Annalibera
Independent
Annalibera’s EP — much like the band’s music — is a slight and insubstantial thing. With a scant 13 combined minutes of music, the fact that it’s being reviewed at all is a genuine tribute to the band’s ability to deliver a big impact in a very small window of time. Cut to the chase: Though there are three songs on the EP, the track you’re here for is “Clouds.” Dreamy, ethereal and light as gossamer, the track strikes right to the heart of what made acts like the Cocteau Twins and The Doves so viscerally connective. Lead singer Anna Gebhardt’s vocals are — within the con
text of the band’s aesthetic — astounding. She won’t blow you away with jazzy runs or an exceptional range in octaves, but that’s not what she’s trying to do. Instead, what you get is a voice that’s subtle and absolutely wringing with emotion. CV
Hear Annalibera at annalibera.bandcamp.com
Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
“White Teeth, Black Thoughts”
Space Age Bachelor Pad
Remember the neo-swing movement back in the late ’90s? Well, smack in the middle of it, ska/punk act Cherry Poppin’ Daddies revamped its sound and released “Zoot Suit Riot” and the c
hart-topping title track. But while Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has hit the nostalgia tour and Setzer has inched back toward
his rockabilly roots, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies is back with a new batch of swing. “White Teeth, Black Thoughts” is very much an album out of time. In the 16 years since “Zoot Suit Riot,” neo swing has gone from top of the charts to a post-fad niche, but the Daddies have nevertheless continued to improve and enhance its sound. “White Teeth…” is a solid, well-developed piece of music. The album is more mature and nuanced than maybe anything the band has previously released, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that it’s come about a decade too late. CV
