Grade: A
Her Space Holiday The Young Machines
The final words spoken by Marc Bianchi on Her Space Holiday's last album, Manic Expressive, are, "for whatever reason, for the first time in my life, things may actually work out." These words are the capstone to an album that bursts with positive emotions of love and artistic fulfillment.
Unfortunately for Bianchi, the year following Manic Expressive was a turn for the worse, culminating in the death of his mother and a breakup with his girlfriend Keely, the muse for Manic Expressive.
The result is The Young Machines a bitterly honest album that details the pain of breakups, death, drug addiction and the pressure of the media spotlight. The band mixes indie-pop songwriting with glitchy electronic beats and huge string arrangements. The production quali stunning and the arrangements and extremely intricate. is a beautiful, surprise you
Grade: A
Peter Berard KJHK DJ 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tuesdays
Jourland 3.29.01
Joe Henry— Tiny Voices
Joe Henry has been making music for a long time, which should count for something. Henry's first album dropped in 1986. Tiny Voices marks record number eight for his catalogue. Through time Henry has worked with members of the Jayhawks, evolved from electric to acoustic and everywhere in between. More recently Henry worked to produce Solomon Burke's latest release.
With Tiny Voices one can almost smell the decayed hopes, dirty ash trays and stale beer of a jazz lounge. Henry incorporates several reed instruments, trumpets and keyboards that give all the songs a haunting desperation. The lyrics are marvelous, giving the album both credibility and filling out the lush jazz musical backdrop. Tiny Voices also explores the genres of funk, pop and blues that rounds out the albums sound. Check out Joe Henry for a musician that has truly polished his craft.
18
Grade: B-
— Brent Stevens
KJHK Host of "Focus"
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays