CD reviews

Michael Trent

The Winner

(Shrimp Records)

When writing material for an album, some artists shrewdly aim to compose and record the most listener-friendly material they can in hopes that the resulting CD will sell as many copies as possible.

Then there are the artists who write music that satisfies their own soul, choosing being real over trying to pinpoint what the record-buying public wants.

I want to say that Michael Trent falls into that second category because each and every song on his excellent CD "The Winner" makes the listener feel as if they have stumbled upon a private conversation or journal entry.

The decidedly alt-country sound of most of the songs on "The Winner" works for the song subjects, which frequently touch on loneliness and yearning. The album's title track features a Dylan-esque harmonica riff over a rollicking melody, while one of the CD's best tracks, "Complicated Type," reminds the listener immediately of Leonard Cohen.

With nary a bad song in sight, "The Winner" also benefits from contributions from an impressive list of musicians, local and otherwise. Contributors include Cary Ann Hearst (who just happens to also be Mrs. Michael Trent), Bill Carson, Josh Kaler, and even songwriter Butch Walker.

While it is readily evident that "The Winner" is a personal project, Trent ultimately has crafted a collection of songs that are also listener-friendly. The result is not just one of the year's best local music releases, but one of the best music releases period.

Key Tracks: "The Winner," "Complicated Type," "Bad Luck"

Charleston Sound Presents: I Got Music Vol. 2

(Independent)

Kudos for the folks at local recording studio Charleston Sound for not only offering state-of-the-art facilities for local bands to record in, but also for spotlighting a baker's dozen of local artists on the new compilation "I Got Music Vol. 2."

Just as on the first edition, Charleston Sound has compiled a track apiece by local acts, some that you might recognize right away, and some you might not.

That's OK though, because half the fun is discovering something new.

Artists on this edition include Dan Wright & The New Beat, Mary's Got a Band, Farpoint, Plainfield, Tim Hodson, Megan Jean & The Klay Family Band, Sol Driven Train, Fagan Brothers, Firework Show, Skye Paige & The Original Recipe, JamiSun, Blue, and Man On Fire.

While each track sounds professionally recorded, mainly because they were, I personally gravitated toward the twang of "Polka Dot Tears" by Mary's Got a Band, the alt-country stomp of Megan Jean & The Klay Family Band's "Big Bad Wolf" and the slide guitar swamp rock of Skye Paige's "Mean Old Man."

Also worth mentioning is the amusing ode to "My Corolla," by Sol Driven Train, but I may just like that one because I drive a similar car as the one described in the song.

Key Tracks: "Polka Dot Tears," "Big Bad Wolf," "Mean Old Man"

The Black Crowes

Croweology

(Silver Arrow)

After two decades of creating great Southern rock 'n' roll, it seems that The Black Crowes could collectively belch into a microphone, and a certain segment of the band's fan base would be lining up to buy the single.

Instead of belching though, Chris and Rich Robinson, along with the rest of the band, decided to take some of the best songs from the Black Crowes' last 20 years and record them acoustically.

The resulting two-CD album will likely appeal mainly to hard-core Crowes fans, but casual listeners will find a few songs to enjoy.

Think of your favorite Black Crowes song (the band's cover of "Hard to Handle" excluded), and it's probably here. Singer Chris Robinson doesn't attempt to re-create every song faithfully, but instead give each classic Crowes' track its own quirks.

The result is a complete reimagining of the band's music, although it does drag in a few places.

When the Crowes hit the Family Circle Cup Stadium on Sept. 10, the show will consist of a 90-minute acoustic set followed by an additional 90-minute set of fully amplified rock.

Key Tracks: "Wiser Time," "She Talks to Angels," "Thorn in My Pride"

Arcade Fire

The Suburbs

(Merge)

If you have been a fan of past Arcade Fire albums, including "Funeral" and "Neon Bible," then you might have a little trouble at first getting into the groove of the group's latest, "The Suburbs."

For starters, things are considerably more upbeat this time.

The Canadian band has created a collection of songs whose common thread is, as the title implies, the suburbs. The music runs between alt-country and '80s synthesizer pop, sometimes within the same song.

The result is an album that owes as much to Bruce Springsteen as it does to Depeche Mode. The opening title track sets the listener up for possible disappointment, thanks to a weakly executed performance that sounds like a Neil Young castoff.

Immediately afterward though, songs such as "Ready to Start," "Modern Man" and "Rococo" allow the album to recover beautifully from that initial misstep.

While not every track on "The Suburbs" is a knockout, there is still plenty of great music here; enough to solidify Arcade Fire as one of North America's most talented and intriguing acts out there at the moment.

Key Tracks: "Ready to Start," "Empty Room," "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"