Electric Bird Noise
fragile hearts...fragile minds (no more stars/Silber)
release: somewhere in 2007
style: experimentalness
rating: *** Comprised of eerie, haunting minimalism, this is one of the most original, non-conforming releases of the year. Electric Bird Noise, begun by Brian McKenzie a decade ago, reaches into the most distant forms of sound made by guitar, piano and percussion. The second half of fragile hearts is a 26-minute extremely ambient reverbed piece that the History or Discovery Channel should use for documentaries about the bottom of the ocean or the origin of the solar system. -Kenyon
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Angie Heaton & the Gentle Tamers
The Rumor Mill (Spur/Parasol)
release: October 2, 2007
style: indie country rock
similar: Neko Case, Jenny Watson, Johnny Cash
rating: ** The sleepy calm voice on Angie Heaton's fourth album--this one with the Gentle Tamers--is too sleepy for me and i can't handle it. Does not compute. The pedal steel and those other country instrument staples are upstaging her. The more uptempo songs work hella better, such as "Train," which is livelier and chugga chugga choo choo. -Kenyon