Album Review:Beady Eye-Different Gear, Still Speeding

The music of 2011 started in such a promising fashion with fantastically fresh albums from The Get Up Kids, Jenn Grant, Toro Y Moi, The Dodos and Braids.    I suppose that I can't be surprised that another rocker headed toward retirement needs an effective retirement plan, but this album will be a failing strategy for Liam Gallagher and his old band-mates who are without, it seems, the real creative force of Oasis: Neil.    You'll immediately recognize Liam's distinctive groan, but the clever hooks?    The occasionally brilliant songcrafting?    You won't find either here.    You can't sing about The Beatles or The Rolling Stones in order to fit yourself onto the same shelf, but on Beady Eye's new LP Different Gear, Still Speeding, you'll hear many songs that the producer or record company should have considered a re-do or get another producer that will help Mr. Gallagher take some chances.    Suppose that you can't blame the ex-Oasisians for trying.    Everyone needs to consider their future, but in order for music to properly evolve and for the love of music, ignore this record.   

Album Review:Jenn Grant-Honeymoon Punch

Rock n' roll narcissism school tells folks that if they ain't slick or gorgeous, there's a high potentiality that you'll get overlooked.    I hope this isn't true of Nova Scotia's Jenn Grant, as January's release of her Honeymoon Punch album is filled with crisp Trish Keenan's vocals from Broadcast with Liz Phair's quirky arrangements and a big ol' handful of lollipops and sunshine.    Yum.