http://www.coolforever.com/laurie the Allmusic.com writings of Laurie Mercer Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:15:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en On 'The Memphis Album', Guy Sebastian nimbly sidesteps earlier issues of writer's block by travelling to Ardent Studios in Memphis to record fourteen gems of 60's southern soul, using many of the musicians who had worked on the original recordings. With many definitive classic songs - Knock on Wood, ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/07/22/guy-sebastian-cd-the-memphis-album/ Crunk, that particular high-energy party hip-hop built around looped drum machines and simple chants, broke through into the mainstream a few years ago with massive hits by OUtkast, Lil Jon, Bone Crusher, and the noteably addictive Oscar-winner'It's Hard Bein' A Pimp' from 'Hustle and Flow'. Fearless Records, looking ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/06/30/punk-goes-crunk-cd/ Tom Holliston is a self-taught independent rock musician and songwriter from Vancouver, B.C., who has released solo works under various names,as well as being an essential member of the Canadian punk bands NOMEANSNO and the HANSON BROTHERS. His solo work (under his own name and his band SHOW BUSINESS ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/06/06/tom-holliston-biography/ One Vancouver retailer described Tom Holliston's 'Boy in Tub; Rabbit' thusly - 'put Captain Beefheart's brain in Nick Lowe's body, and then challenge that monster to write a Pointed Sticks album' - nailed it! A gem of a CD, 'Boy in Tub' shows some terrific songwriting and musicianship, yet ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/06/06/tom-holliston-rabbit/ On his first solo release, Tom Holliston abandons most of the zany pop cultural references and caroming stylistic changes that typified his earlier releases for a more straight-ahead, almost roots-rock approach. As usual, the CD boasts a top-notch collection of musicians from the local Vancouver/Victoria scene solidly supporting Tom's ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/06/06/tom-holliston-cd-his-opportunists/ Harder and heavier than other releases, sonically 'Self-Aggrandizement' elevates the Show Business Giants into the company of Wire, NoMeansNo, and the Ex, albeit with Holliston's fractured viewpoint still fully on display, and occasional side trips into sonic silliness. Pop culture references still abound: the chorus for 'My Brother's ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/06/06/show-business-giants-cd-self-aggrandizement-keeps-us-going/ Show Business Giants is a quirky, humor-laden independent western Canadian rock band with a rotating lineup centered around guitarist,vocalist and main songwriter Tom Holliston. with most frequent collaborators Scott Henderson (Hissanol) and Ford Pier (D.O.A., Jr. Gone Wild). Contributions have also come from such other well-known western Canadian musicians ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/06/06/show-business-giants-biography/ Not much different from a typical Show Business Giants CD, the Apologists include long-time SBG collaborators Scott Henderson and Ford Pier. Kicking off with 'Talk Minus Action Equals A Good Dinner Party' (the title a humorous swipe at local icon D.O.A.'s earnest 'Talk-Action=0' slogan), 'I Want You To Twist ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/06/06/tom-holliston-cd-i-want-you-to-twist-with-me/ 'Let's Have A Talk With The Dead' is the definitive Show Business Giants album, with 18 diverse songs chock-full of pop-cultural references, zany hooks, and masterful rock riffing. From the opening 'The First Pygmy In Space' to the finale 'Wake Up & Roar Bachelor God', Holliston and his band show ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/06/06/show-business-giants-cd-lets-have-a-talk-with-the-dead/ Bernard Szajner (ZAY-ner) is a Paris-based unique visual effects artist and musician, who has created ground-breaking works in multiple disciplines while consistently striving to create and explore new relationships between light and sound. A self-described 'dilettante in the true sense of the term', Bernard Szajner was born in Grenoble, France, late ... http://www.coolforever.com/laurie/2008/04/25/bernard-szajner-biography/