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Kerli Koiv's Love Is Dead
By Brenda Eichinger
When I first heard Kerli Koiv's voice, I thought she definitely sounds European, but I wasn't too certain where she might be from. You might think that this young singer, who goes by the name Kerli, could be Irish or Swiss with a voice that might also remind you of Avril Lavigne or Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries. And with her debut album, Love Is Dead, Kerli has managed to establish herself all the way from Estonia.
Released by Island Records, Love Is Dead is Kerli's first album, which contains 12 tracks written by her along with help from various songwriters and producers. The album presents the artist as a classic Goth-chick, or some character out of a Tim Burton film, but the music includes an assortment of catchy upbeat melodies as well as a variety of harmonious instruentations.
Musically, Love Is Dead is mixed with various symphonic strings and beats rather than very many guitar riffs. Kerli's voice is clear and melodic throughout the album, but at times it's hard to tell how much of her voice is studio magic and how much of it is actually hers, as there's plenty of echoes of distortion. The title track, "Love Is Dead," includes heavy beats, which sets a gloomy tone while accompanied by heart-wrenched strings. The second track, "Walking On Air" is very reminiscent of Halloween and sounds like Kerli's personal anthem, as "a little creepy girl" is mentioned throughout, including the entertaining "Creep-show." Other tracks like "The Creationist" and "Beautiful Day" are sung on a positive side and easy to sing along with, including "Up Up Up," which resembles a slower reggae kind of melody.
There's nothing very romantic about Love Is Dead, thus the title of the album, as it's more of an introduction to this artist from Estonia. I think in the future there may be more to hear from Kerli and her music, as her voice is concise yet a bit eerie and enjoyable.
Kreesha Turner's Don't Call Me Baby: The Remixes
By Brenda Eichinger
If you're looking for a CD filled with plenty of tracks to dance to, don't miss Don't Call Me Baby: The Remixes. This is not a full album by Canadian singer Kreesha Turner, but a preview of the song "Don't Call Me Baby" from her upcoming album release of Passion (January 2009). The CD includes 11 diverse dance remixes of the song.
Released by Capitol Records /EMI, Don't Call Me Baby: The Remixes is a compilation of tracks mixed by a variety of DJs such as Bimbo Jones, Digital Dog, Richard Morel and Novel. Written by Jon Levine and Anjulie Persaud, "Don't Call Me Baby" is a simple song, which proclaims a rebuke towards a former lover. The CD consists of multiple variations of "Don't Call Me Baby," including pop, dance, R&B and techno rhythms, but many of the tracks sound quite similar by the banging gongs and repetitive vocals. Also, the song itself doesn't seem too challenging for Miss Turner to belt out, as the CD is more of a playground for the DJs to edit.
The "Album Version" is a slower pop version of the song in which you initially hear the catchy tune, including Turner's plain vocals. From there, the song is mixed as a Radio Edit, Vocal Mix and several Dub and Club Mixes. At this point, you might be moved to dance to the various remixes, but may also grow tired of the song's one-dimensional lyrics, "Stop staring through me like you know who I am," or "Don't call my num-ber…don't call me baby, anymore."
Richard Morel's mixes are the most memorable edits, as the echoing vocals and gongs are spread out for a steady dance beat. Also, Bimbo Jones' "Radio Edit" adds a classic house dance beat, but it's unclear as to whether or not Miss Turner's voice will carry over
to her upcoming album, although incidentally, Don't Call Me Baby will indeed be stuck in my head.
CLUB Sixty 25
By Jonathon Freeman-Anderson
Club Sixty 25 epitomizes a good time, echoing Frank Sinatra's classic sentiment exactly, "I'm going to do it my way." Club Sixty 25 has the good vibe of a neighborhood bar that makes anyone feel welcome and comfortable. Upon entering the bar, accented by the good music, drinks, and crowd, there is an overwhelming sensation of relaxing cool that takes one back to the days of The Rat Pack. At the door, the pleasant and cordial Johnny checks ID with a smile and an inviting gesture to enter. Inside, the Valley's largest bar, (seating is over thirty), is packed with an average of mostly the thirty and up crowd. However, no one should discourage from having a good time, as the people on the dance floor, regardless of how awkward he or she may appear, will ignore anyone raining on their parade. The bar staff has an air of attractive charm that likely mystifies many to drink into a stupor without asking the price. Fortunately, drink specials happen, with interesting variety, throughout the week. Bartender Reyna Rom-ersa, says, "I've worked in a lot of bars and this place treats their customers the best." For football Sundays and Mondays, All-Star Blues Jam Wednesdays, and five-cent bladder-buster beers on Thursdays, this place has something for everyone.
Club Sixty 25 features a small appetizer menu with various quality selections including their spicy chicken wings with buffalo sauce or their delectable shrimp tempura, serving until midnight. On most nights, the club features live music from a variety of genres including blues, rock, country, jazz fusion, Latin, and pop. On Sundays, after football, the club has karaoke, and on Monday, the club fully caters to the great American pigskin pastime, as all customers are encouraged to sport their favorite team's jerseys and watch as they win or lose on any of the club's eight TVs, including a monster big screen on the stage. Reserve Tuesdays for comedy and catch a revival of the classic Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy team reenacted by two almost mirror copies of the young comics' voice and image. Thursday nights will vary in music with Henry Becker and Team Honky Tonk featuring country, as well as, Lil' Elmo and the Cosmos playing a variety of covers from recent decades up to today's popular sounds. Every month, at various times, quality bands from outside the Valley area, like the Blues Brothers-esque, House Arrest, come in and keep people dancing for hours at a time.
Every day something different happens at Club Sixty 25, but Wednesday nights are special. The melding of professional talent with improvised groupings leads to an incredible night of music that will never be the same twice. Hosted by gifted guitarist, Robert Heft, the Wednesday night All-Star Blues Jam has quickly become the place to be for Blues musicians, fans, and connoisseurs alike. Get there early to sign up and guarantee yourself a chance to play with some of the Valley's best. Bring your axe, sticks, harmonica, or even spoons, whatever the instrument, find room on or near the stage to set up for a fun, comfortable performance, and let loose. Why pay crazy cover charges for fifteen-dollar drinks to hear muffled noise at the back of a cramped, sweaty Hollywood, or even North Hollywood, bar when there is ample room for all at Club Sixty 25?
The interior has plush couches in the back, with comfortable booth seating surrounding the dance floor, and various cocktail tables and chairs between the dance floor and the bar. Memorabilia adorns the walls from pop culture, which shows the apparent influence and theme for Club Sixty 25. The Godfather, the Sopranos, and Rat Pack pictures and plaques are a few examples. The dimly lit setting, with dark corners to entertain dates, and mood music for mellow sanguinity allows one to slip into a state of nostalgia that begs for a dirty martini, straight up, and a smoky-voiced lady to dance with into the haze of the early morning hours.
Renovated six months ago, the club is a classy, picture of entertainment bliss. The only drawback is finding suitable parking. Otherwise, everyone can go, and get lost in the atmosphere. Club Sixty 25 feels the way the Valley should feel, cool.
Club Sixty 25 is located at
6025 Reseda Boulevard, one block south of Victory in Tarzana - 818.881.4311 - Check out their website www.clubsixty25.com