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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2009

Updated: 01/22/2009 03:34 pm

MODERN SKIRTS:
ALL OF US IN OUR NIGHT
(MODERN SKIRTS) **½

This sophomore effort from Athens, Ga.-based Modern Skirts is promising for the first five tracks, at which point things suddenly turn less-than-inspired. But what a promising first five tracks. "Chanel" opens the disc with a nice hook (located in the verse, no less) and an easy groove worthy of a 1973 AM radio hit. That's followed by "Soft Petals," an atmospheric gem awash with various electronic keyboard elements that provide the disc's finest moment, peaking with a giddy minute of overlapping vocals.

After that, things move down a tick but are still quality. "Yugo" has a certain minor-key charm, but the problems begin afterward, as most of what follows sounds much the same. The production, by David Lowery (of Camper Van Beethoven fame), is unable to save the situation, nor is the guest production of Mike Mills' on "Motorcade," the only track here that borders on bad.

Download: "Soft Petals"

Kevin Walker

ANDREW BIRD:
NOBLE BEAST
(FAT POSSUM) **1/2

Andrew Bird's early work suggested he hadn't bought a record since they stopped pressing them on shellac. But he's less stuck in the past than unstuck in time.

Most of "Noble Beast" would fit in nicely between The Shins and Fleet Foxes on a hipster playlist, but listen close and his roots in hot jazz and German cabaret music still are apparent.

Occasionally, the lush, acoustic-guitar based arrangements settle a bit too comfortably into alt-snooze territory, as on "Tenuousness" - it's pretty but slight.

But Bird redeems his missteps with some wonderfully intriguing - but accessible - pop.

Download: "Masterswarm"

Curtis Ross

A.C. NEWMAN:
GET GUILTY
(MATADOR) ***

Say "power pop" and most people expect flagrant hooks built on big, open guitar chords. A.C. Newman, the lisping leader of Canada's criminally overlooked New Pornographers, takes a more sophisticated approach, cramming as many musical ideas as will comfortably fit into each meticulously crafted song.

Of course, the guy's probably too smart for his own good. It's tough work getting radio listeners to sing along with lyrical meta-moments like "That wasn't the opening line / It was the 10th or the 12th" (from "There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve") or Donald Barthelme references ("The Palace at 4 AM"), but if anyone can do it, Newman can.

Download this: "The Heartbreak Rides"

Rommie Johnson

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

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