CMJ REVIEWS

BILL CALLAHAN Woke On A Whaleheart (Drag City)

WEB: www.dragcity.com
Has Bill Callahan found happiness? The answer may discourage fans who’ve loved RIYL: Smog, M. Ward, Lou Barlow
him for his hypnotic gems of lyrical discouragement delivered in a disheartening RELEASE DATE/ADD DATE: April 24
deadpan for years under his Smog moniker. Well, Mr. Callahan has reclaimed his RADIO: radio@dragcity.com
real name, found true love and crafted a beautiful, simple record flush with all the KEY TRACKS: “Sycamore,” “Honeymoon Child,” “A Man Needs a
forthright honesty and inviting ambiance of a campfire sing-along. Callahan has Woman or a Man to be a Man”
retained the deadpan, as well as the Jr. Kimbrough-inspired trance-blues chord OF NOTE: Royal Trux and Pussy Galore alum Neil Michael Hagerty
reiterations, thick-thumbed piano playing and his trademark double-take lyrical arranged and co-produced the album.
phrasing—but minus all of the downtrodden naysayery. Cold-blooded old times
are over. Woke On A Whaleheart is nearly upbeat, folksy as hell and damn good.
Indeed, the smog has lifted. (EM)

CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG 5:55 (Vice-Because)

The first record from Charlotte Gainsbourg (daughter of Serge) in over a decade, WEB: www.charlottegainsbourg.com
5:55 features music by fellow Frenchies, Air, and clever lyrics from Jarvis Cocker. RIYL: Air, Francois Hardy, Serge Gainsbourg
Gainsbourg’s sugary, whispered vocals sound like a Dickensian street urchin singing RELEASE DATE/ADD DATE: April 24
chic, semi-introspective ballads in Frenglish, which isn’t a bad thing. The album is RADIO: christen@vice-recordings.com
soothing, moody and brimming with Nigel Godrich’s funky lounge production, KEY TRACKS: “The Song We Sing,” “The Operation,” “Jamais”
highlighted in the lush melancholy swirl of “The Songs We Sing” and the sweet-ass OF NOTE: Tony Allen, of Fela Kuti and the Good, the Bad And The
bassline of “Jamais.” But the latter-half of the album sees that languid sashay sway Queen fame, contributed percussion to 5:55.
toward unfocused over-indulgence, to an often jarring effect—like when “Nocturnal
Intermission”’s forced, up-tempo, jazzy progressions stir up repressed memories of
Billy Joel. Zut alors! (EM)

GET CAPE. WEAR CAPE. FLY. The Chronicles Of A

Bohemian Teenager (Atlantic)
After a stateside introduction via Fox’s (newly defunct) The OC, 21-year-old
musician/songwriter/producer Sam Duckworth, aka Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly,
is ready to spread the word with his debut release. Predominately recorded in
Duckworth’s bedroom, The Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager heralds British
troubadour status as it combines classical activist lyricism with adolescent spirit.
Confident yet filled with youthful urgency, Duckworth delivers a variety of
politically relevant messages through tracks equal parts Billy Bragg and Brand New
with a touch of Dashboard Confessional’s teenage lamentation. (TM)
WEB: www.getcapewearcapefly.com
RIYL: Dashboard Confessional, Jamie T, Billy Bragg
RELEASE DATE/ADD DATE: Out now/at radio
RADIO: Dustin Elliot, dustin.elliot@atlanticrecords.com
KEY TRACKS: “I-Spy,” “Once More With Feeling,” “Call Me Ishmael”
OF NOTE: Sam Duckworth joined the likes of Lily Allen, Thom Yorke,
Jarvis Cocker and Jamie T as one of the nominees for Best Solo Artist
at the 2007 NME Awards.