Primus , and the bands hurtles toward the song ' s conclusion like an off-kilter version of Yes ' " Heart of the Sunrise ." " Heading for the deep end , going to take a leap ," sings Victor with bravado and abandon during the headlong flight of " LEAP ." " Intruder " is a grim grinder falling somewhere between Black Sabbath and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club . " When I awoke , I felt the poisons inside ," sings Victor , suggesting that the trouble brewing is coming from within . Furthermore , it ' s his own fault . " Some kind of punishment , of course , for all the wrongs that I ' ve done ," he admits . The song ' s noise-rock and shoegaze elements will draw fans of My Bloody Valentine and Catherine Wheel . Levine ' s growling bass line drives " What Now " while Victor surfs the crashing wave beneath Baker ' s thunder . Levine ' s nihilistic lyric about a collapsing world carries ample Johnny Rotten-styled punk snarl with a break that recalls the Zombies and 90s West Coast glampunks , the Aunt Bettys . " Tried to look on the bright side , but I can ' t see ," sings Levine . Baker ties up the song with a calamitous flurry that Keith Moon might have admired . The album ' s prettiest passage is the chiming intro to " Fire Drill ." That respite gives way to a brooding and shadowy twang a la early U2 tracks , including " I Threw a Brick Through a Window ." The reverb-drenched instrumental track builds in intensity until its spark is fanned to full flame . " Ventilation " is propelled by Baker ' s relentless gallop . Joined by Levine ' s hammering bass line , the song ' s energy reflects the Cure and the Damned . Victor plays curling arpeggios and sinewy slide guitar during heavy-duty album closer " Nelson D ," a song originally offered as a reckless live track on that 2014 debut tape . The song wails and clashes with classical crescendos recalling The Who ' s " Sparks ." Victor coaxes a banshee ' s howl from his guitar , underpinned with Levine and Baker ' s furious , interlocking rhythm . Skull Practitioners have earned a reputation as a vibrant live act with the gale-force power to peel your skin back . On Negative Stars , the trio captures a commendable degree of that energy and sends it raging through your speakers . Hold on tight . Visit facebook . com / skullpractitioners
– Jeff Elbel
8
BILL MALLONEE Here it Opens with a Prayer , but it Closes with a Song
( Self )
Names like Uncle Tupelo , Son Volt , the Jayhawks , and 16 Horsepower may have broader recognition in the Americana scene , but for those in the know , fellow architect Bill Mallonee is among the most reliable and consistently satisfying . He ’ s easily the most productive , writing songs the way other people write diary entries or to-do lists . Consider that the songwriter ' s catalog boasts more than 65 full-length solo albums over a 20-year span , and that ' s not counting his output with prior outfit Vigilantes of Love . Mallonee ' s stream-of-consciousness approach unfolds as an insightful dialogue with the listener and
reveals deep roots in soul-searching humanity as opposed to escapist storytelling . Here it Opens with a Prayer , but it Closes with a Song offers an ideal opportunity to join the conversation . Like a good Dylan record , listeners won ’ t come to Closes With a Song just for the music . Attentive listening reveals Mallonee ’ s confessional gifts . His words can be soulful , earnest , troubled , or witty , but they ’ re always honest and relatable . That ' s where Mallonee ' s connection to Woody Guthrie remains evident . Otherwise , he has charted his own course . Closes With a Song distinguishes itself among Mallonee ' s expansive output as a timely study of what our unexamined lives may have lost in the pursuit of modernity and omniscient connectivity . Writing from his outpost in rural New Mexico , Mallonee has given himself time and space to ponder these things . He ' s allowed himself just enough time to capture the fire of a fresh moment , though . Each of these rustic songs are documented as if it was urgent to chase the next idea before it
got too far downriver to catch . The results are compelling , offering a batch of songs that bristle with the immediacy of a memorable bar gig . The album has its share of darker songs . " Cave In ( Faith Seeking Understanding , or the Other Way Around )" describes the proximity of grief in our daily lives , with a loping swing that suggests affinity and affection for Neil Young ' s Harvest . The song reflects a mining disaster , leaving behind widows and orphans as everyday people are sacrificed in service of the company ' s bottom line . " Ya never know when you ' re saying goodbye ," sings Mallonee in mourning . The folky " Tumbleweed Dreams " follows suit , suggesting that the American dream may be working better for some than for others . " My fathers worked their land , and my sons fought their wars ," sings Mallonee with contempt for the fat cats and abusers in power . Roots rocker " If My Heart is Broken ( Then My Spirit ' s Not Far Behind )" condemns those at the top of the pyramid
18 illinoisentertainer . com february 2023