Two sentence album reviews: First Aid Kit, Fiona Apple, J.C. Brooks, Heartless Bastards, Old 97's

I don't know how someone writes a good music review, but most of the ones I read leave me with no better idea of what the album is like. I'm keeping these reviews down to two sentences. If my reviews aren't any good, Beavis and Butt-Head will be able to repeat one of their best lines, "it sucked but at least it was short."

The Lion's Roar by First Aid Kit

How can you not love two sweet swedes who sing about Johnny Cash, June Carter, Graham Parson and Emmylou Harris? The Lion's Roar has all the sadness and depth of an Ingmar Bergman film.

Fiona Apple has another album with a really long name
I would like to thank Fiona Apple for her inability to maintain a healthy relationship because she continues to produce beautiful, heartbroken, intense songs that I love. It sucks when one of your favorite musicians becomes happily married and starts producing sappy, happy songs *cough* Steve Earle *cough* Lucinda Williams*cough*.

Arrow by Heartless Bastards
This Cincinnati band Gone to Texas let a little bit of Austin mix with their reliable Rust Belt Rock. Good rock bands with great female lead singers are becoming some kind of Ohio tradition.

J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound - Want More
Look out! Zombie Otis Redding and his band have risen, moved to Chicago, updated their Stax-style sound for modern listeners, and played a monster set at Lollapalooza. Aaaahh!

A not that new release but new to me:

The Grand Theater Volume One by the Old 97's
Alt country, roots rock: call it anything you like, including a great all-around album. I love the song Champaign, Illinois, but it sounds like they have some vaguely expressed hostility toward central Illinois.

Old 97's are on tour in support of a newer album. If I'm lucky, I may get to see these guys in St. Louis or Chicago this week.

That's it for now. You can check out my last set of two sentence reviews here.