Happy birthday, Jennifer

Happy birthday to the other Jennifer Yarbrough.

Desperate Housewives soundtrack

Leaving aside the TV show tie-in nature of this album, the Desperate Housewives soundtrack stands up nicely as a concept album, with female artists covering classic tunes relating to love and domestic life.

A glance over the list of artists will suggest the soundtrack will be somewhat uneven, and that’s borne out by a through listening. SheDaisy doesn’t really have the chops of Martina McBride, Liz Phair or the Indigo Girls (and the latter don’t even seem to be trying particularly hard).

Some artists, like Phair or Gloria Estefan, try and put their own spin on things, while others do a more note-for-note classic rendition. It’s typically those trying to make the song their own who succeed the best, and there are enough such performances to make this album work.

Fun stuff, although it’s a shame more of it never made it onto the actual TV show.

A recommended purchase for fans of Liz Phair, Gloria Estefan or Martina McBride.

More Adventurous by Rilo Kiley

Although Rilo Kiley was somewhat overshadowed by Death Cab for Cutie and other similar acts in 2005, they really deserve to be more widely heard, as More Adventurous is one of 2005’s most refreshing CDs.

“Portions for Foxes” is the clear stand-out hit here, and while no other song approaches it in quality, “It’s a Hit,” “Accidental Death” and “A Man/Me/Then Jim” more than justify the purchase of the CD.

Although much of More Adventurous is smooth well-tuned modern pop, hints of Jenny Lewis’ future more folksy solo project turn up here and there, including in “I Never,” which is a cowboy hat and a steel guitar away from being a hit country single.

A recommended purchase for fans of Death Cab for Cutie, the Postal Service or even Sons and Daughters.

Plans by Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie are in danger of being overhyped and, thus, overlooked. Can anyone really take a band seriously that is hyped by characters on the OC? In this case, well, yeah. Plans by Death Cab for Cutie is one of the highlights of 2005 and the new century of music.

“Soul Meets Body,” “Crooked Teeth” and especially the wonderful and strange “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” more than justify the purchase of this album, as they are ably backed by songs that, on any other album, would be the standouts. (“I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” in particular, is a great example of a song that shouldn’t work by any sane standard, but does, and amazingly so.)

Amidst the gems, though, there are, if not clunkers, less-impressive tunes. “Brothers on a Hotel Bed,” in particular, feels like it would have been quite comfortable laying on the cutting room floor.

In the end, Plans is less even than Give Up by the Postal Service (a related project), but is still one of the best albums of 2005 by any measure.

Strongly recommended.

The Repulsion Box by Sons and Daughters

It’s hard to explain the sound of the Sons and Daughters: Nearly incomprehensible Scot accents, driving guitars, staccato beats and idiosyncratic lyrics is pretty accurate, but doesn’t convey the fun and all-out rocking of the band.

Perhaps the best way to sell this album is through single tracks: Buy, through your favorite singles vendor, “Dance Me In.” If that doesn’t sell you (or, alternately, “Monsters,” “Taste the Last Girl,” “Medicine” or “Rama Lama”), this album isn’t for you.

You’re probably also in a coma.

The Repulsion Box gets the strongest possible recommendation for all rock and roll fans.