Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Local CD Review I

Leslie Woods, Velvet Sky

Longtime Knoxville scenester Leslie Woods' debut CD doesn't sound like a debut CD, which is credit both to Woods' accomplished country-gothic songwriting and the strength of her supporting players. Woods sings in a knowing smoky twang that complements her spooky melodies and dark lyrics. Most of the songs have an air of desperation and longing—they're capital "R" Romantic, spilling over with passions dangerously poised between love and hate. Woods works similar territory as alt-country divas like Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, but with an Appalachian wild streak. "Baby Mine" is a murder ballad in the classic tradition (although the murder itself is left to our imagination), and "Clayton County" invokes mountains and back porches without sounding trite. It's not all doom and gloom—the album ends with "Lullaby," which finds Woods crooning gently, "The good things in life are mine."

Among those good things, presumably, is her husband Jeff Woods, who plays bass on the album. Also in the large supporting cast are local legend Terry Hill on guitar, Rick Campbell playing an assortment of instruments including mandolin and fiddle, ex-TV guy Bob Deck on acoustic and lap steel guitars, and Geoff Proud on dobro. Sara Griscom and Jennifer Niceley provide warm backing vocals. Credit for the CD's full, haunting sound goes to drummer Tom Backus, who supervised the recording, mixing and mastering.

Aside from the spectacular V-roys, Knoxville has been strangely silent in the alt-country arena over the past few years. That makes Woods' fine CD doubly welcome, a sign that we still have local musicians interested in making something new from the region's traditional music. And you can show your own support by coming out to Woods' album release show this Friday at the Laurel Theatre. The show starts at 8 p.m. and there is a reception beforehand that begins at 6 p.m.

Local CD Review II

TN1, It's On (Trust No One)

Maybe I just don't get it and maybe I'm not qualified to review this local rap CD. But I'm qualified to have an opinion, and so here it is: I don't like this CD. It's filled with angry, violent, misogynistic and just plain mean lyrics. But that's not my real problem with it—plenty of great music (from Dock Boggs to Richard "Rabbit" Brown to the Pogues to Public Enemy to Le Tigre to the Coup) has dealt with violence, misogyny and meanness from all different sides.

What I really don't like about it is that they don't seem to have anything original to say about that violence and misogyny that consumes their music. They tell us over and over that their world is bad and violent, but don't do a terribly good job of conveying what it's like to live in that world.

And TN1's obsession with violence and hatred suggests it's a pose, making it all the harder to believe. Which is a shame, because the folks that comprise TN1 and the guests who join them have plenty of talent.

Sample this lyric from "Love You Not": "Bitches ain't shit/ but hos and tricks/ ain't good for nothing but to suck a nigger dick....Stop by the store to get the KY Jelly/ Get my dick sucked and bust nutts on her belly/ And kick the bitch out if her pussy kind of smelly."

The music is not entirely without merit. They tackle a breadth of vocal styles. "Five to the Ten" is a nice jolt of energy. "During My Time" conveys the schizophrenia of a world ruled by violence (but it's nothing that the Geto Boys didn't do 10 times better with "My Mind's Playin' Tricks On Me").

And that same song contains these lines: "Being a black man is the hardest test on earth/ We the most hated we been marked since birth....If it ain't the white man it's your woman out to get you/ If it ain't the enemy it's your homie out to get you/ Then they wonder why we get on records and curse."

I'm not against cursing. There's a lot in this world to curse and be pissed about. And I usually try hard to empathize across whatever cultural divide exists, but such lines suggest only solipsism. If they had some empathy of their own (like, for at least black women) TN1 might gain mine.

I haven't walked in their shoes, and I'm not judging their souls, only their art. I don't like it. But I know it's not written for me—"I don't give a fuck what ya'll say," they announce on the second track, "Ready to Do my Time"—so perhaps they can use this review as a plug to reach those who might be interested. Maybe on the next one we can find some common ground.

Go.

Thursday: The Crane Wife at the Black Box Theatre. A play about sacrifice, based on a Japanese folktale.

Friday: Gran Torino with Joe King Blues Band at Blue Cats. Some funk rock for your Friday.

Saturday: Slanguage at Colston Center for the Performing Arts, Knoxville College. This Bronx-based ensemble breaks the boundaries of traditional theater in exciting, energetic ways.

Sunday: Pose naked with some tulips in celebration of the season.

Monday: The Carderock Division with Princeton Reverbs Colonial and Kenny Howes and the Yeah! at Pilot Light. Rock as only the Light can bring it.

Tuesday: Tony Furtado Band at Blue Cats. Jam on.

Wednesday: Desire on a Long Tetherby Mike Dotson at the Tomato Head. Dotson, a world traveler, unveils a small portion of his photo collection. Good stuff.

—Emma "The difference between which and that" Poptart with Jesse Fox Mayshark and Joe Tarr