Worst of 2004

[gnhrtg]

I've been meaning to start such a thread last year but was too lazy then. I think one thread should suffice so we can mention (1) those that really stink as well as (2) those that were major disappointments even though they in no way suck in an absolute sense.

If the "best of" tells us what we shouldn't miss, this thread could provide some words of caution about which releases are better left on the shelves.

[Brian Olewnick]

Not that I imagine anyone here's in imminent danger of buying it, but if the idea of a female, Mexican vocal trio performing new music intrigues you (as it did me), stay way the hell away from Muna Zul's self-titled recording on Tzadik. Zorn's reach-out to the Banana Republic crowd. Stinkerino.

[Pete C]

Brian, do they perform Mexican-Jewish music? Maria-chai?

[Brian Olewnick]

Pete, they actually do cover a traditional piece, "Ghirazi" (iirc), straining to inflict yiddish inflections (like that? inflict inflections?) on it in a pretty offensive manner. Worse, they do a "hip hop" number (it's a Benetton's-type disc, ya see) with, um, rap effects. Boom-chicki-boom.

I reviewed it for squidsear.com. At least I got mine as a review copy.

[Nate Dorward]

Not even some "so bad it's good" entertainment value to the Tzadik? Too bad...

So far, nothing outstanding to report for this thread--have heard some run-of-the-mill mediocrity, but nothing memorably bad or a noteworthy clunker from an otherwise good musician. But I'm sure I'll have a few titles to lob to this thread soon....

[LeMo]

The first disapointement for me, so far, is the duet of Marc Copland & Gary Peacock "What It Says" on Sketch (but was I really waiting something from this pair?).
The French Jazz press who loved it, speaks about "the incredible level of communication" between the two musicians when it's so obvious that they are just doing here, one more time, their usual routine.