Bedouin Soundclash
Street Gospels

By Sari Delmar

Bedouin Soundclash, three reggae-lovin’ dudes from Kingston, ON, are still riding high on the success of their beautiful debut, Sounding a Mosaic. Fans from the start are starving for new material and after hit single “When The Night Feels My Song,” the term “Bedouin fan” now includes the majority of Canada. It seems the band aren’t too concerned about the “sell out” whispers, especially after their departure from reggae/ska powerhouse Stomp Records, and they have no reason to be. Musically, they have picked up right where their organic debut left off. A little poppier and undeniably commercial than their previous record, Street Gospels does however stick to the oceanic reggae they have become known for. Jay Malinowski’s distinctive vocals are on top of their game for album sparklers “Until We Burn In The Sun (The Kids Just Want a Love Song)” and “Hush,” which is an a cappella cut. Bringing Bad Brains’ Daryl Jenifer back on board to produce was a smart idea, judging by the previous success, yet it seems these cats are running out of steam. The first six or seven cuts are somewhat exhilarating but as the album progresses, the songs fall flat and become less exciting. It’s when they turn down the reggae soul vibe and turn up the indie rock that things start to sound burnt out. Towards the end, the Caribbean-enhanced “Jealousy and the Get Free” is a mess of emotions. The listener may not be able to tell if they are trying something new or just trying too hard. (Dine Alone)

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Minus The Bear - Planet of Ice
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Adrian Orange & Her Band - Adrian Orange & Her Band
Alina Simone - Placelessness
Au Revoir Simone - The Bird of Music
Baby Control - Best Wars
Bang Lime - Best Friends in Love
Black Bonzo - Sound of the Apocalypse
Blossom Toes - We Are Ever So Clean
Boats! - Intercontinental Champion
Brides - Queens
The Brunettes - Structure & Cosmetics
Buffalo Tom - Three Easy Pieces
Cake - B-Sides And Rarities
Christy and Emily - Gueen’s Head
Dave Bazan - Fewer Moving Parts
The Dilettantes - 101 Tambourines
Dirty Tricks - Sauve Qui Peut!
Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton - What Is Free To A Good Home?
Fog - Dither
Frank Black - 93-03
Gang Gang Dance - Rawwar
Garbage - Absolute Garbage
Ghost House - These Are Ghost House
Githead - Art Pop
Gregory And The Hawk - In Your Dreams
The Huckleberry Friends - The Huckleberry Friends EP
Icarus Line - Black Lives At The Golden Coast
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
Jason Plumb - Beauty In This World
Jennifer Gentle - The Midnight Room
John Vanderslice - Emerald City
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Juliette And The Licks - Four on the Floor
Krief - Take It Or Leave
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Meat Puppets - Rise To Your Knees
Michaelangelo - One Voice Many
Mink - Mink
Mirah and Spectratone International - Share This Place
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Nedelle - The Locksmith Cometh
Nina Nastasia & Jim White - You Follow Me
Patrick Cleandenim - Baby Comes Homes
Percy Farm - The End’s in The Beginning
Pride Tiger - The Lucky Ones
Prince - Planet Earth
Pseudosix - Pseudosix
Robert Forster & Grant McLennan - Intermission
Sebadoh - The Freed Man
Shivaree - Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs
Shock Cinema - Our Way to Revenge
Silverchair - Young Moderns
Starting Line - Direction
Steven Lindsay - Kite
Stevie Salas - The Sun and the Earth: The Essential Stevie Salas Vol. 1
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Studio - West Coast
The Superfantastics - Pop-Up Book
Tesla - Real to Reel
Tiny Vipers - Hands Across the Void
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