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 There’s no way to pin down a “Tucson Sound.” These musicians, clearly inspired by the town’s inexplicable energy, represent a range of styles and expressions that showcase the international community residing here. I can’t think of a moniker to peg it. After listening to all the discs submitted, I was pretty impressed. Of over 100 albums, we had to whittle reviews down to a quarter of that. We also made some ground rules: the band/musician must have a Tucson residency, an online presence and/or be playing out, and albums must be post-February 2004.
Thanks to the musicians that move us, the clubs that host, those who promote and the studios that record and you, the music lover.
Special thanks to Don Jennings (KXCI’s Locals Only DJ) for his assistance, the writers reviewing, and to Serena Rios for procuring pertinent information.
- Jamie Manser
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Amber Norgaard “Rising” 2006
www.AmberNorgaard.com,
www.MySpace.com/AmberNorgaard
Available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/norgaard2.
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Amber Norgaard “Soul in Motion”
www.AmberNorgaard.com,
www.MySpace.com/AmberNorgaard
Available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/norgaard.
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Amy Rude “Snakeheart” 2005
www.MySpace.com/AmyRude
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Andrew Collberg
“Andrew Collberg” 2006
www.AndrewCollberg.com
www.MySpace.com/AndrewCollberg
Available on his website.
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Glenn Weyant
“The Anta Project” 2006
www.SonicAnta.com
Available on their website.
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Arizona Amp and Alternator
“Arizona Amp and Alternator” 2005
www.Arizona-Amp-And-Alternator.com, www.HoweGelb.comAvailable on their website and at
www.ThrillJockey.com.
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Arthur Migliazza
“Pumping Ivories” 2006
www.ArthurMigliazza.com,
www.MySpace.com/ArthurMigliazza
Available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/arthurmigliazza2.
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Austin Counts
“Acoustic Skeletons” 2004
www.AustinCounts.com
Available on his website.
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Black Cat Bones
“Firecracker” 2006
www.MySpace.com/BlackCatBonesBand
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Black Sun Ensemble
“Live at KXCI Volume II” 2004
www.SlowBurnRecords.net,
www.MySpace.com/BlackSunEnsemble
Available on their website.
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Bryan Snyder “Underbelly” 2004
www.Knutz.com,
www.MySpace.com/WhoNutz
Available on their website &
www.CDBaby.com/cd/snyderb.
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Calexico “Convict Pool” 2004
www.CasaDeCalexico.com,
www.MySpace.com/CasaDeCalexico.Available on their website & at
www.tgrec.com.
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Amber Norgaard “Rising” 2006
www.AmberNorgaard.com,
www.MySpace.com/AmberNorgaard
Available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/norgaard2.
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Amber Norgaard “Soul in Motion”
www.AmberNorgaard.com,
www.MySpace.com/AmberNorgaard
Available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/norgaard.
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Amy Rude “Snakeheart” 2005
www.MySpace.com/AmyRude
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Amber Norgaard “Rising” 2006
www.AmberNorgaard.com,
www.MySpace.com/AmberNorgaard
Available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/norgaard2.
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Amber Norgaard “Soul in Motion”
www.AmberNorgaard.com,
www.MySpace.com/AmberNorgaard
Available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/norgaard.
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Amy Rude “Snakeheart” 2005
www.MySpace.com/AmyRude
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www.SlowBurnRecords.net,
www.MySpace.com/BlackSunEnsemble
Available on their website.
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Black Sun Ensemble
“Bolt Of Apollo” &
“Live At KXCI Volume II”
BSE is a psychedelic instrumental combo which offers a shimmering, droning sound that could easily send you into a trance. Bolt Of Apollo contains ten tracks which vary from slow and dreamy to more aggressive rock. Though there are no lyrics to speak of, the overall effect is like one long piece – an electric, sonic ocean that ebbs and flows. A variety of guitar riffs and solos frequently bubble up to the surface, playing out before vanishing into the depths. Live At KXCI Volume II is taken from a live radio session, with fine tracks peppered by chats with the DJ.
- Andy Walsh
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www.TheCrowdMusic.com,
www.MySpace.com/MeetTheCrowd
Available on their website.
