Chris Connor Witchcraft Atlantic 1959

Chris Connor Witchcraft Atlantic 1959 CAT# SD-8032

Kansas City born jazz singer Chris Connor had a pretty impressive career that's largely forgotten. There's still a click of female jazz vocalist enthusiasts (all of whom would be familiar with Connor), but names like June Christy and Julie London tend to be the only ones you still see in print.

This album placed Connor with arranger Richard Wess who surrounded her with a big band and some string arrangements. It's a decent pairing that allowed her to retain her smokey torch style while embracing pop elements that aren't as obvious in her prior work.

Also, let's be honest, the cover is incredible. The font, the early Atlnatic logo and the colors throughout the picture of the eye. It's top-notch and yet another reason things like old LPs are infinitely cooler than CDs.

When Sunny Gets Blue

The Republic Tigers Keep Color Atlantic/Chop Shop 2008

The Republic Tigers Keep Color Atlantic/Chop Shop 2008 CAT #477884-1

Man, the inner lyric sheet has a photo of these guys looking like true fashion rockers.  They all have coats on and fantastic hairstyles.  They are gazing at you, super-serious; personally, I just want to laugh.  Like it's serious work playing rock n' roll in a pea-coat while a stylist does your hair.

But yeah, these cuties want you to take them serious.  Their hazy dream-pop sounds are very challenging and very indie-rock. This is smarter than anything else you could have on your shelf. Unless of course you've been paying attention, then you can just shelf this in favor of about millions other albums that give you the same effect.

I just get caught up on the "Buzz" that surrounded this band when "Buildings & Mountains" was being played on the radio.  The local station acted like it was hard to believe a band with Kansas City roots was really doing it. Like we just don't have the chops and didn't have anything going on in the 90's or help to define the emo scene in the 2000s.

Admidtly, the swirling keyboards and slow bass lines are "dreamy".  The tunes are catchy and throw in a lot of ideas that stream together well.  It's far better than other alterno-rockers disguised as indie-rockers such as the Killers or We Are Scientists or any band that heard Interpol and decided they could look cuter doing it.  And, it's better than all the garbage that blasted alternative radio in the wake of the Get Up Kids "Something to Write Home About" album.  I'd take this over handsome boy cry-alongs as sung by Fall Out Boy any day.  And, while the dream pop the Republic Tigers push isn't completely their own, its not as overplayed as the previously mentioned alternative scenes, so it makes for an occasional spin or good track on a mix tape.

ROCK VIDEO!!!

The Republic Tigers Merrymake It With Me Atlantic/Chop Shop 2011

The Republic Tigers Merrymake It With B/W Whale Fight Me Atlantic/Chop Shop 2011 CAT# 7-527379

Man, I think I've been a total dick about this band.  I could of swore they formed in KC as the Golden Republic and dropped the scene for Austin, TX to become the Republic Tigers and get noticed (although, getting noticed in that town is probably harder than it is here).  But, I'm checking things now that I've came across this ($2 sealed in Atlanta, GA...nice) and they claim Kansas City like no other.  But, seriously, been a total dick if that's the case.  When I heard NPR refer to the group as "majestic pop", and that this KC band was featured on soundtracks in TV, commercials, and movies, and when I heard the local alterno-rock station claim they were playing local when they spun a hit by the band, I cringed, wouldn't let myself believe they were local, they left, sold us out for the uber-hip city of Austin, TX.

But, like I said, I think I'm wrong on that.  I mean crap, the song "Merrymake It With Me" was mixed by Shiner/Season to Risk player, Paul Malinowski; that's pretty KC.  Pretty sure I just got suckered into some hipsters misinformed opinion of the band and let it became my own (looks like I'm the sell-out, here).  Either way, I'm still not impressed by the group's sound.  "Majestic Pop" isn't a bad term, it's very girl-friendly, indie-lite, pop music.  The songs are pleasant, they get you to hum along and it makes sense the band would be featured on the soundtracks of teen drama TV, it's all very clever background music.  Like Death Cab for Cutie or even Jimmy Eat World, catchy melodies and a lot going on in the background.  In fact, the band is so unoffensive my mom asked me why I didn't review them on this blog (thanks for reading, mom).  She likes them and that should tell you everything you need to know: Mom Rock.

Whale Fight @ the Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS

Abuela True Colors 7" Canvas Club 2014

Abuela True Colors Canvas Club 2014 CAT #ATT7-541076

So, I tried to touch on this while discussing the White Flight LP.  Abuela is Justin Roelfs, formly of the Anniversary and the creative force behind White Flight along with Evan Mast of Ratatat (a.k.a E. Vax).  Roelfs is now going by the "White Wizard."  Their song, "Sapa," has already been featured in a Lexus commercial, and along with the two songs here are available for download.

The two songs featured here are "True Colors" and "Honeybeez."  Right now, it's just kind of a teaser.  Both songs are interesting melting pots of post-modern sounds.  Neither is the stream of consciousness brilliant that the White Flight album was, but they're promising.  It's a bit more focused and a bit more sound friendly.  They have their tangents, but everything is kept in line.

If you search out the group on YouTube, you're going to see that a major focus will be placed on visuals and video.  Similar to what the Flaming Lips do now, but to a larger extent.  The two went to Peru I believe and shot an extensive amount of film.  It's all very ambitious, I just hope the music follows suit.

TRUE COLORS

Chris Connor I Miss You So Atlantic 1956

Chris Connor I Miss You So Atlantic 1956 Cat #8014

I'm a sucker for vocal jazz or what has become known as Torch Jazz.  Good news about that, I've been picking stuff up at thrift stores for a dollar.  Also good news, if they turn out to suck, they're usually worth more than you think, there's quite a scene for this stuff.

Mind you, I'm not an expert on it and in all actuality, I picked this particular LP not knowing what it was but, was intrigued by an all black Atlantic label.  Put it on, said "fuck, yes, I love this stuff."  Then I did some research.  To my surprise I discovered Chris Connor was a native of Kansas City and attended the University of Missouri to study music.  She would leave KC in 47 to achieve fame in New York.  In the early 50's, she caught on with Stan Kenton (born in Wichita) and worked as a vocalist with him.  That association and a hit sinlge led her to her first solo debut in 1953.

This isn't the most sought after LP of hers and for good reason.  It is vocal jazz, but it lacks any sort of punch, a very pop-orientated effort.  However, you do understand why Connor was able to sustain her career well into the 1970's.  Great voice and not over the top with it like other female singers of the time.  Cool jazz style, very much a female version of Chet Baker.  She restrained herself and doesn't go into absurd fits that are over the top with emotion.