***image1***You thought gloom was gone.
CHANSONS DE CHAT
"If You Rescue Me"
The Science of Sleep (soundtrack)
Astralwerks
Uber-cool director Michel Gondry's (
Dave Chappelle's Block Party
,
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
) newest is a surrealistic meditation on semi-consciousness.
The Science of Sleep
stars Charlotte Gainsbourg (daughter of Serge) and Gael García Bernal. The soundtrack of the same name features 26 varied songs, from French spoken-word to rock-outs to cover songs, including a jazzy, French-sounding, odd version of Lou Reed's quirky dark ditty "If You Rescue Me" (no word on whether he'll sing the original at his upcoming show at the Opera).
Lou Reed plays 7:30 pm Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Santa Fe Opera.
BLACK ROB
"Did You Ever Need"
Black Rob as Robby Digital
Self-produced
The line between musically minimalist and musically boring is a fine one, but local musician Black Rob (aka Robby Digital) has found the formula. The repeated, basic guitar line, simple organ and effortless melody of "Did You Ever Need" combine to create a haunting spell. The entire song sounds so organic, as if Black Rob's muse came in the form of a lazy, good-looking ghost, that the listener hardly realizes how catchy, melancholy and affecting it is. Sometimes, simple is best.
Black Rob plays 5 pm Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Tin Star Saloon.
CHOPPER SICK BALLS
"Different"
Untitled
Self-produced
Santa Fe's best political punk band ended about two years ago, but the group hasn't been forgotten, and occasional recordings surface from the underground here and there. Lead singer/guitarist Sue Fury recently handed over a mix of 17 CSB songs-some studio-recorded, some live-to keep the fire alive. The live tracks are raw and sloppily recorded, but viscerally moving and intense. The best is "Different," half ballad, half rocker, with Fury's gut-wrenching large voice. You can't hear some of the drums and the vocals fade in and out, but "Different" is still a steel barb to the heart.
Sadly, Chopper Sick Balls broke up, so they don't have any gigs.
