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Sound off

By Devin Grant, Special to The Post and Courier

COVER SONGS

Various Artists — "About A Girl" — (FDR)

While the small New Jersey label FDR has a robust roster of bands from the tri-state area, it is the compilations and tribute albums released by the label that have received the most attention. The best one of these collections to date has been "High School Reunion," which had everyone from The Dresden Dolls to Matthew Sweet turning in covers of songs from '80s teen films, such as "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club."

FDR's latest cover song venture is clever and well-intentioned. "About a Girl" takes 21 bands and has each one cover a song, the title of which has to be a woman's name.

For instance, The Commons cover Elvis Costello's "Alison," while Milton and the Devils Party take a shot at The Kinks' "Victoria." The results are mixed, but the general mood of the CD is a playful one, and fans of power pop will definitely want to check out this collection. Highlights include late-night television's take on The Looking Glass' "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)," Beretta 76's amped up reading of AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie," and a version of The Nips' "Gabrielle" performed by The Frantic. Again, not every track works, but the good material is plentiful enough to warrant a purchase, as is the fact that a portion of the proceeds from each CD sold will benefit the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. (B)

Download These: "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)," "Whole Lotta Rosie," "Gabrielle"

LOCAL JAZZ

Vintage Velvet — "Vintage Velvet" — (Independent)

For a band that originally began as a way to entertain friends, Vintage Velvet has come a long way. Fronted by vocalist Regina Ruopoli, who some might remember sang for Sunday Punch in the '90s, this retro cover band has slowly but surely become a popular act for the higher class bars and restaurants in town, as well as corporate and arts events that cater to a sophisticated crowd. The remaining members, keyboardist Jeff Castle, guitarist Steve Coe, drummer Nick Jenkins and bassist Frank Ruopoli, give Regina's vocals the professional backing it deserves on the band's self-titled CD release.

The biggest compliment I will give this collection of music is not for its sound quality (which is great, by the way), but for the choice of songs included. When collections of vintage jazz and blues songs are recorded, there is often a tendency to record the same two dozen so-called standards.

There are a few of those here, including "Route 66," "My Favorite Things" and a nice version of "Fly Me to the Moon" with vocals by Castle. To clarify, there is nothing wrong with any of those songs, and they all sound great here, but elsewhere on the CD one can find treats such as "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise," "He's Got Me Goin'," and "Comes Love."

For anyone wondering why nobody plays the good music of yesteryear anymore, or for those simply in a romantic or mellow mood, Vintage Velvet definitely delivers. (B+)

Download These: "Comes Love," "He's Got Me Goin'," "Fly Me to the Moon"

LIVE LOCAL ROCK

Live Oak - "4.06.07 Live At The Pour House" - (Independent)

After seven years together and three studio albums, local band Live Oak has finally seen fit to release an album that showcases what the band does best — perform live.

As the title of Live Oak's new 2-CD set might reveal, the live performance in question occurred in April at the jam-band friendly venue The Pour House on James Island.

The music on the pair of CDs is mostly original, save for covers of Fishbone's "The Suffering" and King Floyd's "I Feel Like Dynamite."

As songs such as "Four Corners," "Alabama" and "Funky Shoes" show, Live Oak combines the best elements of jam bands such as Widespread Panic and Phish, with the better parts of classic Southern rock outfits such as the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The first half of the show (CD 1) keeps things at an average of six minutes a song, while on CD 2 a couple of songs ("Black Sin" and the cover of "I Feel Like Dynamite") break the 10-minute mark.

Dual guitarist-vocalists Brian Graham and Campbell Brown have a soulful quality that brings to mind Gregg Allman or Warren Haynes. Standout performances on the double-CD include "Shakin' It Easy," "Short of Inspiration," "Good Day" and "Scattered in Dreams."

If you haven't yet discovered one of Charleston's more popular live acts, then this showcase of that live sound is the perfect way to get acquainted. (A-)

Download These: "Shakin' It Easy," "Short of Inspiration," "Funky Shoes"