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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2004)
march 19. 2004 * jU S t O U t MUSIC ▼ S olid G round Vivian’s Keeper • S e lf released ostmodern folk music makes refer- ences; you can choose to feel or to think. This disc lets you tap your physical footsie and rumi nate poetically on the ubiquity of Ani DiFranco’s influence. Queer trio Vivian’s Keeper Solid Ground is the third release for the Portland all queer band Vivian’s Keeper, but its first with heartthrob Leila Chieko on drums and percus sion. Her kick brings a bright evolution. T he new sound is cleanly produced folk rock with multisyllabic story songs, feminist sensi bility and organic seasonal metaphors about relationships. O n most tracks the drum kit is mixed in the sonic middle, so it sounds like pop music if you listen in the car. These three intelligent musicians have chops enough to weave vocal hannonies and a half- dozen instruments, overcoming the traditional limitations of the pop trio format. Dedicated to our lost local prodigal Dave Carter, there’s an P eatingout eatingoiit plays Mississippi Pizza Pub on April 2 evocative Tracy Crammer violin cameo and even a bit of banjo. For fun I liked the infectious, quirky queer girl love song “Puzzle." A couple of songs become a tad too earnest, but you won’t waste your support-kx:al-bands money discovering this CD. Vivian’s Keeper returns from its latest tour for a homecoming show 8 p.m. April 2 at Mis sissippi Pizza Pub, 3552 N. Mississippi St. Expect to be engaged and charmed. — LC Hansen C omfort W oman Meshell Ndegeocello * Maverick isexual musical miracle Meshell Ndegeocello (often mocked as “that man-hating lesbian”) has a last name that matches her fifth and latest album like no other. B eatingout eatingout Ndegeocello in Swahili means “free like a bird,” corresponding ro the artist’s trademark unpredictability and Comfort Womans message of freedom through love. Reminiscent of her most heralded album, Bitter, the new release steers away from the musician’s rebellious political soapbox. This one is about introspection and lots and lots of feelings— incredibly sensual, spiritual, cosmic, mind-freeing, vulnerable and, above all, drip ping hot with desire. Apart from the occasional lapse into the familiar sociopolitical stabs (“motherfuckers like fancy things...gotta have everything”), the topic throughout is as com mon as it gets: love. The rhythm of this soulful chill-out disc is as steady and comforting as a heartbeat. Its dreamy, electronic acoustic monotony connects all songs into one erotic lullaby, moving like the waves of a calm, brooding ocean. The sul try mcxxl is occasionally sped up by a touch of gentle reggae or a hurst of guitar solo. Most of Comfort Woman's lyrics are not par ticularly intriguing or intricate or even original (“don’t leave, stay, stay with me, say you love me”), hut ordinary' lyrics don’t cramp Ndege- ocello’s style. Lazy writing is brilliantly erased by remarkable integrity and by the spellbinding intimacy of each song. Like an irresistible siren, Ndegeocello whispers in your ear and butters you up slowly, gently, provokingly: “You know what you like, come on, you know what you want.” You will spin this disc while making love, you will bum these songs to conquer your new cnish. — Els Debbaut eatingout eatingout cDufin$ Voteii the SeTTlfi PortnîncuÜl Club Lounge Lunch: ami lunch too! S pecial O m elettes • E spresso • G ourm et S alads • H omfmade S oups & M ori • 11atrr1:30ptT) TueS-bn Dinner: N Lornbord (S03) m - w Lounge: Bette Midler • Scmy/Columbia he late Rose mary Clooney I was one of the top jazz/pop vocal ists of the 1950s. The fresh-faced blonde’s meteoric rise to fame, includ ing an appearance with Bing Crosby in the enduring hit film White Christmas, was punctuated with a string of hits like “Come On-A My House” and “Mambo Italiano.” Clooney (aunt of the less enduring George Clooney) died in January 2002, but her legacy lives on in this disc by Bette Midler, who was prompted to record it by her friend and first musical director, Barry Manilow. Midler has always excelled at singing other people’s songs, and here she shows off a range of styles, including ballads, boogie-wixigie and bluegrass. The album focuses on Clooney’s early career, and all of the arrangements are by Manilow, who duets with Midler on the lively “On a Slow Boat to China.” Linda Ronstadt also joins in the fun, fill ing in for Clooney’s actual sister on the duet “Sisters.” O nce or twice M idler’s voice is a little unsteady and just a tad off-key (most noticeably in “Tenderly”), but her singing is heartfelt, and you can sense how affection ately she feels toward both Clooney and the music. — Floyd Sklaver J H eatingout eatingout NOlia oar boast! CAFE & ESPRESSO BAR Best Breakfast in Vancouver B ette M idler S ings the R osemary C looney S ongbook THE P U R P L E P ARL OR 'iprrôpn 7ue$-Sun fr°-Sat Û ?ptri F lomestyle vegetarian. From scratch. ?atrr 2:30arn dally C orner o r M ain & M c L oughun • V ancouver Mamas BbQ Sauce TOGO! 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