By
Chad Taylor
soundcheck@dmcityview.com
 Ira
Grace & The Bible Belt Prophets
Self-titled
Independent
You know what’s good? Potato salad. There’s
nothing particularly complex or difficult about
making potato salad. It’s comfort food, and
when you’re in the right mind for it, there’s
just nothing better. You can say pretty much
the same thing about Ira Grace & The Bible
Belt Prophets. For 16 tracks, the Des Moines
duo of Sara Williams and Marc Bailey weave stories
with a simplicity that seems deceptively effortless.
Williams’ vocals are heartfelt and delicate,
and the pair’s guitar melodies dance around
one another in a way that’s completely delightful
without being cloying. Much like good comfort
food, Ira Grace & The Bible Belt Prophets
is about as simple as it gets, and that simplicity
is the group’s biggest strength. It may not
be an every-meal kind of thing, but when you’re
in the right mood, this is perfect. CV
(Ira Grace & The Bible Belt Prophets CD
release party at Gas Lamp, Saturday, June 16
at 8 p.m. Free.)
 Patti
Smith
“Banga”
Columbia
Let’s get it out of the way now: “Banga” ain’t
“Horses.” It’s not even “Easter.” But a large
part of the reason why is because Smith has
the self-awareness to understand that she’s
not the same person. Whereas seething, punk
contemporary Lou Reed spent too many of his
middle years trying to be Bowie, and too many
of his later years just trying to do a Lou Reed
impression, Smith has always been true to herself.
As she’s aged, her music has aged and evolved
with her. “Banga” is heavy with the weight of
Smith’s years eighth track “Tarkovsky (The Second
Stop is Jupiter),” a spoken-word voyage with
the simple power of Smith’s voice lending import
to lyrics that are essentially beat poetry.
There are moments of self-indulgence — “Constantine’s
Dream” and your 10 minutes of “improvisational
meditation,” I’m looking at you — but even at
her most self-indulgent, Smith is remarkably
listenable. CV
Want your new CD reviewed? Email us a link
at soundcheck@dmcityview.com
or mail a physical copy to: Cityview, 414 61st
Street, Des Moines, IA 50312.
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