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Spin This: CD Reviews
CD reviews from The Tampa Tribune
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Published: July 2, 2009
BRITISH SEA POWER:
MAN OF ARAN
(ROUGH TRADE) **
"Man of Aran" is a 1934 pseudo-documentary (scenes were staged) about life on Ireland's Aran Islands. For the film's 2009 DVD issue, British Sea Power was commissioned to write and record a new soundtrack.
In the film, life is depicted as gray, cold, harsh and wet, and BSP certainly gets the gray and cold part right. It's a a come-down after 2008's rousing "Do You Like Rock Music." And while although it's likely appropriate as a score, you'll need the DVD for that. On its own, the music of "Man of Aran" isn't compelling enough to recommend.
Download this: "The North Sound"
Curtis Ross
LOS STRAITJACKETS:
FURTHER ADVENTURES OF LOS STRAITJACKETS
(YEPROC)
Next time you are driving over the Clearwater Causeway, pop "Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets" into your CD player. Roll down the windows, step on the gas, turn the volume up and try, just try not to feel like this masked band of musical throwbacks from Nashville didn't have this scenic stretch of road in mind when they hit the studio.
This 13-song collection — the instrumental band's 13th full-length album — has all the familiar twangy surfiness of previous efforts, evoking the best of the Beach Boys, Dick Dale and Jan and Dean without sounding clichéd or played. Of course, raw, rockin' power will do that.
One more thing to think about when cruising around listening to "Further Adventures:": Speeding tickets are expensive.
Download this: "Kaptain Krunch"
Howard Altman
BRAD PAISLEY:
AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT
(ARISTA)
In tough economic times, every download is an investment.
The fleet-fingered guitarist with the aw-shucks vocals gives fans a return on their dollar. And Paisley, who plays Tampa's Ford Amphitheatre in October, is nothing if not prolific. (His last album came out in November.)
This time, Paisley keeps the lightning-quick picking to a minimum on his infectious tunes, opting for a more thoughtful approach on songs like "Then" and "No."
Download this: "Catch All The Fish"
Jeff Houck
CDs are rated on a scale of zero to four stars.
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