LITTLE ROCK — Dierks Bentley
Country & Cold Cans
Capitol Nashville A-
An EP of five songs - one being a radio edit of the previously released (and great) “Tip It on Back” - from Dierks Bentley, country’s curly-headed hunk, would seem to be an easy skip at the music counter of your choice.
But, as this short set of songs demonstrates, Bentley is at the top of his music game, generating new material at a fast clip like country stars of old. These anthems are about beer and, uh, summer and beer. And they are top-shelf anthems with the best, “Grab a Beer,” mentioning Little Rock in the chorus. It’s too easy to over think things and this mindless album of immense fun makes that entirely clear.
Hot tracks:
“Grab a Beer,” “ Summer on Fire,” “Country & Cold Cans”
- WERNER TRIESCHMANN
Yeasayer
Fragrant World
Secretly Canadian A
This new effort from electronic outfit Yeasayer is at times a curiously sparse affair, with squiggly beats, pulsing synth beds and melodies that curl themselves out of bony frames of songs. Don’t look for anything as immediately catchy as “Ambling Alp” or “O.N.E.” from 2010’s Odd Blood. But hang in there, because Fragrant World’s virtues are many. Its layered vocals add warmth and the production is almost always pleasingly creative.
Hot tracks:
The dark “Reagan’s Skeleton”; “Henrietta” with its watery synth; the nicely drawn character study “Blue Paper”
- SEAN CLANCY
Antony & the Johnsons
Cut the World
Secretly Canadian A
The formidable emotional power of Antony Hegarty’s distinctive voice gets perfect support on this live recording with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra. Songs from four of the group’s albums get a lush spin, often to thrilling results.
Songs such as “Another World,” “Kiss My Name” and “You Are My Sister” gain depth, power and an almost unspeakable beauty as Hegarty rises to the occasion with stellar vocals.
His is a voice like none other; it’s androgynous, like his appearance; it cries and weeps, keens and coos lovingly. If one song seems to be missing, it’s “Her Eyes Are Under the Ground.”
A nearly eight-minute rambling talk about the full moon and other topics is his only misfire, in that it breaks the sublime musical experience.
Hot tracks:
“Kiss My Name,” the haunting “The Crying Light,” the epic “Swanlights”
- ELLIS WIDNER
Caroline Herring
Camilla
Signature Sounds B-
Georgia-born Caroline Herring’s sixth album is an earnest folk record clearly put together with all seriousness and care. Herring writes about violent civil-rights strife in the title track and environmental struggle in “Black Mountain Lullaby.”
The singer-songwriter’s husky voice is distinct and powerful and the album cover is gorgeous. But for all the good intentions here, outside of the sharply written “Camilla,” the songs just never come to life. At too many places here, Herring sounds formal and academic instead of a performer with a pulse.
Hot track:
“Camilla”
- WERNER TRIESCHMANN
Elikah
Between 2 Worlds
Azalea City B
This politically charged Afropop surges, ebbs and rolls, as bandleader Massama Dogo (from Togo) integrates rootsy sounds, cool Sir Douglas Quintet-era organ, ’60s soul horns, rock and more in a stew that taps the socially conscious music of the great Fela Kuti and reggae’s Bob Marley with hints of James Brown. And like them, Elikah’s music is danceable and engaging.
Guests include Mali’s Vieux Farka Toure on “Alonye” and guitarist John Kadlecik on “Nye’n Mind Na Wo.”
Hot tracks:
“Know Who You Are,” on which the band exhorts people to remember their culture; while “No Vision” challenges African political and cultural leadership
- ELLIS WIDNER
Style, Pages 27 on 08/28/2012