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The Crowd
“Secret Serpents”
This EP of bright and breezy pop-rock is heavily influenced by the British Invasion of the 60s, a lá The Beatles and The Kinks. Backing vocal harmonies litter the songs, coinciding with a dreamy, vaguely psychedelic air. Yet The Crowd is no copyist and the songs are more complex. Numerous riffs and tempo changes elevate them above simple pop, along with lyrics that add a dark undercurrent. It’s an impressive, consistent six-song collection that relies on quality over quantity.
- Andy Walsh
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www.FukuisanGo.com,
www.MySpace.com/FukuisanGo
Available on their website.
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fukusian go!
“hello monkey moo!”
I heard this CD after seeing these clowns deliver a killer live set and I gotta admit... it really delivers the goods. If you’re looking for classification, how about surf-rock with a bit of rockabilly and some garage band thrown in? There’s some Ventures, there’s some Who. Who knows? Who even cares? There are a bunch of instrumentals too! A couple of these guys are also in the excellent pure surf band Shrimp Chaperone (where’s their CD?) and all they really need is a more easily pronounceable name. Musically, they’re there. It’s a great recoding that’s totally happening.
- Al Perry
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www.TheJons.com
www.MySpace.com/TheJons
Available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/
jonsmusic.
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The Jons
“Greatest Hits Volume II”
To their credit, this collection of 12 songs is difficult to pigeonhole. Hard-pressed, I’d say their music is catchy, up-tempo pop-rock. Even so, the album also tracks a couple of lounge/cabaret numbers, ska influenced pieces, two short instrumentals, and some fast, driving rock songs. A few recall the mid-90s output of Britpop band Blur. Flurries of horns appear on about half of the songs, adding a further dimension to the sound. The highlight of this never dull album is Cabernet - an uplifting tune crowned by most excellent guitar work.
- Andy Walsh
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Dead Miners Union
“Overgrown Garden” 2006
www.MySpace.com/LovelandStudio
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The Diagonals “The Diagonals” 2005
www.TheDiagonals.com,
www.MySpace.com/TucsonDiagonals
Available on their website.
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The Dusty Buskers
“The Dusty Buskers” 2006
www.MySpace.com/TheDustyBuskers
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Gary Bear “Work Tracks 1105 (Graham)” 2005
www.GaryBearMusic.com,
www.MySpace.com/GaryBearMusic
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Giant Sand,
“Is All Over...The Map” 2004
www.GiantSand.com
Available on their website and at
www.ThrillJockey.com.
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Golden Boots “Blunderlust” 2006
www.SoildGoldRecords.com,
www.MySpace.com/GoldenBoots
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Golden Boots, “Bland Canyon” 2005
www.SoildGoldRecords.com,
www.MySpace.com/GoldenBoots
Available on their website.
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Various Artists “Graciously” 2006
www.FunzaloRecords.com
Available at CDBaby.com/cd/graciously.
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Grams & Krieger “No, You!” 2005
www.GramsAndKrieger.com
Available on their website.
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KXCI - Best of Growing Native Vol. III
“ A Road Across the Grassland” 2006
www.KXCI.org
Available on their website.
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The Gun Runners “5 Song EP” 2006
www.MySpace.com/GunRunners
Availalble at shows.
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Haley Jane
“Modern Entertainment” 2005
www.HaleyJane.net,
www.MySpace.com/HaleyJane
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www.HoweGelb.com,
www.MySpace.com/HowGelb.
Available on the website & at
www.ThrillJockey.com.
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HOWE GELB
“‘SNO ANGEL LIKE YOU”
Gelb’s recent masterpiece landed in my lap some months after sending my grandparents and my friend Susan to the sweet hereafter. Not only was the album telling me about “rumors of a better world once we get to leave,” and welcoming me to paradise while I get to “realize life is but a minute,” it reminded me that one can’t “sit around waiting, anticipating your whole life away.” It’s been a cathartic disc, identifying the pain of loss but similarly inspiring to keep on the right track. Gelb makes it more inspired by covering three Rainer Ptacek songs – the beloved and revered Tucson guitar legend who passed away nine years ago next month. It’s bittersweet to be told by Ptacek via Gelb, “Put your mind to it, see yourself through it. First step is the hardest. But you got to get yourself started.” Great songwriting and musicianship in the vein of blues, Americana, and rock is highlighted by Canadian gospel choir, Voices of Praise.
- Jamie Manser
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