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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 26, 2009

BEIRUT/REALPEOPLE:
MARCH OF THE ZAPOTEC/HOLLAND
(POMPEII/BADABING) ***

Two EPs, two band names, one artist -- Zach Condon likely will confound as many listeners as he pleases with this split-personality set.

"March of the Zapotec" takes Condon's fascination with ethnic international music south of the border to Oaxaca, where he recorded with the 19-piece Jimenez Band. For such a large outfit, the arrangements are mostly spare and haunting, Condon's doleful voice meshing seamlessly with the band's mournful horns.

Despite occasional tinniness, "Holland" is a lovely slice of bedroom-pop, similar to early Magnetic Fields minus the world-weariness.

Download this: "La Llorona" and "No Dice"

Curtis Ross

ELENI MANDELL:
ARTIFICIAL FIRE
(ZEDTONE RECORDS) **½

Los Angeles hipster Eleni Mandell has been flying just below the commercial radar, but delivering pop-noir ballads for more than a decade now. "Artificial Fire" is her seventh album and perhaps the most buoyant to date, curbing her PJ Harvey and Tom Waits influences of yore.

Mandell takes a minimalist and sort of Feist-like approach on this album, with a collection of songs fit for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Lyrically, she still delivers conflicted love letters for the emotionally mature, but the album is peppered only sparingly with gems such as "Right Side" and the early '80s punk sound of "Cracked." Both feel out of place next to the other Zoloft-loaded misfires like "God Is Love" and "I Love Planet Earth."

Download this: "In the Doorway"

Sara Minton

DEREK TRUCKS BAND:
ALREADY FREE
(RCA VICTOR) ***½

"Already Free" is a "Big Lebowski" of an album. Deep, rich and nuanced, there is always something new to hear with each listen to this seventh album by the Derek Trucks band. A little bit gospel - "Sweet Inspiration" (with Trucks' wife Susan Tedeschi on backing vocals) - a little big blues rock - "Get What You Deserve" - "Already Free" (Victory Records) has the guitar impresario cashing in on his immense potential.

A star with a new album of her own, Trucks' wife Tedeschi delivers a soulful ballad ("Back Where I Started") in addition to her backing work. The album ends with the title track. Trucks sings about being his father's child. No doubt, listening to this, the elder Trucks is one proud papa.

Download This: "Sweet Inspiration"

Howard Altman

CDs are rated on a scale of zero to four stars.

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