Austinist CD Reviews: Mando Diao & Chrisopher Blue

The Electric Soft Parade No Need To Be Downhearted
Like an indie pop amnesiac, we find The Electric Soft Parade wandering somewhere in the woods on No Need To Be Downhearted. The group is unable to choose between three possible identities; one of Smiths-inspired Brit pop, another caught in experimental, lo-fi doldrums and a third all about the dance-able angular guitars that made so many fall in love with the first Bloc Party record. However, in this case it’s the last identity that’s the most agreeable, and “If That’s The Case, Then I Don’t Know” is a prime example. It comes equipped with hooky guitar riffs, dance party-worthy beats and even the occasional keyboard blip. But, you could always hang out with the dreary shoegazer or the middle-aged piano balladeer instead.

Electric Soft Parade MySpace

Mando Diao Ode to Ochrasy

Mando Diao’s influences read like the typical response to the question, “So, what kind of music are you into?”... “Oh, I like a little of everything.” An answer like that tells you absolutely nothing about the person. But, Swedes Mando Diao do a decent job of representing their laundry list of who’s who of rock and roll greats, featuring The Clash and John Lennon. Of course the faint odor of The Hives’ assiduous hostility is present on Ode to Ochrasy, but with enough soulful, 60s rock to keep them from a premature climax. A few more contagious choruses and a little lyrical work, and they may have a full-blown American outbreak on their hands. Wait, is that the faint whiff of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins? They may be closer to the big time than previously expected.

Mando Diao MySpace

Chrisopher Blue Room Tones

In a rustic lounge filled with musty, bluesy folk with road-weary laments rising to a thick cloud collected at the ceiling like cigarette smoke is where we find Chrisopher Blue, channeling Tom Waits and Charles Bukowski. Blue is a prize fighter whose a little battle-worn. There’s no shortage of stories of musical near-misses and failures behind those scarred fists and cauliflower ears. Moving from the bare-knuckled music scene of Seattle for the aesthetics of the California countryside and becoming a vegan was what it took to keep Blue from turning in his tunes for good. The record that came out of it is full of unabashed, mellow remorse and dingy reminiscence.

Chrisopher Blue at Sarathan Records

-Contributed by William Mills

Photo of Chrisopher Blue by Alicia J Rose on Flickr