Langhorne Slim, a.k.a. Langhorne, Pennsylvania’s Sean Scolnick, started out as an acoustic guitar-pluckin’, harmonica-honking bratty folk singer who used sprightly banjo and accordion to create the musical equivalent of a good old-fashioned barn party. But that sound has been left back in small-town Pennsylvania with Langhorne’s latest record, “Be Set Free,” which jets off in search of the grandeur of slick pop beauty. Produced by The Decemberists’ Chris Funk and packed with the same palate of whimsical instruments from the last Decemberists record, “Be Set Free” retains occasional glimpses of Scolnick’s folk-jamboree days, but mostly seems supercharged by the sheen of Funk’s strings, xylophone and bouncy riffs. Nevertheless, “Be Set Free” never comes across as a “sellout” record attempting to streamline Slim’s earlier quirks, just a change of pace from a musician learning how to make tight, breezy pop-rock attacks. (Andy Seifert)
July 23, Lincoln Hall, 2424 North Lincoln, (773)525-2501, 10pm. $14.
Related Stories
Last Punks Standing: A Preview of Mekons at Hideout Mekons have endured by refusing to adhere to anyone's ideas regarding what is and isn't punk rock (which is in and of itself a defiantly punk attitude).
Especially For You: A Preview of the Smithereens at the Memorial Opera House Serious music scholars all, the Smithereens distilled their musical loves into something that ultimately sounded like nobody but them. Diken points to Gary Lewis and the Playboys as an influence; it’s worth noting that the studio cats who played on those records—immortal pop tunes like “Count Me In” —included Leon Russell and drummer Hal Blaine.
RECOMMENDED
