of the novel that was absolutely jaw-dropping. And considering the amount of novels I’ve read, it takes a LOT to take me off guard and surprise me. Harriman did it…)
The Further Adventures of Batman, Volume 3; Featuring Catwoman – Edited by Martin Greenberg (I sold a copy on eBay a few years ago for a hefty price… figured I’d try it again…)
So there’s the lot. Unfortunately, there aren’t many more book fairs to attend this summer, so I’m gonna have to make do with what I’ve got for another… say… five months… 
Kevin