Local group Sallow hosts a CD release show for its debut album, Soliloquy, on Friday at the Northside Tavern. The “band” and album are the brainchildren of singer/songwriter Joseph Remnant, who began work on the CD more than two years ago by himself (he plays all of the instruments on the disc except for some percussion work on two tracks). As he worked on the album, he gradually pieced together a live band to perform the songs.
Even though it is two years in the making, Soliloquy is a remarkably accomplished debut, from the alluring packaging (artwork by — guess who? — Remnant) to the breezy, radiant songwriting. Remnant makes translucent, lo-fi Indie Pop that’s steeped in timeless Pop influences and a distinct Twee flair. If the Elephant 6 collaborative is still taking new members, sign Remnant up now; Soliloquy is as solid as anything that collective ever released. His voice is often obscured by effects, but they can’t mask the lilting lucidity and lingering impact of the melodies. The vocal disorientation also gives the songs the feel of some of those old Beatles’ demos that seem to be unearthed every couple of years. These tracks would definitely be from the “White Album” period, as the music tends towards the organic, acoustic side of the fence, at times sounding like peppy but dirty cabaret music, while other times beaming like late ’60s SoCal Pop.
There’s also a dose of experimentation, but it never disrupts the album’s hypnotic fluidity. Remnant writes Pop songs, but he doesn’t seem too overly attached to any of the structural rules. Fans of crafty, earthy Pop music that plays it close to the chest, swimming in mostly sunshine melodies, but always indicating a seedier underbelly will revel in Sallow’s striking yet subtle take. (sallowmusic.com)
Got Milkweed?
Spewing a vile strain of Nü Metal, Milkweed‘s greatest challenge is to set themselves apart from like-minded peers who have already broken this genre open like an overripe melon. On their outstanding new CD, Body Floss, they do this successfully in several ways. One is the sheer vulgarity of their subject matter. It’s a no-brow guilty pleasure that is as hilarious as it is disturbing. They combine Geto Boys irreverence, Bloodhound Gang innuendo and Beastie Boys wit. With every listen, I am laughing out loud at phrases that I had missed previously. Also to their credit is the intensity and diversity of their Aggro-Rock. The songs are far from interchangeable platforms for stale rhymes. Rather than choosing a specific proportion of Hip Hop and Metal, Milkweed visits the extremes. There are also plenty of interesting samples and vocal overdubs punctuating the songs. Vocalist Rob Rieman does a fantastic job of modifying his delivery so that it sounds like several MCs are contributing. At least I have to assume that’s the case, since instead of credits or production details in the liner notes, Milkweed provides details about proctitis (inflammation of the rectum) as well as an informative article on “body-flossing,” brought to you by the fictitious floss Anal-B. The accompanying photos are equally nauseating. In fact, this album wins the award for most stomach-turning packaging ever. Artwork aside, the band is extremely precise musically and victorious in their goal of providing non-stop entertainment. Milkweed is the disgusting candy everybody is going to want.
Milkweed performs Friday at the Blue Note with Pulse8, A Present Day Nightmare and Hollowpoint. For more on the band, see milkweed1.com. (Ezra Waller)
More Local Notes
· The popular, monthly Indie/Rock/Dance night, “Girls & Boys,” celebrates its third anniversary Saturday at alchemize. For their third birthday, organizing DJ duo, Boy Radio (Puck Dunaway and Mike Roesch), welcome in newcomers The Virgins and local heroes The Greenhornes. The ‘hornes — whose rhythm section (Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence) appeared on Loretta Lynn’s recent Grammy-award winning album, Van Lear Rose, produced by pal Jack White of The White Stripes — are working on a new album with Detroit Pop/Rock fave, Brendan Benson. A collaborative album between Benson and White featuring Keeler and Lawrence is also said to be in the works.
· The Cincinnati’s United Local Artists Network (CULAN) presents the seventh annual “Rhythm, Blues and Jazz Masters Summit” on Sunday at the 20th Century Theater. The 5 p.m. concert event (which also doles out “Lifetime Achievement” and other awards to local Blues and Jazz artists) features performances by Leroy Ellington, Mr. Keith Little, 17 Days, Cat City, The Bluebirds, Dick and the Roadmasters, Cheryl Renee & T-Bone Blues, Kenny Poole and several others. (culan.org)
This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 1, 2005.
