Bottom line: This Australian band recycles vintage pop and rock genres and turns them into something fresh and original.
Mercury Lounge, New York Wednesday, March 31
"Lovers" (Astralwerks), the full-length debut from Australian band the Sleepy Jackson, was one of the finest albums of last year, a polished, eclectic effort filled with beautifully crafted pop songs whose stylistic diversity brought to mind a fast-ranging sweep across the radio dial. Spearheaded by chief vocalist and songwriter Luke Steele, the band, which now also includes Malcolm Clark (drums), J Cortez (bass) and Jules Cortez (guitar), is definitely on the rise.
Performing at the Mercury Lounge, a venue well suited to garage bands since it isn't much larger than a garage itself, the Sleepy Jackson delivered a blistering, ragged set that demonstrated both its expansive musical imagination and its lack of polish. For every retro pop nugget laden with falsetto harmonies and gorgeous, George Harrison-style guitar swirls, there was an aimlessly aggressive punk number that showcased little more than the band members' considerable energy.
Still, there's no doubt that Steele has the musical intelligence and wide-ranging interests to justify comparisons to figures like Beck. His music recalling everything from 1960s psychedelic pop to alt-country to punk, he is clearly unwilling to be pigeonholed. He also makes for a dynamic frontman, his eccentric stage persona seeming like a combination of Pete Townshend and Jack Black. At times he's overly demonstrative, and his self-indulgence may yet get the better of him. Indeed, one number, which lapsed into a religious-themed performance piece featuring Gregorian chants, nearly had the effect of clearing out the house.
His bandmates provided able support -- particularly the equally entertaining and manic Clarke on drums -- with their energetic and highly versatile playing well serving his expansive musical imagination.
On the Speakers, supporting their new, self-titled debut EP, was a solid opening act. Headed by charismatic former Creeper Lagoon frontman Ian Sefchick, whose impassioned vocals well convey rock 'n' roll angst, the quartet delivered a selection of dynamically diverse numbers that only occasionally lapsed into bombast.e. Also very funny is Steve Buscemi, whose sleazy human character amusingly bears more than a slight resemblance to him.
Menken, besides his score, also has contributed several pleasant new songs (lyrics by Glenn Slater), none destined to be standards. They're sung by such stars as k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt and Tim McGraw.
Home on the Range Buena Vista Pictures Walt Disney Pictures Credits: Directors-screenwriters: Will Finn, John Sanford Producer: Alice Dewey Goldstone Original score: Alan Menken Original songs: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater Story: Will Finn, John Sanford, Michael LaBash, Sam Levine, Mark Kennedy, Robert Lence Associate producer: David J. Steinberg Editor: H. Lee Peterson Art director: David Cutler Voices: Maggie: Roseanne Barr Mrs. Caloway: Judi Dench Grace: Jennifer Tilly Buck: Cuba Gooding Jr. Slim: Randy Quaid Pearl: Carole Cook Sheriff Brown: Richard Riehle Rico: Charles Dennis Rusty: G.W. Baily Lucky Jack: Charles Haid Audrey: Estelle Harris Jeb: Joe Flaherty Ollie: Charlie Dell Wesley: Steve Buscemi Patrick: Patrick Warburton Annie: Ann Richards Phil, Bill & Gil Willie: Sam Levine Running time 74 minutes MPAA rating: PG
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