Ever wonder what the Creative Loafing music team listens to on Mondays to get us through the day? Here’s this week’s selections.
– Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Stay Gold (2010)
One of my favorite progressive fusion groups, Oklahoma’s JFJO purveys a distinctive style of avant-garde electro-psychedelic jazz, with pedals used to make the sounds issued from guitar and bass like the calls of exquisite birds, liquid and pure lines of exotic melody cutting through the mix. In the title track, piano notes chasing the warped pluckings of steel guitar, the key-hitting going from staccato insistent to Gershwin-style grandiose, the rhythm making a thunderous entrance at key climactic moments. I love these guys, but they rarely, if ever, come to Florida. Check out the full album stream at the band's website.
Gabe – Crowded House, Intriguer (2010)
The brand new release from the kings of melodic pop is by far one of their strongest releases to date. More adventurous and intricate than earlier works, this album finds lead singer & songwriter Neil Finn at his absolute creative peak. The production and arrangements on Intriguer are stellar too. (Although already released in the UK, Intriguer doesn't hit the US until July 13, 2010; the band plays Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater July 28.)
