Finger Salute Sets Right Tone For Latest From The Makers
The Makers “The Makers” Estrus Records
The bare-bones artwork on the Makers’ brand new LP - a black-and-white one-finger salute - sums up the Makers sentiments about everything around them. Thus, it serves a higher purpose than just mere shock value.
Let me explain. First, the Makers live in a town where they’re still not respected. (They sold out shows in San Francisco two years before they could do the same here.) Across the world, Makers clones (suit-donning garage punks) keep springing up in an attempt to cash in on the sound. Major labels won’t leave the band alone. And hipper-than-thou scenesters continue to regard the band as just a gimmick. So, the bird is a fitting reply.
Metaphorically speaking, this is also the attitude the Makers convey in the 16 songs on their eponymous third album, their 17th release overall. On tracks like “Angry Young Man,” “Please Kill Yourself,” “Kind That Kills” and “Getting Even,” the band comes to rumble, bearing bombastic drumming in place of brass knuckles and slashing guitar work and cutting vocals in place of switchblades and butterfly knives. It’s low-fi aggression at its best.
What’s even better about this record are the subtle musical improvements made by the Makers. On some past recordings, it’s difficult to distinguish one song from another. You could pair songs from their first album “Howl” with ones from the sophomore LP “All-Night Riot” and not tell much difference. This time, the Makers try and succeed at giving songs their own individual identity. Undoubtedly, producer Tim Kerr, a garage rock man himself, also had a lot to do with this.
Abundant Life Singers “I Go To The Rock” - Chapel Records
The Abundant Life Singers, an 11-piece vocal group, churns out 12 nicely arranged, flawlessly executed, emotionally affecting choral pieces on its debut album.
On this disc, the group interprets contemporary Christian music and gospel music originally written and recorded by genre luminaries Margaret Becker, Twila Paris and Steven Curtis Chapman. And its renditions of these songs are quite good.
Further, the lush string arrangements don’t derail the vocals, which are the emphasis. Instead, they make pleasant and vivid backdrops, letting the lyrics take the forefront.
National album reviews from Billboard
Mike Henderson “Edge Of Night” - Dead Reckoning
Henderson manages to sound at once world-weary and exuberant in a solid lineup of original material and country chestnuts.
Anybody with the nerve to cover “You’re So Square,” “Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin” and Ernest Tubb on the same album is well worth a listen.
Shawn “Thunder” Wallace “… And The Music Lives On …” - Schoolkids
Admirably polished album from Michigan-based 21-year-old reedman/keyboardist Shawn “Thunder” Wallace should help establish him as one of the mosttalented young composers around.
The highlights of what is actually his fourth album include the innocent, yearning melody of the title track, the lyrical, warm waltz of “My Father,” the careening, woozy blues of “Some Kind Of Blue,” the smooth, splendid hooks of “Dream Come True,” the lilting, poignant theme of “Hard Times,” and the sweet balladry of “An Amazon Waterfall.”
Two musical giants are covered, with a flute-driven version of Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” and an entertainingly altered take of Chopin’s Nocturne No. 5.
, DataTimes