Queer punker keeps it fresh, dirty
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| PUNK PIONEER: With the exception of an occasional Vocoder, Mould stickes to basic rock structures. |
Bob Mould
"Life and Times"
Anti Records
Standing in Bob Mould’s light is probably not the best idea. The queer punker might win a trophy for the long-winded title of his newest single: "I’m Sorry, Baby, You Can’t Stand in My Light Anymore." But the catchy song isn’t the best of the bunch.
Life and Times" does what Mould does best — it rocks. On tracks like "MM 17" and "Argos," Mould’s guitars create that signature big-sounding blaze. But toying with newfangled Vocoders hits the wrong notes.
However, the 48-year-old legend is as self-assured as ever — and dirty. On "Bad Blood Better," he growls, "The taste of last night’s sex still in my mouth."
Yeah, daddy.
Grade: B
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Indigo Girls
"Poseidon and the Bitter Bug"]
Vanguard Records
Even though they foster solo projects, there’s still nothing quite like the rich harmonies of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray.
They’re in full force on this major-label departure, a beautifully nuanced 10-song set that showcases some head-lingering lyrics.
With no-frills production from Mitchell Froom, who worked on the girls’ rock-heavy "Despite Our Differences," the new disc features emo lyrics, like on "Fleet of Hope" — "We both have caught onto something by the end of the day / but mostly we think about the one that got away."
The dulcet groove on "Digging for Your Dreams" is a welcome meander. And Ray trades in her hot-blooded rocker delivery and shows her softer side on "Sugar Tongue."
This "bug" is worth catching.
Grade: B+
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JACKO DRAG — CAN’T BEAT IT
Bust out the white glove, nose band-aids and courtroom pajama bottoms. On Friday, Michael Jackson tribute act Who’s Bad plays House of Blues.
Atlanta-based singer Joseph Bell — a former Toni Braxton backup singer— has all the moon-walking moves and can nail Jacko’s signature falsetto. On top of covering the post-"Off the Wall" oeuvre, Bell dips into the Jackson 5 songbook, too.
The set list includes: "ABC," "Blame it on the Boogie," "Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough," "Jam," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Remember the Time," "Rock With You," "Shake Your Body Down," "Wanna Be Startin’ Something," "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Working Day and Night."
Yes, it sounds cheesy. But damn, those songs are great.
House of Blues, 2200 N Lamar St. April 10 at 7 p.m. $13.50. 214-978-2583.
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STRANGE BOY BAND
If they weren’t so tastefully raw, you’d think Texas band The Strange Boys were just a bunch of cute, porcelain-skinned Backstreet wannabes.
There’s almost nothing slick about this foursome. If Bob Dylan and Brian Jones made babies, they’d crank out Strange Boys’ nifty brand of throwback rhythms and go-go guitars, They sound like America’s best undiscovered garage band
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition April 3, 2009.