Reviews:
Keeping up the momentum, REFRIGERATOR are back after two long
years of nothing in the fridge but non-REFRIGERATOR Shrimper
label related staple (that's not a bad thing--I'm still alive
aren't I?)
Following the decades end trend of cleaning up production;
enchanting additional musicians to help out with their language,
which is, without doubt their best ever--adds fireworks to their
display and a re(de)fined elegance to pop indie quintessence.
The most notable and exciting new addition comes from the
contributions of bassist David Brodo. His presence is felt
almost everywhere but no where like on the acoustic bass walk of
"Western Disconnection" taking a lead bottom thread all the way
to the bank for a cash withdrawal of pure joy. Franklin Bruno is
among the guest musicians adding piano and keyboard
embellishments to Team Callaci compositions with beautiful
reputed imagery. The alluring voice of another guest SECRET
STARS musician extraordinaire Jodi V. Buonanno adds spoken words
to the antagonism of "Drowning Out"
"these old records are the records of my life / how do we breath
new life into records?"
One of many memorable low-key subterranean idiosyncratic songs
on a blockbuster fourth full length. Karl Runge also adds violin
to songs like "Los Angeles" (with it's rippin' Bob Kaufman
ending guitar solo!) and the resigning hope fatality of "Static
On Static" making Glitter Jazz a triumphant masterpiece; showing
us the road to gold....
My fridge now has food in it that I could live off of for
another two years, if I have to... hopefully I won't.
Green Mountain Music Review (gmmr@gmmr.net)
When my recent Shrimper Records
order was delayed by some eight months due to postal malfeasance
and misplaced addresses, label honcho and Refrigerator guitarist
Dennis Callaci sent along a package stuffed with the original
order, a letter of apology, and about a dozen extra cassettes,
singles, and CDs of his label’s hissy, homemade rock.
That’s a clue to how Refrigerator entered a peculiar realm that
includes Fugazi and Superchunk–flagship bands for labels and
scenes that become respected as much for their personalities and
indie ethos as for the music they make.
Of course, in talking about the new Refrigerator album, it’s
important to note the addition of Daniel Brodo’s standup bass,
the expansive sound obtained by recording in a 16-track studio,
the depth of field provided by Franklin Bruno’s piano
contributions, and other technical matters. What shouldn’t be
lost is how solid a listen Glitter Jazz is, completing the
Fridge’s transformation (begun on last year’s self-titled long
player) into a Real Rock Band without losing the familial
personality the band has developed since its home-taping duo
days.
As always, big brother Allen Callaci’s vocals are guilelessly
passionate, wrapping straining melodies around pointillistic
lyrical concerns; but check out the resonance they gain when the
band does a dynamic lift into the chorus of "Left and Gone."
Dennis’ frugal guitar (which he now tunes for every song!) also
gets buoyed up by the full-time rhythm section, who effortlessly
slot into the open spaces formerly occupied by tape hiss. The
effect is the musical equivalent of peeling off a flaking layer
of paint to find a beautiful fresco beneath–it’s been there the
whole time, merely obscured.
Check out the warm-toned bass foundation of "Western
Disconnection" and drummer Chris Jones’ waltz-time tapping in
"Wedding Waltz," to hear what the broader circle of sound has
done for the Callaci brothers’ songs of emotional minutiae. Yet
even with all the trappings of rock being brought into the
Refrigerator sound, Callaci & Co. still craft conversational
music that is magnanimous without being overbearing.
Brian Glaser - Puncture (mailbox@puncturemagazine.com)
-
from Puncture #45
Long gone are the
low-budget, lo-fi, cassette-only days of this Inland Empire
indie power, but they're not really any slicker for the
progress. They're just better at what they've always been doing.
Led by the desperate, soft-souled voice of Allen Callaci and the
easy strums and clangs of brother Dennis' guitar, Refrigerator
still brings joy and pain with each loose groove and low, tense
chorus.
On Glitter Jazz, they get a little help from some friends,
including Georgia and Ira of Yo La Tengo, who add tiny backing
vocals on "Tourists" - a new recording of a beautiful,
perplexing gem plucked from their impossible-to-find Long 33 1/3
Play. Franklin Bruno (Nothing Painted Blue) lends his piano
fingers to "Heart of Bone," a six-and-a-half minute, 400-word
love song to a radio station.
As always, the elegantly befuddling lyrics hop methodically from
one image to the next like Frogger. Amid faux phonograph
crackles and building crescendos, Allen sings as if his life
depends on it, and who's to say it doesn't? With stomping rock
alongside prancing waltzes, Glitter Jazz is Refrigerator's most
complete, fully realized album so far.
Patrick Rapa (pat@citypaper.net)
- from City Paper Interactive
Glitter Jazz is Refrigerator's
fourth album, their first new material in over two years. As all
ornamental horticulturists know Daniel Brodo stands tall next to
his upright bass, Chris Jones mans the drums, and the Callaci-Brother
magic takes care of the rest (merch booth, lightshow,
security-you know, the parts you remember). On these 11 new
songs, Refrigerator shares the spotlight with several jazz
legends such as Franklin Bruno, Ph.D., of Nothing Painted Blue,
Jodi of Shrimper recording artists Secret Stars, Ira and Georgia
of Mr. Show collaborators Yo La Tengo, Karle Runge the European,
and John Davis of the Folk Implosion.
Refrigerator will tour the west coast extensively with Shrimper
recording artist Dump in October; an east coast tour is also
slated for January. Word jockeys rarely hesitate to tell the
world what they make of new Refrigerator albums. One Popwatch
writer, a stilt-wearing son of a gun whose posse calls him Steve
B., championed the Callaci modus operandi and went so far as to
hope that they "stick to it for what may be most of the rest of
my life; namely inquisitive, self-abasing, grainy vocals, dirty
cardboardy drums, desolation, and pathos." Puncture magazine
sent firebrand anti-hiss scribe Bill Meyer after Refrigerator,
whom he praised for "parting the curtain of murk and bringing
their tunes into focus. Refrigerator's songs are built of strong
stuff and stave off the creative bankruptcy that threaten
foreclosure on indie rock." In a word, wow. Wow.
* On tour with Dump in October
* The best Refrigerator release to date
* First new material in over two years
* A bass player! A stand-up bass player!
ALSO:
The fourth album, and first new material in over two years from
the fraternal- magic rock institution that makes hearts go bump
in the night. Now standing taller than ever as a quartet
(stand-up fucking bass!) they deliver eleven new songs that
yearn with emotion and churn with glory.
Features guest appearances from indie faves FRANKLIN BRUNO, JODI
of the SECRET STARS, IRA & GEORGE of YO LA TENGO, KARLE RUNGE
from Europe, and MR. JOHN DAVIS of the FOLK IMPLOSION & THE JOHN
DAVIS BAND. Touring the West Coast with Dump in October, hitting
the East Coast in January.
Excellent, excellent, excellent, not since Women and Children
First have I ever been
so happy.
- Midheaven Mailorder / Revolver USA (www.midheaven.com/fi/) |
