New English EP
AMBULANCE LTD
TVT
Critically hailed Brooklyn quartet Ambulance LTD continues its habit of issuing short releases and its penchant for increasingly mature pop, on this seven-track offering. In addition to demo versions of "Heavy Lifting" and "Sugar Pill" (both from the band's sole full-length, '94's LP) and an impressively rendered live version of Pink Floyd's "Fearless," New English showcases four songs that find the band shedding ever more of its early-'90s shoegaze influences. The slightly countrified title track, Eagles-meets-Steely Dan-esque "Arbuckle's Swan Song," self-consciously stylish "Country Gentleman" and coy, fey "Straight A's" all retain hints of Ambulance LTD's obsession with Britpop, but evince a decidedly more sophisticated demeanor. Only "Country Gentleman" falls short, but the rest make up for it while proving this young group has no intention of settling into a certain sound just yet. 3 stars Scott Harrell
After the Rain
IRMA THOMAS
Rounder
Although long hailed as a New Orleans goddess, Irma Thomas has transcended the musical tradition of her hometown. That's especially evident on After the Rain, an elegantly understated collection of R&B, blues, gospel and country — and mixtures thereof — that showcases Thomas' soulful, but not showy, voice. She's backed by Louisiana stalwarts Sonny Landreth, Stanton Moore, David Torkanowsy and others, under the straightforward and often subtle direction of veteran producer Scott Billington. A handful of the tunes, classic but relatively obscure, come up a bit lacking, especially "If You Knew How Much" and "These Honey Do's." The rain and tears imagery that threads through the lyrics comes off as poignant but not overcooked. This is not a post-Katrina statement album, and that's a good thing. 3.5 stars Eric Snider
Meaning and Mystery
DAVE DOUGLAS
Greenleaf
The streak continues. Ace trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas drops his third, entirely excellent, quintet album in as many years, this one perhaps hewing a bit closer to the post-Miles/Shorter stream of jazz than the prior two. The trumpeter and his fellow travelers again show their consummate telepathy (new tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin provides an invigorating voice). The band effortlessly flows from frenetic swing to limber funk to open, spacey sections. As usual, Douglas provides several complex and tasty melodies to light the fire under the soloists. And Uri Caine's exclusive use of the Fender Rhodes, a Douglas Quintet hallmark, adds ringing textures and a cool dash of retro-'70s feel. (www.greenleafmusic.com) 4 stars ES
Spanish Time
JUST A FIRE
Sickroom
This Chicago trio — featuring former members of indie faves June of 44 and Sweep The Leg Johnny — plays urgent, nicely chaotic post-punk that contains more rock 'n' roll boogie than one might expect. Shades of The MC5, Gang of Four, Fugazi and The Jesus Lizard are discernible in much of Spanish Time's dynamic, noisy fare, as is a certain sonic kinship with contemporaries like The Constantines and Medications. That intangible artiness that's characteristic of so many Chicago indie acts is present, too, but Just A Fire never lets poetry, pretense or experimentation dilute its raw power. (www.sickroomrecords.com) 3.5 stars SH
Élan Vital
PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES
Matador
The band doesn't get anywhere near the press of fellow glossy post-punkers Interpol or Franz Ferdinand, but Pretty Girls Make Graves' third album shows that it deserves it. Less one-dimensionally gloomy than the 'pol and less showy than Franz, the group has an imaginative take on its common sound. "Selling the Wind" puts an accordion to its best use since the Arcade Fire's Funeral; "Parade" is a snappy little ditty about telling your employer to fuck off; "Bullet Charm" is a lengthy closer with some light electronic squiggles on the edges. PGMG has got its sexy, hip-shaking sound down, and no, it isn't a revolution, but who gives a shit? 3.5 stars Cooper Lane Baker
Mobile
GLENN KOTCHE
Nonesuch
The idea of a 41-minute album of avant-garde percussion sounds boring as hell, even if it does come from the guy who mans the kit for Wilco. Despite my wariness, though, Kotche is actually able to pull it off. "Clapping Music Variations" riffs on Steve Reich with a melody from what sounds like a cowbell, while "Mobile Part 3" actually features some "When the Levee Breaks"-style power drumming. Kotche's extensive liner notes on each track help a lot, although I don't know if I really needed to know that at 1:12 of "Monkey Chant" there is an exchange between Ravana, the 10-headed king of the Rakshasas, and Sita, the wife of the seventh incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. 4 stars CLB
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2006.