Sonic Slang

Trey Anastasio's Shine: Cuts Like a Knife, or Feels So Right?

Will the jam-rocker's bid for mainstream fame fall flat?

For all the experimentation of his former band Phish, maybe Trey Anastasio just wanted to be a rock star all along.

   

With the release last week of Anastasio's Shine, the former hippie-idol seems to be angling himself for more mainstream rock acceptance than many thought he would ever be interested in.

First, take the album itself. "Shine" drops the least jammy, most straight-ahead, conventional pop-rock record of the artist's career. Several of the tracks sound like possible radio hit singles. In fact the collection could sit comfortably next to fellow jam band-grad DMB's Stand Up on the record store shelf. (Though that disc royally blows, we mean that not as a criticism, but simply to illustrate his move away from the 7 minute jam, to the 4 minute single.)

Second, the album cover (above left), with Anastasio casting his axe skyward in a sort of rock celebration, says a great deal. Honestly, it's a cover more likely seen on, say, a Bryan Adams disc (above right) than his prog/art-rock work with Oysterhead.

Finally, between now and the New Year we will see Anastasio pimping Shine no less than four times on network television, covering all of the late-night talk shows, save Jimmy Kimmell.

OK, we've been a bit harsh.  This may all come off as criticism, but that's not our entire intention. We actually are enjoying this disc here at SS, and are certaintly happy to see a musician as talented and deserving a musician as Anastasio possibly getting some notoriety in the mainstream. But of course, not by virtue of dumbing it all down. When all is said and done, will Shine be looked back on as nothing more than his Waking Up the Neighbors?

If you've heard the disc, let us know what you think.

Morrissey Guitarist Goes Solo with Red Lightning

Long-time Morrissey guitarist and collaborator Alain Whyte has completed a solo project with his new band Red Lightning.  Though they have yet to sign with a label or set a release date, a handful of tour dates have been announced.

Having spent the last 15 years working with the Moz, including recent work on Morrissey's upcoming disc, Whyte was anxious to try something new, but has no plans of leaving his day job behind.

“Red Lightning came about simply because I wanted to write and record my own songs in a more stripped down fashion as a three-piece,” said Whyte. “Working with someone as talented as Morrissey for 15 years is something I wouldn't’t trade for the world.

Confirmed tour dates are as follows:

11/30 @ Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, Ca.
12/2 @ The Brigg, Huntington Beach, Ca.
12/4 @ House of Rock n Roll, El Paso, Tx.
12/6 @ MoMo’s, Austin, Tx.
12/7 @ Sidecar Pub, Houston, Tx.
12/8 @ Trees, Dallas, Tx.
12/9 @ VZD's, Oklahoma City, Ok.
12/10 @ The Venue, Tulsa, Ok.
12/13 @ Atomic Cantina, Albuquerque, Nm
12/15 @ Monte Vista Lounge, Flagstaff, Az.
12/16 @ Celebrity, Las Vegas, Nv.

Additional dates to be announced soon.

Tracks from the debut are available for streaming at the band's official website.

Flower 15 Opens Tomorrow in Chicago

Music booking juggernaut Flowerbooking are taking over Metro Chicago this week for their much-hyped Flower 15 music festival, marking their 15-year anniversary.

Beginning Tuesday (11/8), the six day event will showcase SS favorites Minus the Bear (Wed. at 7pm, above pictured) and a litany of other indie darlings including: Ted Leo + Pharmacists, Local H, These Arms are Snakes and a one-off reunion show for The Promise Ring.

Flowerbooking last held a similar festival in 2000, and the event raised over $18,000 for local charity P.L.A.Y. (Possibilities in Life: Art for Youth). This time around they hope to raise $50,000+ for the organization, which aims to "provide creative outlets for children and teens who have been exposed to abusive and violent environments."

For ticket information, check out their official website, or to preview music from the lineup, head over to the Flower 15 MySpace page.

Rogue Wave: Blogger's Delight

Rogue Wave-mania has hit the blog-o-sphere and SS couldn't be happier.  Descending Like Vultures is, sonically speaking, a huge step up from their first release, and it certainly has the bloggers a buzzin'. 

The hooks are hookier, the melodies more melodic and the whole package basically makes their debut disc, Out of the Shadow, sound like a rough demo by comparison.

Now now, we're never ones to assuming that big, glossy production values always equals better music. In this case it's just a happy coincidence.

Stream the whole thing, then tell us what you think.